“When He Played Well …”

July 15th, 2013

Bucs icon Derrick Brooks says he feels the pressure on the shoulders of Josh Freeman and it’s all about inconsistency and contract status, so Brooks claimed on the Ron and Ian show on WDAE-AM 620 recently.

Brooks compared Freeman to Joe Flacco, who, like Freeman, entered the final year of his rookie contract without an extension. Flacco, of course, had years of playoff experience before 2012 and is now a Super Bowl champion.

“[Freeman] knows as well as anybody that much of the team’s success will ride on his play. And he deserves that. You look at the record last year, when he played well how well the team performed,” Brooks said.

Brooks went on to say he advises Freeman to “take it one day at a time, be the best quarterback of that particular day, and get better.” While acknowledging that the Bucs revolve around the quarterback. Brooks also said winning will take more than Freeman.

Unlike his former teammate, Shaun King, Brooks did not say the Bucs should already have locked up Freeman to a new deal. (You can catch the entire Brooks interview below.)

35 Responses to ““When He Played Well …””

  1. tampabaybucfan Says:

    Shaun King has a wealth of knowledge that we need to tap. No story is complete without a wise comment from King!!!

    Beceaue:

    “Shaun King, one of two Buc Quarterbacks that lost a NFC Championship Game when his defense gave up 11 or fewer points.”

  2. Buc1987 Says:

    So says my second favorite Buc of all time.

  3. Walter Says:

    Who’s your favorite player??

    MR. DERRICK BROOKS!!

    (Mine was Alstott)

  4. McBuc Says:

    I agree that Freeman should not have the extension yet. I have been a supporter of Freeman, and I still am. I also agree that it will take the team to really win. This year should show an improved team including Josh Freeman. I think he will turn the corner this year and be all that he can be. The down side for the Bucs is he will probably demand more if his play improves this year, and do not even start with the franchise tag nonsense, the price is way to high.

  5. McBuc Says:

    Here we go with the King bashing again…

    Next time Jeff Carlson writes an informative article for Joe are you going to say “one of many back up QBs to never start a game for the Tampa Bay Bucs, but has a QB school called America’s best QB”.

    I do not say this to rip on Jeff. I used to hate watching him after games on Bay News 9 because he was so negative. I used to say “what the hell does this back up know”. Then Joe’s site started featuring him, and I was skeptical at best. I now look forward to his articles. Just because King was not Joe Montana does not mean he does not know football, just like jeff Carlson. Just saying, lay off King.

  6. Buc1987 Says:

    lol@Jeff Carlson…wow that takes me back.

  7. Buc1987 Says:

    @Walter…it goes for me 1 Sapp 2 Brooks 3 Lynch 4 Alstott 5 Dunn. If Dougie continues to be what we saw last season, he may pass them all up on my list someday.

  8. tampabaybucfan Says:

    @Mc Buc

    Shaun King media and is fair game. I never get personal (fat jokes)….but I include the phrase:
    “Shaun King, one of two Buc Quarterbacks that lost a NFC Championship Game when his defense gave up 11 or fewer points.”
    Because, Joe always says “Shaun King one of the three Buc Quarterbacks to lead the Bucs to an NFC Championship Game”

    Just pointing out that King didn’t do much….it was our defense that got us there.

  9. Oil Derrick Brooks Says:

    Pretty obvious who my fav Buc and Nole is….

    No need to comment on the article. It’s slow season…

  10. Andrew 1 Says:

    when King stops bashing the bucs then we’ll stop bashing him. until then let the King bashing continue.

  11. tampabaybucfan Says:

    @ Andrew

    I think King bashes the Bucs deliberately….thinking it will make others feel he is objective, I also don’t think his opinions matter that much.
    I do my best not to get personal….but I enjoy reading some of the comments about his weight as they are sometimes quite entertaining.
    Everytime Joe mentions Shaun King…..I feel compelled to do so myself.

  12. Walter Says:

    Fu©k Shaun King!

    Not even half the player Freeman is.

  13. Buc'n Junkie Says:

    Unfortunately the pressure has to be friggin heavy, especially when a large growing segment of Bucs fans and media continue to get impatient with him. He brought this down on himself after his late season collapse. Hopefully this will motivate him, but if he really is emotionally detached, it could just kill his confidence. Either way we’re all counting on him to finally put it together and like McBuc said, he could demand more at the end. Let’s hope so!

  14. robert Says:

    that we can agree on walter

    king sucked out loud with girl hands

  15. Walter Says:

    @Buc’n Junkie

    Hell, even I’m ok with letting Freeman go if he doesn’t play better this year.

    I’m just not gonna run the guy outta town before he gets a shot this year though, let him go out there and prove what he is capable of. If he tanks, so be it, but there’s absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t let him play out his contract, he’s earned that at least.

  16. Buc1987 Says:

    I’ve mentioned in past threads of how much of an a-hole I think King is. When I was in the team hotel lobby in Carolina, I was getting autographs left and right. King however, even after told him, he’s one of my wife’s favorite players. Made an irriated look on his face and stuck his hand up at me. He was like 3rd string at the time too. It was the way he just pushed me aside like he was too good to sign for me. I never thought much of his playmaking either, the wife on the other hand was still learning the game when he was a starter.

  17. McBuc Says:

    TBBF…I hear ya. Your quote is funny based on Joe’s quote…I was just waiting on all the crazy bashing of the guy that happens whenever his name is mentioned. I am just always amazed at fans that bash one guy for saying things they do not like and use his career as why he is wrong, yet they listen to guys like Jeff and Steve White who had careers but nothing outstanding. I can handle yours.

  18. Buc1987 Says:

    @Oil Derrick Brooks…go Noles baby!

  19. Buc1987 Says:

    @Oil Derrick Brooks …off topic again, but my favorite Nole of course is Charlie Ward. I went to 4 games the season they won the National Championship. I was not happy when he elected to play B-ball. People said he was too short, but he was the same heighth as Steve Young.

  20. tampabaybucfan Says:

    @McBuc

    Thanks…..we all have our opinions and are free to share them.
    None of us get paid to do it. For those who get paid…they are fair game in my book.
    Joe has to throw a compliment to King in order to maintain a good journalistic relationship….so I have no problem with it. But I like to bring everyone back to reality.
    Some of our past QBs had the benefit of great defenses. After all, when we won our Superbowl, the defense scored 21 points!!!

  21. The 300's Says:

    My only issue (other than the black fat bastard Shaun “I never met a smoothie I didn’t like” King being mentioned once again) is the contract comparison between Joe Flacco and Freeman. Flacco intentionally decided not to accept a contract if I am not mistaken (even if it wasn’t a good one). And he decided to put his money where his arm is and win the Super Bowl. Freeman hasn’t even been given a whiff of a new contract from the Bucs.

    The only way this contract issue affects Freeman negatively is if he lets it get to his head. I don’t see that happening, he is way too grounded.

    And if the God Father, Mr. Derrick Brooks, can say King is wrong then I think it makes sense to side with him. Derrick Brooks probably does more research on the side just to stay informed as lazy Shaun King does on any given day.

  22. Fritz50 Says:

    ” Freeman hasn’t even been given a whiff of a new contract from the Bucs.”

    And we know this because no one in the media has mentioned any talks?
    Not trying to jump on you ,but if the Bucs, Free, & his agent have discussions, and everyone decides not to speak to the media, or even (GASP !!!) lie about it, just how would we know this. I’m no media darling, by any stretch, but having watched their antics, I have absolutely problem with flat out lying my ass off to them, ( & it’s a big one, too). Sorry Joe, I respect what you do here, and acknowledge you’re a true Pro, but the bad apples pretty much spoil the barrel , as far as I’m concerned.

  23. Oil Derrick Brooks Says:

    @87 – My first year at FSU was 1992. I was lucky. And, yes, Chollie was the man. I would have loved to see him play in the NFL, but, I can understand a guaranteed NBA contract. And, teams weren’t quite as willing to experiment back then. No matter, he’s a great Nole ambassador. Let’s hope Jamies follows in his footsteps.

  24. chris Says:

    In all Honesty, the Bucs haven’t really put Shaun King in his place in terms of what he has said. Everything King has said, to be fair, has been on track because it hasn;t shown up in the win/loss column.

    I;m really starting to get weary here of Carl Nicks being a free agent bust along with Davin Joseph. When healthy, both are top 5 guards. However, I read that Nicks; injury could be a career nagging ailment while Joseph tore his Patella tendon.
    \““““““““““““““““““““““`

  25. Mean D Says:

    Shaun King? The same fat azzclown that said the Bucs should have extended Radio as head coach? Right. And Freeman will definitely be better this year because we are a much better team. He is still the weakest skill position player we have by far and ranking him as 21st best QB in the NFL was generous.

  26. BamBamBuc Says:

    Wow, Mean D… worst position player by far? I would have said Luke Stocker at TE was probably not top 21 in the league. Demar Dotson would be hard pressed to make top 21 at Tackle, even narrowing down to just Right Tackles. I can’t say ANY player we have at SLB can be put down as top 21 in the NFL. Hard to say our rookie NT is top 21 on the DL. I’m guessing Lorig is top 21 FB, but that’s because I’m not sure 21 teams actually use a FB anymore. We used so many return guys last year, I can’t imagine any of them being top 21… but they’re not “position” players anyhow.

    Now, I’m pretty sure none of those guys broke team records for tackles, sacks, catches, etc. last year and Freeman is the single season passing leader for the Bucs. I’d have to say there are other players that may not be top 21. Of course, we may have an issue with that last year, because Nicks didn’t play the whole season, nor did Joseph… so are any of the backups that started top 21 players? I doubt it. With Bennett gone and Clayborn and Bowers having had injuries… was Te’o-Nesheim a top 21 DE? He did get a lot of playing time and starts last year. Would Roy Miller (if still here) be a top 21 DT? Not regular guys, but what about Benn, Parker, Stroughter? Lot of backup players got time last year, and none of them are top 21. We have to expect injury to happen, so to say Freeman is the worst position player is a bit of a reach.

  27. BamBamBuc Says:

    Sorry, Mean D… didn’t mean to be so mean to the Mean D… and I misread as well…. didn’t see the “skill” position. So… let’s look at all the WRs, RBs, and QBs on the roster (I’m assuming those are what you mean by “skill” position). I must say Orlovsky is not better than Freeman and wouldn’t be on the top 50 of most lists of QBs in the league right now. Glennon is unknown, so no comment there. We have a rookie RB and the captain of the inactive list last year that could only find the field on kick returns a couple times last year. Don’t think I can put them above Freeman, and they are skill position players. Once you get past Jackson and Williams, I don’t think you can say any of our WRs are better than Freeman at QB. Better?

  28. Buc1987 Says:

    BamBamBuc..what you have to realize is this. Mean D somehow has this vendetta against Freeman. We alllll read it every day. Most of us even the ones that don’t like Freeman all that much (I’m NOT in that category) don’t quite understand it. He comes with the site I guess. I think when he clicks on JoeBucsFan in his favorites every day he can’t wait to bash Freeman. It happens daily my man. Daily. The topic could be about how Gene Deckerhoff likes his eggs cooked and Mean D will have to post something bad about Josh. It’s just the way it is. It will probably go on long into the season, and if the Bucs make the playoffs it will continue.

  29. Buc1987 Says:

    My take is well known about Freeman. I’ve said the word enigma to my wife countless numbers of times even before I found JoeBuc. I’m going to add one more word to enigma. The word his how I personally feel about Freeman. The word is frustrated. So enigma and frustrated. I’ll will come to Tampa and back his bags for him if I continue to feel frustrated. I think the front office feels the same frustrated. That however does not mean I still don’t believe in him, same goes for the front office. It’s make it or break it and EVERYONE knows it. WestCoast, Buc’n Junkie, Walter, me and everyone else in here that still believes in Freeman knows it’s make or break it.

  30. Buc1987 Says:

    @Chris…your weary of Nicks after one season???? seriously? Wow talk about impatience. You must VERY weary of #5 then.

  31. Mean D Says:

    I mean skill position starters, you clowns. Not many articles here are written about the practice squad and benchwarmers. And, as we all know, Buc1987 has a severe mancrush on Freeman. Expert after expert after expert says Freeman just doesn’t have it (yet). And every time Buc1987 gets her panties in a wad like she knows more than those criticizing Jfro six pack. Freeman will be better this year. Heck, Blaine Gabbert will too.

  32. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    What have you against clowns??!

    I’m not frustrated by Freeman at all. I know he makes mistakes. I also knw the guys he throws to make mistakes. I also know the backups who started at OG positions most of last year made mistakes. I also know our cornerbacks cost us games even before Josh threw interceptions.

    But I also know each of those issues has been addressed this off season. So I’m gellin’ like a felon.

    Besides…I realized several seasons ago that if I let thisxstuff keep stressing me out I’d have a heart attack…so I changed the way I view things.

    Silver linings.

  33. Chris Says:

    Bucfan1987,

    Nicks injury is one walth experts and trainers said is most likely a nagging injury. I’m not saying he is a free agent bust but after reading that and how he and Joseph are coming along slowly it makes you question how they’ll hold up this year especially Joseph. Caddy tore his patella tendon. Those are more difficult to recover than ACLs.

  34. Chris Says:

    And yes I am weary of freeman. He’s got all the talent in te world to be a top 10 qb. However he’s too inconsistent. I compare him to Jason Campbell right now.

    Starting to watch video on the upcoming prospects for next year bc I think qb will be te route to go. Stephen Morris Miami. Mark it down.

  35. PRBucFan Says:

    To be fair it seems anyone who doesn’t speak positively about Josh has some sort of vendetta against him which simply is an extreme way of thinking and just plain wrong.

    Some clearly do but that would be very few.

    @Walter
    “Hell, even I’m ok with letting Freeman go if he doesn’t play better this year.
    I’m just not gonna run the guy outta town before he gets a shot this year though, let him go out there and prove what he is capable of. If he tanks, so be it, but there’s absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t let him play out his contract, he’s earned that at least.”

    I concur, nice to see a Freeman supporter say this