Ex-QB Jeff Garcia open to comeback with Vikings

Jim Corbett | USA TODAY Sports

Four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jeff Garcia wasn't kidding when he said he is open to making a comeback at 43.

The quarterback guru told USA TODAY Sports Wednesday he would embrace the chance to play for the Minnesota Vikings while serving as a mentor for Josh Freeman.

"I look at guys like David Garrard (with the Jets) and Matt Hasselbeck in Indianapolis and those teams aren't expecting David or Matt to step on the field, but they're great mentors to young quarterbacks in the classroom," Garcia said. "So in a situation where you have a young, talented player like a Josh Freeman who has had success, I'd be open to a role similar to David and Matt's.

"I think Josh is fixable. Really, it has to come from deep within Josh. What Josh needs to do is look back when he did have success.''

The 17th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Freeman had a 61.4% completion rate in 2010 when he threw 25 touchdowns with six interceptions in leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 10-6 record. He went 20-of-53 passing for 190 yards and an interception in his first start for the Vikings Monday, and will likely miss Sunday's game with concussion-like symptoms.

"We've seen Josh be a 60% completion guy and be a good decision maker when he had confidence in his system, the players around him and in himself,'' Garcia said.

"Maybe it takes looking back at some of that game film from 2010; look at his mechanics and look at how he was playing the game -- his rhythm, where his eyes were, what he was mentally going through. And then he will be able to visually see that he was successful so he can now hopefully push away whatever doubt or lack of confidence is there now and turn his mindset around.''

Garcia is a 12-year NFL veteran who last played in 2009 for the Philadelphia Eagles. He says he has stayed in peak condition working with -- and along side -- quarterbacks such as Mark Sanchez and JaMarcus Russell along with college and high school standouts.

Garcia downplayed Tuesday's interview with a Cleveland radio station "as light-hearted'' when he lobbied for a chance to help solve the Browns' quarterback riddle before coach Rob Chudzinski turned to journeyman Jason Campbell over struggling Brandon Weeden.

But Garcia, who serves as a twice-weekly NFL Network analyst, admits he'd be open to an NFL return and that it is not just some mid-life crisis.

"I've always had a competitive fire within that continues to burn. So it would be hard for me as a competitor to say, 'No,' '' Garcia said. "If that phone rings, I'd say, 'Hey, what flight can I jump on?'

"I'm realistic about it all. I'm not expecting anything.

"I'm not trying to start fires out there.

"But if you look at situations around this league, I can help a young quarterback out.''