National Football League

Eagles personnel chief: Tebow has made 'great deal of improvement'

Published Apr. 23, 2015 11:26 a.m. ET

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PHILADELPHIA

Ignore the hype. Tim Tebow is just another guy competing for a roster spot on the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Obviously, we were intrigued with what we saw there," Eagles personnel chief Ed Marynowitz said Thursday. "We saw a player who improved from the last time we saw him live, which was when he was here with New England. We had some conversations and some discussions, and we felt that it was an opportunity to bring in someone who could compete for a spot.

"Look, we've got 68 players who are on our football team right now. And Tim's one of them. He'll have an opportunity to compete for a roster spot. And his role will be determined by his performance and it's as simple as that."

Philadelphia's new vice president of player personnel was the first member of the organization to publicly discuss Tebow since the Eagles signed the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner to a one-year contract on Monday. Neither Tebow nor coach Chip Kelly has been available to the media.

Tebow was 9-7 as a starter for Denver in 2010-11, including playoffs. He threw just eight passes for the New York Jets in 2012 and also lined up as a punt protector.

Marynowitz said Tebow is here to play quarterback, not another position. Still, the innovative Kelly could try various ways to get Tebow involved in the offense. Sam Bradford, acquired in a trade from St. Louis, is penciled in as the starting QB. Mark Sanchez is the backup. Tebow is competing with Matt Barkley for the No. 3 job. G.J. Kinne also is on the roster.

Tebow has worked with former Texas Rangers pitching coach Tom House on his mechanics. The Eagles were impressed with his improvement during a private workout in March. Tebow's career completion percentage is 47.9.

Marynowitz met the media Thursday morning for the first time since being named VP of Player Personnel. Until now, the perception had been that Marynowitz was only a figurehead and someone who would only echo every sentiment that Kelly had. Marynowitz looked to dispel that notion right away.

"I know that’s a common (perception) that everybody throws out,’’ Marynowitz said, as reported by Paul Domowitch of the Philadephia Daily Inquirer. “Is this guy just a yes man. Are you (always) going to agree (with him)?

“I’ve never been a guy to agree (with someone) just to agree. To support the head coach, I don’t believe (the best thing to do) is tell him he’s always right and everything.’’

Just because Marynowitz is willing to disagree with Kelly doesn't mean that he often will.

“Not because we’re all agreeing with him but because we’re all speaking the same language,’’ he said. “We all see players in a very similar capacity. Chip has done a great job of supplying the vision to the entire organization, to the coaching staff and personnel department, of what he’s looking for in order to build a football team.

“At any type of position, he’s going to give us the parameters, give us the prototypes. Clearly communicate what he’s looking for. And it’s our responsibility to find those players.’’

The entire meeting revealed very little about the Eagles' upcoming draft plans, as expected, but Marynowitz did offer this interesting nugget on a player often linked to the Eagles in mock drafts, Alabama safety Landon Collins.

“It’s becoming more of a pass-happy spread league,’’ he said. “(Collins) can do it to a degree. All these guys have strengths and weaknesses. Landon has the potential to do that, (but) maybe not to the degree that some other guys do.’’

The dynamic between Marynowitz and Kelly will be an interesting one to follow throughout their tenure together.

FOX Sports' Dan Schneier contributed to this report.