When Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow caught some passes in training camp, it led to speculation that the Patriots were considering playing Tebow at running back or tight end. But Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said people read too much into that.
According to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com, McDaniels said the drill was really just designed to give Tebow some work on open-field running, which Tebow would do at times if he takes the field at quarterback.
“Anybody that is a potential runner, that can actually do something with the ball in his hands – something good – we always put them [in the drill],” McDaniels said. “I think Matt Cassel and [Doug] Flutie and some of those other guys that I’ve had a chance to coach, I think we did the same types of things with them. Again, certainly we know Tim has a skill set that some of these other guys don’t possess in terms of his ability to run with it, or scramble with it when he has it in his hands. He’s just practicing his open-field running [and] I know the defensive guys enjoy the challenge of trying to get him to the ground. I think it’s good for everybody and a normal procedure that we go through in training camp.”
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has declined to say whether Tebow could play any other position, but McDaniels seems to see Tebow as a quarterback.