updated 5:00 p.m. ET Aug. 13, 2004

BEREA, Ohio - Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia says a comment made by ex-teammate Terrell Owens implying that he is gay is ridiculous and untrue.

In an interview with Playboy magazine that hits newsstands Friday, Owens was asked if he thinks Garcia is gay. Owens responded: “Like my boy tells me: ‘If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it is a rat.”’

Garcia, who had a contentious relationship with the wide receiver in San Francisco, responded to Owens’ comment after practice Wednesday without mentioning the wide receiver by name.

“It is really a waste of my time to sit here and to have to answer to such ridiculous, untrue comments that are made out there in the world today,” Garcia said.

He noted that it has been reported that he has a girlfriend and has had girlfriends in the past.

“So many people know my situation here. It has never been a secret,” Garcia said.

Owens backed off his comment to Playboy after the Eagles’ practice Tuesday, saying, “My thing was I didn’t say that he was gay. Like I said, the conversation and interview was loose and from my knowledge I’m not sure if Jeff is gay or not.”

When they were teammates with the 49ers, the outspoken Owens often complained that Garcia didn’t throw to him enough.

The 49ers released Garcia and traded Owens to Philadelphia in the offseason.

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