Eagles Work Out Tim Tebow

Chip Kelly’s first offseason at the controls has been full of twists and turns. The latest? The Eagles worked out quarterback Tim Tebow this morning, a league source confirmed.

Adam Schefter was first with the news.

While there has been some talk of playing Tebow at a different position in the past, a source indicated he was worked out by the Eagles as a quarterback.

Per Schefter, the Eagles have no plans to sign Tebow at this time.

Tebow spent the 2013 offseason with the Patriots but was released as the team cut down the roster to 53. The last time he actually played in the NFL was in 2012 with the Jets. He only attempted eight passes that season and ran for 102 yards on 32 carries. While mostly a backup in New York, his presence on the roster generated a ton of attention. The situation was not a particularly healthy one for Mark Sanchez, who was the Jets’ quarterback at the time.

A Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion with the Florida Gators, Tebow was selected 25th overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2010 draft. He spent his first two NFL seasons there, compiling an 8-6 record. In the 2012 postseason, he connected with Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard touchdown in overtime to lead the 8-8 Broncos past the 12-4 Steelers.

Overall, though, he struggled as a thrower, completing less than 50 percent of his passes while in Denver. He was traded to the Jets following the ’12 season after the Broncos signed Peyton Manning.

Tebow has a 47.9 completion rate in the pros and has thrown 17 touchdowns to nine interceptions.

The Eagles currently have four QBs on the roster: Sam Bradford, Sanchez, Matt Barkley and G.J. Kinne.

Chip Kelly had this to say back in April of 2013 when discussing his system:

“We did not run the same offense that Florida ran with Tim Tebow, where we’re running quarterback power. We’ve never run that play. If there is an opportunity because a defensive end bends it and there’s green grass and you can go get a first down, hook slide real quick, give the ball to the official, get up again and get ready to chuck it,” he said. “In this league you need to be able to throw the football and that’s the first skill set that we’re looking for. Repetitive accuracy is the number one quality we’re looking for.”

OFFERS FOR BARKLEY?

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen Tweeted out a note about Matt Barkley:

Eagles working out QBs – such as Tebow – should never be connected to Bradford rumors. Matt Barkley can be had for late draft pick, though.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 16, 2015

I wouldn’t make too much out of this. The truth is Barkley probably could have been had last offseason. The team has shown no confidence in his ability to even be a backup. If they thought he could handle that role, they wouldn’t have aggressively signed Mark Sanchez in each of the past two offseasons.

It seems unlikely that a team would give anything up for Barkley’s services. If the Eagles add a quarterback at any point in the draft, Barkley might not even make the team next summer.