GILROY
– Jeff Garcia’s lifelong dream of following in the footsteps of
his boyhood idol and legendary San Francisco 49er quarterback Joe
Montana ended today.
By Scott Forstner and Eric Leins
Sports Editor and Staff Writer
GILROY – Jeff Garcia’s lifelong dream of following in the footsteps of his boyhood idol and legendary San Francisco 49er quarterback Joe Montana ended today.
Garcia’s agent Steve Baker has confirmed the Gilroy native will no longer be a 49er, after negotiations over what has become the richest quarterback contract in the National Football League reached an impenetrable impasse the last several days.
The team is releasing the 34-year-old Gilroy native and three-time Pro Bowl selection to the NFL’s free agency list, staving off an immediate $500,000 pay-out and trying to dig themselves out of what 49er General Manager Terry Donahue described as “salary cap hell.”
“With the changing dynamics of the 49ers, Jeff felt it was time to make a change,” Baker said Tuesday.
While the former football dynasty has made it no secret it is struggling to field a competitive – and cost-effective – team, Baker said his client was not solely influenced by dollar signs.
“Money was not the key factor in negotiations with the 49ers,” Baker said.
Garcia could not be reached before deadline Tuesday, leaving questions about his football future unanswered for now. Family members said he planned to hold a press conference at San Jose State at 3 p.m. today.
Garcia’s father and former Gavilan College football coach Bobby Garcia was supportive of his son Tuesday.
“It was always the dream of Jeff’s to play for the 49ers and to follow his role models Joe Montana and Steve Young, but everything has to come to an end,” Bobby Garcia said from his Gilroy home this morning.
“We have no control of our destiny, all we can do is control our efforts. I think he put a valiant effort into his five years with the 49ers, overcoming tremendous odds,” the proud father added.
Jeff Garcia came to the 49ers after a Hall-of-Fame career at San Jose State which sent him north to play in the Canadian Football League until 1999, when the NFL caught on to his underrated prowess as a passer, runner and team leader.
“He fulfilled his dream and put up numbers with the 49ers and with the NFL that will always be in the record book,” Garcia said. “The only feather not under his cap is playing for a Super Bowl championship.”
Reactions around Gilroy Tuesday showed a mix of understanding and regret.
“My opinion would be whatever Jeffy wants, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m for whatever is the best for him,” said Dave Bozzo, a longtime friend of Garcia’s who still vividly recalls the days he played pickup football games on the Gavilan College campus with the then 6-year-old quarterback.
“He was throwing spirals at 6 years old. He was making us 10-year-olds look bad,” Bozzo said.
“No matter how much he’s proven himself during the Niners’ downward spiral, the blame always has fallen on him,” said Gilroy Fire Captain Paul Butler, Garcia’s cousin. “I wished he would have had a more enjoyable experience with the Niners. The support was not always there for him. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side.”
Garcia’s contract negotiations became muddied by his Jan. 14 drunken driving arrest, however neither side had indicated the DUI made or broke negotiations.
Baker said Tuesday that negotiations began in January and continued fruitlessly through February. He said there had not been any “substantive negotiations” in recent days, despite reports that negotiations were ongoing through the night Monday.
Garcia was under a $36 million, six-year deal. Due to a series of clauses in his contract, Garcia had been making more money than any other quarterback in the NFL the last two years.
NFL experts have predicted Garcia’s re-emergence to take place within a West Coast-style offense, on teams such as the Oakland Raiders or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The West Coast offense was made famous by the 49ers under Montana and Steve Young, a player against Garcia has often, sometimes unfairly, been compared. With his running abilities and accurate, quick passing, Garcia is a perfect fit for this style of football.
“There are a variety of factors that will go into Jeff’s decision. The most important thing is finding an environment where Jeff will be most comfortable,” Baker said.
Garcia will be free to talk with teams Wednesday.
Chief Photographer James Mohs contributed to this report.
GARCIA BY THE NUMBERS
Age: 34
Born: February 24, 1970
Hometown: Gilroy, CA
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Position: Quarterback
Jersey #: 5
• Signed with 49ers on Feb. 16, 1999 as free agent
• Three-time Pro Bowl selection (2000-02)
• First quarterback in team history to complete 300 or more passes in three consecutive seasons
• First quarterback in team history to throw for 30 or more touchdowns in consecutive seasons with 31 in 2000 and 32 in 2001
STATS WITH NINERS
1999: 13 games started, 225/375 passing for 2,544 yards, 60 percent pass completion; 11 TDs; 11 INTs; 77.9 QB rating; 45 rushes for 231 yards for 5.1 average and two TDs
2000: 16 games started; 355/561 for 4,278 yards, 63.3 percent pass completion; 31 TDs; 10 INTs; 97.6 QB rating; 72 rushes for 414 yards for 5.8 average and four TDs
2001: 16 games started; 316/504 for 3,538 yards, 62.7 percent pass completion; 32 TDs; 12 INTs; 94.8 QB rating; 72 rushes for 254 yards for 3.5 average and five touchdowns
2002: 16 games started; 328/528 for 3,344 yards, 62.1 percent pass completion; 21 TDs; 10 INTs; 85.6 QB rating; 72 rushes for 353 yards for 4.9 average and three touchdowns
2003: 13 games started; 225/392 for 2,704 yards, 57.4 percent pass completion; 18 TDs; 13 INTs; 80.1 QB rating; 56 rushes for 319 yards for 5.7 average and seven touchdowns
CAREER WITH 49ERS: 74 total games, 71 games started; 1,449/2,360 for 16,408 yards, 61.4 percent pass completion; 113 TDs; 56 INTs; 88.3 QB rating; 317 rushes for 1,571 yards for 5.0 average and 21 TDs
Spent five years in CFL, led Calgary Stampeders to 1998 Grey Cup Championship and was named MVP
CFL CAREER STATS: 16,449 passing yards, 111 touchdowns, 61.7 pass completion, rushed for 2,370 yards
