Eagles Wake-Up Call: Reaction To Tebow

It was almost as if the Eagles had been quiet for a little bit too long.

Last night, Chip Kelly’s squad stole some more national headlines when news broke from Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer that the team is planning on signing Tim Tebow today.

I already offered some thoughts. Maybe he wins the No. 3 job from Matt Barkley. Maybe he’ll be used as a runner in specific packages. Maybe he’ll be off the team in September. Who knows? But the idea that he’s going to somehow resurrect his career here as a quarterback seems awfully far-fetched.

At any rate, here’s a sampling of Tebow reaction, with some notes mixed in.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Eagles have been trying to trade Barkley:

Before signing Tebow, the Eagles first wanted to try to trade backup quarterback Matt Barkley. But when the team could not get enough in return, it decided to bring in Tebow anyway so that he could be present for the team’s entire off-season program.

The “get enough in return” part is confusing. What in the world could the Eagles possibly be expecting to get for Barkley? A conditional seventh? Kelly’s actions, most notably signing Mark Sanchez twice as a backup, have made it clear he doesn’t think much of Barkley.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com weighs in:

Now Chip Kelly, the new president of the CAC — Coaches Arrogance Club — thinks he can bring Tebow in and make it work. Why? What can he do? The word is he’s being brought in as a quarterback, not to play another position. Unlike many, I don’t think he could move to another position anyway. Like most, I don’t think he can play quarterback in the NFL — even in Kelly’s system.

It makes no sense.

From Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report:

This story is also about ego. Chip Kelly’s ego. Make no mistake about that. This is a total ego move by a megalomaniac egotistical coach.

Is Chip Kelly talented? Yes. Does Chip Kelly think he’s the smartest guy in the room? Hell yes.

The Eagles will downplay this signing, saying Tebow is just a body for the off-season. But this move is more than that for Kelly. What Kelly likes to do is prove conventional NFL wisdom wrong. No one enjoys this more than him.

Peter King of The MMQB likes the move:

Let’s be real about what this is: It’s a trial. It’s a chance. It’s a coach who doesn’t care about the distraction of having Tim Tebow in his camp, because he thinks Tebow might help his team. And about the distraction thing: Did you ever hear Bill Belichick or Robert Kraft or Tom Brady talk about Tebow being a distraction in Foxboro in 2013, when Tebow was on that team for the whole of training camp? No. That’s because he wasn’t one. He was whacked by the Patriots because he’s not an accurate passer and didn’t fit their exacting scheme. Cutting Tebow was justified. Tebow didn’t deserve to be on that team. He might deserve to be a cog in the wheel in Philadelphia. We’ll see.

Tommy Lawlor of Iggles Blitz offers his thoughts:

I’ll keep an open mind when it comes to watching his throwing motion. The guy we saw in the past wasn’t good. We’ll find out if he’s truly improved or if that is just typical offseason bragging by part of a player’s support group. The biggest takeaway from this to me is that Matt Barkley better start working on his resume. The Eagles didn’t bring in Tebow to compete with GJ Kinne. He’s here to take Barkley’s job. And then there is the matter of the draft. The Eagles could take a QB early or late. Barkley is as good as gone.

These made me laugh:

Chip Kelly right about now http://t.co/cOjX2ONgHP #Eagles pic.twitter.com/00Ro0d6VtB — Rob Tornoe (@RobTornoe) April 20, 2015

 

Chip: I got this great offer from college, but Lurie won’t let me out of my contract; what do I do? — Jesus Zoidberg (@JesusZoidberg) April 20, 2015

If this happens, I think I’ll take an in-season vacation, and McManus can handle the site:

Around mid-October, with Bradford lost for the year and Sanchez throwing his 3rd INT, the “WE WANT TEE-BOW” chants will arrive. — Brian Solomon (@Brian_Solomon) April 19, 2015

The NovaCare Complex is going to be something when practices are eventually opened to the media.

I remember the good old days when this was a distraction in Philly #Tebow pic.twitter.com/57ly7g7KiX — Chris Law (@ChrisLaw) April 20, 2015

And we end with this:

February 7, 2016 pic.twitter.com/scsIOkfX4p — Dan McQuade (@dhm) April 19, 2015

WHAT YOU MISSED

Initial thoughts on the Tebow signing.

The pre-draft prospect tracker has been updated. Twenty-five official visits have been reported.

NFC East roundup: Mock draft projections for the other teams in the division.

Weekend reading: “[Chip] might eventually need someone to save him from himself as a GM.”

The Eagles are showing interest in a certain Oklahoma O-Line prospect, writes T-Mac.

The latest draft buzz: “He loves Mariota enough to push hard once draft day rolls around.”

DeMeco Ryans on his health and the Eagles’ offseason moves.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Zach Ertz spent time chatting with Tony Gonzalez this offseason, writes Jeff McLane of the Inquirer:

Gonzalez retired last year as the most prolific tight end in NFL history. His consistency over 17 seasons remains unparalleled.

“He had it down where he thought it was the best routine anyone should have,” Ertz said. “And then he also taught me the value of the mental aspect of the game. He thinks people should train their mind as much as their bodies.”

Tommy Lawlor of Iggles Blitz on Penn State defensive back Adrian Amos:

I have 2 big problems with Amos. I don’t see anything special in terms of instincts. He never looks dumb on the field or anything like that, but I just don’t see a player that shows much of a feel for things. The other thing that bothers me is that Amos doesn’t play with any urgency. There was a run play in one game where he was chasing a RB down the field. Amos had a good angle. Out of nowhere, a CB from the backside passed him and made the tackle. The CB was running for his life. Amos wasn’t being lazy, but he also wasn’t going all out. And that wasn’t a one-play anomaly. It’s almost like he plays cautiously.

COMING UP

Tebow, Tebow and more Tebow! Just kidding. We’ve still got a lot of draft prep to get to.