BEREA, Ohio (AP) – An interview in the current issue of Playboy is calling the sexual orientation of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia into question once again. Despite the fact that the 49ers released Garcia, who was then picked by the Cleveland Browns in the off season, it appears that the rumors have followed him, this time thanks to a Playboy interview with his former teammate and rival, Terrel Owens. Owens was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles last year. Garcia says the comment made by Owens implying that he is gay is ridiculous and untrue.

In the interview, 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 a pre-season practice 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,” said Garcia.

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 a recent Eagles practice, 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.”

In the Playboy article, Owens was asked a follow-up question about what he would do if an NFL player admitted he was gay.

“I probably wouldn’t say anything right off the bat,” Owens responded. “I’d just see what everyone else has to say. I’d probably keep my distance, and hopefully, he would keep his. If it was a guy who was helping us win ball games, hey, I’d have no problem with it. He can do what he wants to do outside of my everyday life.”

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