Jeff Garcia: Bucs "needed the change"

Asked Wednesday about the firing of coach Jon Gruden, QB Jeff Garcia said the team "needed the change" and said he believes Gruden's poor relationships with players played a key role in his dismissal.

Garcia had a long-running feud with Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen stemming from the team's courtship of Brett Favre in the preseason and its reluctance to renegotiate his contract last summer.

"I know for me personally, going through that with him was a very difficult time, disappointing time," Garcia said according to WTSP-Ch. 10. "But the one thing that I always tried to look back on or reflect on was that I wasn't the first and I won't be the last. If it continues to be this way with players, it is going to get to a point where somebody who is above or in control will say 'Enough is enough.' I think that's what it got to.

"There are players who were here in the past before I got here who had their own experiences of how they were treated or how they were misled. For the two years that I was here, I enjoyed my experiences on the field with coach Gruden but there were some things that obviously rubbed me wrong and I'm sure they were not easy to deal with. But I'm just one guy. Whatever the reason was that they made the change, they felt it was time to make the change."

Garcia becomes at least the second player to make such remarks about Gruden's handling of players. WR Michael Clayton offered similar sentiments hours after Gruden's firing on Friday.

Garcia also suggested Gruden should share in the blame for the team's late-season collapse.

"Statistics don't lie," he said. "When you look at how the team played in December, when you don't finish strong like you need to finish, and especially when you're in a playoff hunt like we were this year, we have to be accountable as players. But everybody has to take responsibility. With Jon being the head coach, the head guy here a number of years, and having different players come in and out and yet the end of the season not really changing as far as how the team is finishing . . . then that's something that needs to be focused on. And you need to find answers. And if the answer was changing the head coach and changing up the staff a little bit, then that's what they had to do."

Garcia, a free agent, said of his potential return, "I am open to listening if they want to talk. That's what it's basically going to come down to. It's really not in my court. The ball's not in my court – it's in theirs."

Comments

[aaron]

Derek anderson may be out there soon. Chris Simms should be out there too. Matt leinart may be traded if Kurt Warner resigns...matt Hasselbeck maybe on his way out of seattle. Cassel will be franchised, so he is out of reach. There are a number of possibilities out there that i would explore before signing garcia again.

[noosa]

arron never wish chris simms on us again i never want to see him in a buc uniform again

[rob white]

Chris Simms, Derek Anderson? Did I read that right?

[Garick]

Well first let me say that I have the upmost respect for Garcia. He played every down like it was his last out there. As far as his comments go, I agree with him to a point. First of all, I don't think it's healthy to not have good relationships with players. This is probably my biggest fault with Gruden and hopefully he's learned something from this experience. It's probably one of the things keeping him from being a great coach.

On the other hand, I think we all agree the QB position is an area where we've really stuggled. Why wouldn't Gruden go out and try to get a guy like Farve if he were available? Again I have a lot of respect for you Jeff, but in this business...that's the way it goes. Your a professional and you need not take it personally.

Also, Gruden accepted the fact that his record in December hasn't been what it should be. In his final press conference, he accepted his share of the responsibility. Why is Garcia trying to say that he didn't? Although Jeff played ok, shouldn't he be taking some of that blame as well?

Again, I'm not trying to let Gruden off the hook here. He didn't do a good enough job coaching and he said as much. He got fired for it. Sounds like Jeff doesn't want to share in the blame.

[Garick]

Why should Cassel be out of reach? Even if the Patriots franchise him, if Brady is healthy...they won't be keeping both of them. We could trade a 1st rd pick and probably a second for him. Of course the salary would be big, but if we drafted a QB early in the first round...we'd have to trade up and absorb a huge salary regardless. I think he's still a possibility.

[willem]

Ok I dont try to be funny, what are the chances of Vick playing this year and what are the chances that he will be in a Bucs uniform. He wouldnt be our first rehab project.

[Garick]

Ha, sorry Willem. I don't think Raheem wants to start his regime embroiled in contreversy. No Vick.

[willem]

I also think that the Bengals will go in to a rebuilding model this year, what if we would make a run for carson palmer I think he will do great once he leaves the bangels with all their of the field issues and locker room cancer. And while we are at it get TJ houz, instead of 1 year wonders like anderson and matt casell

[Garick]

I'm from Cincinnati. The Bengals have no interest in trading Carson at this point. I can say that pretty confidently. Even though TJ is a free agent, they are going to attempt to resign him. The guy they would like to see leave is Chad Johnson. I don't like his personality, but he might be a nice project.

[Drew]

Garcia, may have burned his bridge in Tampa Bay with his comments. Everything I've read about Morris tells me he's the right guy. The fact that he want's to bring in a DC and OC is start in the right direction. I believe Morris and Dominick have a real vision of what they want the Offense and Defense to be.

Hope they hire the right Coaches, sign some franchise players in the free agency and select future hall of famers in the draft. All that said, I'm excited to see where all of this leads (16-0 or 0-16). Only time will tell. So fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride.

[buc4life]

i for one hope that we dont sign Garcia, for the simply fact that he is often injured and his best football is behind him. i am so sick and tiered of seeing him run away from blocks and missing wide open receivers for big plays. adios Garcia, get the hell out of tampa. i also hope the sign an oc soon i am growing impatient and time is running out. the senior bowl is Saturday.

[Sir Pritam the Great of England]

Is Josh Johnson still the quarterback of the future despite the lack of a West Coast offense?

[mike norris]

garcia said the #'s dont lie. he is right!!!! who has the worst qb rating in the 4th quarter... jeff garcia. who is the 2nd lowest rated qb in the red zone... jeff garcia. i pray i never see him in a buc uniform again!!!!

[willem]

Trow in josh johnson and see what the result is. I get so tired of the josh johnson hype, he is a freaking 5 rnd draft pick and people are talking on this site like he is the next comming of joe montana. So put him in and I hope he is as good as every body said.
Because we cant get him to the practice squad, wasnt 2nd on the dept chart the whole season, as a result got almost no reps during training, so he wont get any better as he is. Trow him in during pre season as a first test. But I say we need a FA QB but time will tell

[Jay]

Willem,

Tom Brady was a 5th rounder.

Joe Montana was a 7th rounder.

Ryan Leaf was a 1st rounder.

[willem]

Thx Jay, so what I said trow him in so we can see what we have instead of only talk about his great potetial.
But Brady and Montana had a nice O-line so lets fix that while we are at it please no more trueblood

[Opinion Master]

Garick, though I agree Garcia needed to be a professional about the favre situation, lets be honest here: Garcia ws a Pro Bowler for Gruden the year b4, and Favre at best would have been a 2 year QB at most.
Why trade old QB's when you already had a guy who has a year in jons system and went to the pro bowl. not to mention, QB was NOT a major need going into last year.
In my opinion, the whole Favre deal was BS, never should have happened.

[Robert]

I think as a QB you are the leader of the team. By Garcia coming out and saying this I think he was not only trying to express his feelings, but the locker room's feelings. What I find odd is how Garcia was referring to the BUCS as they and not we. Free agent or not if this a team I am going to be a part of I say WE. Sounds like Garcia might be heading out of town. Mel Kiper has us drafting QB Josh Freeman in the 1st round. Does he have some inside info that the BUCS are going to try and develop a young QB? Maybe.. He has players like McCoy being taken after us along with Maualuga. I just hope our 1st round pick, whoever it is, is a stud. We have not had a first round pick go to the pro bowl since 1997, Warrick Dunn.

[OAR]

Amen, Mike Norris. I remeber two interceptions in those last two games one being a killer. Garcia is a whinner. He did in the offseason last year(I might hold out boo hoo wish he had). He's old, short, no-arm, and happty feet don't get me started. He's 58-58 career winning record, that is .500. Wow Impressive? We DO NOT need to resign him.
Who says there not going wth west coast offense. They interview Greg Olsen, that's all he knows. Linehan on the hand no, but really I don't think they know what they're going to do yet.

[Vincent]

You may get your wish regarding Garcia. If they see him playing another three years, they may stick with him. Otherwise, replacing him as soon as possibly this off season is going to give coach Morris the most time to find a franchise QB, one capable of taking the team to the Super Bowl. More time means more ability to recover from a poor draft choice at QB. At the end of Morris' contract, he's got to be at least competing in the NFC championship to receive a contract extension, and also designate a true signal caller to take the Bucs into the next ten years. Gruden's biggest mistake was that after seven seasons, he never installed a "clear future of the Bucs" at the QB position.

[Rob]

I hesitated getting involved in this subject but here it goes. Was the defense not the achiles heel for us this year for the first time in decades? Did ou offense not produce more points this year than MANY seasons past. Did this offense not make comebacks against deficits we never have overcome before ? If anyone feels that we don't have a great nucleus on offense and doesn't realize DEFENSE is the subject and focus of righting the Ship ?? WoW !! We need to be imagining a Defensive tackle chisled out of the Warren Sapp mold. We need shutdown Corner to Start in front of Buchanon and opposite of Aquib. We need the other Bookend at Defensive End. Let the chips fall where they may as far as who stays and goes on our Offense. Maybe a more basic philosophy like the Dungy led Bucs had on Offense is all we would need. If we again had a defense Like he and Monte Created.

[Vincent]

Rob, your comments are correct but misplaced on consequence that this article is about Jeff Garcia. So most of the attention is pointed at the Quarterback. Let's just say that many would agree with your assessment of the team needs. However, I think many would agree that the QB even supersedes the needs on defense, long term anyway. The thought is that without a franchise Quarterback to lead this team into the next era of Bucs history, Morris' chances of success are greatly diminished.

[USArmyRob]

Kiper is an idiot. McCoy went back to college and no way in hell we take Freeman at 19. He will be there in 2 or maybe even 3. No Way No How..I would be so shocked if they do that especially with McCown. If they take Freeman 1st round. I dont care what they say its "Rebuild time"

[IMISS_No47]

I would like to see Garcia come back as a backup only...not as a starter. My impression is that he believes he should be a starter. Bucs should let him see if any teams will guarantee him a starter´s role (which I don´t think any will) and they will then give Garcia a low-ball offer to stay on as a backup. He should take it - who wouldn´t want to finish out their NFL career in the beautiful bay area.

[Oldcrank]

Rob, you make some good points. Our defense really wilted when they were on the field for long periods. But please don't use the word, "chiseled" in the same sentence with Warren Sapp; it's like an oxymoron.

[Garick]

Rob, what you say makes a lot of sense. The problem is I've said as much and people on here always scream "offense, offense!" You and I know defense usually wins championships. That being said, one way to greatly improve the offense would just be getting an upgrade at the QB position.

[Tuck]

The Bucs have never had a great Offense; but they have had fantastic Defenses. I think that a power running game and a shut down Defense are the ideal attributes for the Bucs to pursue.

Can you imagine how good Monte's Defenses would have been with the proper Free Agent signings & Draft Picks?

[OAR]

Tuck, um I sure Monte had a say in any defensive draft picks(we have had a bunch the last 4 years Talib, Adams, Hayes, Ruud, Tanard, Phillips, several lb's) and defensive free agent signings. BTW it was Monte that didnt want to re-sign Sapp. Your last sentense ini your comment makes no sense to me.

[USArmyRob]

OAR read your comment. Talib had a good year. Adams is still up in the air...Hayes was looking promising before injury....Rudd leading tackler...Tanard is on the peak of greatness...Phillips is a game changer...now tell me again who did Gruden draft...Davin Joesph was maybe his only worthy pick.

[Al]

Work a deal with the Ravens for Troy Smith. With Flacco in place, he does not have much of a future with Baltimore. When he has had an opportunity to play, Smith has looked good.

[Grs]

I find it funny how Garcia has the audacity to criticize the organization (at the time) for trying to get better. Favre was, is and will always be a better leader, QB, and overall athlete than Garcia was or will ever be. You can fake a season but you can't fake a career. Garcia couldn't beat a rookie for the #2 spot in a championship contender a couple of years ago! He was given the keys to the bucs not by choice but by circumstance! Yet he is still ungrateful for the opportunity he was extended! What loyalty! Under Gruden Garcia put up the best numbers of his career. Made the Pro Bowl. Yet somehow he was "disappointed" that he was going to have to compete for his job, AGAIN. He's such a little kid that he repeatedly leaked his opinions through his dad out in California because he didn't have the balls to speak up when his paycheck was on the line. Now he is stepping up to be THE MAN? What gives? He couldn't stop dancing on the field to save his life when receivers were wide open and he got Benched. That Gruden what a "meanie". It's OK little Jeff. Don't worry. Gruden is gone and you're still welcome at the Mansion...

[Grs]

"Gruden took the fall for us" enough said... Garcia owes Gruden.... A LOT!

[Kurt]

Garcia had the 30th worst QB rating in the 4th quarter of games this year. Rich Gannon pointed out 4 td passes he missed because he got happy feet (even thought the line was holding just fine) in the final game against the Raiders. He was a major part of our team's demise, not to mention he was complaining in the off-season, etc. He doesn't seem to be a team player. Let him go.

[Kurt]

BTW TUCK - Monte got most the picks (and had most of the busts) while Gruden was coach here.