Jeff Garcia officially signed a one year contract with the Oakland Raiders today. In his five year tour around the NFL and spending time as both starter and backup on four other teams, Jeff Garcia has seen a lot of ups and downs. Had he just been signed to the Oakland Raiders five years ago after he was released from San Francisco, both his and the Raider's last half of a decade would have been more lucrative to say the least.
Over the past five years, the Raiders have accumulated an abysmal 20 - 60 record. They have seen their fair share (and many other teams' fair shares) of starting quarterbacks from Kerry Collins to Andrew Walter. Five years ago, Marques Tuiasosopo was heir apparent to the throne of Rich Gannon. Why? Every time Tui got in the game, he would throw a couple of picks before inevitably getting injured. When Jeff Garcia was available and the Raiders needed him, they didn't take advantage. How is signing Jeff Garcia going to help them now?
They have permanently coined JaMarcus Russell as the starter since he's costing them that first overall draft pick money. JaMarcus could have benefited from a pro like Garcia on the roster two years ago, but now? Russell has started to find his own way through a mist of poor coaching and even poorer role models. Jeff Garcia would have been the perfect mentor to the young Russell, but time has already dug in wounds that signing a consistent quarterback at t
he end of his career for a one year contract cannot fix.
On that horrible day that Rich Gannon made his final curtain call, strives should have been made to get Garcia in the driver's seat. Five years later, Jeff Garcia is destined to be a decent backup rather than one of the great Oakland Raider quarterbacks of history.
Over the past five years, the Raiders have accumulated an abysmal 20 - 60 record. They have seen their fair share (and many other teams' fair shares) of starting quarterbacks from Kerry Collins to Andrew Walter. Five years ago, Marques Tuiasosopo was heir apparent to the throne of Rich Gannon. Why? Every time Tui got in the game, he would throw a couple of picks before inevitably getting injured. When Jeff Garcia was available and the Raiders needed him, they didn't take advantage. How is signing Jeff Garcia going to help them now?
They have permanently coined JaMarcus Russell as the starter since he's costing them that first overall draft pick money. JaMarcus could have benefited from a pro like Garcia on the roster two years ago, but now? Russell has started to find his own way through a mist of poor coaching and even poorer role models. Jeff Garcia would have been the perfect mentor to the young Russell, but time has already dug in wounds that signing a consistent quarterback at t
he end of his career for a one year contract cannot fix.On that horrible day that Rich Gannon made his final curtain call, strives should have been made to get Garcia in the driver's seat. Five years later, Jeff Garcia is destined to be a decent backup rather than one of the great Oakland Raider quarterbacks of history.
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