Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
OAKLAND, Calif. ó After a four-team, five-season odyssey since leaving the 49ers, Jeff Garcia finally found his way back home to the Bay Area ó albeit on the other side from where he started.
The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback joined the Oakland Raiders on Monday, with the 39-year-old passer agreeing to a one-year deal to be JaMarcus Russell’s backup.
Raiders senior executive John Herrera told The Associated Press that Garcia will join the club’s offseason workout program immediately in the next stage of a remarkable NFL career that didn’t begin until 1999 after a long detour to the Canadian Football League.
Garcia spent the past two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, starting 24 games while leading them to a division title and a playoff berth in 2007, when he also earned his fourth Pro Bowl berth. Despite solid numbers last season ó 2,712 yards passing and a 90.2 passer rating with 12 touchdowns and just six interceptions ó he wasn’t re-signed by the Bucs and new coach Raheem Morris, who apparently is going with Brian Griese or Luke McCown at the position.
WINSLOW SIGNS
TAMPA, Fla. ó Former Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow has agreed to a six-year contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs acquired Winslow from the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 27 in exchange for a second-round pick in this year’s draft and a fifth-rounder in 2010.
The 25-year-old Winslow was sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft. He had 219 receptions for 2,459 yards and 11 touchdowns in five seasons with Cleveland, and the Bucs are counting on him to have a major impact in their offense.BURRESSNEW YORK ó Despite getting into trouble, Plaxico Burress can keep a $1 million signing bonus from the New York Giants.
The NFLPA has a separate grievance pending on what it termed excessive punishment of Burress. The Giants’ suspension cost him more than $800,00 in salary and the team also fined him more than $200,000, his single-game salary.
TASERED, ARRESTED
HOUSTON ó NFL receiver Reggie Williams was charged with drug possession after off-duty policemen used a Taser to subdue him when he refused to leave a bar.
Police say jail officials later found a small bag believed to contain cocaine in Williams’ back pocket. In February, the 25-year-old unrestricted free agent was arrested in Houston on DWI and possession of marijuana charges, which were later dropped. He played for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season.
FALCONS-RAMS TRADEATLANTA ó The Atlanta Falcons have traded receiver Laurent Robinson to the St. Louis Rams, allowing the Falcons to move up in the fifth and sixth rounds of this month’s NFL draft.
Robinson, a third-round pick in 2007, had only five catches for 52 yards while playing in only six games last season.
TEXANSHOUSTON ó Cato June is back in the AFC South, joining the Houston Texans, a team he used to plague while playing for the Indianapolis Colts.
Houston agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract after playing the last two seasons in Tampa Bay.
STEELERSPITTSBURGH ó The Pittsburgh Steelers have re-signed another of their free agents, linebacker Keyaron Fox, to a two-year deal.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Fox joined Pittsburgh last season after four years with Kansas City.
PACKERSGREEN BAY, Wis. ó The Green Bay Packers have re-signed tight end Tory Humphrey and released linebacker Kenny Pettway.
VIKINGSEDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. ó Defensive tackle Fred Evans signed his one-year tender to return to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday.
RAVENSOWINGS MILLS, Md. ó Cornerback Samari Rolle has re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens for a four-year deal.