Gilroy's second-favorite export is returning to the Bay Area.

Chronically-underestimated warrior QB Jeff Garcia has signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders.

He'll be slotted for the mentor/back-up role unless something terrible happens to Al's chosen arm, JaMarcus Russell.

To track Jeff's career path, he played his college days for San Jose State, then went undrafted to Canada to play for the Calgary Stampeders with which he won the Grey Cup and Most Outstanding Player. Then to the 49ers. Some great years here, including the second-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history. Then contract stupidity sent him to the Cleveland Browns. From there he traveled on to the football wasteland of the Detroit Lions, after which he saved the Philadelphia Eagles' season in 2006 when Donovan McNabb got injured. Philly (puzzlingly) let him go, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seemed like the best last fit for Jeff. But no, his his tenure there was done after Coach Chucky Gruden's staff was purged from the Bucs in the 2009 offseason. Team after team, travel after travel, and now Garcia is back here in the Bay Area to jump into the cauldron that is the Raider Nation

Welcome back, Jeff. Good luck in silver and black.