Garcia joins Lions, Guillen debuts, Brown to have more surgery
Posted by: Leelanau Sports Guy on 
Mar 14th, 2005 | 
Filed under: Leland Comets
Here’s some non-NCAA Tourney news, look for my breakdown later today or tomorrow of the changes of our Michigan teams, I haven’t had a chance to study them yet…
Lions agree to terms with QB Garcia
Allen Park, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions and Jeff Garcia agreed to terms on a one-year contract Saturday, reuniting the quarterback with coach Steve Mariucci.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Garcia was released by the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 22 after a tumultuous season. He went 144-of-253 for 1,731 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 starts, while his relationship with then-coach Butch Davis became rocky. Garcia ended the season on injured reserve after tearing a knee ligament.
Before his disastrous year in Cleveland, Garcia spent five seasons with San Francisco and learned under Mariucci, who coached the 49ers from 1997-2002.
The 35-year-old Garcia earned his second straight Pro Bowl selection in 2001 with the 49ers, completing 62.7 percent of his passes and throwing for 3,538 yards and 32 touchdowns that year.
His addition should provide immediate competition for starter Joey Harrington. The former first-round pick was booed often at home and challenged regularly by Mariucci in 2004, and has been inconsistent throughout his career.
Tigers: Guillen debuts
Article by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
News
Tigers All-Star Carlos Guillen made his spring debut on Sunday. He went 0-2 after replacing Magglio Ordenez as the designated hitter. Guillen had not faced live pitching since he tore the ACL in his right knee on September 11. “I’ve been taking groundballs every day. I’m moving around good. I’ll see day by day how I feel,” he told the Associated Press. Guillen hopes to play shortstop by the end of the week.
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This is a nice start, but Guillen’s ability to cut and track down balls at short is a much bigger step than facing pitching. We’ll continue to monitor his progress, but obviously we have some concerns about him repeating his 2004 success until we see him fielding and hitting without problems.
Larry Brown to have more surgery
Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP) — Pistons coach Larry Brown will have additional surgery related to the hip operation that caused him to miss six games in November.
The 64-year-old coach disclosed his plans after Detroit’s 64-62 victory over Utah on Sunday night.
“I’m going in tomorrow, and I don’t know how long it will be,” Brown said.
Assistant Gar Heard, who went 2-4 in Brown’s first absence, again will run the team.
“We’ll all do the things that we’ve been doing all season,” Heard said. “I have no doubt that we’ll keep things running until Coach gets back.”
My view: Garcia was the best fit among the free agent quarterbacks available considering his experience with the West Coast offense and his past connection with Mooch. He is still good enough to start and should push Joey enough to either lift Harrington to a high level or earn the job himself.
It’s good to see Guillen back. He is a player the Tigers need to be healthy and contribute. The Tigers would gladly take another season like last as far as stats.
This will give Larry a rest before the final push at the end of the regular season. Here’s hoping the surgery goes well and he’s back and better than ever.
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