NFL roundup
Eagles sign Garcia as back-up quarterback to McNabb The Philadelphia Eagles signed Jeff Garcia on Thursday to back up Donovan McNabb at quarterback.
The 36-year-old Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his five seasons in San Francisco, played for Cleveland in 2004 before going to Detroit last year. He threw for 937 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions in six games with the Lions.
He will be a step up for the Eagles over Mike McMahon, who played poorly in seven starts after McNabb had season-ending surgery for a sports hernia last year. The Eagles went from NFC champions to a 6-10 season without McNabb.
Garcia signed a one-year contract with Philadelphia, as did Jabar Gaffney, a wide receiver signed from Houston.
Garcia arrived in Philadelphia two days after the Eagles cut Terrell Owens, who often criticized Garcia when the two played together with the 49ers.
“Had I signed a day or two ago, we could’ve been teammates,” Garcia said. “He’s moved on and I’ve stepped into a place where he played.
“I don’t have a problem with the guy. He’s a tremendous player on the field. I’ve witnessed that. He’s a difference-maker. If I were to have an opportunity to be a teammate of his again, I wouldn’t back down from the situation.”
Another quarterback, Joey Harrington, seemed on the way out of Detroit after the Lions agreed to terms with Josh McCown, a part-time starter with Arizona the past two seasons. McCown joins veteran Jon Kitna, second-year-man Dan Orlovsky and the recently signed Shaun King on the Lions’ roster along with Harrington, who is due a $4 million bonus if he is on the roster June 15.
Harrington, the third overall pick in the 2002 draft, is 18-37 as the team’s starting QB.
In other moves Thursday:
New England released 33-year-old cornerback Tyrone Poole, the latest veteran to leave the three-time Super Bowl champions.
Linebacker Willie McGinest signed Wednesday with Cleveland and wide receiver David Givens joined Tennessee on Tuesday.
Baltimore released veteran offensive tackle Orlando Brown, who missed three seasons after being hit in the eye by a referee’s flag in 1999 while playing for Cleveland.
Kansas City signed backup quarterback Damon Huard.