Josh Freeman: NFL Offensive MVP?!
October 11th, 2010
Most of Joe’s readers were incensed if not mortified when Sports Illustrated’s popcorn-shoveling Peter King predicted the Bucs would win a meager two games this season.
Well, now the Bucs have as many wins as they mustered last year through just four games. Suddenly, King is drinking Bucs Kool-Aid more than he chugs coffee.
King is now so enamoured with the Bucs, he believes Josh Freeman is in the running for the NFL Offensive MVP honors.
In King’s MVP Watch in his weekly must-read Monday Morning Quarterback, King lists Freeman among his top five candidates.
5. Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay. Forget the stats. Watch the Bucs. They’re a gallant team, and Freeman makes more mistakes than he should. But he’s the on-field keystone to an intriguing team that’s not going away.
Look, Joe is giddy with the Bucs’ start as much as the next Bucs fan, and Joe is really liking Freeman’s intangibles. But to suggest Freeman may be NFL Offensive MVP is a bit of a stretch, even by the most avid of pewter-colored sunglasses wearing Bucs fans.
Of course, if the Bucs continue to pull out fourth quarter wins, Joe will even have to concede Freeman may be in the discussion at year’s end.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:04 am
I look at it this way. Freeman along with many of his team mates are talented, but young who will make their share of mistakes. However, they are 3-1 coming off a win against a team that was not only a playoff team, but who won their division. The talented Bucs are only going to get better with experience which means the future looks bright!
October 11th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Peter King must be tired of correcting himself. BTW, Ochocinco did not make hay against Tampa Bay on Sunday. He looked more like Charles, Ray acting like a bird of prey….ok I’ll stop.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Joe,
Absolutely. We are doing it, even though we have made some mistakes that can be fixed. Hey, we are 3-1. Saints are coming off of a loss. We need to use that as motivation to keep our foot on their necks, and dont let off.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:30 am
This is just as stupid as kings prior predictions… there is no middle ground with this guy.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:36 am
As I’ve always said- Peter King is a fine Sports journalist of the highest Caliber. If he Feels Josh should be MVP, who are we to argue! I happen to agree with him!
October 11th, 2010 at 10:46 am
under the true definition of MVP Freeman can’t be discounted.. take him out of the mix and the team is totally different. Is he of the same relative value as McNabb when he has a roster full of big name stars? Absolutely. Manning with a bunch of 3rd and 4th string WRs? maybe not- but as of week 5 he’s definitely more valuable than Aaron Rodgers, Brady.. maybe everyone but LaDainian in NY.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:48 am
It depends on your definition of MVP. Most valuable player. Is that in the entire NFL? or Most valuable to the team they play for? If the Bucs somehow (miraculously) make the playoffs this year, I don’t think there’s any doubt that it was on the back of Josh Freeman. The run game is pathetic, the pass protection is weak at best, the WRs are young and learning, the defense can’t stop the run or get sacks. Is Freeman the MVP of the Bucs? Without a doubt. If they make the playoffs, he may be MVP of the NFL, even without the stats to back it up.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:01 am
I am enamored with Peter King, cause he is man enough to admit he was wrong about Tampa.
I hope Pat Kirwan eats his words too Joe, any idea what that clown has to say about Tampa, now ?
October 11th, 2010 at 11:52 am
King is an extremist. Has no insight what-so-ever. That’s what comes from not doing his homework….ever.
October 11th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
One small thing about King…He consistantly refers to the team as “Tampa”. It’s Tampa Bay! He’s not the only member of the MSM to do this, either.
October 11th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Three points I have too bring up.
1. Anyone who reads Peter King more than once or twice a season realizes that King himself says he is one of the worst at making predictions, and tends to reiterate that disclaimer with regularity.
2. Freeman for MVP is not all that far-fetched if the Bucs continue their turn-around. There would be historical precedent, particularly with the Pro Football Writers MVP Award (which I believe King IS one of the voters for, though precedent is there for the AP MVP award as well.
3. As far as the MSM (mainstream media) comment… I know that in some circles that is a flag that, at times, may be rightfully flown… but come on, I don’t think sportswriters count, leave that for the news and political people. This is a game.
October 11th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
I don’t think Pat Kirwan ever has anything against Bucs, I actually feel he roots for us, it is just the critic in him that comes with those predictions. The real tools are Schein and Gannon.
October 11th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Oh, JOE, how come you missed Florio’s idiotic article on profootballtalk about Bucs “STEALING” the win from Bengals? I am sure you did not miss it, do us all here a favor and flame that moron for coming out with that crap.
October 11th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
OK…WTF! All you gudys have been posting about how no one gives any love to the Bucs, and when King does you guys crap all over it! WELL, which is it, do you want love or not?
Joe, I am talking to my fellow posters, not you. These Bucs fans are bipoler!
October 11th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Boy are you guys gullible.
The bigger the set-up the harder the fall….
hahhahahahha
October 11th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Jonny:
Joe wrote the very same thing yesterday so how can Joe go off on Florio?
Joe and Florio have a very good relationship and Joe really enjoys and respects what Florio has done and continues to do.
Joe’s not going after Florio.
October 11th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
The key words in that statement are in bold for ya. I’m of the opinion that you should never…ever…rule anything out. Right now, Freeman is playing like a young QB…though maybe a little better than expected. But when the WRs and running game get better, watch how quickly he turns great.
With us at 3-1 for the first quarter, we only have to win half of the remaining games to have a winning season…so if they do that, or by some miracle the team turns the corner sooner than expected, it is feasible that a run into the playoffs is possible. And if that is possible, we could make it into the bowl.
It all depends on how quickly the offense picks things up and how quickly our fresh Defensive Line turns the corner.
Raheem needs to challenge the defense to score more TDs than the offense this year, just like Gruden did in 2002.
October 11th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Freeman would be the forerunner for MVP at this point, in my unbiased opinion! Raheem Morris is definately Coach of the year to this point! And Adam Schein and Rich Gannon are my personal picks for ” ignorant Tools of the year” – ta da! Sorry to announce the winners so early!
October 12th, 2010 at 5:33 am
Don’t curse the guy with the honors…Let him continue to play well and let him earn it for the year. It seems like players get the gato negro when they win something like that.