Posted on 03/12/2005 11:28:34 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
Lions agree to terms with QB Garcia
3/12/2005, 7:37 p.m. ET
The Associated Press
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions and quarterback Jeff Garcia have agreed to terms on a one year contract, reuniting the quarterback with coach Steve Mariucci.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, Lions spokesman Bill Keenist said Saturday.
Garcia was released by the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 22 after a tumultuous season. He went 144-of-253 for 1,731 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 starts, while his relationship with then-coach Butch Davis became rocky. Garcia ended the season on injured reserve after tearing a knee ligament.
Before his disastrous year in Cleveland, Garcia spent five seasons with San Francisco and learned under Mariucci, who coached the 49ers from 1997-2002.
The 35-year-old Garcia earned his second straight Pro Bowl selection in 2001 with the 49ers, completing 62.7 percent of his passes and throwing for 3,538 yards and 32 touchdowns that year.
His addition could provide competition for starter Joey Harrington. The former first-round pick was booed often at home and challenged regularly by Mariucci in 2004, and has been inconsistent throughout his career.
The Lions made it an offseason priority to find a veteran backup. Last season's backup, Mike McMahon, became a free agent March 1, and signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday.
McMahon, 26, was selected by the Lions in the fifth round of the 2001 draft. He started seven games in his first two seasons with Detroit.
Last season, McMahon appeared in one game, relieving starter Joey Harrington in the third quarter against Indianapolis and completing 11 of 15 passes for 77 yards in a 41-9 loss.
The Lions had quarterback Brad Johnson — who was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 1 — at headquarters on Wednesday and had planned to host former league MVP Kurt Warner before he signed with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Don't we usually get into the playoffs with a veteran backup??? :)
I'm just glad he's outta Cleveland. Hope you can get him to shut the hell up.
Well, that's a match made in mediocrity heaven.
Garcia sucks. At least he will be inside, so his weak arm won't be so exposed by a harsh wind off of Lake Erie like it was in Cleveland....
of course it didnt help that Butch Davis was his coach either....
Hmmmm....according to NFL insiders Garcia & Harrington should get along real good....not that there is anything wrong with it...
Watch Jay Fiedler start at some point over Chad Pennington as well.
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Another year, no championship, only been since '57...
It's probably for the best. I think the entire state would have a collective heart attack if they ever showed up for a whole season.
What's it going to take for Millen to lose his job?
Does this mean that he and Carmella DeCesare will be breaking up?
I thought it was obvious from the start that Garcia was not a good signing by the Browns.
The Browns are basically starting over. I think they will get a quarterback in the draft. Watch out for Charlie Frye from Akron.
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