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Garcia Returns, Eager To Move Forward

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Jon Gruden looks on as Jeff Garcia fires a pass in his return to the practice field Monday.

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 12, 2008

Updated:

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Jeff Garcia is not completely healthy or happy. But he still has his job as the Bucs' starting quarterback and his sense of humor.

Garcia returned to practice Monday, in a limited capacity, for the first time since sustaining a calf strain 11 days earlier. He also spoke publicly for the first time since General Manager Bruce Allen and Coach Jon Gruden admitted to pursuing a trade for Brett Favre.

Any hard feelings?

"I'm just a journeyman according to some people. Why should I have any hard feelings?" Garcia said with a slight smile. "I'm thankful to have this job. I might pay Bruce and Jon for bringing me out here."

There have not been many reasons for Garcia to be happy during this year's training camp.

Garcia, 38, has failed to fully participate in 10 of Tampa Bay's 14 practices. He missed the first two days because of a previous commitment, and after three days of full practice he suffered a calf strain. He missed Saturday's preseason opener in Miami and is not sure whether he will play Sunday against New England.

The Bucs added to Garcia's disappointment when they looked into trading for former Green Bay quarterback Favre.

While Allen and Gruden said Garcia would see it as a business move, Garcia's latest comment was the second time he took a shot at his employers for pursuing another quarterback.

Early in training camp, Garcia joked about Gruden always being in the market for quarterbacks: "He loves quarterbacks, but he likes to just date. He doesn't like to marry."

At the height of the Favre speculation last week, Garcia referred to himself as "dead man walking."

Asked on Monday if he had any hard feelings about the attempted trade, Garcia did not say no, but expanded on his position.

"What am I going to say? It's the unfortunate part of the business. That's what this sport is. It has two sides," Garcia said. "Obviously, a game for all of those who play on the field and love to play the game, but there is a business side, too. Part of teams trying to reach that championship position is trying to strengthen their team.

"Whether they thought that Favre trade was strengthening or not, as much as I believe that I can be a strong point for this team, that is what they had to look into. So be it. It's all said and done. We're moving forward."

The Bucs signed Garcia in 2007 and he led Tampa Bay to a 9-7 regular-season record and an NFC South title. Garcia threw for 2,440 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions, was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl, and sought an extension to bring his total payout for 2008 to roughly $7 million, the average for NFL starting quarterbacks. He also hoped to recover the seven-figure incentive he would have earned had the Bucs' decision to rest him down the stretch not kept him from taking 70 percent of the snaps, which never happened.

Still, Garcia wants to put aside his personal frustrations for his teammates.

"There is no reason to dwell on it," Garcia said. "I'm thankful that things worked out and I was able to stay and be the starting quarterback here and be able to work with my teammates because, when it's all said and done, that's what really matters to me. What my teammates feel and believe and being able to go out there and battle with my teammates.

"We were able to win a lot of games last year, and could have won some more games. But we were able to win a division and we definitely want to do that again."

For that to happen, Garcia eventually will have to practice with those teammates.

Gruden was unsure if Garcia would be healthy enough to play Sunday against New England, which he is worried about.

"Yeah, it's a concern," Gruden said. "He's obviously missed the first few days of camp for an excused absence. Yeah, you've got to have your quarterback practicing."

Garcia disagreed.

"I've always felt like preseason gets to the point where it's a little bit overdone," Garcia said. "I think that it is important for me to, hopefully, at least be able to play in two games and hopefully get the majority of reps in one of those games, or at least a good half of one of those games. I feel like if I can do that, I will have the necessary reps that I need to feel good about myself."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampatrib.com.

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