JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- David Garrard has heard the boos, the criticism and the negativity. Now he has someone who can truly empathize.
Former Buffalo Bills starter Trent Edwards joined the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday, giving the team another option at quarterback.
Garrard insisted he was unfazed by Edwards' arrival. Garrard remains the starter for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, but he realizes more poor performances could lead to a change under center.
"They're going to do what is best for the team, whatever they feel like they can do to help make the team better," Garrard said. "I'm fine. We just have to make sure this entire team turns things around. I can't back away from the last couple of games, but that's the toughness of this league. You're going to have tough ones, and you've got to be able to bounce back from it. I know I will."
Garrard completed 53 percent of his passes the last two weeks, with one garbage-time touchdown and five interceptions. He also was sacked nine times (an official scoring change resulted in seven sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend) and botched a pitch to running back Maurice Jones-Drew.
The result was consecutive 25-point losses to the San Diego Chargers and Eagles -- and talk about Garrard's job security. The Jaguars (1-2) probably would have turned to backup Luke McCown, but he tore a knee ligament against the Chargers and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
"He's a nice young player at a premium position," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "We'll bring him along as quickly as we can, teach him our system and, like all our players, put him in a position where if he is called upon, we expect him to play well."
Edwards feels fortunate for a fresh start. He's even planning to cut his shaggy hair for a new look.
But he's still not quite sure what went wrong in Buffalo.
"Obviously it was a shock to me when I was benched, and it was a shock one week later to be released," Edwards said. "Definitely been a whirlwind last couple of weeks."
"I felt like I did everything I could have done," Edwards said. "I guess I could have played better on Sundays, but the direction the organization was going didn't include me, and that's something I have to handle."
Who knows how long Edwards will stay in Jacksonville. Edwards and McCown are free agents after this season, and the Jaguars likely will turn to the draft to find a franchise quarterback.
It's clear that's not Garrard, a 2002 fourth-round pick who overcame Crohn's disease and beat out former first-round selection Byron Leftwich to earn the starting job in 2007.
Garrard threw 18 touchdown passes and three interceptions in his first season as the starter and led Jacksonville to its first postseason victory since 2000. Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver rewarded Garrard with a six-year, $60 million extension that included $18 million guaranteed. But Garrard has been mediocre since, throwing 34 touchdown passes and 28 interceptions. He also has been sacked 94 times in the last 35 games.
Del Rio and Weaver even challenged Garrard in January.
"I just think collectively we all have got to play better," Garrard said. "I've got to make sure that I get the ball out faster so I don't put pressure on my offensive line. I've got to get it out faster to the right guys and allow them to make plays and to be explosive. We've got to throw the ball downfield at times, too. We just have to get back to doing what we do, and I've got to get back to doing what I do."
Garrard and Edwards have one thing in common: They've heard more jeers than cheers.
"When you lose, the quarterback is going to get the slack, so it's understandable," Edwards said. "It's tough, but I've been through that."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
