Josh Freeman Quits The CFL
May 26th, 2018
While reporting a couple of days ago, beat writer Herb Zurkowsky said the Montreal Alouette’s five-man quarterback competition appeared to be a two-man race during the CFL team’s training camp.
Josh Freeman was not one of the two QBs.
The former Bucs franchise quarterback, now 30, was signed by Montreal several months ago and was battling for a wide open starting gig with five QBs. And now he’s given up.
Reports out of Canada say Freeman officially retired from league. No reason was given.
Odd dude, Freeman is. Joe wrote previously about Freeman’s long and dedicated journey and process to ink a contract in Montreal. He even moved up their early and was seen this winter with his new teammates in their offseason. Joe watched him in interviews and he sounded great, very focused and relaxed with himself.
Joe will assume Freeman either realized his passion for the game isn’t strong enough to be a backup, or he realized his skills are toast.
Still, given how Freeman is, it would be no zero surprise to Joe to see him show up looking to play in one of the new spring football leagues on the way, where rules would be more like the NFL game he’s used to playing.
May 26th, 2018 at 1:49 pm
It’s all Schiano’s fault.
May 26th, 2018 at 1:51 pm
Perfect picture. General Schiano staring.
Josh had it all. But partying destroys the brain. The brain is a big muscle.
Josh destroyed his brain. He also burned bridges in the league.
I was his biggest supporter. He betrayed his fans.
But hes a victim too. His dad reminds me of Joe Jackson.
Maybe thats what Josh was trying to say in that photo.
Good luck Josh.
May 26th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
The man loved his yah-yo
And smoking cigs the night before a game. That’s dedication
May 26th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
There should be a statue of Greg Schiano at 1buc place because if Schiano didnt have the foresight to see that freeman was straight trash before he got fired…
Licht bulb would have kept freeman and there would not have been JW3 in pewter
The Kobe Realist
May 26th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
If Josh Freeman was a Bucs “franchise” QB…..he’d still be here.
He need to hook up with Ricky Williams and start a Cannabis “Franchise”…..
May 26th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
With this new league startin up..Josh might give it a shot. Although I hope he won’t. You are done Josh. You had that it factor for a while and then it vanished due to your..whatevers!! (They say its a rather long list). Take some of that money you got..or stole..from the Bucs..Open up yourself a nice little hamburger stand or invest some of your dough in the legal..Weed dispensaries..(thing YOU like) But Football playing is in your past. You gave it a shot..thats all you can do. Good Luck.
May 26th, 2018 at 2:14 pm
Freeman is not, was not a victim. Never has been. Just stop it already. How much more proof do you need? Hes the product of his own downfall. He’s a quitter. Always has been if things arent going his way. He has no heart nor accountability. Will never understand how people can call themselves Buc Fans but support this lying SOB after what he did to us on his way out.
May 26th, 2018 at 2:29 pm
I agree, good for Schiano to call out, and toss out Freeman. He didn’t seem to earn his keep anywhere, and when he left here for MIN he seemed like he didn’t even want to work–saying he’d “tap the brakes” for a little while. I had read somewhere they almost foreclosed on his house on bayshore (not the “real” Bayshore but the less pristine area) but he paid up, and then sold it. He never had more than a rookie contract under the old CBA, so I do not expect he’s got a lot of his own money–don’t think he got a lot elsewhere or in the CFL. Would be interesting to know, but not a big deal. He’s done.
May 26th, 2018 at 2:31 pm
#blamejameis
May 26th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Roy:
And to think how the organization sold Freeman to the fans as a workaholic.
May 26th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
From the neck up is where Dominick missed but don’t blame him as much as I do raheem morris who only spent his final of college with the guy. He just didn’t want it bad enough. Some guys are more than happy taking the money then settling for a normal life. A lot of people commenting here would have pulled an Anthony Collins for that big contract then retired
May 26th, 2018 at 2:51 pm
I have no doubt Freeman worked hard in the beginning. I also have no doubt that the personal choices he was making/demons may have initially helped his cause before it ruined him.
Freeman had a lot of talent and could have been a top 10 QB in the league. But there’s a reason why these scouts focus so much on off the field behavior and some college studs like Randy Gregory fall to the 2nd round.
May 26th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
Roy T. Buford,
JFro’s net worth is listed at 15 million.
Not too shabby.
May 26th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
For just 1 season he was the most exciting and maybe the best qb the bucs
have ever had . He won a couple of games putting the team on his back.
May 26th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
I think Freeman’s love of partying and alternative lifestyle were his doom. He loved that stuff more than football. My nephew played for Nebraska for four years, went to high school with Freeman. Said he liked football, never loved it. Also said he was the “prettiest” guy at school, and that he could drink everyone under the table — in high school.
So many forks have been stuck in this dude, he is so done he’s not even toast. What a waste of talent.
May 26th, 2018 at 3:43 pm
Josh Freeman and Mike Williams were good 1 fluke youngry year, kinda like Vince Young, you think you can just show up and play without putting the work in. Media does hype this team for the fans every single year, after last season I’m not buying any of it.
I remember how Josh Freeman sponsored team workouts during the pre lockout season.
May 26th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
Horse Liver Says:
The world is so littered with unused talent and unmet potential it’s cliche.
I don’t lament them.
They are the ones who have to live with “If only I’d…”
May 26th, 2018 at 4:17 pm
@Joe…on Freeman as a workaholic…indeed, I remember Josh was supposed to be the hardest working guy. I remember in Raheem’s last year, no one could explain how the Bucs O had these “slow starts.” And Schiano seemed to correct that for first half of Free’s first season under Schiano..they were even 6-4 for a bit, and then the wheels off for good. OMG what a terrible period. I think the last great play he made in his Bucs career was the bomb bullet he threw in beating the Panthers in OT up in Charlotte.
@Dave Pear. Thanks for the info. Agreed…not too shabby. I hope he’s investing wisely and considering other professional options. If he’s got 48 years left on Earth or so, he’s got to harness that.
May 26th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
LOL! And Tom Jones wanted to Bucs to put Free under anew contract in the middle of 2012? Ouch! Thank God that dude doesn’t do the deals.
May 26th, 2018 at 4:47 pm
With $15m……Josh can invest that at about 4% safely and bring in $600K per year for life…..not a bad future…..that assumes, of course that he didn’t go to the Warren Sapp/Mike Tyson School of Investing.
May 26th, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Let’s be clear about something….Freeman wasn’t in the running for the starter position in the CFL…..He was never going to be a franchise QB….There’s been plenty of QBs that show flashes, Freeman is just another example of such. Freeman was routinely spotted partying during game weeks, he was late to games/meetings….nobody “broke him”….he was undisciplined and not talented enough to cut it. The whole Schiano destroyed him story is crap. Freeman couldn’t be told anything from anyone. Dominick tried…teammates tried….friends tried….Freeman wasn’t listening
May 26th, 2018 at 5:34 pm
He’s still young and rich.
There are worse problems to have.
May 26th, 2018 at 5:35 pm
Too bad. Freeman had the physical traits of a franchise QB, but he lacked the mental acuity and mechanics to put it all together.
May 26th, 2018 at 5:46 pm
Yes! That’s last big play Joe remembers Freeman making.
May 26th, 2018 at 5:52 pm
News flash
Josh Freeman has been announced as the Starting QB, For the Spring league’s
“Colorado Chronic”
Freeman is quoted as saying, that once he is embedded in Colorado culture, he feels that the Chronic will smoke their opponents!
Kickoff for all Chronic games will be 4:20 Est.
May 26th, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Been a fan for 40 years plus. Seriously all the hate towards Schiano mystifies me. He was changing the culture. Given another 1-2 years results would have been noticeable. Players now are to sensitive and can’t except getting there feelings hurt……..Mccoy I mean you. If Schiano was so terrible why would Ohio state and New England be interested in his services. Freeman sucked to begin with. Schiano big mistake was getting rid of Bennett. Oh well it’s the life of a Bucs fan. Hopefully this season will be improved
May 26th, 2018 at 5:58 pm
@Joe
any truth to the rumor that he quit because they were going to run from the shot gun and he “Really” likes to take the “direct snap” under center??????
Its not surprising!!! The “real” fans tried to tell joe and sheep that this guy folds like a lawn chair in every aspect of his life!!!!!
Knew that cat was soft when I saw him carried out of a bar like a dead body, and it was not even close to midnight yet!!!!!! (allegedly)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
May 26th, 2018 at 8:24 pm
I’ve been a Bucs fan forever so I see this as a positive thing.
He didn’t go somewhere else and do well or win a Super Bowl.
He sucked.
Period.
May 26th, 2018 at 8:48 pm
Hes a loser. The purest form. A total loser. (Spit)
May 26th, 2018 at 8:51 pm
I see some revisionist history above. Josh Freeman did not go down partying.
His problem was medical. He was/is bi-polar, and his meds went off-kilter. His doc prescribed a new medication, and it not only made him worse, but it was on the banned list.
It’s a sad story, and he never really recovered (career-wise).
May 26th, 2018 at 8:53 pm
Man I wish this website would get fixed. Having to fill out the form for every post bites.
May 26th, 2018 at 9:17 pm
Just shows he is a mental midget like I said along time ago. He quits when the going gets ruff. So glad he didn’t make it to his second contract before we found out. And joe times must be tuff why is there a gay cruise ad on the top of your page. Doesn’t seem like a good place to advertise for that. But I guess if it pays the bills why not show guys hugging and giving a piggy back ride in speedos on a bucs fan website. And funny that pops up now that you are doing a josh freeman article. Is there something behind that?
May 26th, 2018 at 10:16 pm
@TBBF Great point. We tend to lose sight of just how wealthy these guys become and some of them in just a few years.
Agree with your financial analysis as well…4% would give him 600,000 per for life but if it was me I would be looking for another financial advisor…7% and maybe 8% would not be pie in the sky. Double digit returns are not impossible. But your point is well taken…even with the most conservative investment strategy…and he could be in tax free instruments as well so that’s 600,000 pretty much clear after tax writeoffs.
Just another reminder that in a capitalist society money makes money.
May 26th, 2018 at 11:47 pm
@jeffbuc
Must be google analytics at work. I don’t see any ads for party boats.
BUT, funny if true.
May 27th, 2018 at 12:07 am
WHO CARES!!! HE’S GONE!!!
May 27th, 2018 at 12:14 am
You for one. You cared enough to comment.
May 27th, 2018 at 8:47 am
Draft picks like this is why Mark Dominick will never be an NFL GM again. Yes, he had talent, yes he had a successful college career, but he Freeman lacked motivation, dedication and commitment to the game. Lack of heart to put in the time to maintain a high level is what cost Freeman his career. I wish him well in his future endeavors, but he should stop with his football comebacks.
May 27th, 2018 at 8:54 am
@Buc Bonzai
people that went out to south Tampa before the 2011 season will tell you other wise!!!!!!! Jfro-6pak was seen all over the place!!!!!!!
May 27th, 2018 at 9:56 am
@TakeYourVitaMen
😂😂😂😂 best response possible. I thought the same thing.
May 27th, 2018 at 10:29 am
@Bucshot
The funny part is that the ads shown are relevant to the cookies from our web browsing!!!!! Looks like jeffbuc has been reporting to the poopdeck!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!
May 27th, 2018 at 11:12 am
BONZAI,
The meds you’re referring to are not to treat bipolar disorder. ADD is what it is for and both are approved by the league. JW tried to give an explanation for the rx mix up and it was easy to right away it was a ridiculous claim.
May 27th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Coach Bryant had a sayin about quitting.
1st time it’s kinda hard
2nd time it gets easier
3rd time you don’t even think about it
May 27th, 2018 at 6:24 pm
Good bye Josh, it’s gonna be ok cause White Lines go away!!!!!
May 28th, 2018 at 7:30 am
Still the Bucs best qb in the post Chucky Era of misery. 10-6
May 28th, 2018 at 8:41 pm
Good Luck Josh! Thank you for the memories. I hope you have a great life!