Despite cutting ties with quarterbacks Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow, the Philadelphia Eagles are still searching for a third-string quarterback.
The Eagles roster currently hold 52 players, after the team began making it's final roster cuts yesterday.
On Friday, the Eagles traded away Barkley to the Arizona Cardinals for a 2016 conditional seventh round draft pick. The Eagles acquire the draft pick if Barkley remains on the Cardinals roster for at least six games this year.
In today's press conference, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said that Barkley will have the opportunity to succeed in Arizona. Last season, the Cardinals lost to the Carolina Panthers in the playoffs mainly because they were stuck with Ryan Lindley at quaterback. Also, Barkley is good friends with Cardinals starting quarterback Carson Palmer.
After the Eagles traded Barkley, it was assumed that Tebow would remain on the Eagles final roster. However, Tebow was one of the final roster cuts made today. It it likely that Philadelphia was the last stop in Tebow's NFL career. The Eagles were the fourth team to give Tebow a shot to play.
"Tim's really progressed but we didn't feel he was good enough to be the three right now," Kelly said. "He just needs to get out there and get more reps."
If Tebow doesn't sign with a team, he will most likely return as a broadcaster for the SEC Network.
Kelly announced that the Eagles will sign another quarterback. He said that it doesn't matter if the team decides to bring in the quarterback as a member of the practice squad or the 53-man roster. If the Eagles played a game today in which both Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez got injured, the team would be forced to bring in tight end Trey Burton as an emergency quarterback.
So, who will be the next Eagles quarterback? Kelly says that he isn't sure yet because not all of the NFL teams have yet to officially announce their cuts.
The Eagles have reportedly shown interest in former Oakland Raiders quarterback Christian Ponder. The former first round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2011 NFL draft was beat out for the Raiders backup quarterback position by Matt McGloin. Ponder might not be the most mobile quarterback in the NFL, but he is credited for being an athletic quarterback.
Michael Malia is a contributing intern for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Facebook (Michael Malia) or Twitter @Michael_Malia.
