Is Garcia a threat to unseat Russell as Raiders QB?
Jeff Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowler with the San Francisco 49ers early this decade, is back in the Bay Area after signing a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders to presumably back up JaMarcus Russell.
Garcia is saying all the right things about being a backup: “I realize that JaMarcus right now is the anointed starter. I’m going to support him and help him any way that I can … It’s one of those things where I’m going to be very supportive of him.”
But Garcia also has ended up as the starter in pretty much every spot he has landed, and Russell, the 2007 No. 1 overall pick, has not shown much so far in his career – winning just five total games in two seasons (although, in fairness, he didn’t play until late in his rookie year).
And Garcia also said this after signing with Oakland:
“Part of helping him is by pushing him and showing what I’m capable of as a player also,” Garcia said. “And I think that it’s important to show that this team has depth at all positions, and quarterback’s definitely going to be one of the positions that there will be positive depth at. And if he for some reason can’t do it, then hopefully I’m the guy that can do it.”
As noted by the San Jose Mercury News, in 2005 Garcia joined the Detroit Lions and proclaimed the job “Joey’s (Harrington) to lose.” But he also added, “I’m going to show this team – my teammates, my coaches – that I’m a starting quarterback. That’s all that I can say I’m here to do.”
He was the starter by midseason.
Garcia spent the past two seasons with Tampa Bay, his fifth NFL team. His passer rating was 90.2 in 12 games in 2008 as he threw for 2,712 yards, with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Still, the Raiders say they are committed to Russell as their unquestioned starter, and his long-term contract guarantees him $32 million. At worst Garcia gives Oakland a fallback plan. The Raiders have lacked that in recent years with Andrew Walter as the primary backup.
If Oakland is finally ready to commit to building for the future, then Garcia doesn’t see the field in 2009 except in mop-up duty or injury to Russell. But if Al Davis remains short-sighted, then Garcia probably ends up starting if Russell doesn’t progress.
The Raiders, by the way, are the biggest long shots on the WagerWeb.com board to win the Super Bowl next season, a cool +10000.
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