2nd and goal from the 1 yard line. Tim Tebow (3) has just handed off to Kevin Monongai. Ravens OLB #45 Brennan Beyer (1) charges into the backfield unblocked. Kevin Monongai (2) is directly in front of him with the ball (arrow).
Beyer (1) runs right past Monongai (2) and the ball (arrow), and makes a beeline for Tim Tebow (3).
Monongai runs into the pile and pushes the ball over through for a TD.
Now this is not to make fun of Beyer. He is doing exactly what he is coached to do. But that's the point. When Tim is on the field, both OLBs or DEs are forced to contain, rather than crash the line. That opens up the game for the running backs to run wild.
That's how Kevin Monongai, a UDFA rookie from Villanova who is not even projected to make the practice squad, managed to run for 87 yards in 10 plays last night.
I don't have time to search for the video, but if you find some, I'll bet that in both of his 20+ yard runs that night, you'll find an OLB standing there dumbfounded next to Tebow.
Great quote from Skip today!!
ReplyDelete"As a lifelong Cowboy fan I fear everything about Philly except it's quarterback situation. Unless, of course, Chip goes with his 4th stringer"!
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/176339/can-this-version-of-tim-tebow-fit-with-eagles-chip-kelly
ReplyDeleteThis passive-aggressive jackass just doesn't know when to quit.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25283528/broncos-original-2011-playoff-game-plan-bench-tim-tebow-on-3rd-downs?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
If he played as much as he talked he would have been an all pro. I guess he doesn't mind reminding everyone he was Tim Tebow's backup.
DeleteMy favorite quote ever about Tebows quarterbacking came from Tedy Brueschi. It was during Tim's run in Denver when he said about Tim. "He is showing us a different way of doing it". That was so on point & I wish more people who claim to love the game of football or sports in general would stop & appreciate something as unique as this was/is.
ReplyDeleteI hope in Philly or elsewhere we get to see more of it. He was able to win with certain flaws to his game & now that they are corrected the sky is the limit.
Bob, I don't want to be that guy, the contrarian, but Tim has got a shit load of work to do to get to the point where someone would take him seriously on the field. Like, completing 4/5 passes like on his first drive where everyone was struck by his accuracy. I don't think his career goes beyond Philly if he continues to pass so poorly in preseason, I hope I'm wrong.
DeleteLuzwei: You might be right. I hope it's not blind wishful thinking on my part but from what I have seen this preseason the throws he has had time on have looked pretty good. They have been accurate, unhurried & with nice form. Even the one where he stood in the pocket. He doesnt need to take the same risks with the ball other quarterbacks do. I don't believe he would have made some of those throws in the past & if he did they would have looked ugly & out of ryhthm.
DeleteI want to see him play with some 1st or second teamers for an extended period of time before judging whether he can throw or not.
Like I have said before Tim is unlike any other quarterback. He doesn't need to play the same way the others do because of his unique skills. Other quarterbacks have to rely on completion% because they cannot do the other things he can do.
You are probably right about him not getting another opportunity outside Philly. The league is full of quarterbacks that cannot run or throw as well as he can. I hope, but doubt someone else would adjust to his game. Lets hope it worksout in Philly
Bob, although I wish Tim nothing but the best, there are two QB's that are far far in front of him in the way they play and play more efficiently with their set of unique skills. One already has a SB victory, and the other one was almost in one. These are Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. They are both starting QB's in NFL and can play in way other QB's don't have to. Tim is not a better QB than them both right now. He's not more unique than those two.
DeleteI have stated numerous times that I would too like to see Tim play with at least 2's on the field, but that is not happening this preseason. He has to do best with the players he has around himself. And I wish he had done better than he had thus far.
I have to agree with Luzwei here. The improvement in his mechanics is undeniable, but he has to put them together with quick, decisive reads. So far he's - as Ed put it - a deer in the headlights if his first read isn't open. After that it's anything from a tuck-and-run at best, to a wild incompletion, to a scramble and a sack for lost yardage at worst. Sure he's an amazing power runner, and probably on an academic level is one of the most intuitive quarterbacks in the game when it comes to read-option schemes. But he's not playing on paper, he's playing on a field at NFL speeds and needs to make decisions and throws at an NFL pace. We speculate that maybe that will come with time and familiarity with one system, and that's perfectly valid. But he has to earn the time in that system first, and it's unclear whether he has done so. At the end of the day he is not excused from making the passes, regardless of how strong the rest of his skill set is. He's got 2 games to do it.
DeleteActually I prefer the metaphor "squirrel in the middle of the road". A deer just stands there and gets hit. A squirrel scampers frantically back and forth, unable to decide what do to.
DeleteWatch some of the film from last week. It's shocking how much more confident he appears once he steps out of the pocket.
Luzwei: Wilson & Kaepernick have both had the benefit of having had the support of their organizations with far better teams & better coaching. There is no way of telling how Tim would have done if he had those advantages. All we have to go on is 2011. From that one season Tim's passing stats are not that far removed from Wilson's or Kaepernicks.
DeleteNone of that really matters now. Lets just hope he makes the Eagles.
I hope that Chip has separated Tim's passing issues into two categories: 1) Accuracy, and 2) Decision Making.
ReplyDeletePreviously, Tim was viewed as inadequate in both those areas. Teams eventually concluded it was not possible or worth the effort to try and fix both, and he could not be competitive unless both were fixed.
If 2 years with Tom House has brought Tim's accuracy within acceptable limits, Chip may decide his decision making is fixable with more time in the system and focused coaching. I think that is what we are banking on at this point in the process.
With that perspective in mind, we can take solace that Tim has not thrown any really bad passes in the preseason, and reports of bad passes in camp gradually died down to a level generally comparable to the other QBs. We can also take encouragement from his continued low level of turnovers, both in practice and in games.
IMO, Chip says what he thinks, and can generally be taken at face value. If Chip says the big question about Tim was could he throw the ball, and that Tim has shown he can throw the ball, then that is how Chip actually feels about Tim. If Chip says he must fix turnovers, then a QB with a turnover habit is at a disadvantage compared to one without.
Very curious to see if he gets much playing time today.
His accuracy is not an issue in TC. He is an almost 70% passer in TC with Eagles.
DeleteAnd I hate this time difference. 6 hours is really too much. It will be almost 4 a.m. when Tim will be playing hi couple of series. And I doubt he gets more than last two series mop up time.
DeleteYes, but TC passing % and in-game passing % are apples to oranges. The red jersey is magic.
DeleteJust think of the time zone difference as your own little personal test of dedication.
DeleteSo I missed the 2 PAT attempts because I don't have it on TV and my usual pirated online stream has disappeared. But the twitter scorn was enough to let me know I wouldn't have wanted to watch anyways.
ReplyDeleteJust broke down and got the NFL.com free trial, so I'm watching the game live now. If these are Tim's last 2 games, at least I can see them.
Irks me to say this but Bradford looks pretty awesome. Assuming his knee holds up, looks like Chip's gambit will pay off.
DeleteI am watching online & I took Tim's entry into the game as a sign that he was going to make the team in that capacity. Why send him out there like that otherwise!?
DeleteBradford does look very good but I think it's a mistake to get too overly excited in preseason. I have seen too many teams look great in preseason & then tank when the season starts & vice versa.
Just wanted to add Tim did not convert on his 2pt tries but they Eagles did also miss their first extra point try.
DeleteA 50% success rate on 2 pointers is equal to a 100% success rate on kicks. If Tim had converted at least one of those, it would have reinforced the viability of the concept of going for 2 on every TD. As it is, they might not go to that well again, even if they do keep Tim.
DeleteIt has been real. I think this was his chance to secure his roster spot. If that is the case, he blew it. We will always have 2011.
DeleteLet's give Barkley a chance after the half. Also, the way that Bradford (and Sanchez) played this week, next week will be all about giving the bubble players a chance. Wouldn't be surprised if Tim and Matt each got a full half.
DeleteMeant to say, let's give Barkley a chance after the half to blow it too. :)
DeleteYes let's see what Barkley does & IMO 2 plays on 2pt conversions is not nearly enough of a sample size to base his making the team on. Especially when the first one resembled something that would have been called by Tony Sporano & not Chip Kelly. We all know what Tim can do in short yardage & will make it more often than not. On the second one the snap was low & the throw was decent the defender just jumped the route similar to the final play of last years Super Bowl. If Russel Wilson can miss one so can Tebow.
DeleteSo far so good.
DeleteA thought to keep our spirits up while we wait: Chip said he wanted to improve in red zone scoring. Barkley has not led a TD drive yet. Tim has 3.
Barkley failed to put points on the board in 3 possessions. Tim has an opening.
DeleteThat was a dangerous hit on the Green Bay QB. Way worse than Suggs on Bradford.
DeleteIf Tim does get in, he won't get much time, maybe 2 drives if lucky..
DeletePretty clear Chip wants to give that option a good test drive with Tim.
DeleteRead option starting to move. Let's see if Tim gets to open up the throttle on the 2 minute offense.
DeleteTime for him to pull one.
DeleteCrap, gonna run it out.
DeleteOh well, not much chance to show what he could do, but they were moving the ball and he was 2/2.
Gonna come down to next week ... I think.
DeleteI think he has his mind made up if not 100% at least 95% in Tebows favor.
Delete1) Sending him out for those 2t conversions. They were a test drive. They weren't converted (see above).
2) Barkley has shown with 3 years in the system he offers nothing extra. No reason to keep him.
3) Tebow seems to have his own offense. I would like to see it run at maximum efficiency with Murray & Sproles.
4) He didnt let him throw much & while I would have liked to have seen that it was an indication to me that Chip knows where he stands with Tim & didnt see the need to do so.
5) Remeber alot of QB's look like world beaters in preseason & cannot get it done once the real games start. (See Brady Quinn & Kyle Orton.
Really looking forward to Thu. night.
Tounge in cheek stat of the night: Both Bradford & Tebow has 100% completion percentage tonight.
DeleteWhy does it irk you that Bradford's playing well? That's the best scenario.
DeleteYeah, I suppose you're right.
DeleteI just don't know what to think. It is impossible to separate what I want to see from what I do see. I can't tell if my analysis is tainted by wishful thinking or by fear of the worst.
ReplyDeleteTim is clearly last in line for meaningful play time. Is that because he is not under serious consideration? Or because they can see from practice that he is greatly improved as a passer and they want to give Barkley a fair chance to win the job or attract trade attention?
I will say this article from ESP is encouraging: http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/08/eagles_tim_tebow_needs_to_shine_vs_green_bay_packe.html
Here is what my gut says: if Chip is going to cut a QB he drafted and invested 3 camps in developing, he feels obligated to give that QB every chance to prove he should stay.
Tim is a science project for Chip. He realizes it will take some time to figure things out. The 2 points were an experiment, not a test. The play time in the 4th quarter was a chance to get another look at how teams defend against the read option with a running QB.
At least that's what I'm telling myself now.
Just being devil's advocate. Re science project: what's in it for Chip? He's already got a starting offense and backup that can put 40 points on the board in a half, not to mention a world-class defense. What could a project quarterback possibly add that it would be worth molding him for a few seasons?
DeleteMy apologies in advance I know this question was not intended for me but it was too enticing to pass on answering it.
Delete1) Science projects are fun..Especially one with a proven track record. BTW: That sack he avoided last night was a thing of beauty. Most quarterbacks would have taken a loss on that play or tried to force something. He picked up a nice gain.
2) On this team the 3rd QB is one sprained ankle & one Buttfumble away from being the starter.
3) Chip probably like the challenge the project would bring.
Kinney gone. Indicator they will keep 3 QB, as expected.
ReplyDeleteSome speculation that Tim's lack of play time means they don't intend to keep him.
I think it comes down to how MB and TT perform on Thurs.
Kinney gone. Indicator they will keep 3 QB, as expected.
ReplyDeleteSome speculation that Tim's lack of play time means they don't intend to keep him.
I think it comes down to how MB and TT perform on Thurs.
Kinney gone. Indicator they will keep 3 QB, as expected.
ReplyDeleteSome speculation that Tim's lack of play time means they don't intend to keep him.
I think it comes down to how MB and TT perform on Thurs.
The allocation of playing time and personnel in these preseason games has bugged me from the start, not because "boo-hoo-not-fair" but because it just doesn't line up with the idea that there's a true competition taking place between these two quarterbacks. To be fair the Eagles never said there was; it was all inferred by the media and us. So what to make of it?
DeleteThe explanation that they don't intend to keep Tebow makes as much sense as anything else right now, but then you have to wonder why belabor the charade at the expense of practice reps and playing time for other players? At this point two years ago the Pats sat him during the 3rd preseason game so they could get a longer look at their starter and backup, but here we have the Eagles shoehorning him into the game with three other QB's and presumably giving him half the game on Thursday. Why if they're going to unload him? Why not cut him now? Or before training camp for that matter? I'm not trying to maintain a delusion here. I'm sure there are reasonable answers, but they're not all that evident.
Another popular explanation is that they intend to keep Tebow and hope to shop Barkley off to another team, so he's getting more opportunity to showcase. Some facts back that up, some don't. On the one hand he's been on the trading block for over a year and hasn't made the sale, so why would he suddenly do so now? On the other hand they delayed signing Tebow because they were trying to deal Barkley to Miami, so maybe that almost-deal encouraged them to think he's got trade value after all.
I wish we could just run this one through Occam's Razor, but it's just not that clear. Barkley has the better arm and greater command of the offense, yet with a not-insignificant advantage in playing time and personnel has failed to put more points on the board than the guy with the inconsistent arm who is still learning the offense and is having trouble reading defenses. It might seem cut and dry to us but to a coaching staff with so much on the line it isn't so simple.
As an aside it's interesting to me that they waited until now to test drive the 2-pt conversion. It would seem they waited until the press was banned from training camp to start practicing those plays in earnest, especially with TT with the 1's. I always believed Chip was being cagey with his doth-protesting-too-much act rejecting going for twos, and this week proved it. Sucks they didn't pan out but I don't know that he's going to give up on them after a couple of attempts. Not sure what that means for TT but can be viewed as encouraging.
Or not. Lol.
I'll try to boil it down. There are 3 explanations for the playing time allocation so far:
Delete1. They are leaning towards Barkley, so he gets priority on more meaningful time.
2. They are leaning towards Tebow, and want to showcase Barkley for a trade.
3. They aren't leaning towards anyone, and will base their decision on overall preseason performance.
You can talk yourself into just about any conclusion you want.
My gut tells me it's #1. Chip just wanted to kick the tires on Tim and see what he might do with a real running QB in the read option and short yardage. Tim only playing in garbage time and the play calling supports that view. But gut reactions can be biased towards fear.
Impossible to dismiss #2. If they were satisfied with MB they wouldn't have bothered to being Tim in. No TDs in 3 games has to irk Chip. That is not his offense.
The most logical conclusion, with the least assumptions (Occam's Razor) is they are running a genuine competition which will be decided by performance on Thurs.
One thing is for certain: we'll know by Saturday.
If that is the case, then the cards were stacked against him from the start. He didn't show much, but the players he played with were just cut today. I mean...
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned previously my gut tells me they are leaning towards Tebow (see above). But even if the Eagles release Tim I am not sure that this would be the end of Tim's career like alot of people seem to believe.
ReplyDeleteSome interesting points to consider:
1) The Eagles have shown that Tebowmania can be handled effectively some teams may not be as fearful as they once may have been.
2) His new & improved throwing motion is undeniable & a team may think it's worth developing. Tim has the best adjusted completion percentage in the NFL this preseason at 91.7%. He has had 4 throwaways 1 drop & been hit 3 times.
3) The Eagles have been putting out hints all preseason that they are excited by Tim. It would not make any sense to do that if they were only kicking the tires on him.
4) By official NFL passing metrics Tim's career passing is on par with most NFL backups including Sanchez & 30 points higher than Barkley's & neither of them add anything to the running game.
5) Tim has 6 4th qtr. comebacks in 14 NFL starts. Sanchez has 10 in 70 starts. Bradford has 6 in 49 starts.
6) Barkley has 0 career touchdowns, zero career victories & 4 career interceptions. He hasn't shown anything in this preseason that would deviate from that trend.
If they make a decision on Tim's prospects soley based on garbage time at the end of preseason games then this whole exercise will have been futile. I believe based on the factors mentioned above I am 99.9% certain that Tim makes it.
Seems most of the beat writers are leaning Tebow. ESP, Eckel, and Weinberg are solidly in the Tebow column. Eckel says most of the league sources he has spoken too expect Tebow to stay.
ReplyDeleteI just saw a quote from Eagles insider from Chip that says something to the effect of. "I have seen Tim Tebow improve since we signed him. He has been alot more accurate with his passes it is a big week for him".
DeleteIf he has seen him improve since they signed him I would have to conclude that he would want to see him continue to improve why would he want to cut that improvement off by cutting him. Besides just a week or so ago it was leaked to the press that unless Tim had a horrific rest of the preseason he was going to make the team.
It certainly could & will be better but I don't think he has been horrific.
Those were Chip's comments at his press conference this morning. I think we can take him at face value. They are going to give Tim plenty of game time against Jets, and he'll earn the job or lose it depending on how he performs.
DeleteMakes sense to do it that way too. Give Tim max time to learn the offense, then evaluate him with pla|ers that have a shot at making the team, not camp bodies. Fair competition.
DeleteThere it is. Barkley starts, Tim gets the second half.
DeleteSo, Tim again plays with less quality around him. I guess this IS his ultimate test.
DeleteThis whole 'competition' coming down to the wire in the last preseason game (against the Jets, no less) is a made-for-TV invention of the press and too cute by half, IMO. The point that Luzwei and I have been making is that playing time and personnel have consistently favored Matt Barkley, to a point that makes no sense if we are to believe that coaches aim to accurately and effectively compare the two. This leads me to believe that the decision is all but made, and has been for quite some time. The pessimist (or anyone that has been down this road before and chooses to protect their sanity) would argue quite defensibly that the Eagles have simply been kicking the tires on a mobile quarterback. The optimist would draw upon the Eagles' lukewarm affection for Matt Barkley and thereby conclude that the team has been reasonably committed to Tim since March. I have reservations but am nevertheless indulging my masochistic tendencies and leaning toward the latter. Chip has played it cagey on three different occasions now just since March, so I'm willing to believe that there's something to the reports that he's excited by Tebow's running but playing it cool for the cameras. In this scenario the claim that Tim really has to screw up to lose this gig also holds up.
Delete[Obligatory Disclaimer] Not that that can't happen... [/Obligatory Disclaimer]
Yep. That was my point from the start of the training camp basically, translating to these preseason games. e heard some rumblings about giving Tim third team reps in games, but this has not happened yet. We shall see if he will have at least a couple of WRs that can separate and or run the right routes. Because, let's be honest, of 10 Bradford throws, those WRs were pretty much untouched and barely covered properly. I would say that the starting WR corps (even subs) is pretty decent for the Eagles. More than decent with Sproles running around being untouchable. So, yeah, I don't want to speculate WWCD, but I just wish Tim would play with someone more than just having a roster spot right now.
DeleteLuzwei: The points you make are precisely why it is a mistake to put so much stock into preseason games. They are played looser & with less intensity than regular games. That is why some quarterbacks look great in preseason & terrible in real games it does not translate. In Tim's case his qualities have always transferred better to real games.
DeleteOne of the byproducts of his improved mechanics is that he plays better in practice than he used to.
IMO this is a classic Occam's Razor scenario. Concluding that the process is rigged in favor of either MB or TT requires making several inferences about Chip's intent based on his actions. The conclusion which requires the least assumptions is that it is an open competition to be decided after the 4th game.
DeleteThat doesn't mean they don't have preferences, only that we cannot reliably divine those preferences from the available evidence.
Ergo, the logical approach is to see how both players do on Thurs.
IMO this is a classic Occam's Razor scenario. Concluding that the process is rigged in favor of either MB or TT requires making several inferences about Chip's intent based on his actions. The conclusion which requires the least assumptions is that it is an open competition to be decided after the 4th game.
DeleteThat doesn't mean they don't have preferences, only that we cannot reliably divine those preferences from the available evidence.
Ergo, the logical approach is to see how both players do on Thurs.
IMO this is a classic Occam's Razor scenario. Concluding that the process is rigged in favor of either MB or TT requires making several inferences about Chip's intent based on his actions. The conclusion which requires the least assumptions is that it is an open competition to be decided after the 4th game.
DeleteThat doesn't mean they don't have preferences, only that we cannot reliably divine those preferences from the available evidence.
Ergo, the logical approach is to see how both players do on Thurs.
Except we're not concluding that the process is rigged. We're concluding that the competition has already taken place and been decided. Do you honestly believe that Coach Kelly just can't decide between the two and is going to allow *one game* to make this decision for him?
DeleteI do.
DeleteAn NFL team is a billion dollar enterprise, and the head coach and GM are senior executives. Successful executives don't pull decisions out of their asses. They establish a formal process to evaluate and select their roster, and they follow that process.
I believe that process was designed to take place over the full preseason, with final deliberations and a decision after the 4th game. I think they are going to play out that process, so that their decision making process remains as objective as possible. I absolutely do not believe that Chip has made up his mind and communicated that to his staff for the purpose of deciding playing time.
>>They establish a formal process to evaluate and select their roster, and they follow that process.<<
DeleteThis is what Luzwei and I are getting at (Luzwei correct me if I'm presuming too much). How is this process to anyone's benefit - including their own - if it entails consistently giving Matt Barkley an advantage in playing time and personnel? Look at the last game: Barkley got three drives to prove himself whereas Tebow got mop-up duty and was instructed to run out the clock rather than try to score. In every game so far Barkley has gone out ahead of Tebow, been given more time than Tebow, and has generally been allocated a more experienced offensive line. And it will be the same story on Thursday. If you believe all of this entails a competition, that's fine, but then you have to concede that the playing field in said competition (no pun intended) is not now even and never has been.
I don't believe that to be the case.
I'm not looking at this and seeing a rigged competition. What I'm seeing, and have been seeing, is that these circumstances neither support an accurate evaluation nor an accurate comparison - and because of that I am concluding that there is no competition. At this point we are watching some other process play out.
I agree with Kathryn on this one. I think they know if they put Barkley with Tebows unit it would only make Barkley look worse which would leesen his value.
DeleteI think they have known all along they are going to keep Tim. Otherwise this would have been a sham of a competition the way it has been handled.
That train of thought relies on the assumption that they are playing Barkley on Thursday in hopes of drumming up trade value for him. That is a pretty shaky aassumption. Who is going to trade for someone who stands a 50/50 chance of being released 2 days later?
DeleteThe assumption for me based on the unevenness of this so called competition is that Chip would have liked for a trade to have happened sooner & since it has not he is seeing the original plan all the way through rather than changing mid stream. While also giving Barkley the accomodation & chance to look good.
DeleteIn a commentary I made way back last summer I predicted the Redskins would be a possible landing spot for Tim. This was before we knew he was even on the Eagles radar. I believe either Tebow or Barkley may get a call from them depending on who sticks with the Eagles.
Kathryn, that is exactly what I'm saying and have been saying it from second week of TC. I don't want to start with the crap that everyone is being unfair to Tim, but if you're gonna evaluate something on the same terms, then you give that the same variables to be interacted with. Sure, Tim is never gonna LOOK like Barkley, but he's never gonna throw 4 interceptions in 50 throws in a live game setting.
DeleteBob, I presume that the Redskins would be interested in Barkley rather than Tebow, and I would go so far as to say that they would be interested only in Barkley. Again, I think that this is the end of the line if Tim gets cut. I am not so optimistic of his chances going forward. I hope I'm wrong.
That's how they evaluate in the NFL. The coaching staff makes a depth chart, and you play with your string until you move up (or down). It's a tough system, but it's a tough league. There are 90 guys on the team and they all get the same deal. 4th string quarterbacks don't get special treatment, even if they are beloved by many.
DeleteBarkley was #3 in the depth chart to start camp, Tim #4, so that is where they play. They aren't going to give #3 to Tim. He has to earn it. So far he has not. I think they want him to, but he has to show them.
It's all academic anyways. We'll know in 4 days if he sticks or not. If he does, we won't care how it happened. If he doesn't, I'm packing my bags and moving on to some other abnormal obsession. :)
Barring a massive passing game on Thursday that has everyone saying "holy crap, Tebow can really throw!", I just cannot see another team taking a shot if Chip dumps him. But if he has a game like that, he'll be with the Eagles.
Chip has shown us he is not afraid to step out of the box & do things his own way. Maybe these evaluations will be no different.
DeleteI look at stats like these & surmise that maybe something is wrong when a guy with a record like this & a playoff win has to be evaluated as a 4th stringer.
First 16 starts:
Tebow 9-7
Favre 9-7
Montana 8-8
Unitas 8-8
Elway 8-8
Bradshaw 6-10
Rodgers 5-11
Young 3-13
P. Manning 3-13
Aikman 2-14
Fouts 1-14-1
Its been proven that Tebows passing stats are on par with many other Qb's. There is something wrong if room cannot be made for a guy like this. With some of the other inferior Qb's on rosters.
Bob, this ship has sailed a long time ago. He is not now will he ever be judged on what he has done before, but only for what he can done in the future. That's the harsh reality for Tim.
DeleteMy operating theory on Chip is to take him at his word:
Delete“Our opinions aren’t formed,” said Kelly, when asked how much weight this game carries in the evaluation of the two quarterbacks. “It’s one more time for a game opportunity. Especially with the quarterback position, practice is different just because they’re wearing red jerseys and they’re not hit. I think when you get them out there in a game it’s another opportunity to get a legitimate evaluation of them. There is a lot of weight in it.”
After consideration Ill back off my opinion a little. I do think it is plausible that Chip is showcasing Barkley to increase the odds he gets picked up by another team after the Eagles cut him.
DeleteI still think Occam's Razor holds, and the conclusion with the least required assumptions or leaps of logic is to take Chip at his word when he says they haven't decided.
But come Saturday I doubt we'll know or care.
I still think that if Tim plays reasonably well another team might take a look if he were to be cut. There are just too many quarterback problems in the league to think they would just close the door on him. The Eagles could also bring him back at some point during the season after all he did spend an entire spring & summer with them "continously improving" like Chip says.
DeleteAlso this preseason game Thu. is going to be played with the intensity of a playoff game. It will test the mettle of both guys. Who will rise to the occasion!? This almost feels like Ali vs Frazier. :)
Chip didn't put any blame on Tim for those missed 2pt point conversions today which was good to hear. He said there was no penetration on the first one & backside help on the second.
ReplyDeleteThere must be a reason Chip continues to say Tim's accuracy keeps improving & he has had a good camp. I just hope its for the reasons we want. Regardless whatever happens on Thu. night does not necessarily have to be the end of the road for him.
I am more at ease looking forward to this game than I have been in quite a while.
Another good article at BGN. The case for Tebow & the battle for the 3rd qb spot. Great insight into the way Chip's mind has worked in building the Eagles.
ReplyDeleteHow & why Tim fits along with this thinking & reflects some of the things we have been commenting about here particularly those 2pt tries from last week.
These projecting articles are just a lot of nothing for putting some words on the screen and some dollars in the pockets, which is basically blowing up hot air in the sky. And some clicks for more advertising money. But this will not last if Tim gets cut.
ReplyDeleteAll I want for tomorrow for Tim is that he gets a good chance to play a decent game, that he leads scoring drives down the field and that he keeps his TO number at ZERO. Some quality NFL throws would be a big plus for him and a couple of big power runs of 20+ yards would be great too.
I hope I'm not asking too much.
10+ completed passes, around 60% completion, a throwing and a rushing TD would be great. No TOs too. If he manages to do that, he will give himself a good chance of putting pressure on CK to cut him. Or not. Who knows what CK thinks.
There will be dozens of click bait articles today and tomorrow, all rehashing the basic facts for casual followers just now tuning in. Unless it comes from one of the local beat guys who have been watching closely from the beginning, it's probably not worth reading.
DeleteI hope they turn him loose and let him play ball. Hopefully he gets more reps this week to get ready. Get the ball out quick, put it on the money, move the chains, and avoid dumb mistakes.
I think Barkley is more on the hot seat than Tim. If he fails to put points on the board, or turns the ball over on a dumb play, he's gonna leave the door wide open, and Tim just has to walk through.
I understand what you guys mean about click bait articles & 99% of the articles out there are not worth the time it takes to read them. However every so often out of this pile of rubbish a good article piques interest. I would go so far as saying that some articles written by fans are the best ones to read because in alot of cases they are the most objective.
DeleteWhich includes alot of the commentaries we have written here.
That is the case with the article I referenced above. It speaks to the strategic brilliance with which Chip has built the Eagles with. It has nothing really to do with tomorrow night per say it just ties alot of the loose ends together.
While many in the establishment still resist Tim there seems to be more of a willingness on their part for him to be in the league than before.
Lets hope he plays well tomorrow night. Barkley seems like a good guy too I hope if he is released another team picks him up.
One thing I always try to keep in mind when watching Tim is his style of play is unorthodox but very effective. Lets hope there is a seemless blending between the way he plays & the way others percieve him to have maximum success.
Sooo, tonight's the night and the moment is nigh. I have to admit, this is taking too much out of me. After reading today's article written by Manish Mehta I have to tap out. It's getting too much for me. There is just too many ways to spin stuff in your desired direction and I'm getting tired of reading them. "He should have supported "fetal position" Orton and "throwing INT machine" Sanchez". He's slow, he can't process this or that." I mean, Ryan Fucking Lindley threw for EIGHTY TWO YARDS in a playoff game and he needed TWENTY EIGHT ATTEMPTS. That's under 3 per. I have never read a single article that this guy can't read defenses or can't process what's in front of him in a way that's repetitive and pretty much distasteful the way it's done about Tim. I can't anymore. I almost feel sorry for myself in wanting for this dude to succeed. I want it that much for him. I want him to have a superb game today, I want it so much it aches. I hope he puts up like 300 all purpose yards and leads three scoring drives.
ReplyDeleteRYAN FUCKING LINDLEY. QB RATING 50.
FUCK EVERYTHING, MAN. I' OUT.
I quit reading articles several days ago. Seriously, at this point what can anyone say that has not been said before?
DeleteI plan to watch this like it is Tim's last game ever. I am going to savor every snap like it is the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. I will deal with what comes later, later.
Hate to gloat because Barkley is a nice guy, but that was just a brutal way to start. Plays right into the storyline about him. Nerves?
ReplyDeleteNice drive but still no TDs in preseason. Plays right into Chip's other hot button, red zone scoring. Barkley leaving the door open so far. Jets doing their part by hogging time of possession.
DeleteWow, Tim going in fast. Gonna give him rest of game, or go 1-3 for Barkley and 2-4 for Tim to get equal comparison?
DeleteLast two passes a bit off target for Tim. He doesn't want to play into the storyline either. But both were catchable, and both were good decisions. Good ball position and plenty of time to get it back and settle down.
DeleteNot very imaginative play calling on that 1st-and-goal.
DeleteNice throw on that drop. Tim settling down, avoiding dumb mistakes. More completions please.
DeleteNice throw on that drop. Tim settling down, avoiding dumb mistakes. More completions please.
DeleteChance to run the 2 min offense. Should see some passing from Tim. He can make a mark here.
DeleteUmmm ... Tebow Time?
ReplyDeleteUmmm, yeah. Tebow Time.
ReplyDeleteBilick on NFL Network just said that Barkley looked good, really controlled the offense. Tebow not so.
ReplyDeleteMatt Barkley 3/6 38Y 6.3YPA 30.6 RTG
Tim Tebow 6/10 105Y 10.5YPA 129.2 RTG
Yeah, I rest my case.
He doesn't have to go in again. I don't care if he gets cut or not. The dude looks day and night how he looked the last time I saw him play couple of years back.
Same spirit, more skill.
DeleteThat's the Tebow we’ve been waiting to see again since 2011.
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ReplyDeleteNo big deal on that interception. Hurts his stats but equivalent to a punt. Good job knowing when to push it. He's throwing more accurately as game goes on.
ReplyDeleteHe's gonna win this game. And make this team.
ReplyDeleteAwesome night for Tebow fans!!!! He looked in complete control right from the start. His confidence seemed to grow by leaps & bounds as the game progressed. Beautiful throws & runs. If there was any doubt he could not throw he put that silly notion to rest forever.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way now he should not make the team. There are 31 teams in this league that are going to regret passing (pun intended) on Tebow.
Consensus from most Eagles beat reporters is that he won a roster spot tonight.
ReplyDeleteWhether he did or he didn't, thanks for the magic one last time, Tim. Was a great game and I enjoyed watching.
Alea Iacta Est.
Wow. Just finished the game (DVR delayed). So fun and rewarding to see that style of ball again with Tebow at the helm. Tim looked great; I agree with your assessment of 'in complete control'.
ReplyDeleteMy Wife and I counted 4 drops by Eagles receivers in the 2nd quarter. Not a big deal, that's what happens in games. But, to be honest, I really didn't note an errant pass by Tebow. The one pass to the RB dribbling out the left side, could have been classified as a touch high, but, you catch those in the NFL.
Great night. Great night.
BTW, the homer NY Announcers calling the game on NFL Network, were sad to listen to all night with respect to their inability to be objective. The only thing more sad and pathetic was Brian Billick's complete lack of objectivity from start to finish. With Tebow's performance tonight, even Merril Hoge would have to concede a 'job well done'.
If this is the last game Tebow plays in the NFL, he went out swinging and posted a stellar performance. Loved it.
RonDog.
If the Eagles do cut him. I don't see how another team would not pick him up. He proved AGAIN tonight that he is better than alot of other quarterbacks in the league. He can play in any system.
DeleteNice post game article with a great slideshow (with comments here): http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/09/tim_tebow_shines.html#incart_river
DeleteNFL YouTube Game 4 Highlights: https://youtu.be/pM6K52o5mFQ
DeleteWell, I'll eat my hat on that one. I surely didn't think anyone could be suckered into paying for Barkley when everyone expected him to be released tomorrow. Good for him, though. Seems like a nice guy and I'm glad he landed with a new team. Much less distressing for him than being cut and picked up off waivers or as an FA. Arizona is probably a better system fit for him anyways.
ReplyDeleteQuick user pool: stick with the Perseverance blog heading, or switch to a photo of Tim in action in Eagles garb. I'm inclined towards the former, as a reminder of how the latter happened. :)
ReplyDeleteYou can always combine the two themes in a split screen of some sort, then it illustrates the whole narrative.
DeletePerserverance by itself is good but its always better when it leads somewhere & pays off. Tim in the Eagle uniform is the triumph.
DeleteI have some thoughts on whats been happening but I want to wait until this shakes out to express them.
The best part is the dismay of the die hard haters. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome news but even with 95% certainty I'm not throwing a party until 4:00 PM EDT tomorrow or roster spot somehow otherwise confirmed by team.
ReplyDeleteInteresting note from ESPN's Diana Russini: evidently Miami offered a 5th for MB back in March but the Eagles wanted more. It's kind of hard to believe, although her sources have been reliable since all of this began with TT's tryout. If there is any truth behind it that would suggest the MB played down his trade value over the course of preseason, since all they're getting now is a conditional 7th round pick for him. At any rate it's just a sidebar topic. I'm happy in any case that they found a trading partner for Matt. Hopefully he will make lemonade out of this.
I just watched NFL Total Access on NFL Network with Nate Burleson & LaDainian Tomlinson. Those two couldn't have been more 'on-board' and supportive of the Eagles bringing in Tebow. I do like those two a lot as fresh faces on the commentator scene; but, I have to wonder if the NFL Network is in damage control following the spectacle that Brian Billick made last night surrounding the Eagles/Jets game.
ReplyDeleteAmazing happenings today with the Barkely trade to AZ. I'm with Bob & Kathryn however and will not let myself assume Tebow is now an Eagle. Need to see the Eagles official website announce it before celebrating.
But, I couldn't be more pleased with the effort Tebow delivered last night under so much pressure. This kind of pressure-packed excellence has been his MO for his entire career to be sure.
BTW, last night's game reminded me how much I enjoy watching the style of ball Tebow plays. The cool thing this time is his style is right in the sweet spot of Kelly's playbook and philosophy. Love it.
Ron
Wow. I just watched this video on the Eagles Website where Greg Cosell analyses the two key pass plays by Tebow & Barkely:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/videos/videos/All-22-Review-Eagles-Vs-Jets/5f3b7b2d-310b-459d-afad-efb91351c60e
I've heard Greg Cosell discuss Tebow a few times before and he was not a fan. Granted he is only dissecting these two plays; but, to hear him speak in such glowing terms about Tebow's execution is a little shocking to be honest.
Enjoy. ron
I'm 99.9% sure he's got it. No way they go through all that effort to dump him. No way they only keep 2 QBs, not with Bradfords knee.
ReplyDeleteThey listed 14 players they were going to waive. Presumably the other 7 are potential trade bait at last minute.
But like everyone else I'll hold off on the victory lap.
In the meantime, just think what a full season of quality coaching in that system will do for him.
This observation from Phil Sheridan is jumping the gun a bit, but worth entertaining with enthusiasm if TT is still on the roster this time tomorrow.
Delete>>With the Eagles, Tebow has a chance to reach his ceiling without the pressure to do so right away. Barkley had likely reached his. He was a smart, solid quarterback able to come in and run the offense if the starter got hurt.
Tebow could be that, but he could also be much more. Bradford will start for the Eagles. Sanchez will be the No. 2 QB. Meanwhile, Tebow can continue to hone the throwing motion he developed with coach Tom House while getting more comfortable in Kelly’s offense.
Maybe he’ll remain the No. 3 quarterback. If so, Kelly gave up nothing by replacing Barkley with Tebow.
But if it all comes together for Tebow in Kelly’s offense, maybe Kelly has something special on his hands. Maybe he’ll have a real phenomenon.<<
Excerpted from:
http://espn.go.com/blog/philadelphia-eagles/post/_/id/13407/trade-shows-eagles-coach-chip-kelly-has-plan-for-tim-tebow
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DeleteSick feeling from all these rumors. Makes no sense. But still, given how many times Tim and his fan base have been screwed with, it's impossible not too be worried.
Delete:(
ReplyDeleteWish I could say I was shocked but we've been down this road before. He should be proud. He earned that spot regardless.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone wants to hold out hope, it is not unusual for players to be released on cut-down day and then signed a few days later. A lot of manipulation goes on to stay under the 53 cap while wheeling and dealing in the next week. See this table I compiled on Pats moves 2 years ago. Note that 4 players released on cut down day were ultimately signed to the team before the first regular season game.
ReplyDeleteNot saying that happens here. Honestly I'm so sick and tired of these assholes that I just want to detach from the process, and not cling to some faint hope. But worth watching what Chip and Tim say.
FWIW, Tim was spotted by multiple people at a Philly airport yesterday, so it's likely he knew about his being cut by then. To me, that either lends support to the idea that Chip will bring him back if/when necessary or was simply a gesture of kindness by Chip, so Tebow wouldn't have to deal w/the media at the airport. Btw, he was flying to AZ, which is where he trains.
DeleteAlso, that ESPN reporter Dianna was actually saying yesterday that the Eagles could cut Tim & bring him back.
Another FWIW: when Tim got cut by the Pats, he pretty quickly tweeted about it. So far, he hasn't said anything on sm.
DeleteAnd now there are multiple reports that the Eagles are looking for 'an upgrade' on a #3 QB. Here's one:
Deletehttps://twitter.com/caplannfl/status/640206000008601605
Genuine or smoke screen?
Waiting to see/hear if there are reports about Tim going back to ESPN/SEC Network soon.
Can we start being realistic for a moment!? OK, let's be real for a second. Tim had a cap hit of 500.000$. You are telling me that a team that has carried a QB3 the last couple of years would be cap restricted by keeping him on the roster. Barkley had the same cap hit the last couple of seasons. I mean...
DeleteI don't understand. The NFL will tell me that what I saw last night is not worth of being at least QB3 on a team!? A QB that has a 98 and 117 QB rating per nfl.com is not worth a roster spot on a non playoff team!?
I don't give a shit. I hope someone tears both Bradford's knees on the first play and rips Sanchez's both arms off his body and shoves them both into Kelly's asshole simultaneously while it's happening on live television.
FUCK ME, MAN. Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on!? I'll wait.
Eliot Shorr-Parks @EliotShorrParks 4m4 minutes ago
Delete#Eagles interested in Christian Ponder to replace Tebow, per report.
IS THIS EVEN REAL LIFE!!!????
Yeah, and then ESP quoted Chip as saying they weren't targeting any QBs as of yet. So...?
DeleteBased on tweets from NFL reporters I'm seeing about Chip's justification for cutting Tim, I don't think he's going to be back. Also, Tim's good friend, MMA fighter Brendan Schaub has posted a pic on IG of him burning his Tebow Eagles jersey. So, yeah. Unfortunately this looks permanent. F*ck the NFL.
DeleteI don't think I want to entertain speculation about a return like we did with the Pats two years ago. It's just too freaking heartbreaking and demoralizing. The guy earned the spot. He did everything he was supposed to do. And to be cut so they could play around with the idea of signing guys like Ponder? If they plan on picking him back up in a few days and he knows it maybe I can understand. But if they cut him with the idea that he'll be available if and when he's needed down the road I hope he tells them no. Even spare tires are brought along on the ride and not left in the garage.
Delete“Tim’s really progressed but we didn’t feel like he was good enough to be the three right now,” Kelly said. “He just needs to get out there and get more reps.”
DeleteI know I ma nowhere near Kelly's football acumen, but has he seen the play of 3rd string QB's in regular season NFL!?
I have to admit to being suspicious, though, about Chip suddenly being quoted by multiple reporters as saying fairly insulting things about Tim's ability. I've seen some people saying that Chip's comments will hurt Tim's ability to get signed by anyone else. I do have to wonder if that's the point. It probably isn't, but it's still odd.
DeleteChip just said at the press conference that Tim was "not good enough" and that they will sign someone else as a 3rd QB. Chip just killed Tim's NFL career forever.
DeleteI'm done. I'll always be a Tebow fan, and I'm amazed away by the character and determination he showed. He earned that spot. However, after 5 years I don't have any more time and emotion to invest in a rigged game. Just can't stand another episode of getting my hopes up for nothing.
I'll wait a few days out of respect, I suppose, but then I'm going to shut down the blog and my twitter account. My goal from this point forward is simply to ensure that the NFL never gets a dime of advertising revenue due to me.
I enjoyed the interaction with all of you.
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Delete“He just needs to get out there and get more reps.”
DeleteAnd where the hell is he going to do that, Chip?
Thank you for your blog, Ed. It's been one of my primary resources for keeping up w/Tim the past 2 years.
DeleteIt's so odd that he would go from stating that Thursdays game was a big game for both MB and TT as if they were both still in earnest competition and under legitimate consideration for the spot, to days later - after TT put up his best game and best arm since joining the team - turning around, cutting him even with room on the roster for him, saying he wasnt good enough and that they're looking for someone else.
DeleteAnd then saying he needs reps? What???
I respect your decision Ed and can't blame you. I hope TT catches on somewhere else. And if not I hope his rekindled joy for the game will encourage him to pursue CFL. If any of that should happen would love to read and participate in your commentary again.
Shades of last year's 'Belichick will bring Tim back theory', except this one is from the reporter who's been on top of Tebow at Philly since he got the workout:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/diannaESPN/with_replies
Her theory does make sense.
It's been a real pleasure reading all your words people. Thank you Ed for giving us this platform. You are all good people and I have enjoyed this very much. Take care!
ReplyDeleteChip told TT to go to CFL for more reps and then he might look at him again.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/jeff_mclane/status/640259288720613376
Hmmm.
DeleteIf he stayed with the Eagles as the #3 QB, he would not dress for games, and most of his practice time would be spent running the scout squad offense. He would get little practice with Kelly's system.
The CFL is on week 11 of a 20 week season. Assuming he got on a team with a shaky QB situation and won the starting job, he could get 8 games worth of live reps. The CFL season ends in early Nov, so he would be available as a free agent to the Eagles or another team. By late Nov injuries have taken their toll in the NFL and several teams are signing anyone who might be able to play a little.
It is entirely possible that Chip might have Tim's best interest in mind, at least in the long run.
And there's this: Alouettes QB throws 5 interceptions
DeleteWe'll know soon enough. If TT believes him *and* believes he'll get a fair shot in the CFL he'll likely do it. If he thinks Chip is just another in a long line of coaches to toy with him then he'll make his way back to ESPN.
DeleteI unfollowed just about everything football related on Twitter, so let me know if you hear anything!
DeleteHe won't sign with the CFL until he clears the NFL waiver wire, not that there is any doubt about that. So 24 hours at the earliest. Alouettes are struggling this year, so hopefully Jim Popp has him on speed dial. I wonder if they still own his rights?
I think their rights expired in 2014 but Popp has the strongest relationship with his camp so for all intents and purposes they'd be the team. What I worry about at this juncture is whether Tim has it in him to give it one more go. I don't mean physically or with respect to having faith in himself. I mean with respect to having faith in these coaches? Does he want to go through all of this again with another set of coaches that are inclined not to believe in him? Another uphill climb against a windstorm of naysayers? We're talking about what would be his *sixth* offense here. In less than four seasons as an active pro. He's got to be gutted right now I don't care what brave face he puts on for the public.
DeleteTangentially I'm getting to where I was last year. I'd like him to join the CFL because he loves football and not because he wants a way back into the league. I'd like him to join a team, spend a few seasons killing it whilst rolling in endorsement deals, and then respond with a pair of hearty double-middle fingers when the league comes calling.
But that's just my bitterness talking.
Even better if he can pick whoever he wants. I think he should go to whatever team offers him the keys right away. There are several CFL teams who have lost their starter to injury and are down to their #2 or #3 QB. Those are guys who never even sniffed an NFL training camp. They would be overjoyed to get a QB with an NFL playoff win under his belt.
DeleteI've always felt Chip could be taken at face value. Chip says Tim's throwing has improved but he needs game reps. I infer that means his decision-making still needs to improve. Not surprising after 2 years out of the league, and no way to practice on his own. No substitute for live game action there.
Be a game-day inactive in the NFL and hope for Bradford's knee to blow out again? Or, be a starter in the CFL for the next 8 weeks? CFL is the smart call for development.
Careful you don't talk yourself into some fantasy scenario of Tim getting picked up after brief scorched earth campaign in CFL. Chip said "maybe" and "later" not "definitely" in "November". It's not part of some strategy Chip is cooking up. It was just advice, like Brady sending him to House after the Pats cut him. We drew the wrong conclusions about that connection too. And let's be realistic if Chip did think TT were worth developing he would let him stay and learn long-term rather than risk another team picking him up (now or after theoretical scorched earth campaign).
DeleteI'd love to see him try the CFL. I want to watch him play. I hope he goes because he loves playing and for no other reason. Everything will shake out as its supposed to from there.
But it's all theoretical until he makes a decision.
Well, you're absolutely right. There is no secret plan. But taking an open CFL door now would not preclude taking an NFL door later in the season. The timing is actually quite nice.
DeleteKathryn, your advice about avoiding fantasy scenarios is well founded. However, as Weinberg pointed out in that article you posted, this whole thing just doesn't make sense. The notion that he is "not good enough" to be a 3rd string QB seems ridiculous. Barkley was no better last year, and they kept him.
DeleteGiven the dissonance between what we saw and what happened, I am going to indulge myself a bit by parsing Chip's words:
"We felt Tim has progressed, but we didn't feel he was good enough to be the 'three' right now."
"He really improved his throwing motion from when he was throwing a couple years ago. He worked extremely hard on it and deserves a lot of credit for that."
"I talked to a little earlier today when we released him. He just needs to get more playing time. Get out there and get actual reps. Because he has done a ton on his own from an individual basis, but it is about taking that next step and playing the game."
I absolutely do not think Chip has any kind of secret scheme to bring Tim in later. However, I also do not think we should discount the notion that Chip is being straight with us: that after 2 years out of the league, Tim needs more in-game playing time, which he is unlikely to get as the Eagles #3, so he is better off going where he can get it.
In other words, that Chip views Tim's comeback as a process that can and should continue.
I agree with this line of thinking. Its just a crappy consolation prize & something Tim should not have to be put through. He has been raked through the coals enough already. I still feel like we (the fans) were misled. If he wants him to get more reps than why did he waste the whole preseason on another qb who he knew he wasn't going to keep.
DeleteThis whole thing sucks. Process or not Tim belongs on an NFL roster. As a starter. Period.
I can't understand what some of these qb's have done to get starting jobs handed to them for gobs of dough that haven't yet proven a thing.
DeleteWhy should Tebow have to go to Canada. BS!!
The question really isn't about what Chip thinks anymore; it's about what Tim thinks. He was in the midst of a process that he trusted when he got cut. Again he did what he was supposed to do. He learned a new system again, with a new set of teammates again, and outplayed Matt Barkley. He earned that spot. And just about everybody but the most committed hater believed it too after that game on Thursday. The beat writers, the analysts, retired players - everybody.
DeleteChip knew he was getting a guy two years out of the league so it's hard to fathom now what he expected. He was making steady progress, getting better and better, and outplayed a guy that was in the system for three years. It's hard to ask for more.
I don't really care anymore why Chip told him to go to the CFL, or if he was earnest, or if he was just trying to justify his decision because I gotta tell you after the dust has settled it still makes no sense. A week ago he said the upcoming game was a big game for Tim. Today he cut him then told the world he wasnt good enough to be their third string guy. The only thing that happened in between was a great game by Tim.
He's been told a lot of things by a lot of coaches, and right now it's hard to imagine he's got enough trust in the process to go back to the drawing board - again - because an NFL coach might take another look at him. Again I'll be thrilled to see him go to the CFL. I have long supported the idea. But I want to see him go and play and kill it and do it because he's having a blast week after week; and not because he's trying to look pretty for the NFL.
Weinberg has been a believer throughout.
ReplyDeletehttp://m.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/eagles/weinberg-if-no-qb-isn-t-big-deal-why-didn/article_4543c546-5412-11e5-a1cf-3fd21ec1382c.html?mode=jqm
Thanks for sharing that article Kathryn. At least one writer knows what a terrible injustice was perpretated.
DeleteI don't even know what to think anymore this is a travesty.
Tim has had to swallow his pride time & time again & subject himself to being placed in positions that are really beneath him. As we all know he has more accomplishments than many starting quarterbacks in this league & they still continue to say he is not good enough. Maybe what is not good enough is the criteria used for evaluations. Yet he has accepted all this with grace & a smile on his face.
As a fan I feel misled by how this was handled. We were led to believe he was progressing well enough to earn a spot if he played well on Thu. then we were further teased into believing he had won the competition when they released the othe qb only to have our hopes dashed at the very last minute.
I don't know where the next turn will lead whether its the CFL or something else but I do know The Eagles are not a better football without Tim.
If I were the Redskins I would on speed dial to Tim's agent. Right now.
If Ed you do decide to shut down the blog I have to say I have enjoyed it very much & have learned alot.
Thank You
I spoke hastily, out of bitterness and anger. I'm going to wait and see what Tim does. If he shows a concrete plan for continuing his pursuit, I'll stick around a while longer.
DeleteAl's have told reporter they're still interested.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/mitchygallo/status/640208901535834112
Florio, for what is worth, has been really level headed regarding this Tebow cut, noting in his articles that Tim has improved and clearly outplayed Barkley by a landslide. He also notes, that this is Tim's reality now, no matter how he played in this preseason and that his path HAS TO BE through CFL if he's honest about his love of football and his intent to play in NFL ever again. And I agree with him. Although, Florio is a wise ass, and a lawyer, I never got the feeling he ever ridiculed Tim for no apparent reason and was one of Tim's biggest supporters for him to play when Sanchize was having a meltdown in 2012. He also notes that bigger names have also gone to Canada and came back to NFL to have successful and even HOF careers. For God's sake, Kurt Warner was bagging groceries in between playing in Arena league and/or NFL Europe. I think it's time for Tim to get a bit of perspective about himself and the CURRENT situation he's in. We have all been laid off from work, and we have all been through injustice in our lives. There should not be anything guaranteed anywhere, and this is not UoF anymore. I really hope there is someone in his corner that can be truthful with him and that he's not coddled anymore by everyone around him.
ReplyDeleteAnd I want to stress one thing, and I don't want it to be a racist one (Tim is not a minority by any regard), but Tim is obviously (to me) going through a black QB complex that NFL had in 70's and 80's regarding mobile and/or black QB's. Doug Flutie was the one that was looked under the same magnifying glass, obviously. Warren Moon as the prime example of the transition. He doesn't have to stay in CFL for 6 years like Moon did. I think that 2 solid seasons would do wonders for his career and he would still be fairly young for a QB (around 30) and poised for at least 5-8 great seasons in NFL, if given proper chance. That is all, of course, if what Tim preaches is true. He never shied away from the challenge in his life, and he should not shy away now. He should not worry about his "brand", as his brand can grow only stronger from this, it can't sink any lower. And if he's only thinking about his brand, than he should look no further than to RGIII and see how all that turned out to be.
Take care!
Couldn't agree more. And another thing: he's got a fan base that would go to hell and back with him. (Not sayin' Canada's hell. Canada's lovely this time of year.) Point is if he goes he's gonna be pleasantly surprised to see all the love and support and selfie requests follow him up there, not to mention the TV cameras. The NFL Network changed their Thursday night programming for him last week, make no mistake. He remains a massive draw. And ESPN already has a programming agreement with the CFL. There's no way in hell (or Canada) they're not going to capitalize on Tim playing there. He's not going to slip into obscurity up there no way. And can you imagine if he does well while guys that got rostered in the NFL struggle? Argh Tim just go - go and see what happens. The Lord may have a wonderful thing in store for you up there.
DeleteReal nice to see Florio acknowledge that Tim beat out Barkley. Good on him.
Now that I've had time to process the shock, I believe spending the next 9 weeks starting in the CFL is better for Tim's development than being a #3 QB in the NFL. As bitter as I am over Chip's duplicity, I can't rule out that he had Tim's best interest in mind when he cut him.
DeleteNow that I've had time to process the shock, I believe spending the next 9 weeks starting in the CFL is better for Tim's development than being a #3 QB in the NFL. As bitter as I am over Chip's duplicity, I can't rule out that he had Tim's best interest in mind when he cut him.
DeleteDoes anyone recall Chip's post game presser on Thu.? He said both qb's were up & down or something to that effect. It struck me as odd & I didn't think anything of it at the time because Tim had played so well I didn't think there was any way he would be cut.
DeleteLooking back on it now I believe the decision to release Tim had already been made & Chip was a little defensive having to answer some of the questions about how well he played.
We all know Tim is not your typical 3rd string QB. Any non descript unaccomplished QB could fill the role of 3rd stringer on any team without any fanfare.
Because Tim played so well the Eagles had a dilemma on their hands. Keep him as 3rd string & risk a situation like happened in NY where the locker room was divided & could potentially blow up the season or release him.
I agree. For developmental purposes going to Canada is better than being 3rd string in the NFL. Over the coming months we will find out what their true intentions were.
I still don't like the way it was handled. Saying he was not good enough to be 3rd string was unnecessary & uncalled for.
According to Alex Marvez, the waiver period ends at noon today. Nobody expects Tim to be claimed, but he won't make any moves towards the CFL until that is clear.
ReplyDeletePlease don't look who Eagles claimed for a 3rd QB spot. None of you look.
DeleteI actually would have been more offended if they had claimed a veteran that they clearly intended to carry on their roster, like Ponder or Flynn.
DeleteThis guy is clearly a practice squad candidate. They looked at the list of releases and he's the one with the numbers closest to their profile. I doubt they've even seen him play or watched film. But they have to claim him to give him a workout.
So rather than spend the day watching NFL teams pluck useless numbnuts off the waiver wire while the usual suspects attempt once again to force us to believe said turnover machines have more innate quarterbacking talent than TT - I instead got my sorry butt up at four am and hiked to the summit of Mt. Gray here in Colorado - 14,270 feet. Yay for me!
DeleteI agree that Chip gave TT solid advice but I disagree that he cut TT loose with TT's best interests in mind. He felt for whatever reason that it was in his team's best interests, which is his job. Nothing more nothing less. Whether he really believed TT was not good enough or for some other reason we'll likely never know, IMO. But if we're to be taking him at face value...well.
At any rate I'm confused as to why it's important to make the move look benevolent on Chip's part. It was neutral, really. He cut a quarterback and said go get more experience somewhere else. He may very well have had similar advice for other players. Same could be said for every coach and GM out there.
At any rate, tired of talking about Chip, as I am the rest of the NFL. What really concerns me at this point is this: when it comes to the league Tim is the proverbial high school poindexter groveling for attention from the cheerleader that could give a rat's ass about him. I worry that instead of snapping out of it with this latest heartbreak he'll stand outside her door with a bouquet like a pathetic doofus waiting for yet another chance to get slapped in the face. More plainly spoken, I worry that he'll waste precious time that could be spent in the CFL hoping for another opportunity with the league due to injury or contract logistics. Have some pride, Tim.
Good job bagging a fourteener! I did a few when I lived in Colorado Springs.
DeleteIt's not important to make Chip out to be benevolent. I'm just working through my own anger and sense of betrayal. If I can get to the point where it makes a little sense, it will bug me a little less. Everyone else is entitled to rationalize it in their own way.
ITA about the CFL. There are only 9 weeks left in the CFL season. If he gets his butt up there right away, he can get some solid game action under his belt and have a shot at slipping back into the NFL at the end of this season. If he holds out for an NFL shot he'll waste another season. He's got some momentum now and he needs to keep it going on the field, not go back to "throwing through a tire", as Florio put it.
As of this afternoon, Tim was still in AZ.
DeleteThanks. If something in works it will take a couple days to hammer out an agreement. If not I guess back to TV. Sure hope not.
DeleteThe CFL has a bizarre schedule. The Alouettes don't play again until 20 Sept, and apparently don't practice until a few days before that. So Tim has a week or so to sort things out.
DeleteI wonder however if he's entitled to the playbook and consultation w/coaches the moment of theoretical signing?
DeleteWow.
ReplyDelete>>Montreal retains his CFL contract rights and it was only about a year ago when team officials met with Tebow in the United States to have significant discussions about joining their team. Tebow was very serious about doing it then, sources said, even having his bags packed for Montreal at one point, before opting for the ESPN job instead.<<
(From http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25293343/inside-football-why-rg3-is-staying-put-why-tebow-needs-to-go-to-canada)
I wish he would have gone. He obviously wanted to but something tipped the scales in favor of SEC Network. Some possible reasons:
-Better money? It seems someone willing to spend two offseasons with two different NFL teams for $0 wouldn't let that be the deciding factor, unless maybe financially supporting his foundation became a material issue. That said, the Al's gave Michael Sam a $100,000 contract, and pays its top players around $400,000 - comparable to the $500K-$600K that was guesstimated to be his ESPN salary. I just don't think it was the $.
--Integrity? He had signed on the dotted line with ESPN in the winter of '13 - when he wasn't yet on the Al's radar because Anthony Calvillo was still their quarterback. Calvillo retired just a month or two later and then the Al's started making overtures to Tim. Maybe he entertained negotiations to a satisfactory point, but by that summer had decided that he'd made the commitment to ESPN and that it would have been unfair to them to back out as one of SECN's tentpole personalities at the last minute before the network launched.
--Possible NFL opportunity? Maybe Sexton had gotten enough nibbles from teams to tell Tim to ride out the season waiting for a bite. In a way that scenario did come to fruition with the Eagles.
Any other ideas?
Whatever the case if he was truly that close to going then let's hope that his run with the Eagles convinced him to go for it this time.
I can't get over this. It's just so intriguing.
Delete>>Popp was perhaps even closer to signing Tebow, the former Florida star and Heisman Trophy winner whose NFL career had stalled after leading the Denver Broncos to the playoffs in 2011. Last August he met with Tebow at an undisclosed location in the US with the intention of bringing him to the Alouettes. He said Tebow had packed his bags for Montreal and brought the luggage with him, which Popp took as a sign Tebow would come to Montreal. But Tebow was close to taking a job with ESPN as an SEC football analyst and the near-agreement soon dissolved. This past winter, Tebow signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.<<
(From: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jun/25/montreal-alouettes-michael-sam-jim-popp-interview)
Nice Job on your hike Kathryn:
DeleteDid anyone hear Sal Palontonio today?? He like the rest of us was shocked the Eagles cut Tim. He could not believe after progressing all summer & outperforming Barkley in camp & then putting it all together in the last preseason game that he would be released. Another commentator also could not believe another team did not pick him up.
IMO there seems to be more justifiable outrage now than there was when Tim was released by Denver & then was put through that debacle of a season in NY.
Everyone saw that he was much improved & something about this is not right.
If Bradford & Sanchez struggle & Philly has to look for a real quarterback & not a practice aquisition then we will know what they really think of Tim.
In the meantime lets hope Tim continues to play in Canada or elsewhere while Rome burns.
I've been doing some reading on the differences between the NFL and CFL. It would be an interesting transition for Tim. Here are some of the key differences:
Delete1. Larger and wider field.
2. 12 players on field (extra receiver).
3. 20 second play clock instead of 40.
4. 3 downs instead of 4.
5. All backs can go in motion, not just one, and they don't have to stop before the snap.
6. No contact with receivers after 1 yard from scrimmage, instead of 5 yards.
Net result is faster game with more passing and longer passes.
Some things would be a tough adjustment for Tim. The 12 players in particular is a big mental change and requires relearning routes and coverages. For someone who already struggles with progressions and reads, that could be an obstacle.
On the other hand, the passing game leans towards longer passes rather than dink and dunks, and Tim has a strong arm. Also, his ability to keep plays alive would be an asset with only 3 downs.
If he were to excel as a passer in the CFL, it would go a long way towards dispelling the notion that he cannot pass or make reads. And the fast, no-huddle game would directly translate to Chip's offense.
However, the reverse is also true. If he were to struggle in making the adjustment, it would reinforce every preconception about him, and no NFL team would ever look at him again.
So, high risk and high reward, but realistically the only path available to him right now, barring a season-ending injury to Bradford in the next few weeks.
This is why I wish he would go to play because he loves the game and not because he's trying to get back into the NFL. It's going to take time and reps to harvest sustainable success, and it's impractical to issue a verdict after an abrupt, nine-week span with absolutely no preparation, study, rapport with coaches and teammates or running start. Expect him to struggle. It's what anyone in his position would experience. If nothing else the man has earned patience. Eventually he will prove the NFL's lack thereof to be their loss.
DeleteThis is meant as encouragement tho I come across as a battle axe.
Bob, thanks. It's gratifying to hear from analysts that find the move perplexing. On the other hand it's also amusing to watch the same media - who two days ago exclaimed that TT had played himself back into the NFL - now do an about face and insist he's not good enough etc. The reactionary, herd mentality of most of these people is astonishing and hilarious when you realize they take themselves seriously.
DeleteApparently the Alouettes are a bit of a mess right now:
Deletehttp://montrealgazette.com/sports/football/cfl/montreal-alouettes/zurkowsky-calvillo-is-a-desperate-choice-as-alouettes-oc-but-at-least-he-cant-make-it-any-worse
Apparently the Alouettes are a bit of a mess right now:
Deletehttp://montrealgazette.com/sports/football/cfl/montreal-alouettes/zurkowsky-calvillo-is-a-desperate-choice-as-alouettes-oc-but-at-least-he-cant-make-it-any-worse
Yikes. Well...on the one hand wholesale instability and lack of identity isn't exactly an ideal environment for developmental reps, is it? On the other hand if it's so bad that blowing up the whole effing show seems the only remaining option then bringing Tim on is almost a poetic master stroke.
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DeleteI don't disagree with a lot of the content in that article ^ but he shoots himself in the foot with all of the name-calling and such. His open letter to Chip Kelly, while offering some valid points, comes across as a temper tantrum. Look, we're all disappointed. Chip was wrong, not in cutting Tim, but in leading everyone along the way he did when it was clear in hindsight that Tim never had a chance. But two wrongs don't make a right. We don't have the moral authority to stomp our feet and call him names, wish injury on a perfectly decent guy in Sam Bradford, the demise of the team, or the nuclear annihilation of a city that welcomed Tim to their team with open arms. It's just so ironic to me that one of the reasons we admire Tim so much is his grace and kindness, and yet have such a hard time emulating it when he provides near daily examples.
Delete(PS just to be clear I'm not accusing you of anything Bob, it's just that I've seen a lot of disturbing reactions out there and parts of this guy's article reminded me of them...)
Thanks Kathryn: I agree with your take.
DeleteIn two years absolutely nothing has changed. The two clowns over at First Take are still vigorously humping the leg of their tired, worn-out act: Skip championing Tebow with logical points, then sabotaging his own argument with absurd hyperbole that invites nothing but deserved ridicule; and then Stephen A. Smith rolling out his usual stable of put-upon, eye-rolling expressions while maintaining his singular, completely disproven argument: Tim Tebow can't throw. This, after just watching Tim in six drives throw it 11/17 (4 of those incompletions dropped), 189 yards and two touchdowns.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy enough to change the channel on those two dweebs, but that's not the point. The point is that Skip and SAS represent the two sides of an argument that was supposed to have been resolved by the end of this preseason. Instead we are right back where we started two years ago, with the same two camps of fans and haters throwing the same crap at the same walls.
If Tim had crapped the bed this preseason with a 48% completion rate, a handful of interceptions and nothing but one or two drives resulting in field goals then it would be easy to agree with the officious, arrogant verdict pronounced by so many of the establishment NFL media. But he didn't. Instead he took his few months of familiarity with a new system, limited reps, and limited opportunities in playing time, and produced a 58% completion rate with two passing touchdowns and 82 yards rushing with a rushing touchdown, and drove his offense down the field for a couple of field goals on top of that.
The guy who crapped the bed with no touchdowns, two interceptions and one or two field goals, after being given three years to learn the system and the lion's share of reps and playing time? Traded to Arizona because he's evidently an NFL QB.
Tim? Don't believe your lying eyes, we're told. Again. He's not an NFL QB.
Enough already.
Well said, Kathryn. Someone on *that* forum said earlier that Skip is claiming multiple people in Tim's camp are urging him to go to CFL, but that Tim is resisting them so far. Have you heard this? Has anyone else?
DeleteRE: Kat; Stopped watching that shit show in 2013. Spare yourself the outrage.
DeleteRE: Brooke; If that is the case and he's resisting it, he's more delusional than me when I'm getting into a fight with random twitter hater about his throwing motion. He can ALWAYS go back to NFL if he gets the offer. I'm sure he can put something like that into his contract. I'm sure he has that kind of leverage. To miss an opportunity to build on pretty good 4 or so moths of NFL practice time with a good showing in CFL and be ready for a banged up team to pick him up for playoffs would be a great opportunity to pass on. I don't understand the fear of failing in CFL. He can't fail more in NFL, the perception of him failing more in NFL is non existent. HE CAN'T BE CUT WORSE THAN THIS YEAR!
The definition of what constitutes an NFL quarterback is the standard used by most of these guys. Its way past time that that definition be revised to maintain any relevancy as far as being an effective quarterback is concerned.
DeleteSure if you want to look pretty in practice & look good in the pocket during games without any regard to winning football than maybe the definition of NFL quarterback might mean something. On the other hand if you want to get a real definition of quarterback one needs to look no further than Tebow to understand what Quarterback in the true sense of the word really means.
The argument goes on & will continue to until the issue is definitively resolved on the field. Which most supporters want to see & most naysayers do not because they are afraid of what the results would be.
So what hapened in Tim's last game only reinforced both sides position all the more. The decision to cut Tim & the way it was mishandled could not have been any worse to help resolve these arguments. The irony is that in an attemt to quell the noise & take some pressure off of their Qb's going into the season. This decision has done the opposite.
Skip and SAS care not one whit about logic, facts, or rational analysis. They are entertainers, pure and simple. Their shtick is to adopt two opposite viewpoints that can be easily embraced by an audience consisting mostly of high school graduates, and then throw rhetoric at each other for an hour. Their views should be given no more creedence than Penn & Teller, Taylor Swift, or Drunk Uncle on SNL.
DeleteChip and his staff are rational actors, which is why this whole turn of events is so perplexing. Nothing about it makes sense.
I think perhaps something is yet to be revealed, though I do not know what. I have a suspicion the end game will not be clear until next week, after the Eagles MNF game on 14 Sep and before the Alouettes next game on 20 Sep. Events in that time window will eliminate several possibilities, leaving us at the end with only one or two explanations for action or inaction.
From a random commenter on philly.com:
ReplyDelete"I have a friend who knows a couple of the eagles players- both are still on the active roster. He gave me some supposed scoop;
First on Tebow - the entire team thought Tebow easily did enough to be the #3 QB and were sure he would make the team Said even though Kelly reduced his reps Tebow was making big strides toward the end of camp to the point that many felt he was starting to challenge Sanchez. Feeling on the team is that Kelly seemed really irked about the reception Tebow got in that first game (standing O chants of TEBOW etc.). They really knew he was gone when they got that first down inside the five during the last preseason game (after the INT) and Kelley did not call a single play for Tebow. Said Tebow knew it then as well."
From a random commenter on philly.com:
ReplyDelete"I have a friend who knows a couple of the eagles players- both are still on the active roster. He gave me some supposed scoop;
First on Tebow - the entire team thought Tebow easily did enough to be the #3 QB and were sure he would make the team Said even though Kelly reduced his reps Tebow was making big strides toward the end of camp to the point that many felt he was starting to challenge Sanchez. Feeling on the team is that Kelly seemed really irked about the reception Tebow got in that first game (standing O chants of TEBOW etc.). They really knew he was gone when they got that first down inside the five during the last preseason game (after the INT) and Kelley did not call a single play for Tebow. Said Tebow knew it then as well."
I have read this paragraph at least 8 times in a row. I still can't believe it. It has to be a big fat lie to rile people up. I mean, if Kelly is basing his decisions on his own hurt feelings and potential hurt feelings of his backup QB, than fuck it all together to hell.
DeleteSo this is about cheering fans (which he had to know was part of the package from the outset) and - wait for it - Mark Sanchez? If there is a hint of truth to this then Chip has just lost a lot of respect, not just as a leader of a team but as a man. You don't want the distraction? OK, cutting him is your prerogative. But to then hold a press conference and justify the move by claiming he wasn't good enough? Sabotaging the kid? My God.
DeleteI was about to go off on Tim for resisting the CFL as reported by Brooke ^^^ but again if there's any truth to this you can see why he'd hesitate to rush up there before waiting for the dust to settle around the league. I can't believe I'm justifying the rejected poindexter approach that I condemned just a few posts ago but this is a strange wrinkle.
DeleteIt's a bit conspiracy theorist though so we'll see.
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DeleteThanks for that info, Ed. I almost posted the following w/my earlier comment, but decided not to. After seeing that quote, however, I'll post it now.
DeleteTo everyone: Do you think it's possible that Chip cut Tim b/c he actually played too *well* in the final PS game? The last thing any HC wants is a QB controversy, right? Tim's popularity was already going to increase the chances of that happening, w/the crowd chanting 'Tebow' everytime the starting QB did something wrong. But then, on top of that, he actually played well enough in that final PS game to justify the 'Tebow' chants. Even Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone, was quoted as saying Tebow should start. So, is it possible Chip cut Tim to avoid a QB controversy-especially given the past history w/Sanchez' psych meltdown due to Tim simply waiting in the wings-, then denounced him as 'not being good enough to be QB3' as a way of scaring off any other HCs from kicking Tim's tires? I realize this is convoluted, but just wondering what people think of it.
This might also explain Tim's current reluctance to go to the CFL when he was packed & ready to go there only a year ago. He knows Bradford's physical history & Sanchez' psych history-they're both fragile. So it's only a matter of time before Chip needs a *real* QB3.
I think the notion of him "letting the dust settle" is a good one, and the most probable explanation for his current posture.
DeleteThe dust won't fully settle until next week. There will be dozens of roster changes this week as every NFL team works out their waiver claims and FAs. Many will get released after a few days and reclaimed by other teams. Contracts aren't locked in until the first regular season game, so this week is a sort of rolling mini-draft to fill holes where the preseason revealed lack of depth.
The Alouettes schedule this week affords Tim the luxury of letting the process unfold. They have a bye week, so they don't practice until next Friday.
So I would expect him to sit tight in the faint hope that a roster spot opens up somewhere thus week, while concurrently negotiating terms with a CFL team, then pull the trigger next Tuesday.
I think the notion of him "letting the dust settle" is a good one, and the most probable explanation for his current posture.
DeleteThe dust won't fully settle until next week. There will be dozens of roster changes this week as every NFL team works out their waiver claims and FAs. Many will get released after a few days and reclaimed by other teams. Contracts aren't locked in until the first regular season game, so this week is a sort of rolling mini-draft to fill holes where the preseason revealed lack of depth.
The Alouettes schedule this week affords Tim the luxury of letting the process unfold. They have a bye week, so they don't practice until next Friday.
So I would expect him to sit tight in the faint hope that a roster spot opens up somewhere thus week, while concurrently negotiating terms with a CFL team, then pull the trigger next Tuesday.
Brooke, you pose a good question, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that Tim's popularity scared him off; but that said Chip knew what he was getting when he signed Tim. And the Eagles themselves capitalized on Tim's popularity in a major way with their announcement of the signing, promotional materials, merchandising, video features and so on. If his popularity was a problem why fan the flames? In some ways it's hard to believe that Chip would be "irked" by the reception Tim got. It just doesn't mesh with his outward persona IMO. At the same time it helps explain what even some of his teammates apparently view as an inexplicable roster cut.
DeleteI wish we had more concrete information to digest.
Chip might not have been as aware of the problem w/signing Tim as, for example, Belichick or Rex. When Tebowmania happened in 2011, Chip was still at Oregon & probably was so consumed w/his own team and schedule that he wasn't paying as much attention to the NFL as to his opponents. On top of that, that was 4 years ago, so Chip could have been thinking that the intense interest in Tim would have died down by now. But you're right in that the Eagles did fan the flames of this, albeit not nearly as much as the Jets did. I'm finding myself wondering if this was yet another publicity stunt, like in NY. But I don't think it was.
DeleteNot so sure about the publicity stunt angle. That's a lot of effort and use of coaches time, practice reps and playing time for a publicity stunt.
DeleteI agree-I don't think it was a publicity stunt here. Probably not even in NY. I think the NY GM might have believed in Tim, but everyone else didn't.
DeleteAll the crazy ass "Open Letters to Chip" and insults from the media need to stop. If there is even the faintest chance of another team kicking the tires, Skip is doing his best to discourage them from doing so.
DeleteI agree it's not helpful at all.
DeleteCompletely agree. What a mess.
DeleteSomeone on another site said that Dan Patrick said on his show that he'd heard a return to either the SEC Network or the SEC (I couldn't tell which b/c of the way it was stated) was in the works for Tim. Has anyone else heard this?
ReplyDeleteUgh. Worst possible news ever. If true Tim is throwing in the towel. Major disappointment, but at least we'll have closure. We'll be able to shutter everything and move on.
Delete