Alstott Says Young Team Was Ideal For Freeman
August 11th, 2011
What if Josh Freeman walked into a veteran ballclub back in 2009? Bucs icon Mike Alstott says if that happened Freeman wouldn’t be the leader he is today.
“Because there’s already control,” the A-Train told Steve Duemig on WDAE-AM 620 this week.
Alstott said Freeman has really set the leadership bar for the Bucs. The environment on the roster was ideal for a young quarterback, Alstott said, but ultimately Freeman took over the team the old fashioned way.
“He got a lot of respect from the get-go because he got thrown in there and he earned the respect from the players. So everybody’s eyes are open looking at Josh saying, ‘What do we do now?'” Alstott said. “And he’s already commanded that and he’s leading the team very well.”
Thinking back on the purge of veterans by the Bucs in 2009, Joe can’t recall anyone saying that clearing Derrick Brooks and others might be essential for a young franchise quarterback to evolve faster and set his own bar.
Interesting perspective from Alstott.
August 11th, 2011 at 11:38 am
Wow is Mike a deeper thinker than the media gave him credit for?
August 11th, 2011 at 11:44 am
That is truly an excellent point. It is really awesome we are starting to hear from the old buc heroes giving their stamp of approval on the direction of the bucs. Alstott and Sapp in 2 days…………..wow.
August 11th, 2011 at 11:46 am
The Bucs are building a culture that is somewhat insulated from outside influences, sort of like the Pats have done. I like it.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
11-5 SuperBowl bound you heard it here first.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
All those head and neck injuries and he gives Socrates a run for his money!
August 11th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
It’s 12:22…I’m youngry!
August 11th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
It’s 12:22…I’m youngry!
Now that’s funny.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Nice to hear Alstott praising free, but I dont think you can say Free was the reason you let go of a franchise cornerstone on the other side of the ball. Brooks’ release was an independent situation.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Gary, everybody has their time come up. It was Brooks’ time to go. The roster was being overhauled and the young talent needed to be evaluated. There was no reason for Brooks to be there, the team was going to lose, they were going with a new defensive scheme. Guys can’t play forever. He could have signed somewhere else, but much like many others that were cast away, nobody really saw much value in them.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Hey Brandon, did you see Raheem’s presser the other day when he talked about defensive helmet headsets? I think he answered your question about how many and how it works, but as you said only one on the field at any given time is allowed.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
If you’re so youngry, why not head to Island Way Grill? Heyoooooo!!
August 11th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
I know BigMacAttack is youngry!
LOL @ Tuggz.
I’ll stop on in and say ‘HI’ to MARK Alstott.
ARE YOU YOUNGRY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!?!?!?
August 11th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I had no problem with the purge, it was suprising, but no problem. Everyone of those vets offered nothing to another team the rest of their careers.
The only disagreement I had was with Brooks being shown the door. They should have offered him one more year and let him choose how to go.
August 11th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
FLBoyInDallas
Agree. When raheem explained about young guys only knowing this system as opposed to free agent vets coming in and not buying in because something else worked for them somewhere else, it rang true.
Does not mean they can not add a piece or two by way of a vet going forward. I think they just have to build their brand and show success with it first for the vets they do sign in the coming years buy in easier.
August 11th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Tuggz Says:
August 11th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
If you’re so youngry, why not head to Island Way Grill? Heyoooooo!!
You mean Mugs Grill and Bar … right 🙂
August 11th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Youngry? Didn’t that used to be a country where snickers bars were made?
August 11th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
LOL @ OAR
August 11th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Joe here,
@TBSwarm — Well said! http://www.agesmugs.com
August 11th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Rachel Watson is yorny
August 11th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
I can’t wait to see our two new RBs and see what they’ve got. Kregg Lumpkin and Mossis Madu. I don’t know a lot about Lumpkin, but I’ve seen some of Madu’s film and he has the chance to be a nice compliment to Blount. He also has the chance of not even making the team. But we shall see. I can’t wait til tomorrow night!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 11th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
lol ” http://www.agesmugs.com”
I think Joe meant http://www.abesmugs.com. Friggen delicious food.