QB Jeff Garcia Done in Tampa Bay

Head coach Jon Gruden wasn’t the only one to take the rap for Tampa Bay’s late season collapse—veteran QB Jeff Garcia has also been informed that he won’t be back with the team in 2009.  Garcia compiled a 14-10 record under center for the Bucs and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2007, but with the team re-signing Luke McCown last week his services became expendable.

Garcia is nothing if not well travelled, having played for San Francisco, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia before joining Tampa Bay.  At age 39, he’s disappointed that he won’t be returning to the Bucs but suggests that he has a lot of football left in him:

"My time in Tampa has come to an end. I'm not under contract and I'm about to hit free agency, and that means it's time again for me to just move on. It is disappointing because I enjoyed the atmosphere and the team environment in that locker room."

"Change is needed at times. Sometimes it's how you tweak it, not change it. With a new head coach, they want somebody pulling the trigger that they can mold. Beyond that, I don't know why they're making the move”

"I do feel like I have football life in me. I feel I can still contribute. I'm not sure what my role will be with another team. I'm not looking at it like I need to start and be the man ... Hopefully, I'll have some opportunities out there. I'm pretty sure there's going to be something out there for me.

"I think what started in Philly and continued in Tampa was the rejuvenation of me and the fire coming back and the excitement of the game and the thrill of playing the game again. I had a great time playing in front of those fans in Tampa. We'll miss Tampa."

While finding a starting position at his relatively advanced age could be problematic, there are plenty of teams that would benefit from an intelligent and experienced backup who is comfortable with that role.  Garcia would be a perfect fit in that situation.