Freeman Has Played Himself Out Of Elite Money
December 13th, 2012
Count on Josh Freeman being a Buccaneer for many more years, says former Bucs quarterback Shaun King, who now works as an NFL analyst on NBC Sports Network.
One of only three Bucs quarterbacks to lead the team to the NFC Championship, King said on WDAE-AM today that Freeman will score a huge contract extension but played himself out of elite quarterback money with his inconsistency this season.
“He’s placed himself into a more Matt Schaub, Matt Cassel type of a deal,” King said.
Per BSPN, Schaub signed a four-year contract extension a few months ago with $62 million over four years with $24.7 million guaranteed. In 2009, Cassel robbed the Chiefs for $40.5 millon over the first three years off his deal. Cassel has no more guaranteed money remaining and is expected to be released in 2013.
Joe has no clue how the Bucs will approach Freeman. Rather than extend his contract this offseason, the Bucs could very easily let Freeman play out his final year in 2013, and then either sign him then to a long term deal, or slap him with the franchise tag for the 2014 season.
What Joe is sure of is that Freeman will have a brutally miserable and high-pressure offseason if the Bucs can’t muster one win over these last three games.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:29 am
For once, I agree with king. which may not be a bad thing for the bucs, if he signs for less and does(hopefully) progress in the right direction.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:37 am
I’d be surprised if they dont let Freeman play out his final year before making a decision. Next year, he will have been in same system for 2 full years, surrounded by top-notch talent, and there will be ZERO excuses if he is still showing the same inconsistancies. If he has outstanding year, “franchise” him and see if he can do it again(2014), if he does…time to pay.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
King lead the Bucs to the NFC championship game? Actually, the Bucs reached the championship in spike of King. If they had an average qb, they would have gone to the Superbowl that year!
December 13th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Freeman will probably get 4-6 years at somewhere between $10-$13 million per. Just the way it is. They will never let him walk away…period.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Why do you always mention “one of only three Bucs quarterbacks to lead the team to the NFC Championship” when any self respecting Bucs fans knows that is complete garbage.
He got carried to the NFC Championship game and due to his lack of talent held us back from the SuperBowl that year.
If we’d had even a below average QB starting we’d have beat the Rams but no we had King.
It says everything that he was replaced after a single full season as starter, how many other Championship game leading QBs does that happen to? (Don’t say Dilfer either because he was carried too)
December 13th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
King didn’t lead the Bucs to an NFC championship. He followed them. Big difference.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
“Freeman Has Played Himself Out Of Elite Money” … which is actually music to the Glazer’s ears.
I don’t see Josh signing a conract this year… he will want a better yea next.
Of course, his agent will be boasting about his stats… so, it will be interesting.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Bucanay is dead on.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Tough call with all these cheap rookie QB’s excelling.Freeman gets what 8.5 million per meaning he has been overpaid.He was drafted pre new CBA so he should take the discount.10million per for 4 year’s sound’s right to me.He’s not as good as Schuab.What about trading him to his home town of KC maybe they would give up the Farm for him.In the past we might have got multible 1st round pick’s but now those top 5 pick’s are like gold.Trade the 1st overall pick to a team for their entire draft.Sign Vick and draft a QB.If Freeman has a great year he’ll want big cash.Nobody pay’s QB big money for one great year.Well no team that want’s to win.A great year next year coupled with a great 2010 and a good 2012 will get him a lot of money.If he stink’s the place out next year then we get nothing and he walk’s.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
” Martin Gramatica aka Kazoo is one of only two Bucs to kick in an NFC Championship Game”and the ONLY on to score points as a kicker as well!
December 13th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Freeman never played himself into elite money to begin with.
December 13th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Have a Nice Day
I was thinking the same thing. Can’t lose something you never had to begin with.
December 13th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Any truth to the rumor King was paid in Big Macs instead of $$ while he was “leading” the Bucs awful offense?
December 13th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Have a Nice Day and Oar, I agree with both of you. Josh is not an elite quarter back at all. I predict them finishing 6-10.
December 13th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
Freeman is a good-to-middle of the road NFL QB now. Come on guys. He just isn’t elite. He has all the physical tools that Garcia, Simms, Gradkowski, King never had. He even has skills Brad Johnson never had.
So, the only way to replace him is to get someone who IS elite. The only way to do this is sign a Peyton Manning type for what the Broncos did… and there aren’t any of those guys available. The other avenue would be to trade for an elite QB… no trade partners. The last way would be to draft a QB that has the potential to be elite. The only way to do that is burn a 1st round pick on a guy like that… or take a chance on a 2nd round pick guy that has all the tools… which in my opinion was Josh Freman. Josh to me was a 2nd round type QB.
December 13th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Oh, goody. Bucs get off cheap for a QB who will never take us anywhere. Thanks a lot to Reemy and his great eye for mediocre, inconsistent talent – who INSISTED that the Bucs MUST take his but-buddy from K State. Knock on Josh before even coming out was lack of accuracy. All the best analysts say that accuracy can NOT be taught. You either have it, or you don’t. Josh never did… and never will. All he will do is tease you with a few really nice plays – and then a stretch where he can’t hit the broad side of a barn. I don’t care how cheap he can be had for – 10 M / yr is too much for a QB who will never be consistent enough to take this team anywhere. Do NOT throw good money after bad – let him follow his buddy Reamer to Washington.
December 13th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
QB’s are judged in large part by how they do in the playoffs. Can’t call a guy who has never made it there “elite”.
Can the man win a playoff game? Or lead his team to a playoff victory is a better way of saying it.
Or can our GM field a playoff team.
If not next year, they both need to go.
December 13th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Let him play out his contract and earn a new payday. Gettinganother qb is just holding back the growth of our team unless we get that Peyton Manning or the next solid 1rst round prospect. Which would eventually lead us to cap issues thus thinning ojt the weapons shed.
December 13th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
I’m up and down wiith Freeman but if you watch a lot of NFL.You’ll see Romo,Brees,Ryan throwing pick’s and Ponder,Kolb,Vick fumbling the ball away.We all expect him to be elite because of his 2010 season as a 22yo.Really thou he’s somewhere between 10-15 best qb’s in the league.There is only 5-6 elite QB’s in the league,they all have ring’s to prove it.Newton has great stat’s while losing.RG3,Foles,Luck and Wilson look good.But until they have playoff win’s and a ring they are not elite.RG3 might miss ton’s of games over the next few year’s.I remember a similar can’t miss talent who is still seeking a ring.Luck could gunnsling some costly playoff pic’s.The Buc’s are a work in progress if the OC called a more aggresive final drive.They win and nobody is talking about Freeman.DO NOT TURN THE BALL OVER TO OUR DEFENCE at all cost’s.I don’t care if we throw 3 in a row and only kill 12 second’s.NEVER
December 13th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Great WR… Check….Great RB… Check….Great OL… Check… Great QB..Not!!!!
December 13th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Great OL… Check…
Easy nybuc! I wouldn’t go that far!
December 13th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
@jim
They would have gotten to the SB that year and probably would have won it if it wasn’t for the blown call on Bert Emanuel.
December 13th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
@joe. Can you honestly say you don’t post negative stuff to get a response from bloggers? You constantly call Mark Dominik Rock Star.. You constantly not only print King’s negative crap but you always preface with him being only 1 of 3 Buc qB’s to lead our team to an NFC championship game knowing damn well bloggers are going to jump through their screens to denounce him and you. Come on Joe.. Your better than that. Your references are as tiring as Bermans . Even your Rachel Watson fantasies.,
December 13th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
I’m not buying this at all. If Free comes out next year from the beginning and plays 4 quarters of consistant football all year long. He can still very well get elite money. We all know he has the talent to be elite. All he needs is to show it on the field. And if he does that I dont think the Glazers and Dom would waste anytime extending him with big time money. Especially not after the history we’ve had with QBs. If anyone knows how hard it is to find a franchise QB its the Bucs.
December 13th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
@Brad – First, know that roughly 99.5 percent of Joe’s readers never comment, a large majority don’t read comments, and most readers here only come once a week or so. So understand Joe really doesn’t write for reaction, as Joe knows a microscopic number of readers care that much to “jump through the screen” as you call it.
You wrote, ” @joe. Can you honestly say you don’t post negative stuff to get a response from bloggers?”
Absolutely, Brad.
First, Calling Dominik a “rockstar” is a nickname and surely not negative at all. Second, Joe has written positive “crap,” as you call it, from King. Just in this post alone, King says that Freeman will get a big contract, and in the interview King was fine with that and believed it appropriate.
You really take this Bucs stuff far too seriously. Joe can relate, of course, but please don’t think you know how Joe operates. Joe simply writes about what he finds interesting as it relates to the Bucs. As Joe’s written before, Shaun King is interesting and credible.
December 13th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Shaun was a 22 year old rookie from Tulane in 99, went 4-1, had a playoff win. 82 QB rating, good completion %.
Not a hall of famer, or even much above average, but deserving of respect. Job pretty damn well done if you ask me.
After all you guys give Free quite a lot of slack due to youth and inexperience.
Double standard?
December 13th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Amen truth, unless if course he plays up to his potential for the entire season next year than its hello big money.
December 13th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Who would you rather have RIGHT NOW? Luck, RG3, Wilson, or Freeman?
Hard to make a great case for Free in that pool and it is his 4th year. AND he has more talent around him than all 3 of those guys.
Rookies are showing they can excel in this league. Free def has potential, but how long is his leash? First round pick, 4 years, losing record, no playoffs.
Agree that everyone knew about his accuracy issues, and that clearly has not been fixed. His completion % sucks.
December 13th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Danny
Buc’s NFC championship game refresher here:
No way would we have won with King (AND we didn’t!).
King was 13 of 29 for 169 yds, 0 tds, and 2 ints.
King got sacked for a 13yd loss to start that final possesion. Besides there being only :47 seconds left in the game, we would still have been on the Rams 20(if the catch was reversed). Remember the next two passes were incompletes to end the game. With that said, what makes you think King would have gotten us a TD, had Berts catch been reversed? That’s what we needed to win not another FG. We lost 6-11.
He couldn’t and didn’t get enough offense to get it done for us to win, period!
December 13th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Does anyone remember how long it took Alex Smith to come into his groove?
(too bad for him now because of Kaepernick)
December 13th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
The thing that everyone is skipping over, is that Josh Freeman is a coach killer. He will never have a lifetime W-L over .500, add that to the Little General’s record and you have a recipe for mediocrity. The entire coaching staff is relying on him to preserve their cushy gigs. After next year, he loses all value. They won’t be able to re-sign him, they would be crazy to.
If they trade him in the off season, they will be able to get some real value and preserve their jobs for at least a couple more seasons. Drafting
Geno or Matt Barkley gives them all a built in excuses. Youngest team and rookie QB.
Merchandising will get a big boost selling Geno or Matt jersies. Anyone planning on buying a #5 jersey?
December 13th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Why does the Amen Chorus react so violently every Thursday or Friday to the Shaun King article? He appears weekly on the Ron & Ian Show in Tampa.
Even I know that and I’m 5,000 kilometers away.
December 13th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
@ Joe
I have to say your right. when I first started coming to this website I would never post comments for the longest time, then I tried it and now Im hooked, at the expense of all you have to read it. and as for the Rock Star nickname you call our gm, at first I honestly thought you were being sarcastic. now I see you truly believe he is a Rock Star.
December 13th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Miguel my friend. You crack me up with your insistance of us drafting a QB this year. I agree right now Free is not the answer but drafting another bust USC QB is the right move? I would much rather give Free another year to see if he can correct his flaws. But theres no way the Bucs dump Free… get use to it Free wil be here for at least another 19 games.
December 13th, 2012 at 7:29 pm
The only way the scenario for drafting a QB and setting this team back another 5 years would occur is if Free doesnt have a consistent year next year and every other option for winning now is excercised. Your out of your mind if think they won’t have him play out his contract and traded him.
December 13th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Is exhausted rather.
December 13th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
Enough of the talk of drafting a QB in 2013, it’s garbage Miguel. It’s not happening. It’s not even a strong QB class, and you want to dump a top 15 QB in Josh Freeman (and he’s top 15, even though he crapped the bed against Philly early) to take a chance on a player who projects to be a lesser Mark Sanchez in Matt Barkley? Even Geno Smith isn’t worth the risk.
Let’s see how the Bucs finish this season first and foremost. After this season, let’s see what they do in free agency and the draft, and after the draft, let’s see what season two of the Schiano Show holds for the team. If Freeman can’t get it done next season, we can talk, but for now, I’m begging you to give it a rest Miguel.
December 14th, 2012 at 9:03 am
Well Joe bucs fans, it is begining to feel more & more like our normal home here on joebucsfan. The positive groove is going away and the negative Nancy groove is coming back. I am seeing a few though not all of the same old critcal “fans” now that were below .500. No great worry for sure. But it sure was nice to not listen to all that stuff.
December 14th, 2012 at 11:31 am
Freeman remaining Buc’s Qb = Bucs IRRELEVANT for the foreseeable future…
December 14th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Hmm we’ll with negative play comes critical reviews.
World can’t be Care Bears , cotton candy, and rainbows year round Rhino. I for one am happy we have fans that have come to expect more out of this team rather be spoon fed the BS of mediocrity that had plagued this team since the beginning of its time.
“We’ll we were suppose to only win 6 games this year, it’s ok”
Lol. No dear friends. It’s not.
December 14th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
PEOPLE!!! It is a new system, third system in 3yrs.. Give him time!!! yes i get frustrated with him being off or playing scared recently. but he is growing yearly. Last year no minicamp and sorry players who gave up , it was no win situation. We get lucky cause we don’t have to pay big bucs but he will cost money, who cares we never spend money usually. bottom line .. WHO ELSE YOU GONNA GET THATS BETTER!!! if Freeman goes down this weekend everyone will see how much better we are with him in there. the kid wants to learn and get better, work habbit is there.( unlike dilfer and king dirty rat and fat cat)
December 14th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Freeman is currently one of the most overpaid people on the planet. I don’t trust him in a playoff situation, so hard to justify an increase on his current salary.
December 15th, 2012 at 10:27 am
Lol yes lets let him have a fresh start everytime a new coach comes in even though its the same basic skill every year he’s not improving.
Times is ticking FreeFree