Tim Tebow is back on the NFL grid.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the free-agent quarterback worked out Monday for the Philadelphia Eagles, according to a team source. ESPN had the first report.
The reconstructed Eagles quarterback room currently includes Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley and G.J. Kinne. Rapoport confirmed that Tebow, 27, worked out as a quarterback. The former University of Florida All-American hasn't thrown for a touchdown pass since 2011. Tebow and Sanchez have history, going back to their fruitless season together with the New York Jets in 2012.
Tebow's name was not on the initial list of players invited to attend the league's inaugural veteran combine on Sunday in Arizona. Tebow spent last fall working as a football analyst for ESPN's SEC Network, but he has never abandoned his NFL aspirations.
Ben Volin of The Boston Globe reported last week that Tebow has spent the past two years working with Tom House, Tom Brady's personal coach, in Los Angeles. House gave Volin a positive scouting report on Tebow, saying "he went from being a little inaccurate and didn't throw a whole lot of spirals, to throwing very accurate and real good at spinning the ball."
Kelly's interest in Tebow is surprising if only because of what he's said about the quarterback in the past. In a 2012 Chris B. Brown feature for Grantland, Brown included a quote uttered by Kelly during a coaches clinic in 2011.
"I look for a quarterback who can run and not a running back who can throw. I want a quarterback who can beat you with his arm," Kelly, then the Oregon coach, explained. "We are not a Tim Tebow type of quarterback team. I am not going to run my quarterback 20 times on power runs."
Ancient history, of course, but interesting nonetheless.
UPDATE: Rapoport reported later Monday that the Eagles have no imminent plans to sign Tebow following his workout.
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