Reports: Browns, Bucs bidding for Garcia
March 8, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have reportedly made a contract offer to quarterback Jeff Garcia.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, which cited an unnamed source close to the deal, the contract is for two seasons and $8 million, including a signing bonus between $4 million and $5 million.
However, the Gilroy Dispatch of California reports Garcia's on the verge of signing with the Tampa Bay Bucs.
"He's going to Florida," Garcia's father, Bobby, told the paper. "This is a fresh start. He's going in there with guns drawn, fully loaded. He's going to give it his best shot. He said, 'Dad, I'm totally committed now. This is a new step in my life.' "
But if Garcia accepts the Browns' offer, the team will likely end its relationship with quarterback Tim Couch, who recently refused to take a salary cut. The reported offer to Garcia is more than what the Browns offered to Couch in an attempt to cut salary.
Garcia, who was released by the San Francisco 49ers on March 2 in a salary cap move, is a three-time Pro Bowler. Signed as a free agent in 1999 by San Francisco, the 34-year-old Garcia had thrown for 16,408 yards and 113 touchdowns in five seasons with the team. He also ran for 1,571 yards and 21 scores.
The signing might prove beneficial to Garcia, as there is a good chance he will be named the club's starting quarterback.
The Plain Dealer also reported that Cleveland has enough flexibility to keep Garcia and Couch without going over the salary cap, but would save about $5.8 million if it trades or releases Couch.
Couch has been inconsistent since being drafted by the Brown's in the 1999, but at times has shown promise. Last season saw him buried in Head Coach Butch Davis' doghouse, being thrown in and out of the Brown's starting lineup along with fellow quarterback Kelly Holcomb.
March 8, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have reportedly made a contract offer to quarterback Jeff Garcia.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, which cited an unnamed source close to the deal, the contract is for two seasons and $8 million, including a signing bonus between $4 million and $5 million.
However, the Gilroy Dispatch of California reports Garcia's on the verge of signing with the Tampa Bay Bucs.
"He's going to Florida," Garcia's father, Bobby, told the paper. "This is a fresh start. He's going in there with guns drawn, fully loaded. He's going to give it his best shot. He said, 'Dad, I'm totally committed now. This is a new step in my life.' "
But if Garcia accepts the Browns' offer, the team will likely end its relationship with quarterback Tim Couch, who recently refused to take a salary cut. The reported offer to Garcia is more than what the Browns offered to Couch in an attempt to cut salary.
Garcia, who was released by the San Francisco 49ers on March 2 in a salary cap move, is a three-time Pro Bowler. Signed as a free agent in 1999 by San Francisco, the 34-year-old Garcia had thrown for 16,408 yards and 113 touchdowns in five seasons with the team. He also ran for 1,571 yards and 21 scores.
The signing might prove beneficial to Garcia, as there is a good chance he will be named the club's starting quarterback.
The Plain Dealer also reported that Cleveland has enough flexibility to keep Garcia and Couch without going over the salary cap, but would save about $5.8 million if it trades or releases Couch.
Couch has been inconsistent since being drafted by the Brown's in the 1999, but at times has shown promise. Last season saw him buried in Head Coach Butch Davis' doghouse, being thrown in and out of the Brown's starting lineup along with fellow quarterback Kelly Holcomb.
