By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

There are demanding gigs in sports, and there is Jeff Garcia's.

"I don't read the newspapers," the San Francisco 49ers quarterback said this week. "I don't watch the news or ESPN to see what they're saying about me."

But by virtue of his upbringing - a Bay Area guy playing for a Bay Area franchise oft identified by Joe Montana and Steve Young - Garcia always finds himself in the loop.

Praise and, particularly, criticism have a way of being heard through plugged ears and seen through covered eyes.

"I'm my worst critic," said Garcia, who has passed for more than 3,300 yards in each of his past three Pro Bowl seasons. "So if I can live up to my own standards, that's going to exceed anybody else's."

Witness the past two weekends, a journey of emotional extremes for the 33-year-old and the 49ers, who play the Bengals Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

Critics wanted Garcia benched in favor of backup Tim Rattay after an abysmal performance against the Ravens Nov. 30.

One week later, and with the endorsement of coach Dennis Erickson, Garcia produced a remarkable individual performance during a 36-point win against the hapless Cardinals on Sunday.

"Yeah, there was that sense of getting the monkey off my back," Garcia said, "and going out there and proving to people that I can still play the game."

He completed 68 percent of his passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns for a 135.7 quarterback rating.

Garcia also rushed for two touchdowns, which allowed for the dusting off of the names Eric Hipple and Bill Kenney as the only other NFL players ever to account for six touchdowns in one game.

"It felt good to go out there and do some positive things on the football field," Garcia said. "Everybody just was together, in sync."

A healthy Garcia - he has been slowed this season by back and groin problems, an arm bruise and the ankle sprain - ranks among the NFL's most dangerous quarterbacks. His scrambling ability and decision-making can open up a passing game that features All-Pro wide receiver Terrell Owens.

Garcia is fourth in rushing yards (239) among NFL quarterbacks and first in average yards per run (5.6) despite missing two games this season.

"He does a lot for his team, whether it's throwing the ball, running, scrambling, getting the tough first downs," said Bengals cornerback Tory James, who played against Garcia while with Oakland last season. "The thing that's impressive to me is he's not that big, but he takes a lot of shots and keeps getting up.

"He's a competitor."

Garcia is hesitant to admit it, but age and that punishing style are catching up.

"My style of play is what it is," Garcia said. "That's what makes me effective. If I'm not playing that type of football, then I'm not the same player."

One could argue that Garcia was not at his best in the Baltimore game, his first start since suffering a high ankle sprain in late October.

Garcia sputtered to the tune of four interceptions and an 18.8 passer rating as San Francisco dropped to 0-6 on the road this season.

"He's coming off an injury ... and he wasn't as sharp as he needed to be," Erickson said. "That happens to players."

Of more importance to Erickson and the 49ers is keeping alive slim playoff hopes.

The Bengals expect nothing less than Garcia's best.

"He's a quarterback that you'd like on your team," Cincinnati linebacker Adrian Ross said. "He loves the team. He's going to give you the maximum effort to try and make his plays.

"Just watching him play, you just know he's giving his full effort. He's that type of quarterback."

E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com

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