When I say people, I mean media types. So, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally released their former starting quarterback Josh Freeman after failing to trade him.
It was a messy divorce. The 0-4 Bucs benched Freeman prior to last week’s game, he pouted, someone released some confidential information about him, he was told to stay out of team meetings and the team fined him several times before finally cutting the cord.
Kind of a Brett Favre-like circus.
Freeman is now an unrestricted free agent and more than one source has drawn a line to the Green Bay Packers. One of those is ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Another is Yahoo! Sports Frank Schwab. Generally, the thinking is Aaron Rodgers needs a competent backup.
The Packers have veteran Seneca Wallace as Aaron Rodgers’ backup. It would be good for Freeman to be on a non-dysfunctional team for the rest of the season, with the opportunity to practice in a real offense. And the Packers might finally get a legitimate backup for Rodgers.
That’s all swell, but I don’t see a guy like Freeman wanting to sit around in a backup role. This dude threw for 4,065 yards, 27 touchdowns and 17 interceptions last season.
His best year came in 2010, when he threw for 3,451, 25 and 6. He’s obviously got the talent to start somewhere in the NFL. He just needs to find the right situation.
That obviously isn’t in Green Bay.
He was benched for good reason. He sucks. He was completing 45% of his passes (Tebow). Throwing 2td passes, 3 picks, with a 59 passer rating. With all that said, i’ll bet there is a lot more to the story besides stats, that got him benched.
Greg Schiano hated the guy, I wouldn’t read too much into his stat line this year. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if he worked out fine at his next stop. As for the connection to GB, it’s only because he’s obviously better than Seneca Wallace.
Sometimes I like reading PFT for the reader comments. Occasionally, local people with a good grip on a situation chime in. More than one comment concerned Freeman’s regular appearance on the TB social scene.
The guy had one more year to go — and then he could’ve been free. But it sounds like he was somewhat of an ass. Whether it was his fault or Schianos’ — his getting cut will make other teams wonder if they’re getting a cancer if they sign him.
The drug test biz stinks — if TB is trying to trade him, no way they leak that and queer a potential deal. That smacks of a smartass agent playing spin doctor.
Questionable maturity.
Absent work ethic.
Shit-stirring agent.
No obvious desire to hold a clipboard.
Hope the Pack “pass” on this guy.
And what could McCarthy do for the guy, any way?
see Flynn, Brohm, Coleman, Young, Harrell
Another undercurrent I picked up on…
Did anyone else get the sense that Freeman might have believed that his discontent/displeasure with the coach might have brought about a coaching change???
I picked up a little NBA coach-killer thing there…
Anybody else get a spidy-sense thing?
not a good fit in GB.
Uhh yeah… Ritalin…
There was all sorts of talk, before this whole situation blew up, that he was a coke head. I’m sure it was the Ritalin though…. just like it was the Addy’s in Seattle
So stupid
I would much rather have Matt Flynn come back to GB, and spend the rest of his career as a happy back-up to AR. Flynn knows the offense, wasn’t able to win the job in the two opportunities he was provided, and apparently isn’t see as being starting material in the league. He has also made a major chunk of change, so that should take some financial pressure off of him. It looks like an ideal fit to me. Wallace is just a stop-gap until Flynn comes home.
I nominate BZ for new Packers GM.
Don’t forget Josh Freeman went to K-State with Jordy Nelson, I think it would make since in the offseason if still available, but Seneca is the safe choice based on experience.
Favre had his Doug Pedersen. Who’s going to be AR’s muse? To BZ and PF’s point, perhaps Flynn might reach acceptance of who he is, and maybe for nothing more than the 7th the Packers originally spent on him they could have him back.
With a restructured contract of course.
of course!!! He’s got most of the $$$$ he’s getting on that contract anyway.
I will sign freemam today.