Philadelphia Eagles: Tebow Time!

It’s Tebow time in Philadelphia!

No. Well, not yet, anyway. For now, at least, feel free to get up off your collective knee, Eagles’ nation.

Tim Tebow did work out with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday: a bit of news first reported by People Magazine (note: when People Magazine is breaking your potential personnel moves… You probably aren’t making good potential personnel moves.)

Eagles

Well. Okay then. But I don’t buy it. I don’t buy that anyone in the Eagles organization believes that Tim Tebow has NFL quarterbacking chops.

Even less do I believe that Chip Kelly could stand idly by while Tebow rode the bench as a backup quarterback without being tempted to use him in other, non-quarterbacky ways.

Ways like?

Well, the Eagles released tight end/H-back/special-teamer James Casey last week. Casey is 6’3″, 240 pounds. Tebow, incidentally, is 6’3″, 240 pounds.

Casey runs a 4.7 40-yard dash. Tim Tebow, incidentally, runs a 4.7 40-yard dash.

Casey played a little quarterback in college and has been the Eagles emergency quarterback for the last two years under Chip Kelly.

Tebow, you may recall, played a whole lot of quarterback in college and looks to be no better than an emergency quarterback at the NFL level.

And Tebow is three years younger. And would likely have to sign a completely risk-free and team friendly contract. Because, well, no one wants him.

The Eagles have carried four active tight ends for much of Kelly’s time with the team.

Would it really be so bad if Tebow were stashed toward the bottom of the roster where someone like Trey Burton was last year? Making athletic plays on special teams? Maybe coming in to run the occasional short-yardage-conversion play? Decoying now and then? Giving opponents just one more thing to worry about while preparing for the Eagles?

“Are you a complete nutcase?!”

I don’t blame you for asking that.

Let me clear up a couple of things:

I am not a fan of Tim Tebow.

I have never believed that Tim Tebow could quarterback an NFL team.

Not when he was at the peak of his collegiate career.

Not when he declared for the draft.

Not during the combine.

Not at his pro day.

Not when the Broncos made the inexplicably-dumb decision to take him in the first round.

Not when he got on the field.

Not when he won a few games in a row.

Not when he won that playoff game in 2011.

Not when he latched on with the Jets.

Not when he did it again with the Patriots.

And not today.

I have spent more hours than I’d like in my life debating this point with… Tebow people: A phrase that is meant to be read derogatorily.

Let me sum up my feelings: Tim Tebow is not a bad NFL quarterback. He is, more simply, not an NFL quarterback. He never has been. And he never will be.

So that’s clear, yes?

Aug 9, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow (5) during warmups prior to playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 31-22. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

What Tim Tebow is is a leader. And a hard worker. And a gifted athlete. And I could think of much more useless 52nd or 53rd guys to put on the bottom of an NFL roster. Assuming he would be willing to forego any hope of ever playing a snap at the quarterback position.

So what is it that makes the idea of Tim Tebow so objectionable to so many people?

“The media circus. For the love of all that’s good. Why aren’t you considering the media circus?!”

Ah. Okay. Let’s consider it:

For one: Time has passed. The Tebow-frenzy has cooled a bit. Sure, Twitter blew up on Monday afternoon when it was reported that the Eagles were working him out. But it paled in comparison to what happened when DeMarco Murray rumors went public a few days ago.

For two: If he’s not going to be a quarterback the hype won’t be the same. Quarterbacks dominate the landscape. And quarterback controversies? Oh, how people love those things. But if a team were to slap a #45 or #85 (James Casey’s old number, incedentally) on Tebow’s chest and bandy about the terms ‘special teams’ and ‘H-back…’ A lot of the hype would die.

For three: It’s March. We’ve still got some free agency left. A whole pre-draft period. The draft. This isn’t like when the Patriots signed Tebow in June of 2013 and he was throwing on a jersey and jogging out onto the practice field shortly thereafter. Time. Time heals all hype.

I mean, heck. Think of all the things Chip Kelly might do between now and the season: There are still a handful of stars on this roster left to be traded away and a whole flock of Oregon Ducks out there to be signed and drafted.

By the time camp rolled around, Tebow would be an afterthought: Something he’s never had the luxury of being. Maybe a little anonymity and a lot less pressure would serve him well.

If it worked? Minstrels would have another verse to sing when they sing of The Legend of Chip Kelly.

Kelly, you may have gathered, is not a man short on ego.

He’d absolutely love to be the guy that made Tim Tebow work in the NFL. Even Bill Belichick couldn’t do that.

And what if it doesn’t work?

Cut him.

Didn’t hold the Patriots back too badly, did it?

And that’s the argument that a Devil’s advocate could make for bringing Tim Tebow into Philly.

Now I am going to be common sense’s advocate:

Firstly, Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk reports that the Eagles have no plans to sign Tebow… at this time.

Phew.

Nov 27, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles have re-signed Mark Sanchez and traded for Sam Bradford.

Rumors continue to swirl about Chip Kelly’s desire to do whatever it takes to get Marcus Mariota in the draft.

There are quarterbacks available that are far more capable of playing quarterback in the NFL than is Tim Tebow.

Guys like Tarvaris Jackson and Josh Freeman. Guys like… Is Norm Van Brocklin still alive? No matter: The memory of Norm Van Brocklin is a better quarterback than Tim Tebow.

There is no reason that I can dream up for why Tim Tebow (at quarterback) would be a wise addition.

Eagles fans have become fond of the rallying cry, “In Chip we trust!”

Well, this would test them.

Cut DeSean? We’ll live.

Trade McCoy? Fine.

Let Maclin go? If you must.

But… sign Tim Tebow?

People who doubt Kelly’s ways would surely take it to be another misguided step en route to his eventual demise as an NFL head coach.

People who love Kelly’s ways would surely take it to be another genius move that no one can figure out because Chip Kelly doesn’t want us to figure it out.

People like me know this: If people trust Chip Kelly with Tebow? There’s no limit to what he can get away with.

And maybe that’s exactly what Chip Kelly’s doing: Testing the limits.

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