Free Agent Quarterback Garcia Takes Oakland Raiders To Task
Veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia was released earlier this week by the Philadelphia Eagles, a victim of too many quarterbacks on the roster. Now that hes no longer under contract to a NFL team, hes letting his feelings be known about another one of his recent employers--the Oakland Raiders. In an interview with Fox Sports Radio in which he slammed the teams management and suggested that current quarterback Jamarcus Russell was in over his head.
Garcia started his comments with an observation that the team is putting too much pressure on their young quarterback. He suggested that the team is putting their hopes on Russell's shoulders, and that hes simply not ready for that pressure mentally or emotionally:
"I have no problem going into a situation and helping a young guy out and really trying to help the team out overall more so than anything. I just feel like it's an unfortunate situation when the entire work ethic and the entire goal of the team is really put upon one guy's shoulder."
Garcia continued to stress that Russell's talent wasn't the issue:
"When you put him on the field in a one-on-one workout session he'll make every throw for you. But when it comes down to making things happen in the heat of the battle and rallying the troops around you and making a case for the team, that's where maybe things aren't where they need to be."
Garcia went on to assert that the Raiders problems go much deeper than the inexperience of their quarterback:
"It was to a point where I felt like guys who walked through those doors that just were there to collect a check and not really interested in putting everything that they had within themselves on to the football field. And that was the frustrating thing for me to see.
"There were a lot of good young guys in that locker room who really want to do whatever it takes to win, but unfortunately it's not everybody. In order to compete at this level in this game, everybody needs to be on board."
"Maybe it's because how things have been for a number of years now out there and they just don't see the hope"
After his release from the Raiders, coach Tom Cable insinuated that Garcia had an issue with playing backup to Russell:
"There was some talk about how he would fit but the best way for me to approach it is the other two played so well and we are committed to JaMarcus as our starter. Whether or not Garcia was comfortable in a role as a backup, it is what it is."
Ultimately, Garcia suggested that despite his best effort to change the culture of the Raiders it got to the point where he simply wanted out:
"To see the reality of the situation and realize what I may be up against staying here for the entire year, it hurt me, it broke my heart to do that to step up. But I just felt like it was something I really didn't want to put myself through anymore."
The 39 year old Garcia has started 110 games in the NFL in ten seasons after a standout career in the Canadian Football League. There's a good chance you'll see him back in action before the end of the year--though the Raiders are clearly not a team that he'd be interested in.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
---------------------------------------------------
You are receiving this because you signed up for it on 2010-08-17 from IP
To fine-tune your selection of which articles to receive, just login here
using your username: aymen_bnr
To unsubscribe please use the following link: unsubscribe
---------------------------------------------------
0 comments:
Post a Comment