NFL

Garcia reunited with Mariucci in Detroit

By wire services
Published March 13, 2005

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Lions and Jeff Garcia agreed to a one-year contract Saturday, reuniting the quarterback with coach Steve Mariucci. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Garcia was released by the Browns on Feb. 22 after a tumultuous season. He was 144-of-253 for 1,731 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and his relationship with then-coach Butch Davis became rocky. Garcia ended the season on injured reserve after tearing a knee ligament.

Before Cleveland, Garcia spent five seasons with San Francisco and learned under Mariucci, who coached the 49ers from 1997-2002.

BROWNS: Injury-plagued defensive end Courtney Brown will be released Monday if the club can't restructure the former No. 1 draft pick's contract. Brown, who missed the final 14 games last season after foot surgery, is due a $2.5-million roster bonus Tuesday.

RAIDERS: Free-agent defensive end Derrick Burgess was signed. Burgess started 11 games for Philadelphia last season and had 10 tackles and three sacks in the playoff run.

VIKINGS: Veteran safety Darren Sharper was signed to a four-year contract, the terms of which were not revealed. Sharper, cut by the Packers in a cost-cutting move this week, started at free safety the last six seasons and ranks fifth in team history with 36 interceptions. He led the Packers with four interceptions last year and scored three defensive touchdowns. Green Bay tried to get Sharper to restructure his deal, but he balked at a pay cut, hoping he could make more on the open market than the approximately $2-million Green Bay was offering for 2005.

[Last modified March 13, 2005, 00:23:15]