Tim Tebow addressed the media for the first time as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, and he did so as the team’s fourth quarterback.
Eagles coach Chip Kelly told the media point blank at organized team activities that Philadelphia expects Tebow to be a signal-caller behind Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley. Many wondered if the Eagles had a different offensive plan up their sleeves when they signed Tebow to a one-year deal, but Kelly squashed that idea.
“He’s a quarterback,” Kelly said, per NFL.com. “That’s how we’re looking at Timmy. We’re not looking at him at any other position.”
Tebow, for his part, simply is grateful to have another shot at throwing passes in the NFL. The last time he was on a league roster was in 2013 with the New England Patriots, but he was released before the start of the regular season.
“I think sometimes when things are taken away, then you don’t realize how much fun it is to come out here and play this game,” Tebow said, per USA TODAY. “You can’t play it forever, so I’m going to enjoy it.”
The reason Tebow has struggled to find a quarterback job in the NFL is because he’s not a very good one. In two seasons with the Denver Broncos and one with the New York Jets, Tebow managed just a 75.3 passer rating and 17 touchdowns in 35 games. But Kelly maintains Tebow has gotten better after working with quarterback guru (and former MLB pitcher) Tom House.
“I think he’s improved,” Kelly said, per USA TODAY. “He’s had a lot of time the last two years working at his game. (We) wanted to have a fourth quarterback here.”
Thumbnail photo via Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports Images
