Struggling Freeman Will Be In “Jeopardy”

August 5th, 2013

josh freeman 0711

Last week, Josh Freeman may have had the best four days of practice Joe has ever seen from No. 5. The first day in the stretch, after a really erratic, rough start to training camp, Freeman was much better. The second day, he took another step. Third practice, it was as if Drew Brees was playing in Freeman’s jersey, the Bucs signal-caller was so hot.

Pass after pass after pass hit receivers in the hands, in the numbers, placed where only a receiver had a chance at the ball and the defensive back was helpless. It was beautiful and Joe was floored by Freemans accuracy.

Well, if one is to believe Olive oil-lappingpopcorn-munchingcoffee-slurpingfried-chicken-eatingoatmeal-lovingcircle-jerkingbeer-chuggingcricket-watchingscone-loathingcollege football-naïve, baseball box score-reading Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame, if Freeman doesn’t have the same degree of accuracy to start the regular season, Freeman’s job with the Bucs is in “jeopardy,” so King typed on his fancy new yet mostly tedious and stuffy website, theMMQB.com.

5. I think if I’m Josh Freeman, I know I have to impress my coach and GM in camp—and early in this season—to have a good chance to be the Bucs’ quarterback long-term. GM Mark Dominik says the team won’t address Freeman’s contract situation until after the season, which is smart. They need time to make a complete judgment. If he’s shaky early, his job will be in jeopardy, and he’ll never get an extension then.

Joe understands King’s take, but if Freeman has a marginal or perhaps a below-average season and the Bucs make the playoffs, Joe doesn’t believe Freeman’s days are done in Tampa Bay. If anything, it gives Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik leverage for a team-friendly contract.

If Freeman struggles, just what team will throw a bag of cash at him? Likely none, so Dominik will have all the bargaining. For Freeman not to return, he would have to have a positively horrid year and the Bucs would have to greatly regress.

80 Responses to “Struggling Freeman Will Be In “Jeopardy””

  1. robert Says:

    I’m disappointed in joe….for the obvious jfro crush and dislike of Glennon.

    what is this CNN?

  2. bucfanjeff Says:

    Freeman will be a Buc long term sans an epic collapse, which won’t happen.

  3. Biff Barker Says:

    Joe, It’s pretty simple. Freeman will have to utterly collapse to be benched this year. Equally, Dom wants to see how Glennon progresses as this is his prime source of leverage.
    If Freeman is still Freeman, we still have the option to franchise him next year.

  4. BamBamBuc Says:

    There are still teams that would throw bags of cash at him, even if he struggles this year. Look what Arizona did with Kevin Kolb, the man with a career 3-4 record and 11 TD/ 14 INT in 4 years in Philly. Look what the Seahawks did for Matt Flynn, the one game wonder. How many QBs have gone through Miami since Marino??? Even the horrible Joey Harrington got a contract there.

  5. SteveK Says:

    Glennon is a great fall back plan, and possible QB to develop into a starter?

    If Freeman decides to take a 5 week vacation during the regular season, we can see what Big Bird is made of.

    Big Bird has a golden wing, and very cerebral.

    The preseason will be very telling for Freeman’s future. How does Josh respond to the attention, expiring contract, and EXPECTATIONS.

    Freeman has to answer some questions, if he “passes” with flying colors, than keep him on board. And, if J-Fro 6 pack soul glo excusologist shows up, put in Big Bird.

  6. SteveK Says:

    BamBam,

    Let those other teams throw cash at Freeman, if he fails to show consistency/playoffs/5+ game losing streak, while in the hunt.

    It is a team game, after all, and it would be silly to dedicate 10%+ of a team’s player resources towards fool’s gold.

  7. Walter Says:

    Lol big bird. Nice one.

  8. the_buc_realist Says:

    Jeopardy, I love Jeopardy

    The Quarterback that has finished 4th, 3rd, 4th and 4th in the divison?
    uh-uh who is Jfro-6pak

    The Gm who signed is trying to sign a Qb that will set the Bucs back another 5 years?
    uh-uh who is the Pop-star.

  9. Meh Says:

    Seems like there are a thousand ways of saying “let’s wait and see”.

  10. Dooleymite Says:

    Freeman’s fate is in his own hands, Dom has leverage in a sense that he’s clearly stated he’ll be making a decision on Freeman’s contract after the 2013 season, until that end comes, Freeman’s future in Tampa is totally up to him.

    Mike Glennon is not the answer in 2013, and I don’t expect him to start or get any significant playing time unless we’re resting our starters in December. Watched way too much of him at NC State and he tends to ride the same roller-coaster Freeman has in the past, so, the longer we can develop him behind Freeman, the better.

  11. Buc1987 Says:

    SteveK says:
    Freeman has to answer some questions, if he “passes” with flying colors, than keep him on board. And, if J-Fro 6 pack soul glo excusologist shows up, put in Big Bird.

    Glennon has to answer a lot of questions first too. I suspect we will have to wait ATLEAST UNTIL THURSDAY TO SEE IF BIG BIRD IS ANY GOOD. Can we please stop with all this Glennon chatter until after thursday’s game? That includes you Peter King.

  12. Buc1987 Says:

    robert…Joe is being realistic, you on the other hand are not.

  13. Buc'n Junkie Says:

    Is it me or does it actually feel that some people relish in the thought of Freeman having a bad year. Seriously, even though Freeman has struggled some, he’s also been brilliant at times. It kills me that there is a small faction of fans, (prolly the same guy with 10 screen names) that just want him to fail miserably. And those few apparently are being heard more than the fans who want Freeman to succeed. Why else does the media and Joe for that matter keep trying to make it a controversy when we haven’t even played a preseason game yet?

  14. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    Joe says
    “If Freeman struggles, just what team will throw a bag of cash at him? Likely none, so Dominik will have all the bargaining.”

    I’m with you on everything but that statement. Josh Freeman is viewed favorably throughout the league. A team that needs a quarterback would throw good money at him to get him there.

    I don’t think it matters though, because he’s going to play lights out this year.

  15. robert Says:

    “Is it me or does it actually feel that some people relish in the thought of Freeman having a bad year”

    @ junkie.

    jfro 6 pack soul glo bounce-a-lot Jackson having a bad year would NOT be good for the bucs. I have yet to see anyone say they hope the bucs have a bad year. many bash him, and most for good reason. we as fans don’t like having our Sunday F-d up because he can’t be consistent. we don’t like paying the extra dough for access to see the game only to have him 1/2 ass it. we don’t like seeing studs across the board and the leader throw his arms up with a grin. I am happy to keep free if he stays consistent, but history says otherwise. I would NOT start Glennon, but I would be happy as hell to see what he’s got. I would make the same call they are making with a good insurance plan. aka. Glennon.

  16. Walter Says:

    ^^^^^ “I would NOT start Glennon…”

    Says the guy who posted “START GLENNON!!!” over and over again in almost every Freeman article that Joe has posted since the draft ended.

  17. Buc'n Junkie Says:

    @robert

    “we don’t like paying the extra dough for access to see the game only to have him 1/2 ass it”

    I have doubts that you even go to games. Tell me where you sit and I’ll come over to visit?

  18. Buc1987 Says:

    LMAO Walter

  19. robert Says:

    junkie…it’s called the sunday ticket for direct TV.

    I’m not local.

    @ walt. show me where I said that.

  20. 76buc76 Says:

    You Freeman lover’s are totally against Glennon. How wrong is that? The Fact’s are Free is not a top 15 maybe 20 QB in the NFL. Thru 4 season’s. Free is a class act and 100% a professional. That’s part of the problem he so likable. Dungy was the same but if you can’t beat the elite team’s. Dom will find someone that can. Glennon won’t win the starting job because the brass want’s to give Free one more shot. Which he deserves. However if he bomb’s Vs the Jets. He’ll be facing must win’s week 2 and 3. Some qb will go down early and Free would be traded

  21. Thomas 2.2 Says:

    Freeman is on a 1 year audition. Period.

    No one knows yet if he is Difler or Roethlisberger.

    If he plays well he will be here, if he doesn’t he won’t.

    Nobody in the org is sold on him yet. The league in general is underwhelmed based on the tape. Yes, someone desperate for a young experienced QB would give Free a decent FA deal but that doesn’t make it smart.

    I hope he plays well, history says he will be a roller coaster, bottom 10 level QB subject to awful starts and strong finishes with loads of talent all around him.

  22. the_buc_realist Says:

    lol, I have to say that this is some of the best times being a Buc’s Fan. Every year I get to laugh at all the JFro-ites. They say every year how this is the prove it year, how he is going to show up, How he lost weight, How he was partying but this offseason he is taking it seriously. Then every year he folds like a lawn chair when games matter.

  23. robert Says:

    76, 87, walt……there’s not that many jfro-ites left…and that’s after a 400 yrd season. says a lot right there.

    and of course joe.

  24. Walter Says:

    @robert

    Are you fu©king kidding me?? You’ve posted that DOZENS of times, don’t play stupid man. You went so far as to bet me $250 that not only would Glennon get the starting job at some point this season, but that he would also take the Bucs to the playoffs. Or did you forget about that too?

  25. Walter Says:

    @robert

    I’m pretty sure the Glennon fan club has like 2 or 3 people in it lol

    You do realize this site doesn’t represent ALL OF TAMPA right?

    Besides, Bucs fans are notoriously stupid and fair weathered.

    Hell, they thought Luke McCown, Josh Johnson, Brian Griese, Byron Leftwich, Tim Rattay, Bruce Gradkowski, etc. were the answer to our problems at QB.

  26. Meh Says:

    Freeman has issues, but saying he “half asses it” is ridiculous. Maybe he’s the guy, maybe he isn’t, but all indications are he has worked hard since he got here. That is not a fair criticism at all of Freeman.

  27. Couch Fan Says:

    This is all really simple if you think about it….

    Freeman and Glennon are on a level playing field.

    Freeman clearly has the early lead since he is the incumbent starter and knows the offense much better.

    But NEITHER have established themselves as a franchise QB or long term solution yet…. I think we all can agree on these 3 things.

    So knowing those 3 things above are true…. how exactly can anyone be so certain that Glennon can’t take Freemans job?

    Has he played so well that he has proved he is the future? No.
    Does he have a long term contract? Not yet.
    Has he even established himself in the league yet? Nope.

    So what exactly has he done that makes you think his job is on lock down? Just curious.

  28. robert Says:

    he 1/2 asses it on the field. whether that be via seeming to be aloof when shit goes wrong, to calling a running play on 3rd and long when the headset goes out or where he does not audible out of an obvious situation.

    it’s almost like he is not taking the reigns so to speak and would rather have the blame be on the OC when a play does not work rather than manning up and doing what his gut tells him.

    I never doubted his work ethic….came across wrong.

  29. Buc1987 Says:

    Couch Fan…you forgot to mention one thing yet again. Has Glennon even thrown a pass in preseason yet? No.

  30. Walter Says:

    @Couch Fan

    They are not on a level playing field, that’s one mistake in your assessment right there.

    2nd mistake, Freeman HAS proven that he can make plays in the NFL, it’s Glennon that hasn’t proven ANYTHING.

    Glennon could definitely develope into a good QB, but his development alone will not push Freeman out of the starting job, it’s Freeman’s job to lose, meaning that IF he plays good, consistent football, no matter the level of Glennon’s development (unless he turns into a stud, which is a bigger stretch than expecting Freeman to be more consistent in his 2nd year in Sully’s scheme), Freeman will be our starter going forward.

    Glennon’s only hope for being the Bucs starting QB are

    A.) Freeman gets hurt

    B.) Freeman regresses

    None of us KNOW what is going to happen, but we’ll find out soon enough

  31. Couch Fan Says:

    Lol

    So let me get this straight. according to the both of you.
    There is no possible way that Glennon can take Freeman’s job because

    A) Glennon has never thrown a pass in the NFL.
    and
    B) Freeman “can make plays”

    Sorry but I find both of those answers remarkably short sighted and… welll, silly?

    Freeman can make plays. Jamarcus Russell also made a good play or 2 but ya know what? They both have losing records. Freeman has just as many if not more bad plays, than good ones. In my opinion of course, which all this is, is just opinion.

    They are on a level playing field Walter. Freeman has the early lead because he knows this offense. Just because YOU want to loft Freeman to another level doesn’t make this fact any less true.

    Heading into Freeman’s 5th year:

    He has 1 4000 yard season under his belt, 1 winning season, 3 out of 4 losing seasons (and yes im counting his rookie year that he played in a majority of the games) 0 superbowl appearances, 0 division titles, 0 playoff appearances, a melt down in consecutive seasons. And one very good season 3 years ago.

    ^^this is his body of work so far.

    None of this strikes me as irreplaceable.

    I will give him that he does show moments of brillance. Just wish they would turn into more wins.

  32. Couch Fan Says:

    Lol

    So according to the both of you. Glennon can’t take Freeman’s job because:

    A) Glennon has never thrown a pass before

    and

    B) Because “Freeman can make plays”

    Ok. Well Both of you are right but…. to think Glennon CAN’T take Free’s job because of those reasons, are rather silly.

    Freeman’s body of work is unimpressive. So far he’s a losing QB with a habit of having melt downs.

    This is a critical year for EVERYONE, not just Freeman. If Freeman shows any signs of having another melt down for a 3rd consecutive season, he is getting yanked. Dom and Schiano’s job is on the line.

    Freeman’s job is by no means safe or on lock down. To think so is quite stupid to be honest. No offense.

    But a good year with no melt downs shuts us all up. We shall see.

  33. Couch Fan Says:

    Sorry for the double posts, my first post didnt go through for me.

  34. Walter Says:

    @Couch Fan

    No Couch Fan, they aren’t on a level playing field, for reasons that you yourself listed. Freeman has the edge, because of familiarity with the offense, as well as physical talent. Freeman is simply the BETTER player. Sure, Glennon MIGHT develope into a good QB, but as of right now, Freeman is NOT on a level playing field with Glennon. Want to know another sign that points to that fact? Glennon isn’t even being given the opportunity to compete with Freeman. That alone says Freeman is on a different level, Glennon has to sit on the bench and HOPE that Freeman fails. A level playing field would better describe the battle between Sanchez and Smith.

    And you can go ahead and list the 0 playoff appearances, 0 division titles, 0 playoff wins, yadda yadda yadda, we get it, you blame Freeman entirely for that, cool. Us rational fans take a step back though and look at the whole picture and realize that this team was a pathetic old washed up Franchise before we selected Freeman. The team was trash, and it’s been slowly getting younger and more solid, and now we might actually have a respectable defense to combo with a pretty explosive offense, so excuse me if I’m not chomping at the bit to send Mr. Freeman packing to throw in Mike Glennon. I want to see how many games this team can win when backed by a defense that doesn’t choke away a lead in the final moments 3-4 times in a season.

    On a side note, how awesome can our offense be if Owusu emerges as a 3rd option in the passing attack and Crabtree at least emerges as a solid TE as well? We could be talking about an even better offense than last year.

  35. Buc1987 Says:

    Yeah that’s exactly what I’m saying. What if all pre-season long Glennon sucks it up badly? Then what say you people? Is he still the answer then? No one knows right now. Once again CAN WE ATLEAST SEE GLENNON PLAY FIRST ON THURSDAY AND EVERY GAME AFTER THAT IN PRE-SEASON? That’s a yes or no question by the way. I don’t need a paragraph answer.

  36. Walter Says:

    @Couch Fan

    Pretty sure I never said his job is on “lockdown”, I’ve acknowledged several times that he needs to PLAY WELL. So you can cool it on the stupid talk buddy, because it sounds real stupid when someone says that two people who aren’t even competing for the starting job are on a “level playing field.” Doesn’t even make sense. What part of “Freeman has to SUCK in order for Glennon to start” don’t you get?

  37. Buc1987 Says:

    I will give him that he does show moments of brillance. Just wish they would turn into more wins.

    With more talent around him and the defense there should be more wins. No excuses that I will agree upon. It’s not a matter of right or wrong anymore. It’s a matter of no more excuses for 2013. That we ALL agree on right everyone?

  38. Buc'n Junkie Says:

    Let’s just throw the season in the hands of a rookie. That’s real smart. The Bucs have spent a lot of money on a few FAs just so we can experiment with a rookie at QB is ridiculous. Now that Freeman has a bona fide defense and playmakers on offense. He should be able to win games without a herculean effort like the past few years.

    It’s clearly not Freeman’s fault for every single loss but some stupid fans put all the blame on him. Yes, he’s had some bad moments, but someone name an elite QB who hasn’t? This year Freeman doesn’t have to shoulder all the responsibility. This year, for the first time in his career, he’s given a team that he can actually succeed with and some of you morons want to experiment with tossing in a rookie.

    Now that’s stupid. I want Glennon to become a future elite QB but not at the expense of throwing away a season so he can learn on the job. Him making rookie mistakes and costing us valuable wins this year would probably alienate a huge segment of Buc fans and not to mention get Schiano and Dominik fired.

  39. robert Says:

    START GLENNON!!!

  40. WestCoastBucsFan Says:

    I see this is still going on.

    Freeman has to regress to get benched and not get his extension. As in, he needs to actually perform worse than last year. Those thinking he needs to become a model of consistency this season are mistaken. I promise you will see the same Freeman. He will still have his good and bad games. It simply won’t matter as much this season because we will still get more wins. Why? Because we won’t have a pass defense trying to set century long records of futility. (Excuses, am I right?)

    Freeman’s TDs will go up and interceptions will go down by default. A better defense means less throwing last minute interceptions in an attempt to rally back after the defense concedes the lead late in the fourth quarter. If you think the defense doesn’t affect the quarterback please see Brees, Drew. It definitely does.

    What I don’t get is that the “haters” think if Freeman was a good quarterback he would rise up over a terrible defense when not even Drew Brees himself could do that. Brees is, without question, a better quarterback than Freeman. With that said, if a much better quarterback can’t overcome a terrible defense then how does Freeman overcome an equally or possibly worse defense? Where is the logic here?

    Real football soon and this can all be put to rest.

  41. Couch Fan Says:

    He should be able to win games without a herculean effort like the past few years.
    ———————————————————————–\

    What herculean effort? last year we lost lots of close games with a Freeman that only shows up half a game. Admittedly also with a bad defense but that is no crutch for Freemans play. And also has late season melt downs. I guess thats the defenses fault to. Lol

    @ Walter

    I asked a question and you answered it. Now your saying you didnt say that?

    Impossible to debate with people who talk only to hear themselves talk.

  42. Buc1987 Says:

    Straight jacket robert.

  43. Walter Says:

    @WestCoastBucsFan

    For some reason, these people think QB’s are the deciding factor of winning and losing. 2nd worst pass D ever? Not even worth worrying about, a “real” QB would overcome that. An O-Line decimated by injuries and filled with reserve players? Pfft, big deal. WR’s running incorrect routes leading to a few avoidable turnovers had they made the correct read? Obviously Freeman’s fault. Meanwhile, Freeman still manages to direct a top 10 offensive unit, but somehow 7-9 falls entirely on his shoulders? What a joke.

  44. Walter Says:

    @Couch Fan

    I NEVER SAID FREEMAN’S JOB WAS ON LOCK! Jesus man, how stupid are you? How thick is your god damn skull? How many times do I have to repeat myself??? Here, let me make this REALLY simple for your fragile mind:

    FREEMAN PLAY GOOD, FREEMAN KEEP JOB

    FREEMAN PLAY BAD, GLENNON GET OPPORTUNITY

    GET IT? DOES THAT REGISTER WITH YOU?

    Or do I need to dumb it down further??

  45. Buc1987 Says:

    yikes Walter’s fired up now.

  46. Walter Says:

    @Buc1987

    The dudes a fuckin’ idiot, I never once said that Freeman’s job was on “lockdown”, NOT ONCE, but he has the nerve to say I “just want to hear myself talk.” Hell no! He just came to his own conclusions instead of actually comprehending what I was saying. I’m not surprised though, this is the guy that thinks QB1 and QB2 are on a “level playing field” even though QB2 doesn’t even get to compete for QB1’s job.

  47. Couch Fan Says:

    Lol Calm down Walter I dont want you to get your blood pressure up and spill your bad pan.

    Listen buddy, when someone asks you a question and you answer that question. That usually gives the impression that you are answering his question.

    But since you are saying you didnt answer my question I am just going to assume you just wanted to run your big mouth and didnt even read the actual question.

    So I will ask again.

    So… try…. to…. calm… down…. and… read… this… time….

    What has Freeman done that makes you think Glennon has no chance of taking his job this year?

    Make sure you read this time buddy.

  48. Buc1987 Says:

    When Freeman and MY Bucs win the division this year. No not Atlanta either. All of this will go out the window and we will be like one big happy family in here.

  49. Buc1987 Says:

    FREEMAN PLAY BAD, GLENNON GET OPPORTUNITY

    Couch Fan I think he answered it with that.

  50. Walter Says:

    @Couch Fan

    Do I really need to say this again? Really?

    I’m pretty sure the fact that Freeman has not been extended tells you the job is not on lockdown you buffoon. WE ALL KNOW THAT!

    My opinion is that Freeman is in the driver’s seat, it’s HIS JOB TO LOSE. Glennon is sitting in the backseat, hoping to get his shot if Freeman fails. I don’t know what your opinion of a level playing field is, but usually it would consist of an actual competition for the job, and that simply is not the case in Tampa Bay. Freeman is above Glennon, as he should be. A level playing field is what the Jets are doing with Sanchez vs. Smith.

  51. Buc1987 Says:

    and I answered it with this:

    CAN WE ATLEAST SEE GLENNON PLAY FIRST ON THURSDAY AND EVERY GAME AFTER THAT IN PRE-SEASON?

    I mean for all we know Orlovsky could replace Freeman mid season.

  52. Couch Fan Says:

    Again you have failed to answer my question.

    FREEMAN PLAY BAD, GLENNON GET OPPORTUNITY

    ^^ is not an answer to my question. thats your crappy way of trying to avoid answering the question

    So since you are refusing to answer a simple question…. I take it you have no reason to think as you do… you are just hoping and praying Freeman keeps his job…

    If you decide to answer my question at some point once you think of a real good excuse, go head. I’ll debate with you then.

  53. Couch Fan Says:

    @Walter

    Just admit you have no reason to think as you do and you are just hoping and praying your man crush doesnt lose his job. I can respect that answer…. but trying to act like a smart ass and trying to redirect the question is… pitiful

  54. Buc1987 Says:

    OMG it’s like taking my kids to ride the merry go round.

  55. Walter Says:

    @Couch Fan

    WHAT DOES IT MATTER WHAT I THINK????

    The job is FREEMAN’S TO LOSE!

    My reasoning for believing that Freeman can be better than last year means nothing, just like your reasoning behind thinking that Glennon can get the job means nothing. It’s all just useless banter between a bunch of frustrated fans that want the SAME DAMN THING: WINS, PLAYOFFS, SUCCESS, RESPECTABILITY.

    I don’t care who the QB is! If its Freeman, it’s Freeman! If its Glennon, it’s Glennon! If its someone else, be it a veteran free agent, or future draft pick, it’s all the same to me. All I know is, it’s Freeman’s job RIGHT NOW, and that’s all that matters. Everything else is worthless bickering. It’s not even debate, because debate ends in a conclusive manner with a definitive answer. That can’t happen here, we don’t have the answers, it’s all pure speculation.

  56. Couch Fan Says:

    @ Walter

    What does it matter what you think?

    This is a football blog. Last time I checked we all come here to socialize with other bucs fans and get our opinions out correct?

    I guess you take this wayyy to personal so I wont debate with you anymore… but for anyone else who isn’t so sensitive, I come here to debate so feel free to call me out or whatever

    But just for the record when I ask you for your opinion, it’s because I want to know, so it does matter what you think.

  57. Walter Says:

    @Couch Fan

    I meant in the grand scheme of it all, what does it matter?? Your opinion isn’t going to change just because I tell you why I think Freeman will improve upon his 2012 season. It doesn’t matter if I say that I I expect him to improve with a second year in Sully’s system, 2 pro bowl guards returning, a revamped secondary to help secure leads, a possible 3rd option in the passing game in either Owusu/Ogletree or Crabtree, and yes, the added pressure of Mike Glennon waiting in the shadows for Freeman to mess up. I’ve said ALL of these things before, and what do I get in return?? “Stop making excuses for Freeman”, or “He hasn’t lead this team anywhere, he only averages 6 wins a season.” Yet you say you want to debate??? You know what instead of me explaining why I think he’ll improve, which I’ve done numerous times, why don’t YOU explain why you think he WON’T improve? Why do you think Freeman will fail in 2013? I never hear that side of the argument from anyone.

  58. McBuc Says:

    Just two woukd be experience playing in the NFL and the fact Glennen himself has stated on multiple occasions that he is not ready. For a third the head coach has stated freeman is the QB. I am just saying. Maybe glenon takes over maybe he does not, but freeman has the experience so he has the upper hand.

  59. Buc1987 Says:

    Oh boy Walter I think you just opened a whole new can of worms. This thread is going over a 100 comments for sure now.

  60. Buc'n Junkie Says:

    @couch

    “What herculean effort? last year we lost lots of close games with a Freeman that only shows up half a game. Admittedly also with a bad defense but that is no crutch for Freemans play. And also has late season melt downs. I guess thats the defenses fault to. Lol”

    You’re an idiot, he had two bad games last year that were directly his fault. The rest was because of the defense losing the game in the last waning minutes. Geez, you are thick in the skull.

  61. Couch Fan Says:

    @Buc’n Junkie

    Let’s not call start calling names cuz i promise I am just as good of a name caller as you….

    Now the difference between me and most of you’s is that you all are looking for 1 thing to place the blame on as where am not placing blame on any one thing.

    2 bad games is a matter of YOUR opinion. My opinion is he had a lot more.
    Whatever the reason is, I have NEVER placed all the blame on Freeman but I have said his play contributed to the losing record every bit as much as the defense had…

    Here is a FACT to support my point.

    Even with that awful defense we were still in contention for a playoff spot until FREEMAN not the defense began to have a melt down.

    The defense was consistently bad all year and actually got a little better as the season went on… Free on the other hand, well he went the other way now didnt he?

    Once again NOBODY is directly responsible for a losing season.
    But to sit here and try to call other people names for not agreeing that Freeman has no firm hold on the starting QB job makes YOU look like an idiot.

  62. Couch Fan Says:

    @ Walter

    I dont expect you or anyone else to change my opinion about anything. Nor do I expect to change yours either. When I ask someone there opinion it’s not to try to change anyones mind its because I want to how and why you are thinking the way they are…

    It’s simple. I dont come here to try to pick fights or make fun of anyone, i just like having good debates and hear what other people think.. especially when it comes to Freeman considering I have really seen nothing that tells me he is a firm hold on the starting job except the fact he has more experience in the system.

  63. robert Says:

    dunno couch. from what I hear about practice (although obviously biased) free is lookin pretty good…….and yes he has the systems experience. Day 1 isn’t where I see him faltering. It’s when they plug the run and deep ball and/or down the stretch.

    We have yet to see over the middle freeman show up. ever. when, or if that gets exposed again we will see if he melts down.

  64. WestCoastBucsFan Says:

    @Couch Fan

    Do you really think so lowly of Freeman that the only thing that separates him from a third round pick is experience?

    I am curious.

  65. Buc'n Junkie Says:

    yeah 41 – 0 by the Saints was a great defensive effort. Stop talking, you’re a moron.

  66. Walter Says:

    @Couch Fan

    Here is a FACT to support my point.

    Even with that awful defense we were still in contention for a playoff spot until FREEMAN not the defense began to have a melt down.

    The defense was consistently bad all year and actually got a little better as the season went on… Free on the other hand, well he went the other way now didnt he?
    ————————————-

    True, the defense was consistently terrible, but that is not a good thing.

    We were winning games despite our horrid defense because Freeman was lighting it up better than any QB in the league during that 7 game stretch mid season. Even Jaws acknowledged at that time that Freeman was playing better than any other QB.

    Now I counter with this: Did you really expect the offense to put up 34 points per game with a banged up O-Line full of reserves, a defense that couldn’t stop a nose bleed, forcing them to throw the ball more instead of sticking to the ground game like Schiano wanted to, all the while in year one of a brand new offensive system? If you did, then your expectations are unrealistic. We ended last year right where I thought we would, 7-9 or 8-8 at best. The fact is, we weren’t a playoff team, we were a team with a big play offense handicapped by a defense that allowed even more huge plays. The fact that we were 6-4 at one point further shows how much Freeman and the offense were carrying this team. That stretch was just a taste of what this offense can do, why is it so hard to believe that they can produce the same if not better results in year 2? We all know that if the defense was even just middle of the pack, that 2012 squad would have made the playoffs.

  67. Walter Says:

    @Couch Fan

    The defense was consistently bad, Freeman was playing at an elite level up until around the time Nicks went on IR. Doug Martin experienced a similar dip in his production too. I just think its a stretch to expect Freeman to keep up that level of production when his O-line was in shambles and he was constantly having to either come from behind because the defense couldn’t carry it’s own weight. He’d have to play at a near perfect level every game in order to carry that team.

  68. Walter Says:

    Damn typos

  69. robert Says:

    free has never played “at an elite level”…period, end of story!

    He had a good run, a very good run. but then again Doug Martin was tearing $hit up….and I know because I had him, free and V Jax on my FF team.

    and hell no I never started free, I traded him for top dollar before he imploded…….right about the same time they took away certain routes and focused on Martin more.

    Free played “well” for a few games, but is that on him or Martin or Sully or V Jax for being a beast?….because free did not show us anything new. he was the same free. throw the hail mary when they don’t expect it. I do that on madden, and he’s good at that.

  70. Walter Says:

    @robert

    So when the offense does well, it’s in spite of Freeman, but when it does poorly its because of Freeman??

    And no, he was playing at an ELITE level. I could care less whether you think so or not. I’ll take Jaws’ words over your madden “expertise.”

  71. Couch Fan Says:

    @ Walter

    I cant deny that the 7 game stretch he had was awesome. He really did play great during that time. I can’t even take that away from him. But after that his play dipped dramatically. There could be numerous reasons for it, which the O-Line play could be attributed to as well as a lot of other reasons. I just choose to hold him accountable for his own play instead of looking for something else to lay the blame on.

    Freeman is our starter come week 1. We’ll see if he plays well enough to hold on to the job as the season unfolds. Based on the past though, my opinion is its not entirely crazy to think Glennon could be the better QB sometime soon.

  72. Buc'n Junkie Says:

    Couch says,

    “Now the difference between me and most of you’s is that you all are looking for 1 thing to place the blame on as where am not placing blame on any one thing.”

    That is an outright lie. You have been blaming Freeman for everything. Cornerback gets burned, we lose the game, and all we get from you is, “it’s Freeman’s fault” Just keep sitting on your couch, slug. God forbid, that you actually support the team.

  73. Walter Says:

    @Couch Fan

    Yeah, it’s not crazy at all to think that, he does have a skill set that matches what Schiano and Sully want us to do on offense. I just think that we’re not going to need him to step into the starting role, I see Freeman progressing this year. He has no excuses this year.

  74. Couch Fan Says:

    Buc’n Junkie

    Ok show me where I have blamed Freeman for everything

    Go head ill wait.

    Just show me one there while I place all the blame on him.

  75. Couch Fan Says:

    one thing where*

  76. Couch Fan Says:

    Sheesh and more name calling Lol, i guess I should expect that.

  77. Couch Fan Says:

    I’m just gonna call you Junkie from now cuz thats what your acting like with your orally emotional outburst.

    By the way i do support the team, Just because I dont have my head up Free’s butt like you do doesn’t make me any less of a fan than you….

    Keep crying me a river sissy.

  78. M.Bruno Says:

    Freeman will have a fine
    year. As a professional he knows his livelihood is on the line (contract year). Not to mention he is in the 2nd year of the same offense with a returning O-line that should be great (not mention that little RB of ours). I don’t think for a minute that Free didn’t hear the knock on his game. True athletes and professionals take that with stride and improve.

    That said if he doesn’t do well…well…lets hope we flop to hell for Bridgewater or Clowney…just saying.

  79. 76buc76 Says:

    @Walter when the offence does well it’s because of
    1 a running back producing just shy of 2000 rush/Rec and 13TD’s
    2 a bigbodyed pro bowl WR as a 1
    3 one of the best true 2’s in the NFL

  80. rwo Says:

    thats a bit of a contradiction dont you thinkg? if Freeman has an average or below average season the Bucs wont even sniff the playoffs