Garcia: 'I am the starting quarterback'

Quarterback Jeff Garcia, in his first day of training camp, said definitively this morning he feels his job is secure, adding that he will not obsess over rampant speculation linking the Bucs to Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre.

"I was the starting quarterback and I am the starting quarterback," Garcia said emphatically.

"I expect myself to be the leader out here with this team. I felt like I went out there and handled my business on the field (on Monday)."

Garcia missed the first two days of camp while he was attending a family event in Gilroy, Calif. He looked upbeat and sharp in his first day back.

As for speculation about Favre, Garcia did acknowledge the possibility and was aware of the rumors. But he hasn't allowed himself to get wrapped up in the story, he said.

"To be honest, the last few days for myself have been extremely busy and I haven't paid any attention to the TV or the radio or even the newspaper," Garcia said.

Garcia has not been given any assurance by coach Jon Gruden or general manager Bruce Allen that the Bucs are interested in Favre. But Garcia said his conversations with Gruden have given him no reason to second-guess his status.

If Favre does show up, Garcia said he is willing to fight for what he thinks is rightfully his.

"I know that I'm the starting quarterback here," he said. "If something changes, they either shift me out or it's going to be a battle. That's my attitude on it... Until somebody pulls my grip off of it, I'm here."

Garcia, despite a tumultuous offseason marked by a contract dispute with the team coupled with the latest Favre rumors, managed to find humor in it all. Asked why the Bucs always seem to be linked to available quarterbacks, Garcia responded with a slick quip.

"Jon Gruden loves quarterbacks," he said. "But he likes to date. He doesn't like to marry."

[Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia scrambles during afternoon practice drills. Brendan Fitterer, Times]

Comments

[jc]

Yes you are Jeff, yes you will be! Go Garcia! GO BUCS! GO away Farve!

[Tom]

Time to move on! Forget about Favre. Garcia is going to be even better with this O-Line and Warrick Dunn back. If the Bucs want to address anything, it should be WR. If Galloway goes down, and it appears he's off on the wrong foot (groin), we're in big trouble.

[Bullcrap Garcia]

If the Bucs trade for Farve, there is no way that Garcia is going to be the starting QB. There is also no way he's just going to be OK with having his starting job handed over to someone else coming off a pro-bowl season, and nor should he.

[John Klopfer]

Hang in there Jeff. The Bucs need you as the starter!

[Nate Dogg]

Stephen, any word of the Bucs possibly moving in on Terry Glenn, who was recently cut by the Cowboys? You gotta believe if there's any tread left on the tire, he can come in and learn the playbook by week 1 of the regular season. Not to mention, we seem prettttty thin at WR...

ND

[Irish Mike]

Getting Farve sounded like a good idea at first, but do the Bucs really need all of that? It's not like Garcia hasn't played well. Pick up Glenn and or another decent reciever or two instead. The Bucs should be able to repeat anyhow--getting Farve, and get him up to speed would be risky to say the least.

[conman5669]

Garcia is not the answer!

[Brandon]

I think Garcia deserves a lot of credit and obviously so does Favre. I don't know why the Bucs have an issue with Garcia beside his little hold out. If it's about age, Favre isn't any younger. Seems like personality differences for not wanting to keep a quarterback who was doing a good job. He's the best quarterback the Bucs have had in a while. It would be exciting to see Favre, but i'd like to see Garcia treated fairly. Seems like Gruden tells his players what they want to hear and than back stabs them. Part of me likes Gruden because I do think he's a good coach in certain areas. I just think his ego gets in the way. Go Bucs!

[Gus Gruerio]

need to talk with Arizona on disgruntled bouldain!

[Brian]

Give me a break!!! Brett Farve is a legend, and in a QB driven league the Bucs would be silly not to bring in a top 5 QB like Farve. Remember the reason players play, fans root, is for the possiblity of winning it all. Farve gives us the best chance for that! Go Bucs.

[Van]

Looks like another 8 and 8 season with Jeff Garcia
I can't believe people are saying who needs Brett Farve ?
Garcia going to take us to the Super bowl.- "YEAH RIGHT"

[Mike]

The Bucs can keep dreaming if they think Brett Favre will be on their team. The media needs to stop fueling this crap too.

[terminator]

are you guys stooopid or something?

I'd sign Favre in a heartbeat if I was Chucky.

Garcia's a fighter and a decent quarterback but couldn't hold Favre's jockstrap as the old saying goes (how many SB or MVP rings is he wearing)?

Of course, it's always good to have two quality QB's in the NFL these days, since most likely one won't make it through the season.

Are you guys seriously pinning your hopes on Galloway, Glenn and Dunn? How old are those guys? They all must be about 50. I could probably run a faster 40 time!

My prediction for the Bucs with that talent would be 8-8 at best.

[Bucks]

When you google super bowl Quaterbacks, Jeff Garcia's name is not there why? Maybe because "HE IS NOT ONE" and will not be! Gee- That's funny I did see Farve name.

[Jimmie D]

Heck yes, trade for Favre! Then trade Favre to the Vikings!!

[PhillyBuc]

Man, we need a #1 receiver. I definitely agree that Boldin would thrive in this offense and we also need that stud DT too

[boyle]

Just heard that brett and manny are looking for an apartment together!

[Tom]

Did any of you forget how effective Garcia was? He made plays, throwing and runing, and PROTECTED the ball. He had FOUR INTS last year and 94.6 QB rating. He's a lot more mobile than Favre and we saw how important that was last year. I can see Favre throwing over 20 INTS here and quit football the next year.

Do you guys really want to quit on Garcia after his performance last year? You guys have short term memory. Look at Garcia's numbers. He's one of the best in the league.

[Jay]

Antonio Bryant will be the #1 receiver by the end of the season. I love me some Joey, but I don't see him making it all the way to the playoffs without being injured. As for the tread left on Terry Glenn, I would say those tires are racing slicks.

[Steve~S]

Hmmmm, you know I didn't think Favre looked all that great when Warren Sapp was sitting on his chest. And that's when he was YOUNGER! Greybeard retire with dignity. Bucs fans....support the quarterback that got us to the playoffs until he proves otherwise.

[DB]

I think I'm on track with the rest of the fans in saying that the last thing this team needs is the distraction of Favre. #4 will always be a history-making quarterback, and we all know he still has a year or two of greatness left in him, but can we really afford a new QB, new offense and same basic doomed play calling we've had to put up with the last 5 years because we've had no continuity at that position? I think not.

I even pity Griese, whom I thought was the best fit for our system -- now we've crapped on this to the point that he doesn't want to be here. I like Gruden, but he really needs to work on his people skills.

[Football is boring]

He will "not obsess over rampant speculation". I guess that would separate him from ESPN, St. Pete Times, Foxsports, SI.com, Tampa Tribune, Sportscenter, and Newschannel 8. what a suprise! He's still not here and after all of that endless talk about it.

[Nick Kosmitis]

Irish Mike put the Beer Down! Simms was better then Garcia. Garcia didn't have to play behind Kenyatt "Kill Your Spleen" Walker. Playoff time Garcia was a no Show without Galloway, and Joey pulled his other GRoin muscle. Can you say its time to take the horse to the glue factory. Glazers pull the trigger and trade for Farve you can't lose unless you watch somebodyelse takes him and increases their fan base by 500,000 and go to aleast a championship game. Please somebody tell Garcia to talk like a man!

[Tom]

Nick, I bet Garcia's wife is a lot hotter than yours.

[Kurt]

Nick. You may be a little more than off-base!

[DR]

Tom, Garcia is the best fit for Tampa's offense. I looked up Super Bowl QBs and I saw Favre's name with the likes of Trent Dilfer, Mark Rypien, Rex Grossman, Eli Manning, Neal O'Donnel...must I go on?
The Bucs don't want Terry Glenn. He is forgoing microfracture knee surgery which is a devestating, and more than likely career ender for a player his age. He won't make it through the season, probably wouldn't make it more than 4 games.
Nick, your love for Simms is disgusting. This is a public site you sick ****. Simms is horrible and never won a somewhat big game in his short lifeless career, not even in college. He used to be a horrible QB before his injury, now he's just a horrible QB with no spleen.

[DON HAYES]

The reason the Bucs won so many games last season is because they had the weakest division in the league. The Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers, the N.O. Saints? And they lost to the 49s? Jon Gruden is not that good a coach. He doesn't know how to motivate players.

[TechRider]

I would have felt better for Garcia, if the statement about his being the starter, came from management, not just him.

[The Greeks Would Know]

Hey, if anyone can sniff out a guy that's a little light in the loafers it's the Greeks

anyone know how to separate a Greek man from a Greek boy?
With a crowbar!

[Jeff Garcia]

haaaaaay guys ... training camp is SO BUSY!
had lots of fun in Cali this past weekend at the Future Florists Sho.... uhhh, ... oops, I mean my great-uncle's JV pee-wee team's 33rd anniversary of their 6-5 season ... it was real important that I be there

toodles

[Darryl]

yea jeff your the guy thats why you didnt get your new contract,and getting paid pennies compared to the rest.thats why the buc's havent just come-out,and say they are not intreasted in favre,and saying you are our guy.

[Russ]

I'm okay w/Garcia. But we should be grooming McCown for next year. Will Gruden do that? NEVER! McCown is not OLD enough....needs 2 b 10 yrs older.

[Mike]

I think Garcia's comments are hilarious! Wasn't it just a couple of months ago that he was threatening to holdout and was upset because he didn't like his contract? Now he has the starting job in a death grip? Move along Garcia for another one and gone.