Fitzpatrick, Sanchez Have Bucs Spooked
January 10th, 2013
Want to know why Bucs coach Greg Schiano isn’t putting pedal to the metal on re-upping the contract of quarterback Josh Freeman (aside from his losing record, bouts of frightening inaccuracy and speed bumps of inconsistency)? Look no further than the AFC East, says Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com.
The Bills and Jets, who are on the hook for millions of dollars to Ryan Fitzpatrick and Mark Sanchez, respectively, are making Team Glazer, if not Schiano, pause.
Following the 2011 season, the Jets rushed things and signed Sanchez to five-year, $58.25 million deal. With New York coming off a horrific 2013 season, Sanchez’s deal is now being labeled as “one of the most ill-conceived contract extensions in NFL history,” according to Gary Myers, the Jets beat writer for the New York Daily News.
Sanchez, who was benched in 2012, is set to make $8.25 million in 2013 and there are rumors that the team is trying to trade the former first-round pick in 2009. Sanchez’s poor performance in 2012 and the team’s decline with a 6-10 record this year already cost general manager Mike Tannenbaum his job. The Jets quarterback completed 54.3 percent of his passes for just 2,883 yards with only 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
In Buffalo, Fitzpatrick was quickly signed to a foolish, six-year, $62-million contract in October of 2011. Heading into 2013, the Bills are looking to dump Fitzpatrick after finishing a disappointing 6-10. Fitzpatrick’s didn’t play that poorly statistically speaking, as he completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 3,400 yards with 24 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, but just didn’t make enough plays to win games. That prompted Buffalo to fire head coach Chan Gailey.
At least with Sanchez, he guided the Jets to consecutive appearances in the AFC title game. Freeman, who is entering the final season of his Bucs contract, cannot say as much.
As much as it could cripple the Bucs’ salary cap by signing Freeman to a monster contract, Joe has no issue with Team Glazer and Schiano being prudent in assessing whether Freeman is worthy of such a (in many ways) costly investment.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:23 am
And when he has another year of inaccuracy and poor decision, what will the Bucs do? Probably sign him anyway. I hope I’m wrong but he’s still making rookie mistakes 4 years in…sadly, I think I’d take any of the starting rookie qb’s from this past draft over freeman, even Weeden. At least they’ve progressed.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:38 am
The Rock Star is singing the right tune on this…..after making huge contract mistakes with: Michael Clayton, Derrick Ward, Q. Black, Trueblood, Eric Wight……….
January 10th, 2013 at 11:52 am
Nothing wrong with this there is no other QB’s out there now that could supplant Josh so why not ?? We should draft someone though but be smart and don’t let a guys upside impress you as much as his decision-making and accuracy. I think the later being the most important.
The NFL is full of talented QB’s who can make every throw but can’t read defenses or make moronic decisions (see Jason Campbell, Rex Grossman). Look at our only Superbowl victory and albeit we had an awesome defense our starting QB Brad Johnson was phenomenal and made few bad-decisions and more than his share of clutch throws (he had 22 TD’s to 6 INT 62.3 completion percentage). Although he wasn’t the most talented of QB’s his decision making/accuracy kept him in the NFL for 14 years.
January 10th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
I agree with the wait and see ideal. This is Freemans last year playing on a rookie salary. He is given this one last redeeming opportunity to prove himself worthy of a huge payday. He best make the most of it if he’s thinking of his future and what’s a better motivator, than the carrot of all carrots, a multi-million dollar contract? I just hope Schiano allows Josh to scramble and make plays happen rather than have him fit an ideal, a concept, or some predetermined mold. Give back Freeman all his tools (his legs) and watch him succeed or fail. After the season then decide his worth, or better yet, let him decide his worth.
January 10th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
is josh quick enough to run some of this zone read stuff like sea and wash?
January 10th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Look, just let Josh Freeman play out his contract. If he plays well, the Bucs can resign him, and if there are any snags in negotiations, the franchise tag can be put into use. If Freeman stinks it up, you let him walk away, and you begin to target a replacement.
I’ve watched plenty of Buffalo games and my fair share of Jets games, living in the local TV market, and I’ll tell you this; Josh Freeman is worlds better right now than either Ryan Fitzpatrick or Mark Sanchez. Fitz has one of the weakest arms I’ve ever seen on a QB, and he went a stretch of at least eight games this season having not completed a pass for more than 14 or 16 yards (I forget the exact stat). Fitz would throw end of game INTs with such frequency, fans would be numb to react; his game killing picks against New England and St.Louis were amongst the worst thrown passes I’ve ever witnessed in all my years watching professional football.
And let’s not even begin to discuss Mark Sanchez, the human turnover. Freeman had a bad end to the season, but that’s basically been Mark Sanchez for the better part of the last two years (50+ turnovers). He was truly the weak link of the New York Jets. Switch Mark Sanchez with Josh Freeman and the Jets might have appeared in a Super Bowl over the last three years and the Bucs would be picking in the top 4 or 5 of the draft.
I approve of Mark Dominik holding back on contract talks, and I’m sure Josh Freeman and his agent/father are okay with waiting as well. Let’s not be naive; Josh knows he had a disappointing end to the season, his father knows this as well. I’m sure they will be fine with playing out next season, because regardless of all the venom the Freeman haters spew, Josh will receive a significant contract after next year, be it from the Bucs or his hometown Chiefs (assuming they don’t go QB at #1) or from some other team like the New York Jets or Buffalo Bills, who I promise you, would practically kill for the chance to have a QB like Freeman on their roster.
January 10th, 2013 at 12:43 pm
I do not think highly of Dom, but not extending Freeman’s contract may be one of the best moves he has done in his tenure. Freeman’s inconsistent ways need to go, he needs to either be consistently mediocre like Dalton, Wilson or good. But not look like a star against some bottom dweller only to look like the worst QB next week vs a playoff team. So until Freeman shows any kind of consistency next year, I hope he does not receive an extension from Bucs.
January 10th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
JOE
You got a type-o there.
Sanchez was the one being guided to the playoffs for two years, not the Jets.
January 10th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
He has had too many OC changes! Interesting he will have the SAME OC second year in a row and during his final year on contract. Let’s see what he can do with that stability first and then I think we’ll know if he has the goods. I’m not seeing Fitz or Sanchez here with those number($).
January 10th, 2013 at 1:16 pm
The Jets went to the AFC championship games because of their defense and running game those two years. Sanchez was just along for the ride. That guy blows dog!!!!!!
January 10th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Freeman has had TWO offensive cordinators! Greg Olsen and Mike Sullivan, thats all. The other schmuck that was here Rah Rah’s first year was fired before he could teach Josh anything.
January 10th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Stop using that as an excuse on why Josh is so inconsistant!
January 10th, 2013 at 3:01 pm
The fact that the Bills and Jets would take him over their starters is not particularly soothing.
Would anybody in our Division? Nope.
Would any team that was playing on t.v. last week? Nope. This week? Nope.
Id say the Bills, Jets, titans, chiefs, raiders, eagles, cards would. Thats only eight teams.
January 10th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
@thegregwitul
I am one of the most vocal about my displeasure about Freeman on this board,
that’s no secret.
However I just wanted to say that that was a really well thought out, written post.
You are probably the first Free Supporter to really really make me think a little differently on it for a change. Albeit i’ve not changed my stance at all but i’ve taken that in thats for sure. Definitely challenging.
-Thanks
January 10th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
@Ramdog
Well, said
January 10th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Sanchez, Gosh and Fitzpatrick are all coach killers. Gosh has murdered many in his short career, the bodies and careers are strewn everywhere.
If the Bucs don’t extend him and give Gosh his $150 million, he will, whine, pout, fuss, hold out and blow the front office apart. Coach killers also kill GM’s.
If the Teflon Dom deals Gosh while he still has value, he saves his job for the next couple years. He also saves Schiano’s career.
There are a half dozen QB’s in this draft superior to Freeman but don’t stop there. Work out a deal with NE for Ryan Mallett who is twice the QB Freeman ever was and has unlimited upside. Let the two young QB’s battle it out.
January 10th, 2013 at 4:19 pm
I wouldn’t wanna part with a first for Mallet though I think he would be an answer.
January 10th, 2013 at 4:28 pm
They could get Mallett for LGB and a 4th rounder, for example. Belicheat only has 5 picks in the draft including a 7th rounder the Bucs gave them.
He sure would like to have the best available free agent RB and his 4th rounder back. Especially if the Bucs sign LGB to a long term, cap friendly contract.
January 10th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
I would love that, it’s just a matter of that actually ever happening lol
January 10th, 2013 at 5:39 pm
@Miguel
Damn bro. You are muy estúpido.
The Pats WILL NOT trade Ryan Mallet!!
He is their future. Brady is getting old!
Ryan Mallet is the future of the greatest organization in the NFL.
January 10th, 2013 at 7:47 pm
Well said Captain Eric.
January 10th, 2013 at 8:54 pm
Giving Freeman an extension based on potential instead is not a good idea. Freeman has not proved that he can play 4 quarters of good football yet. The NFL is littered with quarterbacks that were given large paychecks without proven records. Freeman will have to play better next year regardless if the Bucs sign him. Freeman will be auditioning for free agency.
January 10th, 2013 at 8:54 pm
@Miguel El Magnifico; A 4th round pick and LGB for Ryan Mallet? The same Mallet who has shown nothing in the NFL and dropped on draft boards for some very valid reasons? (for one, he’s a statue in a league that is starting to trend towards the mobile QB) Having said that, the Pats shoot down this trade in a New England minute. Ryan Mallet was drafted to be developed as a possible successor to Tom Brady second to being drafted so he could be harvested for a higher draft pick. A 4th and a RB who may not even receive a tender this offseason won’t get it done, I promise you that Miguel.
As for the the 2013 draft containing a half dozen or so more talented QB’s than Josh Freeman; nonsense. I understand that your disrespect for Freeman (Gosh) and general behavior in the comment section is meant to ‘troll’ the site. Your comments are consistent in that they all border on the nonsensical; from your overreaction to Greg Schiano’s training camp ‘gauntlets’ to the Chip Kelly hype to the calls for trading Freeman at his lowest point of value to this infatuation with Ryan Mallet. Enough is enough.
We don’t have to pick sides here. We are not dealing with a Josh Freeman who is 27 and two years into a six year one hundred million dollar contract. We are talking about a soon to be 25 year old QB, who is coming off a terrible month of December, who has one more season on his rookie contract and is about to enter his second season with the New Schiano Order. Unless Mark Dominik can flip Freeman for the 1st pick in the draft (without mortgaging the farm) and the team decides to go all in on Geno Smith (unlikely), we have to accept that Josh Freeman will be here for at least one more season, and if you’re a fan of this football team, wouldn’t you want to see the young man succeed?
If it doesn’t work out, the team will walk away, and I’d rather see Josh Freeman have a chance to finish his rookie contract before the Bucs let him sign with his hometown Kansas City Chiefs (assuming they don’t go QB in the first round). This can still work. Josh Freeman has undisputed talent. He has played well for the Bucs and he has also played poorly as of late. He is better than almost half of the starting QB’s in the NFL, I promise you that, but let’s be sure that Josh is heading in the right direction (to be a top 10 franchise QB) and not backwards (to fall to the bottom of the league like Mark Sanchez). As a fan of the Bucs who wants to see their young QB succeed, I’m pulling hard for Josh Freeman. But believe me, if Josh continues to regress, I’ll be the first in line to root for a change at QB, even if that means we as fans risk watching Freeman mature and succeed with someone else.
January 11th, 2013 at 12:41 am
Freeman will never be a elite quarterback.. My friend said she saw Freeman at a night club in orlando a week ago and was a douchebag and not friendly at all.. Plus my friend is a pretty damn hot chicka.. Maybe if he spent more time being a quarterback then going to night clubs he would be good..
January 11th, 2013 at 1:46 am
@Nate
You have no cooth dude. …to spread this kind of hearsay is lower than low.
Get a life!
January 11th, 2013 at 2:07 am
How can you say it’s heresy when you have absolutely no idea if his friend actually did tell him that?
You can choose whether or not you believe him but that’s all you can do cause fact is you don’t know if it true or not lol.
Don’t sound so sure of yourself
January 11th, 2013 at 2:23 am
@PRBucFan
really? …what are you? 12?
January 11th, 2013 at 3:00 am
What I said makes complete sense lol
You sound ignorant insulting someone just because you don’t believe something they said when in fact you really honestly don’t know.
There’s a difference between disagreeing which is perfectly fine and than going out of your way to insult them when you really aren’t sure of it yourself.
Or am I wrong? Are you with josh 24 hrs a day that you might be able to that so adamantly?
I mean cause it’s completely unheard of for a 24 yr old to go to a club these days lol. Or for the kid to be an ass for that matter.
Some terrible terrible hearsay I tell you.
P.S. Its not like its groundbreaking news, the topic has been brought up before.
January 11th, 2013 at 3:04 am
Sadly, there are a lot of people saying this kind of thing about Freeman. I wont proclaim to know because I’ve never met the guy. But if multiple people are saying pretty much the samething about him… there just might be some truth to it.
January 11th, 2013 at 3:30 am
Yea, I have no idea but it’s not the first time I’ve heard about it.
January 11th, 2013 at 4:06 am
I know the Amen Chorus does not agree but the front office has to preserve their jobs as their first priority. Gosh has got to go, he does have perceived value, they need to cash in on that or lose their jobs.
January 11th, 2013 at 5:27 am
Actually it is true because my friend showed me the pics with her freeman and doug martin.. But i wont diss on douggie being there ..because he is pretty damn good at his job.. She also said doug martin is super nice..