Josh Freeman Speaks
January 28th, 2018
Calls Greg Schiano “awesome.”
Until last week, Joe was confident Josh Freeman hadn’t spoken publicly since he led the Colts to victory in the finale of the 2015 NFL season.
But Freeman is back — and he’s talking.
The man who led Tampa Bay to its best season since 2007 was chatting on a Canadian Football League podcast and, of course, Joe was paying attention to the one-time face of the Buccaneers.
For those who missed it, Freeman inked a deal this month to play for the Montreal Alouettes bottom-feeders of the CFL.
Freeman, who just turned 30, sounded great. He was upbeat, quick-witted and relaxed. He even was all positive about his NFL experience that oddly evaporated without a suspension, civil suit or arrest.
Freeman was asked what happened to him in the NFL?
“In my mind, I loved the experience,” Freeman said of the NFL. “Shoot, I went to Tampa. My coach for three years, Raheem Morris, was great. Coach Schiano, awesome, and things didn’t work out there. I went to Minnesota, got thrust in kind of early on; I didn’t show to well. And then I kind of bounced around. And the thing with the NFL is, these are guys who, like any NFL general manager, they spend a lot of time and have to structure the franchise around who they have. I bounced to a couple of teams that were pretty solid at the quarterback position [Giants, Miami].
“[I was] really just a guy that can’t hop on the practice squad and I guess throw for a while like what these young guys do. I didn’t quite fit in, you know. And then there’s a life outside of football, I started exploring, shoot, what I want to do, what do I want to be, where do I want to go after football? I did that and I was like, ‘eh, might as well while I can, go balling.’
“So I’m really excited. Shoot, I was fired up when the opportunity was presented to me and I’m really excited about where it goes from here.”
Freeman went on to say he wouldn’t think of thumbing his nose at the CFL and that he respects the talent in the league. His past is in the past, he says — the bad and the good.
“All the numbers and all the whatever. So what,” Freeman said.
“It’s kind of what am I doing now? It doesn’t really matter what you’ve done in the past if you’re not performing now, if you’re not working now, if you’re not getting anything done now. Like what does it matter? So whatever situation I’m placed into, and whatever situation comes to me, I’m excited about the opportunity to work and to share whatever knowledge I have about the game and to help my teammates and the organization succeed.”
Freeman really sounded focused. He even sounded sincere when he called Greg Schiano “awesome.”
And it sure didn’t seem like Freeman is doing any of this for the money after earning more than $40 million in the NFL.
After getting a good feeling last summer while working out for the Alouettes and having discussions with team officials, Freeman said he then stayed on in Montreal for about a month to explore the city. That doesn’t sound like a guy aching for cash.
Joe wishes Freeman well.
For the record, and for the growing legion of Jameis Winston bashers, through the first 45 starts of Freeman’s career, he won 19 games. In his 45 starts, Jameis has had fancier toys to play with but only has 18 victories.
January 28th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
I wish Josh Freeman nothing but the best. He had that thing.. for a moment. But just did not want to be great deep down inside. Like he said..He started exploring to many..outside things. To be a Brady, Brees, or Paton M. You gotta committ all in,all focus to Football. If it was easy, there would be more greats. He’ll play in the canadian league perhaps a couple yrs and move on. Whose Next?
January 28th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Glad to hear he’s getting another chance. We’ll never know what really happened in Tampa but the guy was better than what JW is showing without all the stupid cheerleading.
January 28th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
“For the record, and for the growing legion of Jameis Winston bashers, through the first 45 starts of Freeman’s career, he won 19 games.”
Joe after the last month I would clearly put you in the camp described in your quote above. But you like everyone else that loves to hate on Jameis will end up eating your words. This is just silly talk. Joe firmly supports Jameis. No shame in being an average NFL starter at 24 years old. Future is bright. –Joe Just keep on hating it just makes it more fun to watch you all squirm when your wrong. 4th best QB in the division my a**
January 28th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Who? oh, maybe trade a 2nd for him…..oh thats right, impossible….and thank goodness
January 28th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
Pelbuc if you actually watched the games you would remember quite a bit of Freeman’s success came via jump balls to Mike Williams so Joe and others can say he had no talent around him (((correction: Joe never said he had no talent, only that Jameis has had more. And there is an art to throwing the jump ball. Not all luck. –Joe))) but Williams was awesome those years at bailing his QB out but let’s just rewrite history to continue ripping our best player, good idea. SMH
January 28th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
I forgive you Joshua.
You broke my heart.
Bon chance mon frere! (Good luck my brother)
January 28th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Oh yeah Freeman also had Vincent Jackson and Kellen Winslow and a much better running game but yeah both those Pro Bowlers sucked, you’re right.
January 28th, 2018 at 12:40 pm
Sad going to embarrass Canadians now. Loser
January 28th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
What was your won loss record in the nfl maze? Man some of you guys have no perspective.
January 28th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Who cares about his money Joe. You bring it up like Bucs fans don’t care that he actually quit on his team. So what he didn’t blow it all on coke
January 28th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
Undefeated darin.
January 28th, 2018 at 1:01 pm
As you get older u get wiser
And let’s be real u want mo money
He could have been worth 100 million now…
But he is having to worry about making rent
January 28th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
What a piece of trash!!!!! People that stood up and covered for this garbage of a human being and he still can not own up to it!!!!!!! I really hope that on the first play he slips on black ice, rips acl, mcl all the “cl”s and craps his pants while the whole stadium laughs at him!!!!!!!! What a despicable liar!!!!!!!!!! He lied about the player/ leader that he wasn’t, he blamed all for his problems and you clowns wish him well like nothing ever happened!!!!!!!! Well I hope he lost and will lose the rest of his money and knock on your doors asking if he can stay on your couch for a few days!!!!!!!!
We should treat Coach Schiano as the hero he is, because he save that piece of trashes life!!!!!!!! and he did nothing in return to thank or acknowledge that !!!!!!!!!!!
January 28th, 2018 at 1:14 pm
In a “unrelated” story, starting Center for the Montreal Alouettes Brodeur-Jourdain stated that he hopes that they run a “Shot-gun only offense, no direct snaps”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 28th, 2018 at 1:17 pm
Jeez realist, cool it
January 28th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
**************************
REX GROSSMAN had a far better WIN PERCENTAGE over his first 4 years as a starting QB than AARON RODGERS did
TONY ROMO had a far better WIN PERCENTAGE than JOE MONTANA through their first 4 years
TIM TEBOW has a better career WIN PERCENTAGE than HOF’er JOE NAMATH
WINS mean next to nothing when evaluating individual talent as they are a TEAM accomplishment and not a player stat.
**************************
January 28th, 2018 at 1:21 pm
JW needs to stop overthrowing every other ball
Also, the comebacks in the 4th need to stop, miracles don’t make the playoffs
January 28th, 2018 at 1:24 pm
Honestly , I think alot of you were like me . just wanting a damn franchise QB . if it was Freeman so be it , if it’s jameis so be it . behind closed doors I don’t really know what the hell happened to Freeman but obviously it was not meant to be . all we can hope for now is jameis keeps getting better at winning games & if that’s turning around and handing the ball off I’m all for that . I personally don’t care how we phuckin win ! I just want a much better defence & a QB that can not only win us games but can control how we win it ! Go bucs
January 28th, 2018 at 1:27 pm
Josh was the ultimate physical specimen with one of the strongest arms in the NFL. Just goes to show you QB greatness is mostly played between the ears.
January 28th, 2018 at 1:32 pm
Glad we got Jamies–As long as he stops turning the ball over!
January 28th, 2018 at 1:34 pm
Remember when that drunk clown was too hungover and missed the team bus on opening day against the Jets and then he called back-to-back timeouts to start the game. Apparently some of you do
January 28th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
The most beautiful bombs I have ever seen, were the bombs from Josh Freeman to Tiquan Underwood. Josh was more accurate on the bomb than he was on the 5 yard dump.
January 28th, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Remember that one time when fat Josh Freeman did a quarterback sneak into the end zone to beat the Falcons and then did the dirty bird ? That was awesome
January 28th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
Mental illness is a
January 28th, 2018 at 2:11 pm
Given that last paragraph on games won, is “Canada” better than “America”?
January 28th, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Remember when Josh Freeman Laid out Brent Grimes!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpH0Pq0YJro
January 28th, 2018 at 2:21 pm
Ritalin is a helluva drug!
January 28th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
No clue how you all can so easily forgive someone that tried to torpedo a whole season cuz he was benched and NEVER has owned up to it. Pathetic. He’s a loser, will always be a loser.
January 28th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
I think Freeman stole MAZE money lol you’ve gotta be something pathetic loser to still be hating on Freeman. FYI I still wonder how long it will take the Joe’s to stop mentioning Martin after he is cut.
Freeman gets more hate because he’s a quarterback but as we can see from what’s going on now he’s not the reason this franchise is sorry as hell and it doesn’t matter who’s in this building we won’t win because the glazers are the worst owners in the NFL and have no clue what they are doing
January 28th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
You Freeman apologists are pathetic
January 28th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
You know it is going to be a good post when two out of first five comments have the “BOLD” Joe typeset, hahahahaha.
Good for Mr. Freeman, go there and play enjoy yourself and the game you are good enough to be paid to play. Tear it up in the CFL, might be another chance in the NFL
January 28th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
Freeman just turned 30 years old the other week – well think of this, Vinny Testaverde was 30 years old his last year in Tampa, and he quite the career after leaving the Bucs. Freeman has the size and arm that teams love and that should age well. If he can just get himself together and show something I think he’ll get yet another chance in the NFL. Also if I was Freeman I’d put on a bunch of weight since fat Josh Freeman was one of the great young QBs in football. Still a shame what happened, his early success had him ranked above Matt Ryan for example, then he just fell off the face of the earth.
January 28th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
He was one of my favorite guys at the time and I defended him always. Looking back though he and Jameis are so similar physically but so different mentally and philosophically.
Some guys just want to be famous like Manziel and Freeman and once they get that fame what else is there to work for? They play because they havd the god given ability.
Then there are the players that aspire to be great! I truly believe Jameis is in this category. These guys have a true love of the game and want to be a part of its history.
January 28th, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Freeman has bi-polar issues…one moment he will sound upbeat, the next he’ll sound depressed. Highs and lows are a part of the illness.
The interview just caught him at the right moment.
January 28th, 2018 at 3:42 pm
Bonzai – Is that based on anything or just message board speculation? I mean I wouldn’t doubt it, but then again most people that claim they’re bi-polar are just a-holes who don’t want to take responsibility for being an a-hole.
January 28th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Free inherited a fan base that was driving ownership mad. They ran Gruden cause you fools.
If Gruden would of got Free vs the wack a do’s that came after. Things would of worked perfectly.
That said, you moron fake “fan”atical fans of depression need to get behind your coaches and owners. Let them do as they please and be a fan cause lord knows yall aint smart enough to be anything more.
January 28th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
I have always felt, that the single greatest characteristic of a man- is redemption
The Ability to, haven fallen from grace- to pull yourself up by the Bootstraps,
And fulfill expectations.
Good Luck Josh. I hope you succeed wildly.
Let a man who has never failed, throw the first stone at you.
January 28th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
I hope he gets paralyzed by a stampede of Canadian moose!!!!!!! The guy is a liar and never apologized or made any amends of all the lies he told!!!!!!!!! May he freeze and get hurt on the first play, or just like the NFL, never make it out of camp!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 28th, 2018 at 4:56 pm
Like it or not Freeman was a better Qb than the finger sucker and enjoyed more success. I can see Jameis falling off the map in similar fashion. Only difference is Freeman didnt have half the weapons and with Canadian caliber coaches! Truth hurts Semen holes!
January 28th, 2018 at 5:40 pm
Some of you guys sound like you rather hate on Freeman than face the sad Buc truth. The Qb ain’t that good but he is not the worst problem on this team. Fix the problems and they all look better. GO BUCS!!!
January 28th, 2018 at 5:53 pm
I admire anyone who continue to pursue their dreams and ambitions. There will be obstacles in the way, but determination conquer all. Good luck to Josh Freeman on his journey.
January 28th, 2018 at 5:55 pm
For 1 year Freeman was the best qb the bucs have ever had !!…
January 28th, 2018 at 7:35 pm
Freeman’s demise was ultimately not handling fame and success well. He wasn’t mature enough and it sounds like he’s realized that.
If I were to place blame, Raheem simply didn’t create a professional environment to groom a young QB. When your coach is at 717 on a Saturday before a game at 1am, your team is doomed. It was a joke and why Schiano came in….Unfortunately Freeman had developed a very bad lifestyle and the melt down began. The dude sounds like he’s on a good path now, would be a great story if he found his way back.
January 28th, 2018 at 7:47 pm
Freeman spent that $40 million at the Mons.
January 29th, 2018 at 1:57 am
@Lakeland:
Tiquan Underwood did catch a tipped ball from Josh Freeman for a 62 yard gain in 2012, but only two TDs that year for only 15 and 22 yds respectively. I suspect that the “bombs” you remember were delivered by MG8 in 2013, and one went for 85 yards. There was also a 48 yd TD on a flea-flicker vs. New Orleans from MG8 that year.
tickrdr
January 29th, 2018 at 7:49 am
‘Freeman said he then stayed on in Montreal for about a month to explore the city.’
Montreal is a very cool city. Drinks are damn expensive though.
January 29th, 2018 at 10:35 am
“He looked great in warmup.”
-Rockstar
February 1st, 2018 at 5:44 pm
Just tell us what really happened Josh…..