Report: Falcons show interest in Stephen Garcia
Stephen Garcia was dismissed from the South Carolina team last season. (Associated Press)
Stephen Garcia, the disgraced quarterback formerly of South Carolina, is trying to make the leap to the NFL has talked to a scout from the Falcons, according to a report from Aaron Wilson of scout.com.
Garcia was dismissed from the South Carolina football program last season for drinking after five prior suspensions. Because of his checkered past, he doesn’t seem to fit the prototype of the players the Falcons have signed under general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
During after a all-star game in Florida, Garcia talked with a scout from the Falcons as well as several other teams.
During his conversation with the Falcons scout, all of Garcia’s transgressions at South Carolina were discussed. And Garcia said he didn’t leave anything out, to the scout’s approval
“I went down the list and he said he appreciated the honesty,” Garcia said. “He told me to stay on that track, and I will. I just wish I had changed earlier. I didn’t fully understand until it was too late.”
Garcia is contending that he has changed his destructive behavior.
“I’ve learned how immature I really was. I just didn’t know exactly how important everything was until after I made all of those mistakes. I was trying to be like every other college kid, but you can’t do that as a starting quarterback for an SEC team. Looking back, it sucks. I have nobody to blame but myself.”
Garcia, 24, has a four-year-old son.
Garcia, of Lutz, Fla., recently played in one of the eight regional combines attempting to qualify for the NFL super regional combine on March 30 at Ford Field in Detroit. He was not invited to the NFL scouting combine, which starts today.
The Atlanta regional combine is set for March 10 and 11.
Garcia also told scout.com that South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is going to allow him to participate in the Gamecocks’ Pro Day on March 28.
Garcia led the Gamecocks to a SEC Eastern division title as a junior and went 20-14 as a starter overall, passing for 7,597 career yards, 47 touchdowns, 41 interceptions and rushed for 777 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Behind starting quarterback Matt Ryan, the Falcons have Chris Redman, who is set to become a free agent at 3 p.m. on March 13, and John Parker Wilson, who was promoted to the active roster late last season when the Minnesota Vikings tried to sign him off the practice squad.
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–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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138 comments Add your comment
Cbmat47
February 22nd, 2012
11:30 am
Id love to get crunk with Garcia every weekend out in bhead
Matt Ryan highly overrated
February 22nd, 2012
11:35 am
Falcons Management is pure nuts
R Brown
February 22nd, 2012
11:42 am
Really D-Led? Stephen Garcia. Is it that slow at the office?
Roger
February 22nd, 2012
11:43 am
He who is without sin..throw the first stone. There are alot of perfect people on this blog. Get a life, everyone at some time screws up. I’m prove of that. Every one can change if they wish…..God Bless!
Garcia may be the diamond we’ve been looking for..give him a chance, nothing to loss.
The Falconator
February 22nd, 2012
11:48 am
This is beyond crazy. If you’re going to sign a potential problem player, you don’t risk it for a quarterback–even a back-up. Maybe a troubled but talented OL or DL who can work out his aggressions slamming into people, but NOT a quarterback! BTW, what is the Smitty-TD back-up plan when the current O-line gets Ryan Killed?
Mako
February 22nd, 2012
11:52 am
Garcia….are you kidding me….Garcia…..Garcia…..WHY? The guy is a loser!!!!!!!!!!
coach13
February 22nd, 2012
11:57 am
Nothing like giving up way to much for 1 player (Julio JOnes) and then wasting one of the few picks we still have on a habitual rule breaking average college player at a position that is not a need.
Chop Buster
February 22nd, 2012
11:58 am
Are they nuts? This guy wasn’t that good in college. I hope this is just a rumor.
asdf
February 22nd, 2012
11:59 am
Who cares about the behavioral stuff – he’s just plain bad at football. This will never happen.
Chop Buster
February 22nd, 2012
12:00 pm
Just because he spoke with one of the Falcons scouts doesn’t mean a thing. Scouts speak with plenty of players the team never ends up picking.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 22nd, 2012
12:03 pm
D man – I like the send him to Oakland comment.
J-Lo
February 22nd, 2012
12:04 pm
People who are saying that he could give the falcons an “edge”: You want aggressiveness, bully-type behavior, not alcoholism.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 22nd, 2012
12:05 pm
KC — I’m getting that too. Will send the “Help Desk” an email.
Jim
February 22nd, 2012
12:05 pm
ARE YOU KIDDING ME! EVEN A BUM LIKE SPURRIER DID NOT LIKE HIM
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 22nd, 2012
12:06 pm
elmack — Are you on the right blog?
Fred-D
February 22nd, 2012
12:06 pm
If Garcia has turned his life around, good for him and even better for his family. I don’t think he is a good fit because of his decision making on the field. If he can satisfy scouts however, why not give him a shot? He can’t be that much worse than the backups we have.
Falcon James
February 22nd, 2012
12:16 pm
This guy would be a waste of money. He got almost as many interseption as he got touchdown. Let Redmon go, promote John Parker to the 2 slot, and resign that guy from Georgia Shockey or Shuckley or whatever his name.
John
February 22nd, 2012
12:16 pm
You could argue that this guy was worse on the field than he was off the field.
Jimmy Crack
February 22nd, 2012
12:20 pm
In a related story, Director of Player Personnel Dave Caldwell yesterday said Terrell Owens “still looked good getting off the bus, even though it was a Greyhound.”
Andy
February 22nd, 2012
12:23 pm
Dismissed for drinking? He’s 24.
The rut
February 22nd, 2012
12:24 pm
I believe in second chances not sixth chances.
elmack
February 22nd, 2012
12:25 pm
Stephen Garcia…..the anti Tim Tebow
savannahdawg
February 22nd, 2012
12:27 pm
Please tell me you are making this crap up. This guy is nothing but a drunk-ass screwup. Garcia isn’t worth the waste of a draft pick!!
Report: Falcons show interest in Stephen Garcia | football-feed.com
February 22nd, 2012
12:28 pm
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Falcon James
February 22nd, 2012
12:30 pm
One more thing. This if for DOL….
DOL, is there any other news besides who the scouts talking to. Did Hines Ward go to McDonalds while he was in town? Has John Abraham got over that hang nail infection?
Just kidding. I know its rough trying to find something to report this time of year. Just having fun with you!
Joe 12-Pack
February 22nd, 2012
12:49 pm
If they want to sign Garcia as an undrafted free agent, I have no problem with that. But if they waste a draft pick on him, I might have to get out my pitchfork and torch and head up to Flowery Branch.
phil
February 22nd, 2012
12:50 pm
Good.
This helps confirm that 2012 will be Mike Smith’s last season as coach.
Garcia wasn’t even average.
Diggity
February 22nd, 2012
1:02 pm
NO NO NO!! Just NO!
Fats OKelly
February 22nd, 2012
1:20 pm
Garcia is TOUGH as nails. If Mr.Doody falters, we got a tough guy to drive us down the field. He put up with alot from Spurrier at SC Spurrier would drive anyone to drink
Tdawg
February 22nd, 2012
1:22 pm
Can’t argue with that John.
richard whiskey
February 22nd, 2012
1:23 pm
steven garcia’s next job will include asking the very important question “would you like to supersize that order”
Th
February 22nd, 2012
1:26 pm
It is just too depressing to think this may be true.
IceColdATLien
February 22nd, 2012
1:27 pm
I think it’s just fantastic that all of you were so perfect in your early 20’s/college years. You people just never made any mistakes or did anything stupid during that time. It’s so refreshing to read that so many of you were such choir boys and therefore can sit on this blog and rag on this kid like he was a serial rapist or an axe-murderer. Basically, it’s just wonderful that there are so many of you who’ve led such lives of perfection during your youth that you can sit there and judge Garcia with such a pompous “holier-than-thou” attitude. I just hope you all have kids who’ll be held to the same judgmental standard that you’re throwing on this guy, because it’s a really sad day in this nation when the idiotic things people do as a college kid are supposed to completely ruin their dreams forever.
Of course, I’m sure none of you voted for GW Bush because what W did in his 20’s makes Garcia look like Mother Theresa… so y’all most definitely wouldn’t have voted for a guy with that kind of past for president considering your vehement declarations that the Falcons should never hire Garcia as a quarterback.
What a bunch of hypocritical, self-righteous a-holes… y’all make me sick.
Carolina Falcon
February 22nd, 2012
1:54 pm
I live in SC but born and raised in Ga and a Falcon fan. Even considering Garcia is as disappointing to me as the play calls they made all last year. PS Tell Ryan to watch the good QB’s when they throw the long ball. You dont just throw it straight up and hope your guy is taller.
BiggDawgK
February 22nd, 2012
1:58 pm
Garcia is almost as classless as spurrier.
JSS
February 22nd, 2012
2:08 pm
Oh it is going to be one of those blogs… Man, Stephen Garcia has never learned to read a coverage… This dislike of him has very little to do with his alcohol and behavior problems… If you think that it is magically going to happen in the NFL with Koetter and Ryan in his ear, you’re crazy! Ask Todd Marinovich how that works… Nobody hopes that kid gets his act together more than me… But he has never been more than a SEC level QB, and despite the delusions of LSU, FLA, UGA, and Bama fans tell you; it is not the same level of what is played on Sundays!
BigAintheBigA
February 22nd, 2012
2:12 pm
Slow Day news story. Garcia’s playing days are over.
FL dawg
February 22nd, 2012
2:21 pm
Forget the fact Ryan can’t throw deep routes, so it’s .a mute point at WR, why bother? As a matter of fact Atl will probably be picked to finish 3rd in their division. NO and Carolina have better QB’s, which makes us wonder how the hell can you take Atl seriously? Vince Young is who the birds should go after, I mean would that hurt Ryan’s feelings too much? JJ and White are pin route receivers b/c of Ryan’s weak arm. TD’s pride is gonna burythis team
Latoya OBama
February 22nd, 2012
2:22 pm
lets give him a chance. look into you hearts to find the real stephen garcia.
JSS
February 22nd, 2012
2:37 pm
Vince Young? This team can’t coach up Young… You guys are grasping at straws!
The Real Falcon
February 22nd, 2012
2:56 pm
Run don’t hide from this guy! Hinke was cut from Mia. He’s the experienced backup QB we need.
ATLBadger
February 22nd, 2012
3:12 pm
I’d suggest RUSSELL WILSON, but we all know that after a few months he’ put MR at second string.
ATLBadger
February 22nd, 2012
3:15 pm
*he’d
John
February 22nd, 2012
3:41 pm
Best advice to Garcia is make sure you finish your degree. Having followed his college career there is no way a kid like this could be successful in the NFL. Look how out of shape and chubby he looks in the picture even, if the falcons waste any time on this guy I would be distraught.
invictus mon
February 22nd, 2012
3:47 pm
There is simply no way he doesn’t get a black dot. There’s no reason for it!
mike
February 22nd, 2012
3:47 pm
We need to trade Ryan for TJ Yates
Left Coast Dawg
February 22nd, 2012
3:50 pm
Robo
February 22nd, 2012
11:01 am
What interest me is the fact that Bill Musgrave came down from the vikings and tried to sign JP4 off the practice squad. hmmm. Never been crazy about JP4 because i really want the falcons to take someone like a kellen moore late so we can have a decent backup like we did in schuab
Kellen Moore >>> Matt Schaub? Really Robo?
You are banned from posting for at least 30 days for that comment.
invictus mon
February 22nd, 2012
3:55 pm
To steal and adapt a quote from somewhere, “things more fierce than Garcia before a big game: Justin Beiber’s Christmas Album”…also insert Project Runway
Bird Dawg Country
February 22nd, 2012
4:09 pm
NO WAY! Character issues Mr. Blank, Character issues.
AlanFalcon
February 22nd, 2012
4:12 pm
John Parker Wilson, there is a reason the Falcons brought him up from the practice squad, watch for Chris Redmond to go.