Yes, Freeman Cut His Thumb; It’s Healed Now
November 29th, 2011
Last night Joe got tipped with a link from former Bucs beat writer Wolf Heard, who once penned articles for PewterReport.com and is now writing for Buccaneers101.com, of Josh Freeman injuring the thumb of his right hand at a fully licensed local gun range, under a tightly controlled atmosphere.
This issue was also discussed earlier today on the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig’s show on WDAE-AM 620.
Joe began working his sources and here is what he knows from friends at One Buc Palace:
Freeman did injure his thumb at a gun range, but it was eight days after originally injuring his thumb against the Bears in London.
The injury at the gun range was a minor cut that required five cosmetic stitches. Freeman did not lose any practice time (short of not taking snaps in Wildcat formations — which he doesn’t participate in any way) and did not miss any playing time as a result of the cut.
Freeman’s cut did not aggravate his already sprained thumb, which the Bucs insist was so minor that despite wearing a thumb bandage on the flight home from London, he was able to carry his own carry-on bag with his right hand and was shaking hands with well-wishers.
Since the mishap resulting in a cut, Freeman had a sit down with Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik who cautioned Freeman about activities that may harm his livelihood, i.e. his throwing hand.
Now Joe knows people will get bent out of shape using this information in some anti-Second Amendment crusade. The mishap happened at a fully licensed, fully controlled, safe, legal environment.
In Joe’s eyes, this is no different than if Freeman cut himself fishing or broke a thumb blocking someone’s shot playing a pickup game of hoops.
The thumb, Joe has learned, is fully healed and the way Freeman has been throwing the ball the past two games, the best he has tossed the ball all season perhaps, that may be all the evidence one needs as to the healing process.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Big guns on and off the field!
November 29th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Joe
I agree! I’d rather he be shooting at a range, anyways! Atleast, he wasn’t at a night club and shot himself.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
I know it’s Bucs news, but “…and?”.
I’d rather here how Watson will start over Black or Hayes, or that Price will play.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
A cut on his thumb I’m not worried about. It’s the confused ‘deer in the headlights’ look he has when he breaks the huddle. I think his confidence is shot, not pun. Notice how Brees breaks the huddle? He has this look on his face like a nerd waiting to get in the classroom to ace a test. Free on the other hand looks like a dunce.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
If he shoots anything like he’s been throwing, then those targets at the gun range have nothing to worry about.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Yeah Joe I liked his accuracy against Green Bay but last week? Hmmm well either it was his mind or his hand but I will not say it was one of his better games. If he would quit throwing to Winslow we might have a shot!!
November 29th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Could this be Just a Cover story?
Could it be Surgery on something that happened during Bears Game?
November 29th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
All I know is I watched the Saints last night and THAT is how I want to see Freeman controlling the offense. THAT is the accuracy I want to see. THAT is the explosiveness I want to see.
For once in 35+ years I want to see a Buccaneer offense that goes out and scores 30+ most games.
Honeslty, I think they are 2 years and a speed WR and a speed RB away from possibly being that team.
I am not sure about who to draft as WR, but I would love to see them draft Jeff Demps. The guy is elusive, fast, shifty, can catch, and is great in the character category. Plus he is not as small as some people think. He is 5’9″ and played the last 2 years in the 190’s. Seems he could easily be about 200-205 for the NFL. On top of that he has proven to be durable and he would be a change of pace / 3rd down guy anyway.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
As far as defense, I really think they are a couple LBs and a CB away from being very good. I see McCoy as becoming very very good and Clayborn & Bowers have shown me they can do it as well.
Price may be the best of the bunch if he can get to 100%.
I am one of the few willing to give them a couple years and be patient I guess.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
And Kellen Winslow had a license for his motorcycle. This team has no discipline.
November 29th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Love that ESPN is giving credit to the Tampa Tribune. Last thing they want to do is prop up a non mainstream media entity like wolf heard’s new gig.
November 29th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Buc Fan South Tampa:
Joe believes there’s a major difference.
Freeman was at a place that was licensed and in a controlled environment. Wasn’t like he was shooting at someone running from his mother’s backyard (ahem).
Winslow was popping wheelies in a school parking lot.
November 29th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
LOL. I’ve seen that cut quite a few times. I’m betting he had his thumb to high, and the gun’s slide gave him a lil nibble. Happens to a lot of first time shooters, although 5 stitches is a lot worse than ft
Glad to see Josh is aproaching Gun oownership responsibly.
November 29th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
[Hijacking threads is a good way to get run. — Joe]
November 29th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
No one cares about what he does in his free time or if it’s in a safe environment or not. He let this team down, because we were wondering why he was so off in his throws, and he admitted it that he was in pain after the saints game. So why did they keep hiding the story, and all we heard was that he got hurt in the Chicago game. Have not seen anyone talk about Freeman’s bad plays. If it was Winslow or Talib that had this same situation, everyone in Tampa would say something negative about it. But coz it’s freeman all we hear is it was in a safe environment. Even Joe snapped at Buc Fan South Tampa coz he said there is no discipline on the team.Asides having a tough schedule, don’t we self destruct more than our opponent beating us? Well Maybe he thinks he is a superstar now after winning 10 games last year. It’s about time the young man starts to perform. He is not been to the playoffs or won a championship yet and there is no reason why he is treated like is king. If the best of the best QB’s are criticized, I guess Mr Freeman is due for one..
November 29th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
How bout this:
Bring in Norv Turner as OC, my guess is that the Chargers are gonna fire him after this season. Perfect choice…….he coached that great Cowboys offense in the 90’s with Aikman and Emmitt Smith. I’d love to see what he could do here.
I heard someone mention Del Rio? Bringing him as the DC sounds like a possible good idea, he’s had some nice defenses in jax despite their teams constant losing ways.
If we get some VERY good coaches on our staff, then Raheem can stay i guess. But he definitely needs to give up his DC role cause it’s not working.
November 29th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Freeman sure does look mighty scared breaking the huddle and ten times more when no one is open and he has to run. I’ve got the feeling he’s not a tough guy. He’s had a million opportunites to run for a first down and decided to dump it off to lumpkin or force it to winslow. Most defenders who hit him bounce off him take a shot or at least slide into a better down and distance. The whole nfl knows his primary is winslow who is being watched more than Suh for pushing off to get seperation from defenders. The play book has to include more than two options. what difference does it make anyhow this team is a big dumpster fire. Listen to the announcers calling the games they see things for what they are. just one question winslow never practices but see game action every week why not prepare another tight end to play in games they drafted a tight end this year use the lame
November 29th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Get a revolver leave the big boy toys for grownups Talib shouldn’t play with guns either!!!
November 29th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
Joe wrote: “the way Freeman has been throwing the ball the past two games, the best he has tossed the ball all season perhaps, that may be all the evidence one needs as to the healing process.”
WHAT!!!! Has Joe been drinking all day???
In the past two games Freeman has 3 TD completions and 3 INTERCEPTIONS!! Not to mention the two fumbles that Freeman had last game with one lost! Freemans’ QB rating of 70 against the Titans is anemic. Then again his 54% completion percentage is evidence that Freeman has finally lived up to his Bust-in-waiting moniker that Joe bestowed upon Freeman in 2009!
November 29th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
well freeman is no where near a bust look what he did last year that right there buys him more time, on top of that look who he has as weapons we have no deep threat and he has all young people at skill positions around him. like i said name me a team who has won with all first three year players, there probably isn’t one. but as for the gun thing give the guy a break JUST BECAUSE HE PLAYS FOOTBALL DOESNT MEAN HE CANT HAVE FUN, he has to be able to live his life, things happen and with the way the season is going he probably needed to let off a little steam and shake things up so he went to a legal gun range. NORMALLY people don’t get injured at the gun range he probably never handled a gun before and whoever was helping him out didn’t realize his hands were position incorrectly. Let the dude live his life everyone has a bad season look at eli manning last year and this year night and day. Ill ride with josh freeman for several more years i know he will turn it around
November 29th, 2011 at 8:58 pm
Patrick:
Before you write about whatever-coach-pops-into-your-head should come to the Bucs as a coordinator, ask yourself why they would do that for a one-year contract instead of perhaps taking a job elsewhere for three or more years?
November 29th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Joe’s response to Patrick is exactly why the Bucs need to give raheem the old pink slip NOW! If they keep coach Rah around who’s going to come to Tampa? Move your family for a 1-year stint THEN move again when the next head coach comes into town?
Let’s face it NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE, believes that Raheem Morris is the future face of the Bucs. Don’t prolong the agony. It’s like a band-aid, don’t pull it slowly just WHAM rip it off and get over it.
FIRE RAHEEM – IHCRC member
November 29th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
“Let’s face it NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE, believes that Raheem Morris is the future face of the Bucs”
Well, that’s not entirely accurate. Dominick and the Glazers both believe he is. I believe can be. And I think a lot of reasonable, non-reactionary, people believe he can be. Nobody could coach this team to the playoffs with the terrible players on the defense right now.
November 29th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
K2: you don’t believe that either, you just WANT to believe it.
Rah got his 3 years, he made the team and defense MUCH worse.
Move on now, and you have options, and a future. Stay with this disaster and you will have very few remaining fans.
November 29th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
Joe:
WHERE in my comment did I say it would only be for a one year stint? where?
November 29th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
@Patrick – Joe was just doing the math. Coach Ra only has 1 year left on his contract. Most coaches worth their salt in the NFL get contract extensions when the owners/management don’t want to send the message that they have no faith in their coach(s).
Or as Sherlock Holms would say, ‘It’s elementary my Dear Patrick”
November 30th, 2011 at 1:44 am
Patrick:
Rare is the time a coordinator or an assistant has a longer contract than the head coach. Raheem’s contract runs through 2012.
If an assistant or a coordinator has more job security than a head coach, management has essentially gelded the head coach.
November 30th, 2011 at 2:47 am
@Joe and Mr.Lucky
So……..should we just drop the “getting a new defensive coordinator” talk? Really we can’t……….because we need a new one!
Extend the contract one year I guess? just make sure it’s not much money. then if we fire Raheem mid season or after 2012 we don’t lose much.
I don’t know. It’s gonna be a tough decision on whether we should keep Raheem or not. I mean, I don’t think he’s done crap yet and has much to prove no question……. but he’s had little to no help by management and ownership.
I think attendance issues will play a role in the decision, because hundreds to maybe thousands of fans have said repeatedly: ” Raheem as HC=not buying tickets”. The Glazers can’t keep having blackouts and decreasing fan support.
Lots of questions surrounding this team. Just hope everything turns out for the better.
November 30th, 2011 at 3:06 am
Patrick:
Getting a defensive coordinator is not impossible, but “big name” guys simply will not come here on a one-year contract unless Raheem gets re-upped. The only people willing to uproot their families for one year are either desperate or college guys looking for a chance.
This is why Joe suggested Tom Bradley, one of the most respected defensive coordinators in college. He’s run a form of Cover-2 at Penn State for well over a decade and will almost certainly be out of a job shortly. Word is he’s already called Lovie Smith and Mike Tomlin, two of his friends, looking for work.
The guy’s a damned good coach, runs a defense similar to what Rah wants and will be available. Given how rotten the Bucs are at tackling and that few defenses are more fundamentally sound than Bradley’s, it’s possibly a good fit.
November 30th, 2011 at 3:27 am
Woah…….I’d be careful. Penn State? Don’t know if I want a coach that could’ve possibly been involved in the child molestation coverup. Not very smart. This guy has been on their staff since 1980. I’m sure he’s best friends with that sicko Sandusky. You never know, this guy could be questioned, investigated, or possibly be in trouble.
November 30th, 2011 at 3:32 am
Not implicated Patrick. Testified to the grand jury and was done.
That’s like saying Tony Dungy should never work again because — was it Chuck Forrester? — who basically got fired by the Bucs for tapping into so many 900 porn calls on his company phone.
Joe’s not exactly into hanging people who have never been charged with a crime.
November 30th, 2011 at 6:26 am
While I agree with you that most big-name DC’s wouldn’t want to come here for a year, there’s also another side to that. A guy like Del Rio could come here and take over the defense and improve it quickly (which isn’t that hard considering we are #31). If Raheem is let go after 1 year, he would have a very good chance of being hired for the head coaching job.
I actually think both of our coordinator jobs would be pretty sexy for a coordinator because: 1. There is a lot of young talent (high ceiling) 2. They haven’t lived up to that talent yet. While I still support Raheem as a head coach (even though I can’t really complain if he is fired, he’s had 3 years), I’m pretty much done supporting him as a DC. There’s no excuse for our defense being this piss poor, and it needs to get fixed. I give Olsen sh!t all the time for his playcalling, but our defense has been even worse.
November 30th, 2011 at 8:08 am
Wow, even the hardcore management supporters like Hawaiian are finally beginning to see the light!
Face it folks coach Rah is supposed to be the defensive mind and look at how bad the defense is playing. I really don’t want to hear, they’re just rookies crap because after 10 games they still haven’t shown the improvement they should have.
And GMC – why does he get injured so much? Is is due to ‘chance’ or maybe he’s not spending the time on conditioning that other coaches expect of their players?
Member of the IHCRC
December 1st, 2011 at 10:07 am
has anyone considered how the lockout has killed this young team?? without the benefit of the offseason i cant say im really surprised