Bucs Land Garcia

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers recovered from Friday's failed attempt to trade for Jake Plummer by landing another veteran quarterback today in free agency, Jeff Garcia.

Garcia and the Buccaneers agreed to a contract that likely will leave Garcia beginning next season as the club's starter ahead of Chris Simms.

On Friday, the opening day of the NFL's free agent and trading period, Garcia was negotiating with the Oakland Raiders and the Buccaneers agreed to send a fourth-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos for Plummer. But Plummer indicated that he would rather retire than accept that deal, and the trade was voided. The Buccaneers turned to Garcia, whose negotiations with the Raiders were stalled.

The deal came together quickly and now Garcia will settle into Coach Jon Gruden's version of the West coast offense that's similar to what Garcia ran with the Philadelphia Eagles this past season. Garcia took the Eagles to the playoffs after inheriting the starting job from the injured Donovan McNabb. The Eagles won their final five games of the regular season with Garcia at the helm to secure their fifth NFC East title in five seasons. They beat the New York Giants in a first-round playoff game before losing at New Orleans in an NFC semifinal.

Garcia said he was interested in re-signing with the Eagles. Jeff Lurie, the Eagles' owner, said the team wanted to re-sign him if possible. But Coach Andy Reid made it clear that McNabb would be the club's starter next season if he's healthy, and the Eagles re-signed fellow backup quarterback A.J. Feeley last weekend without making a negotiating push to retain Garcia.

Garcia, 37, is a former Pro Bowl selection with the San Francisco 49ers who spent two unsuccessful seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions before signing a one-year contract with the Eagles to back up McNabb.

Also today, the New England Patriots completed a deal with free agent linebacker Adalius Thomas, making his departure from the Baltimore Ravens official. Thomas picked the Patriots on Friday night over the 49ers, who signed free agent cornerback Nate Clements to an eight-year, $80 million deal.

By Mark Maske |  March 3, 2007; 1:06 PM ET  | Category:  Buccaneers
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