EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Even though only a preseason game, Thursday night’s Eagles-Jets matchup served as one of the most important outings of Tim Tebow’s life.
Tebow battles Matt Barkley for Philadelphia’s third quarterback spot, and the former Heisman Trophy-winner played well in the Eagles 24-18 loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium (UPDATE: The Eagles sent Barkley to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional seventh-round draft pick on Friday.).
Does Tebow think he did enough to make the team?
“That’s not up to me,” Tebow told media, including Breitbart Sports, after the game. “I just try to go out there, improve and compete. Obviously, we wanted to win tonight. I just tried to go out there and compete with a bunch of great teammates.”
Tebow threw a pair of touchdown passes and finished with a 117.0 QB rating, which is very good. This came in just two quarters of play. He also ran four times for 32 yards.
Barkley and Tebow alternated quarters.
Tebow did throw an interception, but this came after he drove Philadelphia into field-goal range and the Eagles went for it on 4th-and-15. Tebow attempted a desperation pass under pressure. In a regular season game, Chip Kelly likely would have opted to kick a field goal here.
In the second quarter, Tebow threw a perfect pass to wide receiver Rasheed Bailey, covered tightly, on the right side of the end zone for an 18-yard score. Then, in the fourth quarter, he pulled some Tebow magic, rolling left, avoiding the rush, and hitting wideout Freddie Martino for a nine-yard touchdown.
His competition, Barkley, threw no touchdown passes.
So, the 28-year-old Tebow certainly helped his cause. But was it enough to secure a roster spot? That will be decided by Eagles coach Chip Kelly, and he has until 4 p.m. on Saturday to make this, and many other, personnel decisions to pare down his roster to the mandatory 53 players.
“I’ve said this a lot of times, but I don’t worry about things I can’t control,” Tebow explained after the game. “It’s a blessing to be able to come out here and play the game I love.”
Is this an anxious time for him as he waits to hear his football fate?
“No sir. I try not to be anxious for anything. It’s just how I try to approach life.”
The way he approaches life is admired by so many Christians across this country—and the world. And surely many root for this special man to live his NFL dream.
We will find out late Saturday afternoon if that happens.
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