Several months ago, we put together, along with Local Quipster, a list of NFL quarterbacks who might be available to the Vikings in the offseason via free agency or trade. Yes, that's it right there. And yes, it was written on a cocktail napkin.
You will note that the Vikings actually obtained two of the players on the list -- Brett Favre, who was a top 5 choice for both of us, and Sage Rosenfels.
But you'll also note that both of us -- not NFL beat writers but at least two guys who watch a good deal of football and can think critically about it -- had Jeff Garcia in our top 3 (ahead of Favre, Matt Hasselbeck and Kurt Warner, among others). Garcia was coming off a very efficient season in Tampa and seemed like a great one-year fit for a team in need of a veteran QB to make a playoff run. He runs a short passing game well and has some real moxie (which everyone in Minnesota seems to love).
Of course, the Vikings pursued and eventually signed Favre. Garcia signed a one-year deal with the Raiders, and everyone moved on. Except: Garcia was recently released by the Raiders in what seems like a combination of him being not the right fit there and not having a great preseason because of a new system and injuries.
Did Garcia really fall that far in a year? Like Favre, he's 39 and running out of time. Is he the first call a QB-needy team should make if things go sour early in the season?
