A year after leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an NFC South
division title and earning a fourth career Pro Bowl selection, the
agent of Gilroy native Jeff Garcia, Steve Baker, has been told the
quarterback will not be retained for a third season with the team,
according to a report by Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg
Times.
TAMPA – A year after leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an NFC South division title and earning a fourth career Pro Bowl selection, the agent of Gilroy native Jeff Garcia, Steve Baker, has been told the quarterback will not be retained for a third season with the team, according to a report by Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times.
“My time in Tampa has come to an end,” Garcia told the Times.
“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.”
The Bucs recently re-signed quarterback Luke McCown to a two-year, $7.5 million deal, setting the stage for a parting of ways between the club and the 38-year-old Garcia.
“I do feel like I have football life in me,” Garcia said, according to the Times. “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.”
Garcia will turn 39 on Feb. 24, three days before the NFL’s free-agency period begins.
This past season with the Bucs, Garcia was 6-5 as a starter and threw for 2, 712 yards and 12 touchdowns to six interceptions. A lingering calf injury from training camp resulted in Garcia being benched following a season-opening loss at New Orleans. He regained the starting job in the sixth week of the season to lead the Bucs to a 27-3 win over Carolina. A disappointing finish to the schedule, in which Tampa lost four straight to just miss the playoffs at 9-7, has led to an offseason overhaul, including the firings of Coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen.
In two seasons, Garcia compiled a 14-10 record as a starter for the Bucs.
