Garcia, someone like Garcia could actually harm Bills

By Anthony Bialy  |   Tuesday, February 17, 2009  |  Comments( 62 )

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Jeff Garcia changes teams about as often as he changes calendars. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not offer him a new contact, meaning his near-annual decision on what furniture to leave behind in his previous NFL city has begun again. The transient may want to consider making Orchard Park, N.Y., his latest home base if he’s unable to snag another starting gig, but both sides need to ponder such a move first. The question is broader than whether Garcia would be good for the Buffalo Bills: It’s whether a quarterback of his kind, namely a reserve who might be a little too good, would help the roster.

How much does he have left? While Garcia turns 39 next week, he may nonetheless feel entitled to a starting chance. And he may deserve it. The San Jose State product threw 12 touchdowns against only six picks in 12 games last season, good for 2,712 yards and a 90.2 rating. He also ran for 148 yards on 35 attempts, showing he can occasionally contribute a worthwhile scramble.

The factor that could hurt interest in him is Brett Favre. Teams could be wary of signing an aging, or aged, guy they’re going to use for maybe a year before then ending up in a New York Jets-style lurch, a general trend which might hurt Garcia’s allure as a starter. On the same note, Buffalo would be an interesting destination for him provided he’s forced to settle for backup work. The Bills might logically pursue an elderly quarterback this offseason, as a grizzled backup means options if Trent Edwards falls to injury or unacceptable play.

But the flip side is considering what constitutes too much unacceptable play, as for some it’s not much. The worry is that consecutive errant passes will provoke the mob into calling for Garcia to start the next series. It happened not only before but recently: Think what you will about J.P. Losman, but Kelly Holcomb’s presence cost the youngster valuable chances to play through the dreadfulness in 2005.

When Losman hit a rough patch in 2005 as all non-Roethlisberger first-year starters inevitably do, immediate calls came to yank him for Holcomb, and a dunce-laden staff desperate to win in the present at the future’s expense complied. Instead, they ended up usually losing in the present, which is why they were deprived of a future. It’s the most obvious evidence that succumbing to the temptation to start a veteran backup is too easy, whether said backup is good or Holcomb.

At the same time, management not only has to fear Edwards struggling but also Edwards breaking, as he must overcome the crystal durability which has plagued him during his young career. But the Bills should be looking for a sick day fill-in only. Even if Garcia’s not interested, an inferior version of him might inadvertently cause trouble by offering a temporary fix that would permanently set back the incumbent.

It appears sensible to own a secondary quarterback who's started before and could conceivably do so now if Edwards struggled, but it would actually incite pressure upon coaches to act rashly after the first-string passer’s first weak stretch. That’s why leaning on current restricted free agent Gibran Hamdan and his two career attempts as the top sidelined man could alleviate tension: The next guy on the depth chart can actually be too good. His role should be limited to filling in during the starter’s injury, not replacing him after two or three underwhelming games.

It’s understandable if the Bills want to preserve the situation where the current starter is also the clear-cut best player at his position. Still, Edwards should know that if he, say, keeps throwing as many interceptions as touchdowns, the Bills will be looking for a different type of quarterback in 2010. It won’t be his backup but rather his replacement.
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No.1
flda-dennis		07:38 AM
02/18/2009
We dont need no stinking Garcia!! I still dont think having a gun in your trunk ( I assume its a pistol and not an ak-47) should ...
No.2
07:39 AM
02/18/2009
You've got to feel sorry for Jeff Garcia. All the guy has accomplished and as the late Rodney Dangerfield used to say "can't get ...
No.3
bflobob8		08:00 AM
02/18/2009
I'm with Nate. We do need an experienced back-up that knows his place but Garcia ain't the guy. Where's FranK Reich when you need ...
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