Freeman Thinks Trade Is Best Option
September 27th, 2013
Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman blew off a large gaggle of reporters Thursday at One Buc Palace — which included Jeff Darlington (pride of Seminole High) working for Big Brother, the NFL Network — and instead chose only to speak to BSPN, likely a very controlled, tempered sit-down.
Per dapper Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger, who transcribed the interview preview, which is scheduled to be broadcast in its entirety at a later date, Freeman, who rarely says anything outside of cliches, when cornered, admitted a trade may be best for all parties.
Then Anderson asked him straight out, “So Josh, do you want to be traded?”
This is what he said:
“I don’t for a number of reasons but the bottom line is you know, if you want things to change, something’s got to change. At the end of the day, yes. I think that moving forward that might be, that is going to be, probably the best option.”
Just what team is desperate — or crazy — enough to pick up Freeman’s $8 million contract for 2013, a guy who leads the league in inaccuracy and has proven time and again to meltdown under pressure or when the slightest thing goes wrong?
If a team is going to trade for Freeman — the best target would be a playoff-bound team who loses its signal-caller to injury — they likely want a guy who at least has seen a playoff game without buying a ticket.
September 27th, 2013 at 6:19 am
And this is why he failed. He is an immature kid. Too bad.
September 27th, 2013 at 6:41 am
and this is why you follow a losing team – an immature kid in adult clothes – we true Buc fans can tell when we’ve been punked, but we always seem to breed just enough low information folks to end up trashing our football teams and our healthcare system.
…party on Wayne.
too bad.
September 27th, 2013 at 6:43 am
…and I wasn’t talking about Josh Freeman…
September 27th, 2013 at 6:44 am
Josh will have a much longer and more successful career than coach nut case.
He’s got too much good tape and other coaches who have played against him know this. And they know he’s coached by a lunatic, and previous to that by a boob.
Not elite, but good enough to start and play well and win. Especially with a good coach, which he never came close to having here.
Guys who can throw 4000 yards and have 25tds vs. 6ints don’t grow on trees.
September 27th, 2013 at 6:53 am
Now Sullivan is on the hot seat. I figured his crappy offensive scheme with fat TE’s and tiny muscle hampsters lining up at wideouts, reluctance to run 2 running back sets etc, and overall predictability of the offense was because of Freeman. If we get that same crummy scheme, then we found the problem. I guess he gets a little bit of kudos for lining up Jackson in the slot sometimes, but I think that’s because we have no 3rd wr worth mentioning.
September 27th, 2013 at 6:53 am
Josh, however inconsistent, was also the victim of poor coaching and a dead end franchise. I hope he finds a better home and succeeds. #Bucslife
September 27th, 2013 at 6:54 am
Best landing spot for Josh, Arizona, Arians is a fantastic offensive coach and knows how to coach up QBs, Palmer is a stop gap at best for them and it’s also the type of offense Josh can thrive in, one where he can use his legs and improvise, which is what he does best, he’s not a pocket passer, and no matter how hard they tried to force him into being one. he just isn’t. I wish the kid good luck…
September 27th, 2013 at 6:56 am
NOW SulliPUKE is on the hotseat…NOW?
Really? Ya think?
This coaching staff is epic in two ways – there are TOO many of them – and they are the wretched refused kicked out of other people’s teaming shores.
They grrrreeeaaattt steaming piles of ….awesome…in there own mind. Followed closely by EyeRah, Dr Propecia, and a thrid of the host of Tampa Bay…you ratfink fans.
Great job guys, really.
Classy, this.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:04 am
Lets see I heard Ray Perkins assure us that Steve Young wasn’t worth the draft pick invested in him, that Emmitt Smith was too slow to play in the NFL, and Vinny Testaverde would never make it in the NFL.
…and now I hear the second coming of Ray Perkins – Mr Toes OnTheLine Himself – tell me that Josh Freeman, who threw for a franchise record number of yards, and a top 10 ranked offense…isn’t good enough to run HIS offense (whatever THAT is…I stil haven’t figured it out).
Yeah, remind me again why this guy thinks he can throw away the owners groceries? What a frekin’ moron.
Here we go again, the transformation from Super Bowl champion – to dregs of the NFL is complete – Tampa Bay is once again where elite talent is drafted, just before going elsewhere to be developed.
Like I said, classy.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:06 am
Funny how we all realize life isn’t fair. However, that realization goes out the window when it comes to celebs, athletes and jock sniffing media.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:06 am
I’m through comparing this guy to Perkins.
Ray deserves better.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:13 am
I agree with Eric.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:13 am
The Yuc’s will get absolutely nothing in return for Freeman. Another wasted pick. Teams will wait the year out and pick up Freeman for pocket change. The niners will probably pick him up as a project and have him learn the pistol offense.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:14 am
If I were advising josh, I would tell him to relax, stay in shape, hire a good sports psychologist and work on off-field personal development. There will be no trades as an up-coming UFA in 3 months and Josh has a cool 8.43mil coming his way.
I would tell him to stay positive and professional and bide his time. If the Bucs grow tired of him and cut him, he should sign on with another team as a back-up preferably with the Vikings or the Chiefs for 100 dollars to skirt any cap issues and let the Bucs pay the offset portion of the 8mil.
If he remains with the team for the remainder of the season and is called on to relieve Glennon, he should go in and play one play and get the worst hamstring pull of his career to the extent that he has to be carted off the field. Then spend the rest of the season in Luke Stocker’s old tub.
At the end of the season he should target 3 teams – the KC Chiefs his home town, the Vikings where he has a chance to start and Frazier will let him play his game, and the Steelers where he can sit behind Rothelisberger and learn where his style of football is already played. Then I would tell him to never look back!
September 27th, 2013 at 7:29 am
“The niners will probably pick him up as a project and have him learn the pistol offense.”
Which he would FAIL at because it requires you to READ a defense.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:30 am
I will laugh my friggin’ stripes off when Glennon gets sammiched so badly they have to scrape this slow-footed, Napolean Dynamite lookin’ beanpole off the stadium – and they turn to Josh and he immediately turns to Orlovsky and says “Dude, that guy’s TOTALLY chheckin’ you out.
Then I will go and throw up.
…I’ll have two past times next year – watching how the owners bail themselves out of the Schiano era (I’m thinking of the time they ran to Maryland to try and hire Ralph Freidgen…before dashing to Oakland, while dangling Mooch over an open flame…just before hiring Gruden.
…and the second will be watching this good young kid go some place where they conform their system to their talent – instead of the way they did it at Rutgers…
September 27th, 2013 at 7:34 am
Josh lost the locker room, and the coaches and front office saw it. Period. Everyone needs to stop freaking out about the coaching staff and give them some time. They’ve only been here 18 months, and have already gotten players to stop being morons off the field and turned around the defense. Ownership signed off on this move too, so there is obviously more to it than Schiano simply not liking Freeman. Everybody step back, breathe for a few minutes, and enjoy our first win Sunday.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:35 am
The best option is not to bounce passes to your running backs or sail them into the third row…..
….but trade works. It’s a close second.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:40 am
The guy his no fire. You can’t teach it. Stop crying lol
September 27th, 2013 at 7:42 am
Blame all of Josh’s coaches for his failure…blame his Mother, Father…blame everyone but Freeman. Maybe he could do better in a different system….but that still requires some degree of accuracy.
He just simply can’t think well on his feet enough to produce as an elite NFL QB…
September 27th, 2013 at 7:42 am
Not much value for the 33rd ranked QB.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:45 am
Wow, we have such stout defenders for the worst NFL QB OF 2012 season so far. We refer to his great moments like they where an every play happening. They were not. Again I had high hopes for Freeman. But I have lost them just like his receivers. I wish Freeman the best. But him going to KC, SF etc is funny. How long would coach Reid or Coach Harbaugh accept 49% completion rate. Or the inaccurate passes going to high to fsr away or skipped to their WR? N F L Not For Long… good luck Freeman.
Bring on Glennon lets let him play 3 games then compare stats.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:47 am
He’ll be a model. He’s got the looks and the brains for it.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:50 am
Talib, Blount, and Winslow all cast aside by Schiano all producing with other teams. This time next year Freeman will be added to that list. As a coach you have to have a scheme that fits your players , and Schiano on offense failed to do that.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:53 am
Sharron,
Agreed-no fire plain and simple. QB is a position for type A, ultra alpha. Not Josh. Haters are going to hate until Napoleon starts tossing frozen ropes all over the yard. Then the white tiger will be reduced to a kitty-cat.
September 27th, 2013 at 7:55 am
Eric Says:
Josh will have a much longer and more successful career than coach nut case.
He’s got too much good tape and other coaches who have played against him know this.
That’s if they only watch the 48% of the tape! Let’s not forget Josh in the box! That’s 8 men is skippy. Stay dull my friend.
September 27th, 2013 at 8:13 am
Our GM would also have to buy a ticket to see a playoff game, but that doesn’t seem to stop the slobbering praise, does it.
Wasn’t he the guy that bet the farm on this guy everybody now says sucks?
September 27th, 2013 at 8:30 am
Freeman has no fire in his Belly or desire to play QB like the elites. This was a contract year for him, he should have been the second coming of Peyton Manning in the film room, before and after practice working with his receivers but not Josh.
He was late for team meetings, didn’t show up for his own youth camp, didn’t show up for team photo day (the only player who didn’t show).
HIS TEAM MATES DIDN’T VOTE HIM CAPTAIN this year. They had seen enough and when Coach Schiano talked with this years captains (Joseph, Jackson, McCoy, Goldson & Hayward) they agreed a change was needed.
Josh lost his team mates in the offseason and his job due to POOR PERFORMANCE. Which he can only blame himself for. He will never have a good career or another starting job in this league unless he straightens his work ethic out. Or else he’ll be looking for work in the CFL, Arena League or the new USFL (if it ever starts up).
September 27th, 2013 at 8:38 am
Call Jacksonville…we could probably get a 3rd….
September 27th, 2013 at 8:48 am
The game is too fast for him right now. Sloppy footwork, poor pocket awareness, bad mechanics, inaccurate throws, and poor reads. He regressed terribly the last few years. I have my doubts about Schiano and Sullivan but they had no choice here.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:19 am
as far as a trade goes i don’t think we could get much more than a 6th rnd pick for Freeman. he has played very poorly, apparently lost the locker room and all of his confidence. i cant see another team thinking he makes a big enough difference to pick up $6.5 mil in salary. and from what i understand we will probably get a 4th rnd compensatory pick in 2015 if we hold him and he leaves in free agency. the math on how they figure those picks is somewhat fuzzy but per wikipedia
“the placement of the picks is determined by a proprietary formula based on the player’s salary, playing time, and postseason honors with his new team, with salary being the primary factor.”
now i figure freeman gets a starting gig somewhere at around 7-8mil. they probably wont make the playoffs and he may not start all year but we should be able to get a 4th rnd pick for him. based on that no matter what he would prefer i would let him ride the pine for the rest of 2013.
tl;dr we can get a better 2015 compensatory pick for freeman by letting him leave via free agency than anyone will trade us now.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:37 am
Well, just so all you know, Glennon isn’t exactly a vocal guy so don’t expect to see much more, if any, fire from him anytime soon.
I just hate people saying we NEEDED to move to Glennon… He may be a but more accurate with his passes, but he will be making those third round rookie mistakes as well. So maybe your looking at a 55% completion rating with 3 INTS and 4 sacks.
Glennon is not ready for the speed of the NFL. One of his biggest knocks was his slow drop back and progressions.
I would have much rather let Glennon learn for the year, let Freeman finish his contract out (I mean we’re tanking any ways) and then see where we are in the offseason.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:41 am
Not gonna happen unless as Joe said a potential playoff team loses its starter and its backup situation is dire. I could see a Keyshawn and a de-activation if he wants to be a malcontent about it, but Freeman will ride out the season as a backup.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:55 am
Jaguars called, offered a ham sandwich
September 27th, 2013 at 10:10 am
with or without cheese?
September 27th, 2013 at 10:14 am
I with Macabee. I couldn’t have said it better myself. In fact, I don’t think I could have been so eloquent.
September 27th, 2013 at 10:24 am
Don’t look for the rookie to run out of a collapsing pocket, or run period if you look at his college career that has negative yardage in the rushing dept. But, Schiano’s been going after this guy since he was in high school and tried to lure him to rutgers. Kind of freaky really (not his neck, but Schiano’s fetish of him). He ranked 6th in QB’s at the draft, but Schiano picked him as the 3rd? His pick will be starting. Not even the QB coach wants him starting so early. We’ll see him break a few bones and that’s it. Schiano can propose afterwards.
September 27th, 2013 at 10:38 am
Getting rid of Kellen Winslow, Aqib Talib, LaGarrette Blount, and eventually Josh Freeman were or will be good moves.
Am I the only fan that remembers the sh*tshow that was the 2011 season? The ten game losing streak? Lack of discipline? Talib’s constant off the field issues? All of the guys on the above list were productive at one point or another for the Bucs. I don’t think Raheem Morris was the worst coach ever; he did after all lead the youngest team in the NFL to 10 wins in 2010, which also happened to be Freeman’s best season as a professional. And don’t give me any crap about strength of schedule; the Bucs were projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL going into 2010 and they played other NFL teams, not the CFL or the MAC conference. 2010 was awesome but 2011 was horrid, one of the worst ever Buccaneer seasons in recent memory, and that’s really saying something.
Kellen Winslow had one good game opening week against the Bucs, but the problem was never letting him go, it was never adequately replacing him, which certainly didn’t do any favors for our inconsistent former starting QB. Talib is playing well, but he couldn’t help but get in trouble while a member of the Bucs, either via arrest or suspension due to substance abuse. He’s being paired with another thug in Alfonzo Dennard, a shining turd who had first round potential but fell all the way to the seventh round because of off the field issues. Talib is a talent and we all know that because he was given every chance in the world to succeed for the Bucs and he blew it, so it was time to move on. Blount is what he is; somewhat one dimensional, not as good a power runner as he should be, unusually shifty for a back his size, somewhat lacking in pass protection and he didn’t fit Schiano’s scheme. Doug Martin needs a capable backup and personally I think Brian Leonard and Mike James complement him just fine. Sure, Blount was given 16 carries, most late in the blowout win against the Bucs, but this isn’t Adrian Peterson we are talking about.
Finally, we have Josh Freeman. I was one of the biggest Freeman supporters in the comments on this site. I was never delusional but I preached patience and was confident that Freeman would become a very good QB. I still believe Josh has the potential to succeed, but it’s not going to be as a member of the Buccaneers. I don’t know the full story, only the players and the coaches do, but Freeman’s regression appears to be the result of numerous factors that include coaching or lack thereof, but ultimately the failure of Josh Freeman falls at the feet of Josh Freeman. The numbers don’t lie, heck, the numbers don’t even tell the full story. If you can believe it, Freeman has looked worse at times than the terrible numbers reflect. He might not have any trade value left and maybe he just gets deactivated ala Keyshawn Johnson in 2003 and sent home with pay to no longer be a distraction, but it’s pretty clear that Josh lost the locker room. The question is when did he lose the locker room? My guess was sometime toward the end of last season. Perhaps he didn’t react well to the new coaching staff. Maybe he has some off the field demons, I don’t really know. I hope he puts his life back together, but as of right now, it’s time to look forward with a sense of optimism.
Look, this team has basically hit rock bottom and there isn’t really anywhere to go but up. If you love or hate Schiano, if you are a member of the Glennon Mob or just a normal fan, if you want to see the team rally back and win or tank the season to have a shot at Teddy Bridgewater, the one undisputable fact is this: The Bucs are no longer spinning their wheels. Freeman has been benched and either Glennon comes in and provides a spark or he his overwhelmed and the team bottoms out and has a high pick in a QB rich draft, and if the tanking is anything like 2011 was, the Bucs will have a new coaching staff AND a new GM. If you are a fan, this move should hopefully lead to better days, either as early as next week or in late April. It’s time to get excited.
September 27th, 2013 at 10:47 am
You guy’s who think Freeman is a running QB. Make me LMAO. The guy run’s what a 4.9. Ever since he slimmed down his leg’s are so clumsy. Ever since Minny came up as a possible trade partner. The comment’s on Vik’s sites are hallarious. Fan’s around the league don’t have a clue about Freeman. Nobody watches the Buc’s but Buc fan’s. And the opposing team. Some QB will go down forcing the vik’s to up the ante. A bidding war would be great. As for you Schiano hater’s. Bahhhh bahhhh join the club sheep. I wish the player’s had a little backbone to stand up to the masses. And support your coach,any player that challenges the coach is not a player I can cheer for….cancer
September 27th, 2013 at 10:47 am
“The Bucs are no longer spinning their wheels.” ^^^^^
_____________________________________________
The wheels have fallen off..
September 27th, 2013 at 11:19 am
So let me get this straight, while Josh Freeman was our quarterback, the good folks at 620 and Joe would complain about our quarterback, claiming that he was inaccurate and that he could never lead us to a Super Bowl. But now that Schiano made the switch to Mike Glennon, now they are all crying that Schiano should get fired and that now we have no chance because Josh Freeman was a good guy and our best chance. This is what makes me sick about being a Bucs fan. What does Joe suggest we do about this PROBLEM? Clearly we don’t have a chance with Freeman, so why keep starting him. He is a cancer to the locker room. Just look at how he was viewed by his offensive lineman during the first three games. Let’s now forget, the Bucs have a top 3 offensive line, a top 5 running back, and arguably a top 10 wide receiver duo. Why is he getting a pass? If Bucs were smart, they’d ship freeman out to Washington for Kirk Cousins. We would most likely have to add a draft pick too. So Joe, you sir are a moron. Schiano did exactly what needed to be done. You can’t tell me you’d keep playing a QB who ranked worse in the NFL. I hope Schiano pulls off a turn around so he can shut you idiots up.
September 27th, 2013 at 11:21 am
Maybe the wheels have fallen off, but that means a new set of wheels will be placed back on. The question is, how many ‘new wheels’ will we see by the end of the season? We have one right now in Glennon, we need to see if he’s enough to save the coaching staff and/or GM.
I’m telling you, true believers, the Bucs right now are the laughingstock of the league, but there is too much talent for this to remain permanent. Also, even though the ownership is often mocked by a lot of fans, you better believe that they won’t tolerate a second season of this nonsense. Either Glennon sparks the offense and the defense continues to play well and the Bucs put together a winning streak, or Glennon goes out on the field and is somehow worse than 2013 Freeman, and everyone, including the Rockstar GM, is out of a job.
Remember, players, coaches, front office staff and sometimes even team owners come and go, but the fans are the one constant. Most of us were around well before any of the current players or coaches. I’m 31 years old and I’ve been a fan of the Bucs since I was 11 years old (1993) and collecting Reggie Cobb football cards. I remember Cobb leaving to go to Green Bay, I remember Errict Rhett, Dilfer, Alvin Harper busting, Lynch, Sapp and Brooks, changing the uniforms and bringing in Warrick Dunn and becoming the sleeper team of the NFL. I remember Sapp taking out both Young and Rice, I recall the NFC Championship game against the Rams and the Bert Emanuel non-catch that brought back instant reply, the Shaun King run on SNF against the Rams in a thrilling win, I remember bringing in Simeon Rice and Brad ‘The Bull’ Johnson, trading for Keyshawn Johnson who was one of my favorite non-Bucs players, the entire Superbowl season and the litany of memories that generated, the agony of the post Super Bowl season, with the highs (opening day) and the lows (blocked extra point against Carolina and the Colts game, one of the worst experiences as a fan ever), the ups and downs and the merry-go-round of QBs during the Gruden era, the playoff loss to the Redskins with questionable fumbles and the Edell Shepard non-catch, Cadillac Williams, Larry Brackins, Charlie Garner and his five minutes as an active Buc, Tim Brown always fair-catching a punt with space to run, the Brett Favre chase, Kiffin checking out mentally and JaMarcus giving Gruden his final loss as a Bucs coach, the Raheem run, Josh Freeman and pretty much everything that brings us to the present. And I’m leaving a ton of stuff out, but think back on those moments, think back to the hysteria of the fans, the conspiracy theories, the hype and the hope. It’s looking pretty dark right about now, but everything that happens from here on out (aside from a career ending injury) will be a plus for us fans. We either will find our QB in Glennon and possibly save the season or we press the reset button in a QB rich draft, plug in a potential franchise QB with a top 10 pick with a team that is ready to win now but is currently missing a QB and TE and we will be back to competing for a playoff spot. It’s not all doom and gloom. This will only make us better from here on out.
September 27th, 2013 at 11:32 am
Either overpay/trade for a veteran quarterback in the offseason (more likely) or lose enough games to draft Johnny Football.
If the Bucs draft Johnny Football, it’s a good bet Schiano won’t be with the Bucs.
September 27th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Joe’s right, if the Chargers don’t win, they are ready to let Phil Rivers go. He is playing lights out. That tight end, Graham out of New Orleans is available.
The Bucs draft Clowney (JCP) and a dynasty is born.
Of course, they will have to fire the Little General first, but that is a given.
I can’t wait to see the Insane Clowney Posse take over at Cits Stadium.
September 28th, 2013 at 12:25 am
Bucs fans, all I have to say is that Freeman is not the guy you want. If you are looking for someone who works hard , studies the game ,gets home early and does not party and does things that a professional athlete shouldn’t do on game week or even the night before he’s not the Qb for you. I know people in places and trust me when i say we are better off . Look at the difference when coaches talk about Other players work ethic and when they talk about Freeman’s. He dug his own hole and this time physical ability couldn’t help him get out of it.