INDIANAPOLIS -- With Philadelphia re-signing backup quarterback A.J. Feeley, you can say goodbye to Jeff Garcia.
Garcia is the backup who hit it big this season with the Eagles, winning six of eight starts and leading the club to the divisional round of the playoffs. But his contract expires in March, with Garcia becoming an unrestricted free agent if the club passes on him.
It appears it just passed, and here's why: The Eagles had notified Steve Baker, Garcia's agent, that they wanted to complete a new deal before the March 2 deadline for free-agency. But, they said, if no contract were in place, they would turn to re-signing Feeley.
Baker, in turn, notified the Eagles that Garcia was interested in testing the open market but added that he would listen to Philadelphia if the Eagles approached him before free-agency began.
They did not. Instead they re-signed Feeley, and draw your own conclusions.
Me? I'd say Garcia can start exploring the free-agent market. The Eagles reached a decision on Garcia, and it was underscored by general manager Tom Heckert's statement announcing Feeley's three-year extension.
He referred to him as Donovan McNabb's "backup." He did not mention Garcia.
"What I respect about Philly is that they're honest," said Baker. "Do I personally think it was the correct way to treat Jeff Garcia -- not to give him an offer, with what he did? If you're going to create a bottom line, and you need to have Jeff done before free-agency I personally feel it would be appropriate to give their bottom line to us. But Philly's been very, very successful managing the cap."
Garcia last season resurrected a career that had slumped after he left San Francisco, where he led the 49ers to two playoff appearances and was named to three successive Pro Bowls. He flubbed in Cleveland. He flubbed in Detroit. Then he signed as a backup in Philadelphia.
But when McNabb tore knee ligaments in a Nov. 19 start against Tennessee, Garcia returned as a starter. After losing his first game to Indianapolis he responded with six consecutive victories -- including a playoff win over the New York Giants -- and speculation centered on Garcia's ability to challenge McNabb for the starter's job.
I guess we have our answer.
"Jeff absolutely loved playing in Philly," said Baker. "The experience is very positive."
In the end, it wasn't money that cost Garcia. It was opportunity. One of his chief interests was playing with someone that would allow him to challenge for the starter's job, but that wasn't going to happen in Philadelphia -- despite Garcia's heroics this season.
The Eagles aren't interested in a quarterback controversy, and they just made sure they won't have one.
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