Jeff Garcia

Former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia had the incredibly strange take on Sunday that Cam Newton's poor play meant that the New England Patriots quarterback shouldn't be wearing the clothes that he does, because they call attention to himself. 

On Monday, Newton took the high road when responding to the remarks: 

Here were Garcia's thoughts, which included him saying he would try to hide in something called a "jock sock cart" to escape media attention if he was playing as poorly as Newton (h/t TMZ Sports): 

"You go into this game, what, two touchdowns and four interceptions? You throw, what, three more interceptions? You get yanked in the second half. There's nothing good going your way. Why are you dressing like that, to bring more attention to yourself? I'd be trying to ask the equipment managers, 'Put me in your jock sock cart and sneak me in the back door and I'll show up on the field and do the best that I can.'"

Here was the fit that got him riled up:

There's little doubt that Newton is struggling, with just two touchdowns and seven interceptions on the year. The Patriots are struggling in general, with a 2-4 record. It's just hard to imagine any of it has anything to do with Newton's fashion choices. 

Many football fans may not have been old enough to enjoy the original United States Football League, (myself included) but now with Jeff Garcia as a member of the board of advisers, all indications are that the league will be re-launched next spring.

Unlike its original incarnation, the USFL will not compete with the NFL directly; it will actually operate as a developmental league similar to the NHL's partnership with the AHL or the NBA's D-League.

Garcia recently talked with WDAE down in Tampa, Florida, about joining the USFL advisers and how the league will operate, stating:

It’ll give some of these kids an opportunity that are coming out. … The USFL can bring back that name recognition, bring back a plan where they’re playing in the spring time, get a TV contract of some sort, get some marketing support, some sponsorship support.

Regarding the hiring of Garcia, USFL president and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Cuadra had his to say in a press release obtained by Pro Football Talk:

We are thrilled to have Jeff involved and to be able to tap into his knowledge and experience in the professional football world as we look forward to re-launching the USFL in 2013.

The former San Francisco 49er also commented during the WDAE interview on the fact that the league will not follow in the footsteps of the UFL and lock its players into contracts.

Garcia was very adamant during the interview that the league will operate as an ally to the NFL, and for that reason will not force players that sign with the revived USFL to stay with one of the eight start-up teams if an NFL team comes calling for their services.

After signing Kellen Clemens just a few weeks ago, the Houston Texans have decided to let the third-string quarterback go and replace him with 41-year-old Jeff Garcia.

Garcia has worked out for the Texans the last two weeks but was not offered a roster spot until today.

The Texans signed veteran Jake Delhomme last week to work as the No. 2 quarterback behind rookie T.J. Yates and hopefully provide some mentoring along the way.

Yates has performed well in his two appearances this season, winning his first start last weekend against a tough defensive squad in the Atlanta Falcons.

The Texans hope that Yates continues his mistake-free play and becomes the leader that this team needs to make a deep push into the playoffs.

However, if his play declines, they will not hesitate to replace him with either Delhomme or Garcia, both veterans capable of leading the Texans’ offense.

Garcia and Delhomme are both seasoned veterans with each having thrown for over 20,000 yards and 100 touchdowns in their careers.

Yates is lucky to have two high character guys to lean on for advice and help as he learns the ropes of the NFL.

The Texans travel to Cincinnati this week to take on a Bengals defense that can cause headaches for opposing offenses. 

With his first start out of the way and some early success, Yates should be more comfortable and confident.  All signs point to another successful week for the rookie and another Texans win.

As if being benched on two quarterback-needy teams wasn't enough, Donovan McNabb's playing prospects took another big hit yesterday when it was reported that the Houston Texans were on the verge of signing veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia to backup current rookie starter T.J. Yates. 

Is this rock bottom for McNabb?

It's been a long road to get to this point. The downward spiral began when he was traded within the division from the Philadelphia Eagles—a team he quarterbacked for 10 seasons—to the rival Washington Redskins.

McNabb suffered through his worst season to date with Washington, and Redskins coach Mike Shanahan demoted McNabb to third string by Week 14. Rex Grossman started the rest of the season with McNabb on the bench.

McNabb got another chance to get his career back on track when the Minnesota Vikings swung a trade for the veteran quarterback after the lockout was resolved. McNabb lasted just six games—going 1-5 in those starts—before the Vikings sat McNabb for rookie Christian Ponder. Minnesota then cut McNabb on Dec. 1. 

It was figured that McNabb would latch on with another team, especially considering how many playoff-contending teams needed a veteran quarterback in some capacity.

Naturally, McNabb's hometown Bears were the first team he was linked to. Chicago had just lost Jay Cutler for the rest of the regular season and then witnessed backup Caleb Hanie throw three interceptions in the Bears' first game post-Cutler. The Bears dismissed the move and didn't put in a claim for McNabb.

The Cowboys were also discussed, as backup Jon Kitna continues to deal with a back issue. Dallas followed in the footsteps of Chicago. 

But then there was always the Texans, a team that had lost both Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart for the season to injuries. Fifth-round rookie T.J. Yates was on the roster, and the Texans had recently signed Jake Delhomme before McNabb was cut. A team leading its division and in a prime playoff spot wouldn't really lean on a rookie and a guy that hasn't played football in a year, would they?

The waiver period on McNabb came and went. No claims. Now a free agent, McNabb was free to sign with any team and at any price.

Still, the Texans avoided McNabb. Instead of bringing in McNabb, the Texans went another route—to a 41-year-old Jeff Garcia who hasn't played in the NFL since 2009. Yes, the Texans decided that a guy who hasn't practiced or played a down in the league in two years was a better fit than a starting quarterback for an NFL team to start the 2011 season.

That tells you a lot more about Donovan McNabb than it does about Garcia or the Texans.

The NFL has all but retired McNabb. When you have a whirlwind 20 months with three different NFL franchises, that happens. But I don't think anybody expected it to happen as fast or as violently as it has for McNabb.

The Texans decision to get Garcia over McNabb might have been the last nail in the coffin. 

The Houston Texans have brought in a former Pro Bowl quarterback. No, it's not Brett Favre or Donovan McNabb—it's Jeff Garcia.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Texans are going to sign Garcia, likely to be the team's third-string quarterback. 

After playing in the UFL last year, Garcia has been inactive for the entire 2011 season.

This isn't a bad move for the Texans. Behind T.J. Yates, they now have two veteran quarterbacks in Garcia and Jake Delhomme.

Frankly, their chances at doing anything significant in the playoffs took a huge hit with the loss of Matt Schaub. Their schedule is favorable coming in so they will hold their division lead and may well earn a bye week, but this team won't have the offensive punch to beat teams like the Ravens, Steelers, Patriots, or even Raiders or Broncos in the playoffs. 

Garcia does nothing to change that, neither does Delhomme. 

So, it's not a bad move. That's not really a question. Garcia doesn't bring in a media circus the way someone like Favre would; so there's no harm in this. 

But just because it's not a harmful move doesn't mean it's going to be a good one. The fact is that this move is not going to help the Texans get any further in the playoffs. Their defense is stellar, but they won't do anything on offense. 

If Garcia steps in to start, he will be nothing more than a past-his-prime starter who hasn't played in the NFL in a long time. That's just not going to get it done against the AFC's best teams.

Bringing in Garcia is not a bad move, but that's a far cry from being a really good one.