Factory Of Sadness
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7 worst free agents signed by the Cleveland Browns since 1999

By Chad Porto

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 27: Defensive End John Abraham #94 of the New York Jets tries to get past tackle Ross Verba #77 of the Cleveland Browns during the NFL game at Giant Stadium on October 27, 2002 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Browns defeated the Jets 24-21. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 27: Defensive End John Abraham #94 of the New York Jets tries to get past tackle Ross Verba #77 of the Cleveland Browns during the NFL game at Giant Stadium on October 27, 2002 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Browns defeated the Jets 24-21. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH – OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Jeff Garcia #5 of the Cleveland Browns evades the Pittsburgh Steelers during the game at Heinz Field on October 10, 2004 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 34-23. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH – OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Jeff Garcia #5 of the Cleveland Browns evades the Pittsburgh Steelers during the game at Heinz Field on October 10, 2004 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 34-23. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /

Jeff Garcia

This list is made up of free-agent signings who were either over-paid, too injured to produce or were just foolish, to begin with. In the case of Jeff Garcia, it was none of those. In fact, Garcia makes the list not because of how “bad” he was or how “bad” the contract was, but due to how poorly he was used.

See, unlike every other player on this list, Garcia’s career didn’t die after he left Cleveland. LeCharles Bentley never played another down. Paul Kruger had one, bad year, in New Orleans. Donte Stallworth had three years of poor football after he left.

Garcia led two teams to the playoffs, got a Pro Bowl nod, and was a top-vote getter for the 2006 Comeback Player of the Year Award. Gacia wasn’t done when he came to Cleveland, Cleveland was done with quality coaching.

Butch Davis signed Garcia to a four-year, $25 million contract, and had him play in the same system that ate up Tim Couch. Then everyone was surprised when he didn’t play well. It’s not like the Browns had the offensive line, or the receivers to make use of his natural play-making abilities.

Still, he lasted just a season, so he makes the list.

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