Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow tried to make a return back to football by working out for the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. However, the team decided to not sign him up.
According to Mike Fiammetta of Sports Illustrated, it is the first time Tebow has been to a football field since he last played in the NFL in 2012 as a member of the New York Jets. He also signed with the New England Patriots in 2013 but was out two months later.
"Though Tebow has begun a broadcasting career with ESPN, SEC Network and ABC's Good Morning America, he reportedly maintained hopes of resuming his NFL career," Fiammetta wrote.
However, Fiammetta reported that the Eagles re-signed Tebow's former teammate Mark Sanchez as quarterback instead. In addition, the team traded out LeSean McCoy, exchanged Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams for Sam Bradford, and signed DeMarco Murray.
According to Mike Tanier of Bleacher Report, Tebow is not on the NFL Veteran Combine's invitation list. However, he has worked over a year with Tom House, former major league pitcher who now owns "a performance center for quarterbacks and pitchers."
"His initial go-around was because he had accuracy issues and he had trouble spinning the ball," House said when asked about what Tebow wanted from him. "That's what we've been working the hardest on."
House explained that Tebow wanted to improve his accuracy by "spinning the ball." He explained how important that concept was to both football and baseball players.
"If the ball doesn't spin true, there are issues with release point and where the wrist and elbow are," House said. "If the spin is there but the front side wobbles up and down, or the tail goes one way or the other, there's a mechanical flaw somewhere."
House told Tanier that he worked on the former NFL quarterback's "repetition, timing, sequence and mechanics." He elaborated on the training routine he had with Tebow.
"We've been seeing him about three days every week, year-round," House said. "Now, he works besides his time with us, but the time he spends working with us on skills, routes and all of those things works out to about two or two-and-a-half hours per day."
Tanier asked House on how much Tebow has changed his gaming style in terms of motion since he last played professionally in the NFL.
"If you remember the old Tim Tebow, or you looked at old film, then you look at it now, you could see the difference," House said. "What that means to him or to you or to my eyes isn't really important. What matters is that he is releasing the ball more efficiently, with better spin and accuracy, at the right time."
House wondered why Tebow was surrounded by so much controversy in the NFL, given that he was "real" and "a great kid."
"I don't know why people would not like him. He gets along with everybody here," House said. "The coaches here love him. He's authentic. His intensity level is huge. He's a competitor."
Tanier then asked House on what teams will see if they gave Tebow a chance to try out.
"They will see a more efficient passing motion, with more accuracy and more spin than they have ever seen before," House said. "I can't see any reason why someone would not at least give him another chance."
House added that it would be nice to have Tebow "get one more shot to make a ball club."
