Jeff Garcia released 02/14/05
February 14, 2005 on 5:38 pm | In Uncategorized |Happy Valentine’s Day, Jeff Garcia! You have been released from your contract with the Cleveland Browns, are dating a former Playboy Playmate (amidst rampant speculation about your sexual preference), and the likely the emerging front runner to be signed by the Detroit Lions as competition to “Champagne” Joey Harrington.
Can the Lions afford both Harrington and Garcia? Is he willing to be a back-up? Are there other teams who would be willing to start Garcia (Seattle?)?
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My reaction has been that signing Jeff Garcia is exactly the kind of day-late, dollar-short manuver that has been killing the Lions for years. Also, it smacks of a continuing effort to rebuild the dying years of the 49er dynasty in Detroit.
I also was just treated to the NFL pundits on the radio expousing the certainty that Garcia would end up in Detroit.
So, since it appears I may have to get used to the idea, my question is three-fold.
1. Was Garcia’s high suck factor only due to a bad relationship with Butch Davis? In fact, he hasn’t had a QB rating over 90 since 2001–the last three seasons were 85.6 (2002), 80.1 (2003), 76.7 (2004), a steady decline.
2. Will he push Joey to a higher level?
3. Are we ready for non-stop QB controversey everytime Joey overthrows a receiver?
Time will tell. Its apparent its likely to happen, so let’s hope it has the desired effect. The best possible scenario, IMO, is it pushes Joey to the next level.
Comment by BJ — February 15, 2005 #
I have been a Joey fan since his Oregon days. I have been a Detroit fan since the 80’s. I can say for certain that the Lions need to get off of the quarterback carousel and stick to their guns with Joey. Joey has not played to his ability in Detroit for several reasons. Yes he looks nervous as hell out there, but more to blame is the fact that he has had a platoon worth of receivers to throw at since he was drafted. Also, he was starting after 2 games on the bench. And finally, he is throwing under a west coast offense when he is NOT a west coast quarterback. Mike Bellotti, Oregon’s offensive genius of a head coach, designed a unique offense that saw Joey flourish. If the Lions really want to give him, and the team, a chance to break this 20 year “crappy QB” curse, they need to stick to their words of late and adjust the offense to fit the qb, not the other way around.
Jeff Garcia would only do exactly what we don’t want, keep the Detroit Lion’s QB “controversy” going even longer.
Why waste the money on a 35 year old when the rest of the team averages 24?
If Joey is ever replaced, it needs to be for youth and longevity.
But I for one do not wish to see him leave, because I have seen how great he can be, and know that he will return to that greatness and surpass it. It would suck to have to see it happen with him wearing green and yellow, which is where he’d end up I’m sure.
Oregonlion.
Comment by Jeremy Rowlands — February 15, 2005 #
It looks like “Chuckie” could step in and acquire Garcia’s services, especially since he was so interested in Garcia coming to Tampa last season. If you look at it these are Garcia’s clear options:
1.TB-probably could beat out Griese to start
2. Detroit-in all likelihood would eventually emerge as Lions starting QB.
the rest:
backup for Vick in ATL, backup for McNabb in Philly, replacement for Hasselbeck in Seattle or backup for a re-signed Hasselbeck, a cheap return to San Fran, as a backup to Chad Pennington for the Jets or a possible backup or replacment for Aaron Brooks in New Orleans. Otherwise, I can’t see many other offensive systems in the NFL that he would thrive in.
BJ-thanks for calling out Mooch and the Lions. That is exactly the same reason that I made a point of posting his release. Mariucci and the 49er/Green Bay tree of coaches are highly incestuous. They are ‘true believers” in their system, as given by Mooch’s comments before the Super Bowl in regards to the Lion offense and how even though there are changes that need to be made, no offensive system has placed more teams in to the Super Bowl. In regards to Garcia’s performance, his decline seems to coincide with several things 1) injury and aging process 2) the failure of the 49ers from the top down as an organization 3) the lack of real talent surrounding him the last couple of years. I really don’t believe he would push Harrington to a higher level or be comfortable with being a backup. I believe that he would most likely be brought in under the guise of being a backup, and eventually replace Harrington. Don’t worry, the controversy around Harrington will continue to swirl, there is little chance of his performance being able to cast off the doubters.
OregonLion I think Harrington’s biggest enemy has been all of that “Joey Heisman”-hype he was bathed in while at Oregon. I don’t think he has handled the adversity of being an NFL Qb all that well and has never been(in my eyes) willing to make the necessary commitments to continue to perform better. I would agree his receiving corps has been terrible, and he just now has a running attack to support him with the emergence of Kevin Jones. That being said, it is apparent that there has never been a natural fit for him in Detroit with the fans, coaches and media. I think the awareness that your first coaching staff (Marty) didn’t want you and the likelihood his replacement has not been among your biggest fans either, it is no wonder he has been disappointing. 91 dropped passes in two seasons haven’t helped either. I really don’t think he has been as awful as we think, yet I could live without ever seeing performances like he had the last two years against Dallas and the one he had up at Lambeau this season. In regards to the system, it has been among Mariucci’s biggest failures that he is so conservative and unwilling to adapt his system to the abilities of the players who comprise the essential components for it to work. I think that is the biggest failing of most proponents of the WCO, by the way.
Comment by Steve — February 16, 2005 #
By the way, are you suggesting that Harrington would become a Seahawk or Packer? Very interesting,
Comment by steve — February 16, 2005 #
Well, we did it. Let the QB controversey begin!
Comment by BJ — March 13, 2005 #