“So You Just Sucked”
November 22nd, 2012
Atlanta beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter was disrespectful to Josh Freeman yesterday
Joe is saddened when his colleagues are unprofessional, and Joe is confident this was the case yesterday when Atlanta Journal Constitution Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter interacted with Josh Freeman during a conference call with the Atlanta media.
Ledbetter presses Freeman on his performance last season versus this season as it might relate to an injury suffered at a gun range. Freeman had already spent minutes detailing the difference in his performance this season versus last, but Ledbetter wanted more and to talk about injuries.
Freeman didn’t bite and Ledbetter then delivers a rude, juvenile muttering that was picked up by the microphone as another reporter spoke to Freeman.
It seems clear Ledbetter said, “so you just sucked,” in reference to why Freeman had a bad 2011 season.
Here’s the link to the audio from the Falcons website. Feel free to listen yourself. It picks up at 7:35 of the audio. A transcript is below:
D. Orlando Ledbetter: I forgot where I read this over the summer. But I guess there was an injury at the shootin’ range last year that affected your throwing hand or arm. Is that accurate? Or could you clear that up for us?
Josh Freeman: Yeah, you know, it’s kind of not really relevant pertaining to this game. And we don’t really talk about injuries here in the Buccaneers organization.
Ledbetter: Did it affect your play last year? I mean, it’s a spike in your play this year. I’m just trying to figure out why you’re playing so well this year and last year maybe explain why you didn’t.
Freeman: I don’t really understand the question.
Ledbetter: I’m trying to be nice about it. Last year you weren’t playing that well; and this year you’re doing pretty good. Usually there’s an injury underneath that.
Freeman: No. And like I said, we don’t really discuss injuries with the Buccaneers organization.
Unnamed reporter: How bout Mike Nolan, you talked about being in a first year system … Ledbetter in background: So you just sucked [inaudible]
Again, Joe will classify this as juvenile and unprofessional at best.
Perhaps this merely revealed Ledbetter’s sense of humor more than a dislike of Freeman or his answer. But either way it’s inappropriate.
Joe sincerely hopes Ledbetter mans up and issues a public apology.
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:19 am
The funny thing is….that clown would never have the guts to act like that to Freeman’s face
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:23 am
Not really surprised. If you’ve ever been to Atlanta, this is pretty much how 90% of its population acts.
FYI – I live in Atlanta. Its a hell hole of humanity.
Ledbetter just represents that.
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:23 am
What a jerk off
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:27 am
I agree Joe, he completely disregarded being a professional. As a journalist he should be ashamed. I might write him a letter, hah
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:27 am
Everyone keeps saying how Ryan is going to light up our secondary. Well, Freeman is going to light up Atlanta’s sorry azz D, too. Who on their D is gonna stop VJ, Mike Williams, Dallas Clark, Martin, etc.?
No one.
And this toolbag just poked at the bees nest.
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:28 am
At least ATL’s beat writers bash the opposing teams instead of their own.
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:30 am
quality rim shot right there …
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:30 am
Freeman is well coach on the field and with the media.
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:31 am
Agreed. Freeman was impressive in the audio. Bucs staff should be proud.
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:36 am
This is where our media needs to step up and protect their own. This article is certainly a good start but I do hope others call this moron out. Of course knowing how our media barely picks our team for victories I’m guessing most will coward and not do anything.
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:37 am
Josh: Winning beats words. He must have had an injury between his ears to come up with that interview.
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:46 am
I agree Bob. I prefer to see Josh & Company take it out on the Falcons, on the field Sunday. Show them the true meaning of Suck, as in you just had the life sucked out of you for 60 minutes.
Besides, the people to handle this are the Falcon’s brass. Arthur Blank is a classy owner and I doubt he’ll have much tolerance when he finds out.
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:49 am
Ledbetter is just a Jealous little man
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:50 am
I doubt it. Blank is too busy trying to dupe the people of Atlanta into putting up $300 million towards a new stadium that will almost double the value of his franchise and do nothing for the city except create job 10 days out of the year.
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:51 am
What’s the matter trying to screw up free. Please you will have to do a better job then that moron. i am guessing that he did that becuase he know we are going to man handle them birds come sunday…GO BUCS!!!!!!!
November 22nd, 2012 at 11:56 am
Dude sounds like a jerk
November 22nd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
The guy sounds like a prick. Man Hope we smash the D Birds this weekend. Free needs to use that slap in the face as fuel.
November 22nd, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Wow, what a tool.
November 22nd, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Ledbetter also sounds extremely drunk and/or high while berating Josh with those inane questions repeatedly. Kudos to Josh on taking the high road, another reason to despise the Falcon organization, I outlined several reasons in a call to 98.7 earlier this week, regardless, lets put it on them this sunday. GO BUCS!!
November 22nd, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Really don’t want to be negative today. Just want to preface this by saying I will be at the game Sunday. Something the players can do to show their “thanks” to the fans on thanksgiving is to buy up the remaining tix for the Atlanta game. They can give them put to charities and it would be a huge PR move. The shame of not selling the required tix by 1 o’clock is we always have a good day of game walk up that would get 85% sold. Just a thought.
November 22nd, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Wow…why is this maggot trying to act like a professional journalist? He’s as inept as as he is ignorant.
Would love to have this POS ‘up’ on the podium at the press conference while I grill his sorry, classless ass on his lack of knowledge and preparedness.
You should be called ‘Led-Header’!
You are an effen disgrace!
and LedBetter, YOU SUCK FAR MORE THAN you lack of content and lack of logic!
And….Way to handle it, Josh! A shame you have to put up with turds like this!
November 22nd, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Could someone tell me why Ledbetter is dressed like Farrakhan?
November 22nd, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Sure hope this gets posted up in the Bucs locker room.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
November 22nd, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Classless
November 22nd, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Thanks Ledbetter for giving Josh more fuel to scorch the Pigeons. Stay classy Freeman.
November 22nd, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Ledbetter must be Shaun King’s Uncle; his creepy, senial, muttering uncle.
November 22nd, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Tried to not be negative, but the “D” in Ledbetters name stands for douche bag. Anyway here is a link to his email address. I just sent him a letter.
http://www.ajc.com/mailfriend/300/1816/164362847f/
November 22nd, 2012 at 1:25 pm
I beg your pardon ledbelly do we have to lock your drunk ass up again you banjo playing fool. I think you should be grilling matty icemelt about why he seems to melt on january when things become a little more difficult to guage and the competition levels out.
November 22nd, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Watching the game, drinking a Bud.
Suh is one dirty POS MF’r. He just kicked Matt Schaub in the balls on flop rush. Suspend him for the season. How much more of this guy do we have to take. Suh sucks and I’m glad he isn’t a Buc.
November 22nd, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Looks like Louis Farrakhan’s little brother.
November 22nd, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Farrakhan, LOL!
Zinggggg!
Good one Adam.
November 22nd, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Wow, what a jerk. Neither of these guys asked very good questions & a few times didn’t even ask a question. Freeman showed class & maintained professional integrity.
November 22nd, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Use it as motivation ! Go bucs
November 22nd, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Typical for Atlanta.. I lived there for a year….. Horrid filthy place. If you ever want to test the limits of your sanity, get stuck at Hartsfield and see the attitudes of the locals that work there. The rest of the city is just like that.
November 22nd, 2012 at 3:28 pm
farrakhan?? he looks like Huggy Bears drunk uncle!!! way to be coll Josh. happy t-day!! BUC IT IM OUT!!!!!
November 22nd, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Shawn King…I mean Bedwetter just did Bucs fans a favor. Josh is going to tear the Falcons a new hole for that one.
November 22nd, 2012 at 5:24 pm
WOW- I lived in Clw. for 25 years and the last 7 in North ATL. The fans and media here are Braves and collage football only. Falcons fans only come out when they are winning. But as far as living in Atl. I make double the pay for the same job I had in Tampa for 18 years. Median age is mid 40s. schools in florida are a joke. Gas and insurance is cheaper. Property values….. I could go on forever… But Guess what I set back and watch every Bucs football game live on direct TV. I’m not hating . I love my Bucs and Rays. But I can’t stand people that blow bs out that don’t have a clue!!! Snook, Pruritis Ani. The Media sucks but they do support their teams! Sorry But I feel better now. GO BUCS
November 22nd, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Freeman should’ve kicked his ass
November 22nd, 2012 at 7:13 pm
Dude talk’s and sounds like an idiot. Go Bucs. Tear em up FREEBABY
November 22nd, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Not only email him. I would write the newspaper. He will just delete the emails. They probably do not care one way or the other either, but I am sure it would go further letting them know more than just feeding him.
November 22nd, 2012 at 8:23 pm
A reporter did this? Wow, must be why this is the only place I have read about this. Could you imagine if some other person said this? Look at his picture its a good thing he is, um, a Good dresser, because I dont think a Bad dresser could say that without it being a bigger story.
November 22nd, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Because calling Josh Freeman “bust in waiting” is so professional…
November 22nd, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Doesn’t suprise me, consider the source! Light ’em up Josh, the best revenge is scoreboard!
November 22nd, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Joe here,
@Jim – Actually Jim, when Joe referred to Josh Freeman as “bust-in-waiting,” Joe was not muttering in the background of a teleconference like Ledbetter, Joe was expressing opinion openly on an opinion-driven website — on these here pages. Those are two very different animals. Joe doesn’t pretend to be an objective, no-opinion-offered writer. Much like a columnist, Joe delivers opinion daily. At the time, it was Joe’s take that Freeman was an ill-advised draft pick and was a “bust-in-waiting.” Joe dropped the moniker long before Freeman ever took the practice field. You may find all that to be unprofessional, but it surely fell within acceptable standards of practice for an opinion writer. What Ledbetter did has no defense.
November 22nd, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Email address of dr douche.
Dledbetter@ajc.com
Feel free to write.
November 22nd, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Talk all you want! The birds are going down on sunday.
November 23rd, 2012 at 8:41 am
He actually DOES look like Shawn King in a white suit……coincidence??? I don’t think so…..
November 23rd, 2012 at 9:34 am
How about Free and the Boys spank the dirty turds butt and then say .. that one was for breadbutter . POS !! Muscle will go big on Sunday .
November 23rd, 2012 at 1:09 pm
I’m going to put his email in to every single porn site I can find. Gay ones too.
November 23rd, 2012 at 1:21 pm
” At least ATL’s beat writers bash the opposing teams instead of their own.” Gotta agree with this. Have a nice day.
I also live in the Atlanta area, on the same road as the “bird nest” , I have lived in St. Pete, Ft. Myers, Naples, in Florida I also have lived in Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii, I just moved to Atlanta area from Tucson, Arizona . I happen to like every place I am living, I’ve met some good & bad people in everyone. Just glad to be topside. Go! Bucs!
November 23rd, 2012 at 9:26 pm
As disgusting as the writer is, some here do have a point about our local “sports media”, being our worst ‘enemy’ as far as supporting our team and portraying it in a positive light. I’ve mentioned for the last few year, I think they are partly responsible for such an apathetic fanbase. As pathetic as Ledbetter is, at least, he wasnt attacking his own team, like “our” guys do.
November 24th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Falcons fan here. Y’all may hate DLed, but not nearly as much as most Falcons fans. I can only hope this is the straw that breaks the camel’s back and gets that idiot fired.
November 25th, 2012 at 11:45 am
WE HATE HIM TOO! Its just good that other fans actually see the incompetence that we’ve had to deal with for years. Please email this goof so we can get him out of here.