Owens, Garcia growing apart as 49ers' slide worsens
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
September 29, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Though Terrell Owens has feuded with coaches and criticized teammates during his tumultuous tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, he had always stayed on his quarterback's good side -- until now.
The relationship between Owens and Jeff Garcia appears strained after a disastrous weekend trip to Minnesota for the 49ers, who fell to 1-3 with a 35-7 loss to the Vikings.
Owens directed blame and shame at his entire team during a postgame diatribe at the Metrodome -- and for the first time, Garcia was a target. Owens stopped just short of suggesting the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback should be benched after finding his All-Pro receiver for just five catches for 55 yards and no touchdowns.
On Monday, the 49ers' quarterbacks and receivers watched film together as usual. Garcia and Owens didn't say a word to each other.
``Either we're all in this together, or some changes have to be made,'' Garcia said. ``This is a team effort, and there's not any one individual that is above the team.''
Coach Dennis Erickson met with Owens in the morning, but he didn't discipline his star receiver for the latest in a long line of questionable behavior. Owens didn't speak to reporters Monday.
``Obviously, I didn't like what happened yesterday,'' Erickson said. ``It will not be tolerated any longer, basically.''
Owens threw a sideline tantrum during a loss to Cleveland the previous week, and he lost it again after the Vikings turned back a fourth-and-1 running play on the Minnesota 31 in the third quarter. Owens stormed off the field and chewed out offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, the subject of a similar tirade in the Browns game.
``What happened with Coach Knapp is just something that I don't care for,'' said Erickson, who called the running play.
Owens' oblique criticisms of Garcia were grounded in fact. Garcia might have played his worst game for San Francisco, going 11-of-23 for 108 yards and three interceptions before giving way to backup Tim Rattay in the fourth quarter.
``That's not my position to say we need a quarterback change, but Rat did a good job when he was in there,'' said Owens, who also admired Rattay's 37-yard TD pass to Tai Streets. ``It's been a long time since I've seen that. He threw it deep and gave us a chance. That's all you can ever ask as a receiver.''
Garcia took responsibility for his poor play, which was abetted by a lingering groin injury. But Garcia couldn't overlook Owens' impetuous decisions to air his complaints to reporters, who have rarely heard Owens' voice in the last two years except in anger or pleasure after games.
``Sickness can spread,'' Garcia said. ``We're trying to do our best possible job to not allow that sickness to spread.
``All the wins that we've had over the past two or three seasons are because this team came together on the football field. It wasn't because of one individual making exceptional plays, and all of a sudden we're finding ourselves on top of other teams. It doesn't happen that way.''
The rest of the 49ers haven't yet decided what to make of Owens' comments. Some are sticking behind him despite his declaration that the 49ers have no heart.
``People are taking it the wrong way,'' linebacker Jamie Winborn said. ``Everything that's said is said to everybody. Nobody points fingers on this team. Guys get emotional. The guy really cares and wants to win. In my opinion, you need to have people on your team like that.''
Raw statistics don't back up Owens' complaints about a lack of involvement in the 49ers' offense. He has 25 catches for 299 yards, which translates to 100 catches and nearly 1,200 yards over a full season -- numbers that would satisfy nearly any receiver except Owens.
But after a difficult offseason rehab from torn muscles in his groin and legs, Owens expected to have a spectacular season with the arrival of Erickson, who was expected to open up the 49ers' West Coast offense.
In addition, Owens is in the final year of his contract; he's hoping to land a signing bonus of more than $15 million for the most important deal of his career.
Erickson isn't worried about a growing frost between Owens and Garcia. He believes a 1-3 team has bigger problems than the personality conflicts that have defined the 49ers during Owens' best seasons.
``I don't care if they talk to each other as long as they're on the same page when they throw it and catch it,'' Erickson said. ``They've been playing together for a long time.''
