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Not In Bucs Plans, Garcia Says He Has A Lot To Give

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Jeff Garcia's agent was told Friday that the quarterback was no longer in the team's plans.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2009

Updated: 02/16/2009 03:42 pm

TAMPA - Jeff Garcia has been kicked to the curb again, this time by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Garcia believes, though, that like the Browns, Lions and Eagles before them, the Bucs may wind up kicking themselves for letting him go.

Three days after learning that the Bucs had told his agent they didn't want him back for next season, Garcia vowed to continue playing and expressed concern over the Bucs quarterback situation.

"The one position in Tampa where there has been a lack of stability is the quarterback position,'' Garcia said. "Doug Williams had some solid seasons there but you can't list a lot of other quarterbacks who were strong there.

"I really felt I brought that to the team and while I know I don't have a lot of years left in me, I had hoped that with a new coach and a new philosophy offensively, having some consistency at that position would go a long way.''

The Bucs will have some level of consistency at quarterback. Last year's backup, Brian Griese, remains under contract and Luke McCown, who has been with the Bucs for four years, has been signed to a new contract.

The Bucs plans call for McCown to get a shot at filling the starter's role that Garcia held for two years, but Garcia believes the Bucs would have been better off with him serving as a safety net for McCown.

"Luke is a heck of a player,'' Garcia said. "He has tremendous upside. What he doesn't have is a lot of experience. And with me there there was already the established chemistry with the line and the group that we have.

"They probably could have ridden that for one more year, and if I still play at a high level then there's no need to make a change. But it's not my decision, so it's time for me to move on.''

Garcia wasn't surprised by the call to his agent. He told The Tribune in the wake of McCown's re-signing last week that he did not expect the Bucs to ask him back for 2009. He says. However, that he does plan to play somewhere this year.

"I feel great physically and mentally and I still feel like have lot to give,'' Garcia said. "I still feel like I can play better and contribute for at least another year, if not two.

"In fact, because of some of the things that have gone on this past year and some of the things I've gone through, I actually feel very motivated, very invigorated as to whatever this next opportunity for me is going to be.''

Garcia had a rough 2008 season. It started with the Bucs ignoring his request for a new contract and turned bizarre when the Bucs openly courted Brett Favre as a potential replacement for him.

An ankle injury suffered in training camp lingered through the start of the season and was cited as the reason for his benching after a Week 1 loss at New Orleans.

Garcia regained his starter's job after a few weeks and was poised to lead the Bucs to the playoffs for the second straight year until a defensive meltdown prompted a four-game season-ending losing streak.

"There were some bumps we had to deal with, some things we had to overcome - some personal things I had to deal with with (former head coach Jon Gruden),'' Garcia said. "And I battled through it.

"In the end there were some very promising things that were happening. It's just unfortunate we lost those last four games because things were getting exciting there for a while and that's what I feel the worst about.

"We didn't close out the season on a positive note and give the fans more positive things to cheer about it, and that's unfortunate, because the fans were great.

"I want to thank all of them for their support because we were pretty good at home an it was because of all the support they gave us. It was fun to play for them, and it's sad we didn't give them more, but that's all behind us now.''

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

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