Josh Freeman Working Out With Michael Clayton
April 27th, 2011
Yesterday when NFL facilities were unlocked to players by court order, not one player showed up at One Buc Palace.
Joe thought for sure Bucs team leader Josh Freeman would be at the facility at the crack of dawn. He was not. And for good reason.
It seems Freeman has been working out behind the guarded fences of IMG in Bradenton on a daily basis with former Bucs wide receiver and blocking icon Michael Clayton, so reports video star Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.
Freeman has worked out daily with Bucs running back Cadillac Williams and former Bucs receiver Michael Clayton, currently with the New York Giants, at the IMG Academy in Bradenton. While confusion about the lockout is being sorted out, Freeman continues to organize team and individual workouts as he tries to prepare teammates for the upcoming season.
“As a young group of guys, it’s really important that we keep our momentum from last season going regardless of the state of the lockout,” Freeman said.
Last week, Freeman organized a workout for all of Tampa Bay’s skill position players, which he said had 100 percent attendance. Freeman said he and the players worked out at the University of South Florida for a week, running routes and working on plays.
Notice how Richardson qualified the 100 percent attendance: skill position players.
For whatever reason when Richardson’s colleague, Woody Cummings, reached out to union-first Jeff Faine, the Bucs NFLPA rep stated he had no intention of working out.
April 27th, 2011 at 8:19 am
Should have been #1 overall pick, period!
April 27th, 2011 at 8:27 am
This is great to hear how Freeman has just taken control. I hope we try to trade the oft injured Faine. Also there is no way we have 100% on all positions with people like McCoy training/rehabing out in Cali.
April 27th, 2011 at 8:30 am
Atrain
Oh heck no, that would mean he would be playing for the Detriot Loins and not us! If you want, you can just consider him a great first round steal!
As for him and Clayton working out together, I’d rather he be throwing to someone that’s still on the team. But atleast he’s throwing reps and Caddy’s there.
April 27th, 2011 at 8:33 am
Joe
Are you slipping? Freeman works out with some of the team(skill or not) for a week and we didn’t get one word! Shame on you, but I guess better late than never!? LOL
April 27th, 2011 at 8:48 am
Tampa needs to draft a center, and send Faine packing Joe.
April 27th, 2011 at 8:52 am
I agree with Apple. Faine is a step away from useless.
April 27th, 2011 at 9:10 am
Notice the article says that Freeman and company were “WORKING ON ROUTES”
Notice it didn’t say “CATCHING PASSES” – Michael Clayhands was definately there!
Go get em Josh!
When this is over I want to see Freeman go over to Fain when Fain is over the football. Then Freeman can act like he’s taking a snap, start calling a play then stop, stand up and say:
“Jeff Fain! Man this guy’s had his balls cut off by the Glazers!”
April 27th, 2011 at 9:15 am
Clayton may not have been the player we wanted him to be however he was always a stand up guy never a cancer in the locker room, glad to see him working out with the ol’ boys.
Y’all should lay off the Clayton jokes, at least he’s out there helping himself and helping our team one way or another.
April 27th, 2011 at 9:37 am
Wonder if Benn has been with them…..
April 27th, 2011 at 9:43 am
Where was Mike Williams during this? Blount? Come on Anwar, “100% of skill position players” is not enough, we need details!
April 27th, 2011 at 9:49 am
Amar
Since you said “Y’all” and Mr Lucky was the “only one” with a Clayton jokes, I’ll make it correct for you by adding…You really don’t think Michael “couldn’t catch a cold, if he licked a walk-in clininc’s floor” Clayton doesn’t deserve some jokes thrown his way? PUN INTENDED!
April 27th, 2011 at 9:57 am
Damn and there goes anohter drop
April 27th, 2011 at 10:00 am
BTW classic picture of Clayton! What do they say picture is worth a thousand words? Or a thousand drops in this case!
April 27th, 2011 at 10:12 am
Joe, that last statement about Faine seems a bit misleading. The article You link to, with the quote you cite, doesn’treally seems to say Faine doesn’t intend to workout, period, ever. It simply seems to say he didn’t intend to show up to One Buc yesterday. No other players showed up either, so it seems a little odd you’re singling Faine out for criticism.
The lockout situation is pretty ambiguous right now. I don’t blame Bucs players for showing a little intelligent caution about showing back up at One Buc.
April 27th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Everybody likes a good Clayhand’s joke, well almost everybody. Maybe Michael was just Dropping in to see the guys. Maybe we should just drop it.
Can anyone remember a splash play Faine made since he’s been a Buc? Pancake block? Anything great? Above average? That didn’t suck?
April 27th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
@BigMacAttack Can you or someone else explain to me all the Faine hate? Yeah, he’s been injured and hasn’t played up to his contract, and yeah, he’s the Union rep, but he hasn’t said or done anything that seems particularly heinous to me.
It’s not like he hit a cab driver or anything.
Joe seems to criticize him for not putting the team first, but I don’t really get that impression when I read his quotes.
April 27th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
It isn’t hate, and I think you answered your own question.
April 27th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
The part that concerns me most is this: Apple Roof Cleaning said: “Tampa needs to draft a center, and send Faine packing Joe” Is Joe aware you want Faine “packing” him? Seems like a bit of an odd request.
April 27th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Buc N’ A:
LOL Joe doesn’t roll like that. 🙂
April 27th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
I thought Talib was the only one “packing”?
April 27th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
We as Bucs fans should beam with pride at hearing how Josh and the rest have all jumped on board and it’s going to pay off sooner than later!
Great attitudes create better attitudes.
April 27th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
What Talib needs is a woman like NeNe Leakes. She’d straighten his bony A$$ out in a heartbeat.
April 27th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
I dont think Faine really needed to practice snapping in shorts and a t-shirt anyway, especially after having to go to Joe’s house to pee in his corn flakes every morning
April 27th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Last year’s stand out Offensive line, Ted Larsen, is a center by trade. Don’t think him getting starting time was a coincidence. Bet he’s the starting center within 2 years.
Man, I wish this lock out thing is really over this week. I think our young lines need time with their new coaches. Remember, we have new defensive and offensive coaches. Think both will really help our young guys!
April 27th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Hope is does not mess up Freeman’s confidence…..
April 27th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Umm starting Ted Larsen was not a coincidence, it was a necessity.
Maybe we can hire Clayton back to be our long snapper and blocking dummy.
April 27th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
I can see it now:
Josh Freeman (speaking to himself in mirror) “What’s going on? I thought I as a better QB than that. I only had a 50% completion percentage in practice today.
Michael Clayton (speaking to himself in mirror) “Man and I good…I had a 50% catch ratio today, moving on up….yeah I’m money in the bank.”