Jeff Garcia’s comments criticizing the Raiders organization and some their players has received a lot of attention over the last day.
And while we shouldn’t be surprised the always opinionated Garcia let loose, Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune points out that Garcia’s actions while on the team make his words sound hypocritical.
Garcia criticized some of the players around him for lacking commitment, but there are questions about the calf injury that sidelined Garcia for much of training camp. This was the same injury that popped up in Tampa in 2008 when the team flirted with Brett Favre, and then magically disappeared when Favre became a Jet.
Garcia wasn’t able to practice, but McDonald notes that he wasn’t interested in the small things off the field and was hardly a shining example for his young teammates. Garcia said he’d provide leadership. but didn’t bother to show up for most of the teaching sessions QB coach Paul Hackett would give to the position.
Writes McDonald: “When Garcia walked to and from practice, he looked like a 12-year-old whose dog had run away.”
It’s fine if Garcia didn’t want to be in Oakland, but it’s disingenuous to criticize the team afterward if he was giving a half-ass effort.
And there is hardly any guarantee Garcia would be any good for the Raiders. Oakland, after all, saw Garcia’s limitations first-hand when they beat the Bucs to end last season.
McDonald believes that Garcia quickly regretted signing with Oakland, and now he may be regretting leaving because Russell’s play has been even worse than expected.
Garcia also may be wondering if he’s going to get another chance in the NFL.
The frequent drama that has followed Garcia around for the last decade probably isn’t helping his chances of finding a gig.