Tim Tebow joins Chip Kelly's quarterback crew

ESPN ^ | April 19, 2015 | Phil Sheridan

[ConservingFreedom]

[...] If Belichick, the best coach in the NFL over the past 15 years, doesn't see an NFL quarterback in Tebow, then that would seem to settle the issue. Except that Kelly, who worked Tebow out last month, sees the skills and the physical presence and he can't help himself. It's not just about ego. There's a challenge in finding ways to utilize a player's talents, and Kelly enjoys that challenge.

[...] The point is, Bradford is the presumed starter with Sanchez as the very capable No. 2 quarterback. But if Tebow is able to click in Kelly's offense -- which ran pretty well with the less mobile Sanchez and Nick Foles at the helm -- then all bets are off. With his running ability and his arm, Tebow may just blossom in Kelly's system.

So Kelly brings Tebow in with no pressure and no expectations. The focus is on Bradford, with Sanchez as the pro's pro if something goes wrong. Tebow will get his practice reps. The third-team quarterback gets plenty of practice time in Kelly's go-go training sessions. If Kelly sees the spark that Tebow carried at the University of Florida -- and that flashed once or twice while he was playing in Denver -- then Kelly will have a fascinating choice to make.

He says this a lot, and he really means it. Kelly's football team is a meritocracy. The best player at each position will be on the field. All Kelly is really doing right now is giving Tebow a chance to prove himself better than Bradford and Sanchez -- better, at least, in Kelly's spread offense. [...]

[DoodleDawg]

Reason for signing in two words: Riley Cooper, Tebow’s favorite target at University of Florida.

Cooper's been with the Eagles for five years. Tebow's been available for two or three years. Why the wait?

[SamAdams76]

If I remember correctly, Belichick liked Tebow and wanted to work with him and keep him on. But only so many roster spots and roster spots are even harder to come by on a perennial championship team like the Patriots. Especially when you have a Hall of Fame QB that almost never leaves the field (except when the score is like 56-7) and has five good years left.

Even if Tebow did get to the #2 QB spot in New England, he'd be riding the bench into his 30s and hoping that Brady would break a leg.

Tebow's best bet is to land on a team where the QB spot is up for grabs. I wish him well with the Philadelphia Eagles.

[leopardseal]

Your more serious teams use high draft picks for linemen. You can get skill position players from the normal part of the human race. When you’re talking about guys over 6-5 and over 300 lbs who are basically good athletes, that’s not the normal part of the human race, that’s more like some fraction of one percent of anything.

[Russ]

The talking heads and Philly sports writers are 100%liberals and their reaction to this signing has been predictable. If Tebow had come out yesterday and said he was Muslim or an atheist they would be applauding his signing today.

[NTHockey]

Nobody smart enough or brave enough on the Eagles staff to do it before now.