Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia won't report to Disney's Wide World of Sports complex for training camp until Monday, but that hasn't stopped the veteran signal caller from fielding questions about the Brett Favre reports as they relate to the Bucs' interest in acquiring the retired Packers quarterback.

Garcia, 38, has been excused from Tampa Bay's first two days of training camp to attend a celebration for the 35th anniversary of his father's junior college football team's championship in California.

He helped lead the Bucs to the NFC South division championship and earned a Pro Bowl berth in the process in his Buccaneer debut in 2007.

But over the past few weeks reports have surfaced that have linked the Bucs to Favre, who wants to play, but has been told he will not start for the Packers over QB Aaron Rodgers.

Tampa Bay and the New York Jets reportedly have been given permission to speak with Favre about a possible trade, but those reports don't seem to be fazing Garcia.

"You know, I really just can't even think about it," Garcia told The Gilroy Dispatch from his father's team's celebration on Saturday night. "There are only certain things that I can control and that's really what I want to focus upon. I can't control what is being said in the media. I can't control what upper management or what people are talking about or what they're thinking about. All I know is that I have a job to do with Tampa. I have a job to build upon as to what I did last year with the team. I'm focused on myself being better, contributing more, hopefully leading this team to another division title and hopefully bigger and better things like a Super Bowl. Those are the things I really need to focus on. It's about playing football and whatever happens outside of my ability to control is out of my hands."

In the meantime, the Favre saga continues. It is unclear whether Favre has submitted the paperwork necessary to be reinstated in the NFL, but he seems determined to play football in 2008. The NFL commissioner is attempting to serve as an arbitrator in order to help the Packers and Favre reach a mutual mediator on his future destination.

Favre planned to report to the Packers training camp today, but was asked not to by Packers general manager Ted Thompson. Favre told SI.com that he plans to comply with those wishes.

"I had planned on reporting for the start of Packers training camp Sunday, but Ted Thompson asked if I would give him a couple of days to try to get the situation resolved," Favre told SI.com. "I agreed to do that. I don't want to be a distraction to the Packers, and I hope in the next few days we can come to an agreement that would allow me to continue playing football.''

LATEST PEWTERREPORT.COM TRAINING CAMP HEADLINES

Exclusive: Zuttah Diary: 7/26 

Camp Insider: 7/26 P.M. 

Bennett, Dunn Comment On Graham Video

Griese, McCown Take Majority Of Reps

Camp Insider: 7/26 A.M.

Simms Discusses Return To Bucs

Galloway Sidelined By Mild Groin Injury

White Inks Contract

Garcia Passes On Chance to Address Favre Rumors

Bucs Place Williams, Petitgout On PUP List

Training Camp Check-In Video

Gruden Downplays Favre Reports

Simms Reports To Camp

Bucs Agree To Terms With WR Jackson

Bucs Agree To Terms With CB Talib

Bucs Agree To Terms With QB Johnson

Tampa Bay Receives Permission To Speak To Favre

Inside Zuttah's Contract

Bucs Go Camping

Flynn's Focus

Want the inside scoop on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2008 training camp? Want to find out who is starring in training camp and who is underperforming, and who the Bucs are targeting in free agency and the NFL Draft next year? Find out by subscribing to PewterReport.com's Pewter Insider by clicking here.

Comments