David Garrard: Why Is Ex-Jags QB Still Unemployed?

First and foremost, this disclaimer:

The author is an East Carolina grad and a fan of all Pirates, David Garrard included.

Now that we've got that out of the way, down to the business of teams in need of quarterbacks and one former big-name starter still sitting at home reading his latest edition of the East Carolina University alumni news.

It came as a stunner to Pirate Nation when David Garrard was released by Jacksonville a few days before the start of this 2011 season. The guy had already been introduced as the team's starting quarterback at the Jags' downtown kickoff luncheon—you know, those rubber chicken affairs that most of the teams have so the city movers and shakers can get chummy with the jocks.

David's a good guy, we loved him at ECU and we've enjoyed the success he has had in the NFL.

Today, Garrard's still unemployed, but he may not be as antsy as some to jump back into the pool. Especially if it's with a team that is, well, struggling.

He's already been through that with Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville and Garrard's certainly not going to jump on some sinking ship somewhere in the murky waters of the NFL bottom dwellers.

Garrard was fortunate to sign a six-year, $60 million deal with Jacksonville back in 2008. It guaranteed him $18 million, so you can bet he's in good shape. Typically, us ECU guys aren't heavy spenders. There were no Jags or Ferraris on our campus, especially back in the day. If some guy's dad was rolling in dough, he had a Corvette and there damn sure weren't many of those.

Garrard's a thrifty guy and thus far he's been paid $2,975,000 in 2008, $5,475,000 in 2009, $7,975,000 in 2010 and was slated to bank $7,975,000 this season. Still, he's sitting pretty.

Right now, teams that desperately need quarterback help are probably already headed for a doomed season. See under: Miami, Indy, Minnesota.

Kansas City and St. Louis, as bad as they are, do have quality quarterbacks.

Garrard has the luxury of taking the rest of the year off and seeing how things shake out around the league.

If you took a "quarterback satisfaction poll" around the league when the season ends, typically you'll find more teams putting a check mark under "Not Satisfied."

Garrard's agent will most likely shop his services in the offseason. They'll try and find the best fit for him, maybe a team where he can sign and start training in the offseason and, at least, compete for a starting job.

What Garrard can't count on is making $5 million or more.

He'll have to be content to sign for less money with incentives that pay him should he earn a starting berth.

So don't look for him to show up in Miami. Things aren't going well for the Dolphins. Chad Henne is out for the year, he's going to have shoulder surgery. The Dolphins brought in Brody Croyle and Trent Green earlier this week, then did what most figured they'd do. They turned to a former Dolphin, Sage Rosenfels, who was signed on Thursday.

Minnesota will eventually bench Donovan McNabb and turn to Christian Ponder.

If you have your options, jumping into a losing locker room isn't high on your list.

Garrard will show up somewhere next year. Exactly where will that be?

That is a question that will have to wait to be answered.