Gilroy’s Jeff Garcia is now McNabb’s backup in Philly
Associated Press
Philadelphia – The Philadelphia Eagles signed Jeff Garcia on Thursday to back up Donovan McNabb at quarterback.
The 36-year-old Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his five seasons in San Francisco, played for Cleveland in 2004 before going to Detroit last year. He threw for 937 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions in six games with the Lions.
He will be a step up for the Eagles over Mike McMahon, who played poorly in seven starts after McNabb had season-ending surgery for a sports hernia last year. The Eagles went from NFC champions to a 6-10 season without McNabb.
Garcia signed a one-year contract with Philadelphia, as did Jabar Gaffney, a wide receiver signed from Houston.
Garcia arrived in Philadelphia two days after the Eagles cut Terrell Owens, who often criticized Garcia when the two played together with the 49ers.
“Had I signed a day or two ago, we could’ve been teammates,” Garcia said. “He’s moved on and I’ve stepped into a place where he played.
“I don’t have a problem with the guy. He’s a tremendous player on the field. I’ve witnessed that. He’s a difference-maker. If I were to have an opportunity to be a teammate of his again, I wouldn’t back down from the situation.”
Another quarterback, Joey Harrington, seemed on the way out of Detroit after the Lions agreed to terms with Josh McCown, a part-time starter with Arizona the past two seasons. McCown joins veteran Jon Kitna, second-year-man Dan Orlovsky and the recently signed Shaun King on the Lions’ roster along with Harrington
