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SEC Network's Marcus Spears: Tim Tebow will make Eagles' roster

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Tim Tebow to a one-year contract in April.
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The Philadelphia Eaglessigned Tim Tebow to a one-year contract in April.

On Monday, SEC Network analyst and former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marcus Spears said on SI Now that he thinks Tebow will make the Eagles' 53-man roster.

Tebow worked as an SEC Network analyst prior to signing with the Eagles.

The 27-year-old was out of the NFL last season and has not played in a regular-season game since 2012 with the New York Jets, when he was used primarily as a Wildcat quarterback. He later signed with the New England Patriots in 2013 but was cut during training camp.

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Tebow started 14 regular-season games in two seasons with the Denver Broncos after he was selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. He was 7–4 in 2011 before helping the Broncos to a playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers with a touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas in overtime. He completed 10 of 21 passes in that game and nine of 26 passes in Denver's loss to the Patriots in the next round.

The Eagles currently have five quarterbacks under contract. In addition to Tebow and 2014 practice squad member G.J. Kinne, the Eagles have Sam Bradford, Matt Barkley and Tebow's former Jets teammate Mark Sanchez.

Spears was asked on Monday if he would bet a week's pay on Tebow making the Eagles roster for Week 1.

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"I'll be willing to bet my check that he'll be on the Day 1 roster with the Philadelphia Eagles," Spears said. "And if you look at how it's set up, he has an opportunity to actually make the team."

Spears added, "And I'm not saying he'll start by any means, but what I am saying is, Matt Barkley is the third guy on that roster, I think, and he hasn't played an NFL game. Tim has NFL experience—he's played in the playoffs.

"So if it comes down to competing, if it comes down to being able to trust a guy in situations, then I feel like Tim is the guy, even if he becomes a practice squad guy and he's the third quarterback on the totem pole, he'll still make the roster—I believe that."

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