Gil Brandt Gives Freeman A Horrendous Ranking
January 25th, 2013
The legendary player personnel man of the old Cowboys teams (1960 to 1988), Gil Brandt, still grinds away as a draft guru and player analyst for NFL.com, and he hosts an excellent show on SiriusXM NFL Radio. The man was on the cutting edge of scouting for years.
So it was very troubling yesterday when Brandt pumped out a written ranking and analysis of NFL quarterbacks under 30 years old. (Jay Cutler was not included because he turns 30 before the 2013 season).
Brandt stuck Josh Freeman at the bottom of his “C” level tier at No. 14, and if you consider all the NFL starters 30 years old or older, it’s clear that Brandt believes Freeman’s inconsistency and 24-32 career record as a Bucs starter can not be brushed off. Freeman even checks in below Alex Smith and Ryan Tannehill. The horror!
11) Alex Smith, 28, San Francisco 49ers
Smith was playing well in 2012 before a concussion sent him to the sideline, clearing the way for Kaepernick to take over. The comparatively older Smith is better than advertised as a player, but there are still question marks about him. Would he have been able to bring the Niners back from a 17-0 deficit in Atlanta last Sunday? Like I alluded to above, it’s highly questionable.
12) Ryan Tannehill, 24, Miami Dolphins
Tannehill has the size, arm strength and athletic ability to eventually jump into Group B. It will help if the Dolphins can surround him with a more talented cast. He’ll also benefit — more than any other player in Group C — from having a year of experience under his belt.
13) Andy Dalton, 25, Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton is a very solid, hard-working player who most likely won’t win much on his own. He did take Cincinnati to the playoffs his first two seasons in the league, but he seems to need the help of an outstanding supporting cast to get anywhere.
14) Josh Freeman, 25, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After a great 2010 and an awful 2011, Freeman was inconsistent in 2012. He did lose weight last offseason, and it seemed to give him a boost in the early going … before he fell back late. He possesses everything needed to do the job; why does he run so hot and cold?
Here’s the full list:
Aaron Rodgers
Matt Ryan
Joe Flacco
Colin Kaepernick
Russell Wilson
Cam Newton
Robert Griffin III
Matthew Stafford
Sam Bradford
Alex Smith
Ryan Tannehill
Andy Dalton
Josh Freeman
Jake Locker
Christian Ponder
Blaine Gabbert
Brandon Weeden
Matt Flynn
Joe doesn’t agree with the list. Joe would have a seizure if the Bucs traded Freeman for Alex Smith or Ryan Tannehill.
However, Brandt’s evaluation does make Joe wonder what other NFL personnel types think of Freeman and how that might factor into any future Freeman-Bucs contract talks. Regardless, Freeman truly is in a make-or-break year. He’s run out of excuses.
January 25th, 2013 at 11:34 am
I do find it funny that Brandt had Luck 4th and Freeman 14th. Freeman’s stats are arguably better than Luck’s. Luck was inconsistent too.
Just seems odd to put Luck so high and Freeman so low when they had similar play at their position.
Then again, rookies are all the rage every year. Still funny though.
January 25th, 2013 at 11:35 am
Why isn’t Andrew Luck on the list? Is he already 25??
January 25th, 2013 at 11:41 am
Joe I agree with you that he should be ahead of Alex Smith but the rest of those guys all have learned from their mistakes as their young careers have gone on. Look at the film of Freeman in the first starts of his career and look at this past season. He still has major accuracy issues, still cant hit receivers on quick timing routes that you need to make in today’s NFL and most frustrating of all, he gets locked into one receiver.
It makes me sad to say this, but he’s not going to change. It’s always going to be inconsistency with Freeman. If were okay with average QB play then the Bucs have their man
January 25th, 2013 at 11:50 am
Not only is Gil….”The Godfather”….but he’s also my surrogate Grandpa. He loves Freeman and wants to put him higher but can’t due to #5’s erratic play
January 25th, 2013 at 11:56 am
I think the rest of the NFL has already made up their mind on Freeman. Its only the Bucs and some fans that continue to find excuses for his poor decision making and inability to progress the way franchise quarterbacks do.
January 25th, 2013 at 11:56 am
Worse and worser trade……Sam Bradford. Think on it.
January 25th, 2013 at 11:58 am
@have a nice day… luck over freeman???? Of course, not one football person in the world would take freeman over luck. Luck took a worse team to the playoffs! Luck will be a pro bowl player every year. Do you know anything about football?? Freeman has 4 yrs experience and is still wildly inconsistant, makes rookie mistakes and has one of the worst completion % in the nfl. I hope freeman can turn it around. He has one more year to prove he can be the guy or the bucs have to turn the page. Not many qbs will have 3 pro bowl olineman, vjax, mike will, and dmart. Thats alot of weapons!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 25th, 2013 at 12:02 pm
We’ll find out this year if the carousel of OCs have anything to do with his inconsistent play. Another dud and its time to draft a 1st round QB.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
Gil Brandt also says we should take D.J. Fluker in the 1st round. Think about it!
January 25th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Where is Mark Sanchez? Freeman probably deserves this ranking. We need to let him run more.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Im in favor of getting another qb for the future of the bucs but we all know thats not going to happen…This offseason the bucs will get some career backup qb or draft someone mid to late round who doesnt have a chance of becoming the starter. Then after next season when Freeman is the same erratic player hes always been, Dominik will only look at the few bright spots and resign him long term because we dont have anything better. It pisses me off as a die hard bucs fan but thats what I see happening.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:21 pm
I cant disagree with this at all. Freeman is one of the most inconsistant players in the history of the NFL. I’ve never seen any player come out every single game and stink it up the entire first half of every game for his entire career so far. He is god awful the first half of games. Anyone who tries to say he is better than Luck is just crazy and a blind homer. You cant win in a league designed to score points with a QB that only plays half a game. PROVE ME WRONG FREE!! I Dare you.
Would love for him to prove me wrong but doubt it will happen.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
“But Josh is only 25, we can’t give up on him, he’s going to get better”
It says it all when half the league has better QBs who are around his age or younger, age isn’t the issue, he just isn’t very good.
It does make me laugh though when people rank guys like Kaepernick or the rookies so highly after a handful of starts.
“Nobody can stop the extra threat Kaepernick brings to the Niner offense”
“RG3 is in among the elite QBs of the league”
“blah, blah, blah”
Lets see how good they are after teams have an entire offseason to break them down and pick apart their games, in the case of RG3 lets see what he comes back like after yet another leg/knee injury.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Fix his short to mid throw accuracy issues and Freeman is a top 12 QB. This list is a joke, he has 5 rookies and 1 guy who has started a total of 2 games in his career. Like another poster said, give the league an off season and the defenses will be stopping the read/option before they can even make the read.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
the worst of this is that Dominick needs Freeman to succeed. Dominick ( trying to keep his job) will resign Freeman. If Freeman is a failure, then dominick is gone with too many strike outs in the drafts. ( some say he has already too many strike outs! ) The Pop-star will hand Freeman an average contract after an average year, and will set the bucs back a total of 8 years since Freeman’s draft.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Andrew Luck’s ceiling is the more mobile version of Peyton Manning. Josh can be good, but his ceiling is a non-raping version of Ben Roethlesberger.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
@ buc realist
I agree with everything you said about Dominik having to resign him to save his own job but it wont be for average contract. A young starting qb will get big money whether he’s worth it or not. Especially when its Dominik making the negotiations. Look at Eric Wright, average corner that he gave big money to just to make a statement. Unfortunately it’ll be the same thing with Freeman…I hope im wrong
January 25th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
@terraj
i am considering 12-15 million a year an average QB contract ( 2 years guaranteed with option to get out after the 4th year) is my prediction
January 25th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Id trade Josh for any of those in the top eight, but keep him vs. the rest.
Which, for the franchise QB, aint good.
January 25th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
You are what you are…Wonder why… they don’t get him some specialized help from a QB guru ?
January 25th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
@Eric
That sounds about right.
January 25th, 2013 at 1:09 pm
Yea i saw this last night..its alil low but not CRAZY LOW
January 25th, 2013 at 1:09 pm
One thing in support of Josh, they were about ready to run Flacco outa Baltimore, till he had those outstanding playoff games. Now they got to bring out the brinks truck to keep him.
Feeds into Joe’s idea of signing him now while his demands cant be too high.
January 25th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Our QB is just not that good on a consistent basis.
I laugh at some of the posts above, specifically the one stating Andrew Luck is about the same as Freeman…. They are similar ONLY in the STATISTICS.
Fact of the matter, Luck took over one of the worst teams from the year before (worse than the Bucs), and took them to the playoffs. The man has the leadership pressence that Freeman sorely lacks.
Freeman is quick to point out “miscommunications” and not take complete sole accountability for this offense.
Fact: Andrew Luck’s head coach was missing a good portion of the season, and the rookie still put the team on his back and took them to the promise land.
What has Freeman done? Freeman gets too much credit for being a “4th quarter hero”, and I believe he is more of a “First 3 Quarter- Zero”….
January 25th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Any list of this nature that doesn’t have Blaine Gabbert at the very bottom of the list shall not be taken seriously. Gabbert is better than Matt Flynn? Who really thinks that.
January 25th, 2013 at 1:40 pm
I would prefer Tannehill and his wife over Gosh and Rachel Watson any day.
Gil Brandt is correct again and I do like his selection of an offensive tackle in the 1st round. One of these tackles could start for the next 14 years raising the level of play for QB’s, RB’s, receivers and the defense. I was all over making a move to grab Kalil last year who helped an average Vikings team make the playoffs while Barron at the safety position was relatively insignificant.
Imagine if they had selected Kalil last year and one of these studs this year combined with Nicks, Joseph and Zuttah. Martin would be on track for 2,000 yards.
January 25th, 2013 at 1:55 pm
@mike You are saying this is not a team sport. I know football enough to realize that there are 11 players on the field for one team at any given time.
January 25th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
@stevek again, it is a team sport. Giving credit for a season based solely on a QBs play is illegitimate. Like saying Tebow led the Broncos to the playoffs or the Burger King led the Bucs to the playoffs.
It is a team sport.
January 25th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
I think Have a Nice Day is actually just Josh Freeman on his computer standing up for himself lol
January 25th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
I’ll take D.J. Fluker….anyday (who can play guard too). Don’t EVER EVER expect Carl Nicks toe to be the same again. 350lb men retire from turf toe
January 25th, 2013 at 2:23 pm
I’m not standing up for Freeman. I pointed out similarities in Luck to Freeman at their positions, and the only things I got in return were retorts of how the entire team did. Statistically both QBs were similar in their parts. As far as win loss goes, the Colts did better than the Bucs clearly. I wasn’t arguing that though.
Giving credit for a season to one piece of the whole is disingenuous. Would you say it is Drew Brees’ fault the Saints went 7-9 in 2007 and 2012? Of course not, because it is a team sport and the QB is not the sole factor in wins/losses.
January 25th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
The Saints didnt have a coach. Slightly different situation…I see your point though. I think what these people arguing your point would say is that the qb has the biggest impact of any player on the field therefore they typical bare a lot of the responsibility for the win/loss record as well as the coach does….there were glaring needs for the bucs on defense this year but it seemed like in crucial situations this season Freeman would fall flat on his face while Andrew Luck was clutch at the right moments in big games.
January 25th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
I’d take Alex Smith over Freeman any day. Smith was #1 in completion percentage and #3 in passer rating. It’s Freeman’s lack of consistancy that’s killing us and SF doesn’t have the receiving core that the Bucs do.
January 25th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Its nice to see an expert finally admit what the rest of us have been saying for awhile, Josh is not an elite quarterback, not a franchise quarterback, or is he a guy that can be relied on for the long haul, move on people. This is just more prove, wish someone in the buc organization would realize that they have not evaluated him correctly, and its time to admit this was another mistake by this organization, time to look at flacco.
January 25th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
All I was saying is that the stats show the two QBs to be similarly inconsistent. Having Luck at 4th, and Freeman at 14th seems odd given the similar play.
January 25th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Luck has the “it” factor. Stats dont show when a QB makes a key pass or run to change momentum. Nor do they measure leadership abilities.
Id definately take him over Free.
January 25th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Stats are for losers. Winning is all that matters and Andrew Luck is a winner. Freeman isnt. Spin it all you want but that is the facts as of right now. Hopefully Freeman can be a winner next season.
January 25th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
I believe at this point the only thing keeping JF as the starter is that Dominik is not ready yet to admit that good ole JF was a colossal mistake…
The Upside as I see it is if Dominik keeps bringing in better players at least the team will be better built when they finally do go get a better QB!
January 25th, 2013 at 2:59 pm
@Have a nice day…Agreed…
@Bobby, is that really what you read? Becasue this is what it said…
“14) Josh Freeman, 25, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After a great 2010 and an awful 2011, Freeman was inconsistent in 2012. He did lose weight last offseason, and it seemed to give him a boost in the early going … before he fell back late. He possesses everything needed to do the job; why does he run so hot and cold?”
He never said any of the things you mention above.
The rookies have to prove it by doing it more than once. Freeman had 1 really nice season as well. I do not beleive anyone would take Cam Newton over Freeman either, much less over RG3.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Feel free to call me names but I would take Cam over Josh. Cam my have some mental issues but the guy is a beast of a QB. His deep ball is better than Freemans and he is more mobile than Freeman. Cam is more exciting to watch as well.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Gil Brandt is washed up and senile. maybe he knew the game in the 60s, 70s and 80s, but it’s a different game now. don’t get me wrong, i respect the hell out of his contributions to the game….but he needs to stay in the past, where he belongs.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
@Tye, if so, who do you think should have been starting over him? Who is a FA that could replace him in 2013? If our defense did not collapse the first 14 games, you guys would be loving Freeman, even if his play was erratic. Like Have A Nice Day said, he has stats similar to some of the guys ranked higher than him. You can argue all you want if Freeman played four quarters we may have won those games, but in some of them we scored 28 plus points. If the defense shows up like they did in the last two games, that will be enough for the Bucs to win more games. I am so sick of hearing about this Freeman controversy, when the biggest issue the Bucs have is the pass defense.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
@Silence…Why would I call you names for that? If we are looking at winning vs. losing, which is what everyone here points out when talking about Freeman, then it does not make sense, you would be trading one loser for another. And you guys keep saying Freeman does not except responsibility when he tries to give a reason, but you would trade him for a me first cry baby like Cam Newton…It just does not add up…Winning does heal everything, I remember Shaun King being loved back when he almost made it to the SB. Now Bucs fans just remember his flaws. of course he kind of brings that on himself. What happens next year if the Bucs win 10 and the Panthers win 6? Not saying it is going to happen, but what if…
January 25th, 2013 at 3:20 pm
I never said i would trade for cam. I wouldnt trade for many of those QBs listed except the first 8. However, if I were given a choice I would choose Cam over Freeman to be my starting QB for the reasons I stated above. Hes more talented and a better athelete. They both need work on the mental game though.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Correction I would only trade for a couple of those QB mentioned.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Scott: when you check down every play you have a high completion percentage. We have a young qb that is not afraid to pull the trigger on balls downfield. Alex smith replaced because he checks down everything. Flacco doesnt have high completion percentages either. It happens when your offense is predicated on throwing downfield. Our coach said he wanted to run the ball and take shots deep. It would seem he has the right qb for that.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
terraj: thankyou for changing your name to your name backwards. I would hate anyone crediting your terrible opinions to mine.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:37 pm
Andy Dalton > Josh Freeman
2 consecutive years in the playoffs for the BUNGLES, all while competing in the AFC North.
Freeman hardly a QB. Freeman looks the part, but he has yet to show CONSISTENTCY NECESSARY to be a STARTING NFL QB.
We need a “Top 12” QB, as only 12 QB’s make it to the playoffs.
Three rookies led their team to playoff berths.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
^^^^ Agreed.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:43 pm
@ Have A Nice Day,
Luck is rated #4 because he is a Top 5 QB in the NFL.
Freeman is # 14 because he has 5 years of starting with far less success.
Freeman is NOT a LEADER of MEN.
Andrew Luck is a leader of men.
How many QB’s could come in as a rookie, replace Peyton Manning, take command of the locker room when the Head Coach was out for most of the season, and LEAD your team to the playoffs..
The only place Josh Freeman is leading us is to mediocrity.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:47 pm
And, please no more pointing out the terrible pass defense.
I am concerned with the 11 folks on offense, and specifically our Signal Caller.
If Freeman could consistently keep a drive sustained, then our Defense wouldn’t be exposed all game long.
It is very hard to cover up a bad defense when your QB takes the first 3 quarters off, and three quarters of the way through his 4th year as starter he still looks like a rookie.
When will the mistakes go away? Will they go away?
Can Josh Freeman throw an accurate ball 5-15 yards down field? No, he can not, and it would be INSANE to extend him.
Either Josh is going to turn the lights on this year, or he will show that is inconsistencies are indeed his only consistency.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:52 pm
Who on here was arguing, “It is like saying, Tim Tebow led the Broncos to the Playoffs”.
HE DID, and he beat the winningest franchise in NFL history (Steelers).
Everyone is quick to point out the defense, but what about the QB?
Tebow can’t throw very well, but he may be on the best when it comes to bringing a team together, unifying them, empowering them, and coming together as one for victory.
Josh Freeman can’t even read a Defense. Atleast Tebow isn’t scared to run the ball and MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.
What good is Josh Freeman’s “big arm” if he can’t throw accurately?
Tim Tebow would’ve won more than 4 games for us two years ago, and he may of won more this past season.
Look at this way, Josh is 24-32 as a starter. Tim Tebow has a winning record as a starter.
It says something when a guy that “can’t throw” is better than our current QB.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
But Josh broke records! He’s the greatest!!!!
January 25th, 2013 at 3:58 pm
HAHAHAHA I changed my name after you said one of those moronic things ive ever heard on here a couple weeks ago. EVERYONE in this forum was ripping you apart for it and I didnt wanna be looked at as a fool. lol but nice try, son. btw you spell ur name wrong
January 25th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
New Bucs drinking game: Have to take two shots every time Mark Dominik says when talking about Freeman “He’s 24.”
January 25th, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Put the stat’s down dude and watch Luck and Freeman.Just watching Luck in that playoff game.Gave me Luck envy.The guy is amazing every pass is on the money.His WR dropped a lot of passes our WR can’t afford to drop passes.As for this “we’ll see how good these rookie QB’s do.With a year of game tape to study.Is just silly do u actually think the defences have the advantage.How many great QB’s stunk as rookies…a lot.These Kid’s will not regress I expect they will put up simular number’s next year.But it takes 3 great season’s or a ring to legitimize a QB as elite.The best 6 QB’s in the league have ring’s(Manning,Brees).Next up QB’s that win playoff games(Flacco,Kapernick).Then QB with average stat’s but win playoff games(Dalton,Wilson)The 4th tier is for great stat’s on a non playoff team.5th tier average stat’s on a non playoff team’s and the 6 tier is for bad stat’s.On a non playoff team.So Freeman has gone from tier 6 as a rookie.Then jumped to tier 4.Then slipped back to tier 6.Last year he jumped up to tier 5.
January 25th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
Josh has proven to put up the best #’s in a season by any Bucs QB ever. (Whoopdy freaking doo)
What does this tell us….. No Playoffs… afain….
We have had poor QB play for most of our franchise.
Saying Freeman is “The Answer” is ludicrous.
Freeman is IN THE WAY of progress with Tampa Bay. Good thing he is only signed thru this season.
He will step up, or step out next year.
Stepping out is probably the reality of the situation….
January 25th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
LOL @ the battle of “Jarret vs Terraj”
What are the chances Freeman takes up the playoffs next year?
January 25th, 2013 at 4:31 pm
Slim to none. But its all the pass defense’s fault!
January 25th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Whats there to dispute – he’s bottom tier. You are what your record says you are.
Garbage.
January 25th, 2013 at 4:49 pm
And Miguel if we selected Kalil.We wouldn’t have got that extra pick(Jags).That we bundled up to move back into the 1st round.TO SELECT DOUG MARTIN.Barron and Martin are forever coupled.Plus trading up might have cost us Martin and Davis.
January 25th, 2013 at 4:53 pm
@ 76Buc76,
If we would’ve never traded two 4th round picks for Stocker in the 2011 draft, then we would have had the ammo to trade back up into the 1st round.
Also, the 4th round pick we sent to the Eagles (2012 draft- in the Stocker trade) was used to trade for Demico Ryans. Whoops, the Stocker pick hurts twice as much.
January 25th, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Talent evaluator dont look at stats. They look at FILM. Just in case some of you weren’t aware. Too simply compare Andrew Lucks statistics for example vs Freeman is incredibly simplistic. I know it makes you feel “supah smaht” to regurgitate numbers you get from bspn.com, but Luck and Freeman couldnt not be any further from alike. Luck is smarter, knows where to go with the football more often, reads defenses better etc. Compare numbers all you want you fantasy player experts, they both SHOW up different on the field. And if you think Free is better than Cam Newton then..all due respect, you are on METH. Not one GM would take Free over Newton
January 25th, 2013 at 4:58 pm
Come on guys, I get that you do not like Freeman, but to give the defense a pass is crazy. Football is a team sport.
Steve, Do you really think Tim T could have won more games with the teams the Bucs fielded the last two years? Why do you think the Jets did not start him? Why do you think Denver was willing to take a huge gamble that Manning would be able to play like he did after his injury? Denver did go to the play offs based on Defense, which happens all the time.
I am not saying that freeman is the best QB in the league, or that he cannot improve because he is so great…I am just saying he is what we have and if he improves I hope you all come back and say you were wrong…He lost three or four games for us, but the defense lost the rest. like it or not, the defense is part of the equation and you cannot just toss it out to fit your agenda.
January 25th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
Tampa 2…You are correct in mosyt of your post, and hey, you may be in all of it…I just disagree on Cam, he has not done any more than freeman and is a bigger head case. Silece is right about his atheltacism, but he is still a cry baby me first type of guy. Some clubs are fine with that and others are not. If the QB is the end all, and he is so much better than Freeman, than why does he have a losing record jsut like Freeman? You cannot have it both ways.
Anyway, I am out of here for the weekend. Nice talking with you cats, thanks for making my Friday afternoon go buy a bit faster. At the end of the day we all say “Go Bucs”!
January 25th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
McBuc
Denver’s defense ranked 24 in pts and 20th in yds in 2011. Tebow won more of those games than you give him credit for.
Funny how they ranked 4th in pts and 4th in yds this year. Huge jump in the rankings there.
BTW agree with the rest though.
January 25th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
J. Freeman has said that he has not been held back from running the ball. Also, he said he didn’t like to run the ball. Brushed off the comment by a listener on 620am(Josh Freeman show) that he needed help from a sport physiologist. Like it or not he never takes responsibility for his screw ups. It’s always ,”lack of communication” or some other lame excuse. to bad he doesn’t had k2 screaming in his ear anymore. The chickens are about to come home to roost. It’s put up or shut up time this year, Rhah has moved on. There is a new Sheriff in town and he doesn’t take Bull S(p)it.
All this being said, I’d love to see him get serious and turn it around.
January 25th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
WOW, sorry for all the typos…
Remeber guys hindsight is 20/20. It does not matter who we could have drafted.
January 25th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
I agree and Cam Cry-me-a-Fig Newton doesn’t fit our offensive scheme we have anyways.
January 25th, 2013 at 5:11 pm
Oar, they still looked pretty good. What was their overall ranking. I will never give Tim credit for that season. I will give him credit for not losing games though. He is overhyped in Florida. great college player, bust in the pros…otherwise he would be starting by this point in his career.
Good to hear from you though, I have not seen your funny posts as of late.
January 25th, 2013 at 5:23 pm
McBuc
Ranked 20th overall. Don’t get me wrong, I dont think Tebow is great by any means, but is a leader on the field and did win games some for them in the 4th. I think he got a raw deal in NY, but it is NY.
January 25th, 2013 at 5:32 pm
OAR…OK, I gues I can live with that.
January 25th, 2013 at 5:35 pm
I predict Josh Freeman will have his best year as a pro in 2013, get a lucrative new contract then tank in 2014.
Just kidding;)
January 25th, 2013 at 5:55 pm
He got the right ranking.
Let’s see:
No playoffs
No pro bowls
Only beats teams with losing records.
Why exactly should Freeman be ranked higher?
January 25th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
McBuc,
What the heck, bro?
Tebow turned that team around and took them to the playoffs. Willis McGahee resurrected his career bc of Tebow.
He WON GAMES, something Josh Freeman knows little about.
Give Tebow credit, he did throw for 300 yards in the playoff ga,e to best the Steelers.
Why does an offense operate well with Tebow? Because he is a leader of men, while Josh Freeman is a mental midget.
How often does our GM float, “it’s all about 5”?
How often did Elway describe not starting Tebow publicly?
What Josh has in a powerful inaccurate arm, Tebow has the “mental strength” to compete for 4 quarters.
Josh can’t get focused until he gets 3 quarters of horse manure out of his system.
Give me Tebow the last 2 seasons, and I bet your butt we Winn more than 11 games.
Tebow could at least move the chains and prevent 3 and outs like Freeman does.
January 25th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
Freeman is as mentally tough as a kitten.
January 25th, 2013 at 7:58 pm
JaMarcus Russell is planning a comeback…guess who’s mentoring him?
Michael “check is in the bank” Clayton.
January 25th, 2013 at 8:32 pm
Tebow please the guy is not a QB.If the team that trades for you start’s the 3rd stringer over you.What does that say.As down as I am on Freeman I’d take him over Tebow.The Bronco’s defence was horrible befor Tebow got the start in 2011.They were probably a top ten defence when he was behind the center.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:09 pm
I don’t think highly of Josh, but putting Tannehill and Bradford ahead of Freeman was indeed a low blow. Tannehill is a rookie and played very much like one this year. He showed his upside, but it does not mean he is automatically going to get significantly better.
Bradford on the other hand has always been consistently average-below average since 2010. He has never had highs like Freeman, but did have lows like Freeman. So I don’t understand why Brandt has him that ahead.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Why doesn’t Freeman ever pump-fake to throw off the defense?
January 25th, 2013 at 11:11 pm
I was a huge Free supporter after 2010. I am squarely on the fence now.
Throw his 2012 stats out the window, he had weapons never seen in these parts before. He was good sometimes, bad just as often. He has started 55 games and he is not much different than 09 vs Green Bay.
Time to think about an alternative
January 25th, 2013 at 11:15 pm
You can twist perspective with stats so easily.
How about, say, TB’s Def was awesome this year. #1 in run D ! How many of us really believe that, even when really happy about that particular feat.
How about, Freeman had an awesome average yds-per-catch! Could be restated as, if Free would’ve hit close to average # of his short and medium passes, the yds-per-catch would drop, but % of 3rd down conversions & time of possession would skyrocket. Sure would be easier to hide a young developing Defense, eh ?
I say, even though there are stats that surprise, I’ll always trust my eyes.
January 26th, 2013 at 12:18 am
Im still on Freemans side but as a Freeman supports even I can recognize that this upcoming season will be his last to prove he can be a Franchise QB. Thats Just life in the NFL. If it where up to me I would give him another 5 more years as I see that talent is there, but it doesnt work like that.
January 26th, 2013 at 12:25 am
I will say this though, just like Freeman has shown he is inconsistent so to have most of you people shown that you are just as inconsistent with your opinions and beliefs about Josh Freeman. back in 2010 I bet all of you Freeman haters where on the Freeman bandwagon.
January 26th, 2013 at 12:26 am
Talk about irony.
January 26th, 2013 at 12:53 am
I mean c’mon did any of you watch the Pats championship game? Tom Brady was very inconsistent and his crappy play most likely kept the pats from the Super Bowl. Im not comparing Free to Brady, Im just pointing out the fact that all QBs even the great ones can have moments when they are inconsistent.
January 26th, 2013 at 12:54 am
Andrew1,
No sh!t, dude. I was definitely hoping Freeman could develop, and thought he was going to grow and become “our guy”, but Freeman hasn’t materialized. He’s the same now as he was in 2009, brilliantly gifted from a physical stand point, but he mentally processes the play too slowly.
GMC stepped up this year, and that’s wonderful. Freeman will need to do the same to warrant an extension.
I’m very excited for Josh, as this offseason will likely light a fire under his ass. He will either overcome adversity and mentally graduate as a bonafyde NFL QB, or he will get a seat next to Shaun King as a former Bucs QB.
January 26th, 2013 at 1:47 am
@ Stevek
your right about him still being slow in processing things. Sully should quiz him during the off season and every time he gets a question wrong he should slap him upside the head. lol. that ought to let him know this is serious while at the same time knocking some sense into him. He needs to wake up.
January 26th, 2013 at 1:52 am
Andrew1,
That just might work. Lol!
January 26th, 2013 at 3:03 am
Bad Josh belongs at the bottom of that list.
Sure good QB’s have bad games or game where they may have some inconsistency
But good QB’s aren’t consistently inconsistent and that’s exactly what Free is
Putting him where he belongs on that list IMO
January 26th, 2013 at 6:54 am
Gil gets paid for what he once was, not what he currently is.
I like Gil but he has lost about 20 mph off his fastball. He docks Freeman for being incosistent yet has Bradford and Stafford well ahead of him. Stafford had a far worse season, considering what he’s working with and what he did LAST season. 2012 was a huge disapoointment for him and to have him ranked as high as he was cuts into Brandt’s already shaky credibility.
January 26th, 2013 at 10:56 am
Brandt list a pretty accurate. What separates Freeman is spots in which he plays terrible. It seams to be at crucial times. Freeman has one more year to help save the Rockstars. If not the rebuilding process will start again.
January 26th, 2013 at 11:41 am
If Niners win Super Bowl with the read option offense you will see other NFL teams looking for athletic quarterbacks. Freeman is a very athletic guy, if the Bucs would run the same offense with Freeman and Doug Martin they would get more first downs and control time of possession. I would like to see where they stand stateside in TOP. Freeman isn’t a pure pocket passer. He doesn’t have Brady or Manning footwork. He can run pretty well and is big enough to take hits unlike RGIII. I will watch very closely to see the Niner read and react offense vs. a veteran Raven defense. If the Ravens don’t stop it I think Shiano needs to take a look at incorporating some of it for Freeman.
January 26th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Not to mention Freeman has been consistently inconsistent for a longer time than some of those younger QB’s lol
January 27th, 2013 at 2:37 am
Andrew 1
I’m not a Freeman hater. Have always been a quiet, but often dejected fan hoping to see the light to come on. The “flashes of brilliance” are exciting. I mean, I am after all a fan & am still hoping. Problem is, though the physical tools are obvious, the mental part of the game is undeniably missing & my faith has dwindled. I don’t see real progress occurring in this area, or the all too important intangibles coming to the surface. As for Josh running the read option, it might be a good exercise for him, cause right now, dude can’t make a quick read to save his life. BUT, even if I thought it played to his strength, it doesn’t fit the O-line profile they are building with the big bodys.
January 27th, 2013 at 1:01 pm
This read option is a fad.It will fade away like the wildcat.Once a couple more QB’s blow out their knee’s.I don’t want the buc’s jumping on this bandwagon.Defences will catchup to this play and LB’s will slice thou the gap and boom.Another team pay’s the price for putting their QB at risk
January 27th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
This I agree with 100% 76buc76.
If you are one of the few teams that actually have a true “elite” or “franchise”
guy. It’ll be short lived. BTW, those are two of the most overused words in the league. Every team obviously covets one. Few have anything that resembles the real thing, and yet so many call their guy exactly that.
It’s probably the single biggest reason that the boards appear to be filled with
QB haters. Many are not haters – they’re just not going to pretend to buy the BS spouted by teams trying to protect fragile QB psyches, and keep fans who don’t think for themselves happy. Trust me – if your team has someone truly special, you won’t have to guess. You’ll know it when you see it.
June 17th, 2013 at 10:11 am
[…] chatter reminded Joe of the horrendous ranking godfather NFL personnel man Gil Brandt gave Freeman in January, when he ranked Freeman as the 14th best NFL QB under 30 years old on […]
December 21st, 2013 at 10:34 pm
Check out the overview of Freeman’s combine at NFLcom, and you’ll see that he was rated as a two-year PROJECT! And the Bucs traded up to get him?
Don’t think he was even an “Honorable Mention” for the All-Big 12 team in his Junior year? And the Bucs traded up to get him?
Let’s remember that Raheem was the DC for K State and Freeman was the QB. Guess Coach Rah thought Josh was “yungry.”