Garcia has at least one supporter

Veteran defensive lineman Kevin Carter chimed in on Jeff Garcia's contract dispute today and made it clear he wants to see his quarterback and friend taken care of.

"I'm a little biased because I love Jeff," Carter (left) said. "I love playing here. That's why I'm, again, a Buc, because I love to be here. That being said . . . we need to get it worked out. We need to put all this aside and get a deal done."

Carter recently went through a tough negotiation of his own with the Bucs after being released in February. After rejecting an initial offer to re-sign with the team and remaining a free agent for a few weeks, Carter signed with the Bucs days after visiting with Oakland, which was poised to offer a more lucrative deal.

Now that he's back onboard, Carter is thinking about what lies ahead, and he likes the direction of the team.

"I feel good about it," he said. "I think we're better now than we were in January. As a team I think our chemistry hasn't (wavered). I think we've gained some guys in free agency. But more than anything, the experience of our younger guys is gonna help us a lot. . . Our goals are to be playing there (he says this while pointing his finger) in February."

"There" is Raymond James Stadium, which was off in the distance and will be the site of Super Bowl XLIII.

[Brendan Fitterer, Times photo files]

Comments

The only deal that should be going on between Garcia and the Bucs is honoring the contract he signed last offseason.

[DRS]

Anyone else tired of the Garcia contract (non)story? It will be taken care of in time.

[CW]

Agreed...it will not be a story until Garcia holds out of camp. Otherwise it's just talk and speculation for the sake of speculation.

[Justin M]

I would love to read something about how dominating the Bucs defense is going to be this year.

[Rob]

Jeff Garcia signed a contract just last year to be the starting quarterback. It's not like he's some 6th round draft pick making 400k that rose to the top of the quarterback ladder. He's a veteran who signed a multi-million dollar deal knowing full well he was going to be the starter.

He's 38 and not getting any younger. It would be wise of him not to dream of holding out. Now that Griese's back in pewter and gold, we don't NEED Garcia. Remember that Griese had us at 4-1 before he was hurt.

Honor your contract Jeff. If you played poorly, would you let the Bucs change your contract to give you a pay cut?

Oh, and btw, your wife is smoking hot. You have nothing to complain about.

[Skylar]

Pewter and Red!

[Kurt]

Everyone stop worrying; he will get signed to a deal both sides can agree to. I'll go ahead and guarantee that (seeing as I really don't have anything to lose.)

Now, let's start talking about how the team has improved! O-line, D-line, secondary, all-around depth (TE, LB, WR, QB!) The NFC South will be back in full force next year (although the Falcons will take the brunt of beatings no doubt.)

These writers don't talk about anything interesting around here. Anyone heard how Dre Moore looks out there? He has Sapp-like tangibles. We need a little more juice at DT.

Also, what about this Zuttah kid? He is listed as a G but he played T his last 2 seasons. Is he going to play RT while Trueblood goes back to his original position? That would be one very powerful and young line.

[John Klopfer]

Jeff,

Grow up and honor your contract. You are getting paid well. Maybe you could look at the people in the stands (the ones that are paying your paycheck). we work hard for our money...and don't whine that we aren't getting enough.Many of us are concerned about the recession and gas prices...yet we are not whining. It is time to stand up and be a man! You are making more in one year than many will make in a lifetime. I love ya man.....but enough is enough. Maybe all NFL players should take a 25% pay cut and give it back to your communities.

[jersey buc]

Look, we are defensive team, but there is not another QB on this roster who can take the Bucs to the playoffs in 08. Garcia signed a deal that was incentive laden, performed well, was set to get more money, and then the team benched him when they clinched the playoffs, should he make less money than most of the other offensive players? He is the engine that makes this sputtering offense go...

[Skylar]

He performed OK. With the way the line has developed over the past year, I think there are 2-3 QB's on our roster who would have success; maybe more.

[Caleb]

Jersey Buc, Griese is more the capable of taking Tampa to the playoffs. It was during his tenure that Clayton had his stellar rookie year and under Gruden, Griese had 23 TDs. As it stands, I think Griese is the overall better QB on the roster right now.

Ok...Jake Plummer technically is but, he's retired so it doesn't count.

[Stephen_Holder]

I'm a little surprised you guys feel that way, Skyler and Caleb, although Jeff was very mediocre in the playoff game. Still, I don't know that I agree with you. Not saying the Bucs should back up the Brinks truck for Jeff, just saying that I think he is the most dynamic offensive player on the team. (Well, with the possible exception of Galloway, though it's my personal feeling that his one-dimensional game limits his effectiveness). I think Griese is a decent player, but I certainly don't consider him a "special" player. Not picking a bone, just making conversation.

[Skylar]

Don't get me wrong, I would like for Garcia to be on the team and I believe he deserves a little more money. However, he did not have a stellar season, and in fact was suspect in a couple of big losses (DET, JAX, NYG.) Furthermore, he is spurning negativity into our locker room and I don't like that. Greise, on the other hand, during the second half of 2002 and the first 5-6 games of 2003, was en fuego. Clayton was also on fire with him at the helm as Caleb so eloquently pointed out. 23 TD's compared to 13 in approx. the same number of starts and Greise's O-line wasn't as good. You can't deny those numbers. I still like Garcia though also, so either way I'm happy. It's great to have competition at that position again, if ever.

[scooterbucs channeling bruce allen]

If Kevin Carter wants to put his two cents in, he should do it inside the locker room and not to the press. He is going to divide our team.

[Mark]

divide our team??!!! how is kevin saying garcia should get more money dividing our team??!! thats stupid! Fights between playes divide teams, and carter is trying to HELP the cause of Garcia.

[Greg]

I disagree with most who say he should just sht up and honor his contract. How many times have the Bucs (and all other NFL teams) come back and asked players to rework their contracts for the sake of the salary cap? Plenty. Why should the Bucs expect to have unilateral ability to renegotiate contracts when they want, but players cannot? If he thinks he is worth more based on being the grit and leadership that got us to a division title, then let him negotiate. He has limited remaining years in the league. He has competition to keep him honest. He did more for us than most give him credit for. Its all business!

[Michael]

skyler that was like 4-5 years ago that griese went 4-1... who knows if he still has any left in the tank... we kno garcia does because he was competing just last year. No quarterback that cant start over rex grossman should start for our team..

[Kevin]

You all can't really be serious about Brian Griese, right? Seriously? You can point out the stats all you want but his turnovers seemed to always come in the 4th quarter or at just the wrong time in the game.

Our offense needs the competitive spirit and leadership of Jeff Garcia. Our offense had been so soft over the years and Gruden has finally found someone who can bring the energy to the quarterback position. How many times have you read after the Bucs games last season where the opposing team's defensive players talked about how much more difficult our offense was to defend with him in the lineup? He can move in the pocket, he can find the 3rd and 4th receiving option, he takes shots down the field, and avoids turnovers. Griese vs Garcia shouldn't even be a debate. We need Jeff and we need to develop a QB for the future. What? Will Josh Johnson learn and develop more under Griese or Garcia? Come on. They need to give Jeff the money they took from him by benching him last year where he had to forfeit incentives in his contract and sign him to a 5M-6M per year deal. Maybe only 2 or 3 years but he is a solid, respectable starting quarterback in this league.

And Remember, he wasn't signed as the starting quarterback. He was signed to compete with Luke McCown, Bruce Gradkowski, Chris Simms, and Jake Plummer. He earned his way to the starting lineup and his contract should now reflect that. By the way, I am Jeff Garcia's agent.

[Dave T]

Luke McCown has more talent and upside than any QB on our roster. His mobility and arm strength scare opposing D's much more than Garcia and Griese. Can you guys really not see this? McCown has weapons the other 2 have nothing.

[jersey buc]

wow, I can't believe what I am hearing. McCown has upside alright, but he makes horrible decisions. Remember his throw out of the endzone that was picked off as an example of that? Griese is an INT machine, Simms has guts, but he can't get the ball past the line of scrimmage...Griese is a few years older, and could not beat out Wonder Rex. Garcia is a playmaker, pay the man a decent salary for an NFL starting QB.

[jonny]

For god's sake, did you all forget, Garcia was selected for pro bowl last season. Agreed, he was the replacement for Favre, but Garcia was also a probowler twice when he was with the 49ers. Garcia's performance curve went high from Eagles to Bucs, there is no reason why he should be paid less. And talk about O-line, it is not that great, a pretty average one.

There might have been tens of sacks that only a scrambling QB like Garcia would have evaded. And if Garcia started in all the games, no doubt we would be 12-4. And now you guys say he's okay, not so good, bad, Griese is good. Damn, what has Griese ever done, he could not retain the starter job in Chicago. Someone whose graph is falling down, how can you believe him.