In perhaps the most highlighted roster battle of the preseason, it looks like we’ve finally gotten the answer we’ve been longing for. This afternoon, the Philadelphia Eagles officially announced they traded quarterback Matt Barkley to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional late-round pick.
While head coach Chip Kelly stated that one game would not be the determining factor, last night’s outing against the New York Jets all but confirmed that Tim Tebow shows the most promise at this point. Barkley threw an interception on just his second throw of the game, and struggled with his accuracy throughout.
Countering Barkley’s rough night, Tebow shined in the loss, making some impressive, spot-on throws, and showing more poise than we have seen in the past. Tebow finished the night 11/17 for 189 yards and two touchdowns, playing in the second and fourth quarters. He also rushed for 32 yards on four carries.
The main debate over who Kelly would choose came down to how either player could be utilized. There is no question that Barkley has the more polished quarterback mechanics of the two, but Tebow’s athleticism offers a dynamic that Barkley lacks. We’ve seen some hints of Tebow lining up for two-point conversion attempts, and there may be more opportunities to take advantage of his running abilities.
Tebow may never be the starting quarterback for a team in this league, but his skill set may keep him around for longer than many predicted. We also can’t overlook the fact that while Tebow’s throwing is still questionable, he has greatly improved from some of the throws we last saw him make during his brief stint in New England. With more practice with the team, Tebow has the potential to develop into a reliable piece of the Eagles quarterback corp.
It should be noted that Barkley’s trade does not necessarily confirm Tebow’s spot on the roster, but the odds that Tebowmania runs wild in Philadelphia are strongly stacked in his favor. The Eagles have until 4 p.m. tomorrow to officially announce the final 53-man roster.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
