Tim Tebow Working To Improve

There were two large crowds gathered at the conclusion of Eagles practice yesterday. One engulfed Sam Bradford, the predicted starting quarterback if/when healthy. The other surrounded Tim Tebow.

Tebow, as you probably well know, has been out of football since being cut by the Patriots prior to the 2013 season. In addition to his career as a TV analyst for the SEC Network and host on “Good Morning America”, he has spent the last two years refining his mechanics by working with renowned throwing coach Tom House.

“Tom and Adam [Dedeaux], those guys really know bio-mechanics and I spent hours and hours with those guys working,” Tebow said.

“I feel a lot more comfortable and a lot more improved, and hopefully when you dedicate that much time [to training] you do get better.”

Tebow’s mechanics did seem to be a bit improved and he was pretty accurate on his short and intermediate throws Thursday. But he was at times deliberate in his decision-making and delivery. During seven-on-seven drills, Tebow often held on to the ball for several beats too long before eventually deciding to check down or take off. One of his passes ended up being tipped and intercepted by seventh-round pick Brian Mihalik.

His game is not without flaws, but Kelly saw enough improvement during his workout to add him to the 90-man roster.

“He’s spent a lot of time over these last two years working on his game,” Kelly explained. “We wanted to have a fourth quarterback here, we’re not going to go through [the offseason] with three.”

Whether he can make the 53-man is to be determined. Shortly after he was signed, his former teammate with the Jets, Mark Sanchez, suggested that Tebow was brought in to be a camp arm.

“It was not exactly what I was intending to say and so it took on a life of its own,” said Sanchez after Thursday’s practice.

“Listen, everybody is here for a reason, we are all working hard, trying to make each other better and coach wanted specific guys here for a specific reason.”

Tebow flashed that million-dollar smile when Sanchez’s name came up. He spoke highly of him, saying that they have always gotten along, but acknowledged there is less tension now than there was in New York.

“We had that relationship for a year and we saw each other certain places,” Tebow said. “So I think it’s just deeper, it’s more evolved, I think it’s a good relationship. I have a lot of respect for him and I think we [will] just try to make each other better in everything.”

Tebow is currently competing with Matt Barkley for the No.3 spot. There was some thought that the tweaks to the point after touchdown system could up Tebow’s value, thereby increasing the chances that he makes the team. The changes to the PAT that were recently approved by the NFL left something to be desired in Kelly’s eyes, however. Because the ball will still be at the two-yard line for two-point tries and the extra point remains a high-percentage play (they converted on 96 percent of their attempts from that range last year, per the head coach) Kelly said “they didn’t entice you to go for two more, at least in my opinion.” If that’s the case, it reduces the odds that Tebow could carve out a role as a specialist in that area.

It could be an uphill climb, but Tebow is just appreciative that he’s being given the opportunity.

“I think sometimes when things get taken away, you don’t realize how much fun it is to come out here and play this game and you can’t play it forever,” he said, “so I’m going to enjoy it.”