BROWNS Garcia says he'll try to be assertive

The QB doesn't want a lack of on-field communication to be a problem.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
BEREA -- When it comes to the relationship with his receivers, Jeff Garcia is a changed man.
No longer will the Cleveland Browns' new starting quarterback keep his mouth shut and merely lead by example. Five years in San Francisco, which ended with serious criticism from star receiver Terrell Owens and a lack of on-field communication, have convinced Garcia he needs to be more assertive.
His revamped approach has already begun as he's spent the past three weeks in Cleveland's off-season program throwing to projected starters Quincy Morgan and Andre Davis.
Pledge
"One of the things this opportunity brings to me is that I have become more vocal with my new teammates," Garcia said Tuesday. "At times in San Francisco I stood back and tried to lead through example, through working hard on the practice field and in the weight room; doing the necessary things I felt could lead to wins.
"Not only am I doing those things here now, but I've also learned that I need to speak up when I feel it's needed. To talk to Andre, to talk to Quincy and to make sure we're on the same page is only going to be better for us."
Garcia said he was frustrated during 49ers games last season, because he and his receiving corps, which included Owens, Tai Streets, Brandon Lloyd and Cedrick Wilson, said nothing to each other. Owens still managed to catch 71 passes for 955 yards and eight touchdowns.
"The communication between the receivers and the quarterback was non-existent," Garcia said. "It was amazing. We would come off the field in between series and have no communication whatsoever.
"That pained me. I'm not that type of guy. I want to find out what the receivers are seeing, how the defensive backs are playing them, what we can do to overcome that, how can we have success? That didn't happen there and I'm going to make sure it happens here."
More tempered
Even if Morgan speaks his mind as he has been known to do, their relationship isn't likely to become as volatile as that of Garcia and Owens. Owens took shots at Garcia before being traded to Philadelphia. In January, Owens said on his Web site he would return to the 49ers "if the Niners can get a quarterback to match my skills as a receiver!"
Garcia preferred to look at the good things he and Owens accomplished in the past five years, when Owens caught 421 passes for 5,872 yards and 54 touchdowns.