Eagles' Torrey Smith on Carson Wentz: 'He is the MVP'

If Torrey Smith had a vote, Carson Wentz would be the NFL's MVP even though Wentz missed the final three weeks of the season.

"He is the MVP," Smith said. "I'll go ahead and throw that out there."

The wide receiver admitted he's biased, but he didn't think Wentz's absence should keep him from winning the prestigious award. Smith pointed out that Wentz really missed just two games because he probably would not have played in the season finale, and that his statistics are still among the best in the NFL.

Wentz finished second in the NFL in touchdown passes with 33 and had the fourth-best quarterback rating in the league. The Eagles were 11-2 when Wentz was injured.

Wentz's top competition for the award might be Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who is a two-time MVP. Brady started all 16 games for the 13-3 Patriots and finished with 1,281 more yards, one fewer touchdown, and one more interception. Brady had a better completion percentage and a better passer rating. Smith made sure not to slight Brady, whom he considers the best quarterback in NFL history.

"Tom Brady's the GOAT, though," Smith said. "I'm a Tom Brady fan. Carson's able to make plays athletically that Tom just can't physically do, even though he's the greatest quarterback ever. Carson plays the game differently. What he meant to us on third down when he's scrambling, the crazy plays he's made, it's not like he's [Michael] Vick or anything, but the way he made those plays was huge for us. There'd be times we're struggling and all the sudden his plays turn to us opening the gate. He's made some amazing plays all year. I don't know, put their highlight tapes together and see what you think."

Still, Smith doesn't think Wentz will win the award, which will be announced the week of the Super Bowl.

"No, because he's missed a couple games," Smith said. "But I think he's the MVP."

Smith has helped bring attention to former NFL and Penn State player Aaron Maybin's crusade to buy space heaters and coats for Baltimore children in schools such as the one Maybin teaches at, where the heating has failed.

Smith, who played college football at Maryland and began his career with the Baltimore Ravens, tweeted about being in a Baltimore school recently for an after-school program, and finding out this was the case.

"The lady doing the announcements, she's like, 'Don't let the fact that we don't have heat keep you from coming to school tomorrow.' … What I noticed was that a lot of them didn't even have winter jackets," Smith said Thursday. "So that's something we're going to have to work on in that particular school. … It's tough, but I hope the [social media] attention works out for the kids, because it's not fair.

"It's not fair that just because you live in a certain area, that shouldn't determine the type of public education you receive. They're already fighting an uphill battle. Schools there already don't have books for them to take home, computers for them to use … it isn't right."

The Eagles practiced Thursday without defensive end Brandon Graham (ankle) and tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee). Running back Jay Ajayi returned to practice after missing Wednesday's session.