After two years away from the NFL, David Garrard has found himself a new home.
The 35-year-old signed with the Jets on Monday and will be competing for their starting quarterback job this fall.
"For me, it was a good fit," Garrard said this afternoon, speaking to reporters on a conference call.
The former Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins QB participated in a workout for the Green & White at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center two weeks ago. There, he was able to meet and talk with fifth-year QB Mark Sanchez. He said the two of them chatted about their relationship with former Jets backup QB Mark Brunell and he described Sanchez as "a great guy."
"He seemed to be an upstanding guy," Garrard said of No. 6, "and I think he could kind of feel the same thing from me."
Sanchez was drafted by the Jets with the fifth overall selection in the 2009 draft. After leading the franchise to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances in his first two seasons, he was benched for the first time in his career in 2012 and ended the year with 26 turnovers. For Garrard, he knows competition is a key component of football and he's never been one to run away from it.
"This game, all sports, are all about competition and I understand that," the 6'1" 239-pound signalcaller said. "And I believe Mark understands that. I'm always going to be a great teammate. I don't care what position I am on the field. If he is playing, and playing well, and performing better than me, then that's just the case. I'll still be there to support him and help him out."
Not only has Garrard interacted with Sanchez, but he's also previously connected with fellow Jets QB Tim Tebow on numerous occasions, as both have participated in a number of events together around North Florida.
"I've done his golf tournament. He's helped me out with my foundation," Garrard said. "He works out in my neighborhood sometimes. He's come out there before and worked out with us a little bit.
"I can't say we're the best of friends or anything, but Tim is a great guy and much like me, we have the same kind of spiritual background. We're pretty open arms with most people. He's been great for me and my foundation. I think a lot of Tim."
Garrard wouldn't predict whether he thinks he will be the Jets' starter in 2013. Instead, he'll let his play on the field will do the talking. With free agency now officially under way, it's no longer a secret that he's at least earned a shot at it.
"My agent always says the cream will rise to the top," he said. "Whoever comes out as the cream will be the guy. That's football, that's sports. That's how it should be. Whenever you're in that situation, it's going to make the next guy better. That's the way I'm approaching it and hopefully everyone is doing the same."
