Jeff Garcia Goes From Potential Starter to Unemployment Line

In matter of months, veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia went from pronouncing himself a contender for the Raiders' starting job to an Oakland afterthought. Garcia fell victim to his age (39) by sustaining a series of nagging injuries that forced him to miss the bulk of training camp snaps, but he appeared ready to accept a backup role.

Instead, his Raiders career ended before it really starting. Oakland released Garcia on Saturday, along with 21 other players to reach the 53-man NFL roster limit.

"First and foremost, we're committed to JaMarcus Russell as our starter," said Raiders coach Tom Cable, who thought Oakland's other backup quarterbacks -- Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye -- played better and more consistently than Garcia, who battled a calf injury throughout camp.

Garcia posted the lowest preseason passer rating of the four quarterbacks (67.1), completing 15 of 27 passes for 141 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Recently, Garcia spoke of grudgingly accepting a backup role to the Raiders' $32-million man, Russell. "It's not what I would have envisioned for myself," Garcia said before the team broke camp in Napa, Calif., "but if my role is to be a mentor to JaMarcus, so be it. I'll help him anyway I can.

Garcia conceded his relationship with Russell was cordial but not exactly chummy. "I try to lead by example and through my work ethic," Garcia told FanHouse recently. "I don't sit down and talk with him. If he wants to come to me, he can do that."

The Raiders indicated Saturday that Garcia was not prepared to be a No. 2 quarterback.

"Whether or not he was comfortable in his role as a backup, it is what it is," Cable said. "But we know that JaMarcus is our guy and those other two guys flat [out] did a great job in terms of performing on game night."

It's possible other teams will latch onto Garcia -- possibly the Chicago Bears, who showed interest in him during the offseason.

If not, Garcia's latest exit is a stunning, if not inevitable, fall for a scrappy player who spent his entire professional football career battling from behind to win starting jobs in both the Canadian Football League and the NFL.

Garcia's path took him from Gavilan College in Gilroy, Calif. to San Jose State, to Grey Cup MVP with the Calgary Stampeders to up-and-down NFL stints with the 49ers, Browns, Lions, Eagles and Buccaneers.

During his lone season in Philadelphia in 2006, Garcia bided his time as Donovan McNabb's primary backup until a season-ending knee injury sidelined the Eagles starter in mid-November. Garica subsequently led Philadelphia to five consecutive regular-season victories and the NFC East title. He also took the Eagles to a playoff win over the Giants. But Philadelphia did not re-sign him in the following offseason, going instead with A.J. Feeley.

Garcia spent the previous two seasons in Tampa Bay, starting in '07 and leading the Bucs to a wild-card berth. But he clashed with then-general manager Bruce Allen and former coach Jon Gruden over his contract and playing time.

The Raiders also cut underachieving (and overweight) defensive tackle Terdell Sands, who inexplicably received a four-year, $17 million contract in 2007, and already collected a $1.9 million roster bonus in the offseason.

Among the other notable Raiders cuts: cornerback and return man Justin Miller, who returned two kicks for touchdowns for Oakland in 2008; Slade Norris, one of the team's two fourth-round picks in 2009; veteran linebacker Morlon Greenwood; and safety Rashad Baker, who was placed on the waived/injured list.

Oakland's other cuts: defensive tackle Ryan Boschetti, safety Jerome Boyd, cornerback Darrick Brown, defensive end Greyson Gunheim, defensive back Michael Hawkins, wide receiver Johnnie Holland, tackle James Marten, linebacker David Nixon, linebacker Chris O'Neal, fullback Marcell Reece, running back Gary Russell, punter/kicker Ricky Schmitt, tight end Darrell Strong, center John Wade, tackle Seth Wand and guard Mark Wilson.