Bucs Sending Coded Messages To Freeman?
February 4th, 2013
It seems even before free agency starts and the combine hits, Bucs rock general manager Mark Dominik has been busy. If the way one former Bucs player who wears Super Bowl bling is seeing Dominik work, Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman should be very concerned.
Yes, we all know Bucs coach Greg Schiano said Freeman, who battles with inconsistency, needs competition. Whether that means a potential starting quarterback will be brought in to push Freeman or that’s an upgrade as a backup quarterback, that remains to be seen.
But it’s the unspoken about is what has former Bucs defensive tackle Booger McFarland raising an eyebrow. Just recently, Vincent Jackson had his contract reworked, largely to free up some spending cash. Now, fellow receiver Mike Williams looks like he will have his contract reworked.
These moves, McFarland said on the show he co-hosts with Rich Herrera on WHFS-FM 98.7, are strongly coded messages that it is time for Freeman to fish or cut bait, so he said in his daily “Five at Five” segment.
“Well, Mike Williams, is up for a contract, so say the Buccaneers, they will give Mike Williams a new contract. Won’t be what Vincent Jackson has, maybe half that. If you are Josh Freeman siting across the locker room, there is a receiver – two receivers – who depend on you to get them the ball and they are both getting new deals. Not sure how you feel Josh Freeman but I know how I feel. I tell you what, I feel that you better play better or that feeling you feel now, you will feel that somewhere else.”
At least on face value, this sort of makes sense. Normally the Bucs were talking about how they had to have cash stowed away under the salary cap to make room for Josh Freeman’s contract, which will be/would be hefty.
Joe doesn’t hear that much talk about Freeman contract of late. Just guessing and this is nothing more than a hunch, but this coming season not only will answer where Freeman will be living in the near future, but also just how rich of a young man Freeman will become.
February 4th, 2013 at 11:13 am
@Joe
Do you think Bucs should bring in Alex Smith to challenge Freeman?
February 4th, 2013 at 11:18 am
*Source(Rotoworld)
-Alex Smith’s Contract:
3/20/2012: Signed a three-year, $24 million contract. The deal contains $9 million guaranteed — an initial roster bonus of $3 million, all of Smith’s 2012 base salary, and $1 million of his 2013 salary. Another $9 million is available through incentives, though $5.25 million of them are “unlikely to be earned.” An annual $250,000 workout bonus is available. 2012: $5 million, 2013: $7.5 million (+ $1 million roster bonus due in March), 2014: $7.5 million, 2015: Free Agent
February 4th, 2013 at 11:28 am
70% passer before the concussion . Ran the spread offense under head coach Urban Meyer. Probably takes a fourth- or fifth-round pick to pry him away….I’m Just saying…Luv Free, but he seriously needs the competition.
February 4th, 2013 at 11:40 am
Cool it with the Freeman hate from Booger Mcfarland. He is just weaving and spewing any concoction that makes it look like the Bucs don’t want to keep Freeman for his radio show. Let him play his contract out like Brady, Manning, Brees.
If the Bucs do bring in Alex Smith, it’s not going to be for competition, plain and simple. The guy is a starter and will be for another team. I bet Jacksonville or Arizona makes a play for him.
But Booger is starting to be annoying with all this Freeman hate talk. It’s way too early in the offseason to talk it about this much.
February 4th, 2013 at 12:28 pm
I don’t think Williams or Jackson are complaining about not getting the ball enough. Both had the most yards they ever had and Jackson had the most receptions in his career.
February 4th, 2013 at 12:37 pm
Well if Joe Flacco’s career has been the mirror image of Josh’s so far, like so many have compared. This should serve as a positive reminder to Josh that things can turn around for him. It was just yesterday that Raven fans and local media were trying their collective best to run Flacco out of town and now they are going to reward him with a lengthy contract worth close to Brees millions. Baltimore also let Flacco play under the last year of his rookie contract with no extension. Sound familiar?
February 4th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
Booger is becoming a moron like Shaun King. No coded message. He’s under contract and when he has a great year next year and the Glazers have to pay big bucs then the pop star gets fired for not extending his contract this year. I’m sure Freeman and his agent are all for waiting. Freeman was 2 good cornerbacks away from winning 10 games. If the media or fans can’t see that then they just don’t know football. The Glazers aren’t going to let happen to all the QB’s under Culverhouse happen to them… Leave the team and win a Superbowl for another team.,
February 4th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
4 ever mirror image ha that’s like saying Fabio is a mirror image of myself.People stat’s r 4 loser’s.Win’s is how QB’s get judged.The bigger the game’s you win the higher you rank.Flacco is now in the top 7 all of which have ring’s.Freeman struggles in big REGULAR SEASON games.If we have two playoff team’s back to back you know their is no way in the world he can win them both.So what are the chances if he ever lead’s the Buc’s to the playoff’s.That he can win 3 or 4 game’s in a row against elite team’s.He must WIN a playoff game this year to get 12 million per season.Simply making the playoff’s we should only offer him 8 per.Also I hope we don’t go free agent crazy.Carry over 20 million for next season
February 4th, 2013 at 3:14 pm
Remember you can win a superbowl with a bad defence.Green Bay,New England the greatest show on turf.Tell me another WR1,WR2 and RB that put up nearly 4500 yard’s rushing and receiving and what 28 td’s.We should be able to out shoot anyone.It comes down to the 5 lost down’s Freeman has every game.Due to grossly inaccurate throw’s you know the throw’s the 5 yard’s in front of the guy throw.Or the 10 yard’s over the WR’s head on the sideline.If you did a lowlite video of badly thrown passes per QB.Freeman’s would be way longer than most.We have the same kind of weapon’s as the greatest show on turf.Bruce-V-jax,Holt-William’s,Faulk-Martin.But Freeman is no Kurt Warner
February 4th, 2013 at 7:40 pm
76Buc76:
New England had great defenses when they won their Superbowls. Belichick is a defensive guy first. Greenbay and those Rams had decent defenses that could make a stop and defend the pass good enough.
Tampa has been horrid against the pass since Freeman has come to town. Give him a decent defense that can stop the pass and you have a winner. I can think of really two games where I put a lot of blame on Freeman, if any on why the Bucs lost this year. I’d much rather get Freeman cheap right now for the long run. Baltimore has no choice but to pay Flacco and it’s going to hurt their salary cap.
I hope Freeman watched Kaepernick over the playoffs, cuz he has the same set of skills but needs to use them for often.Watch Freeman lose another 10-15lbs and get faster this offseason.
February 4th, 2013 at 9:24 pm
Freeman cannot be compared to Flacco at this point in his career. Flacco has not missed the playoffs yet. Freeman cannot sniff the playoffs. The Bucs will draft a back up to push Freeman. They cannot afford Smith and he would not come to play for the Glazers anyway. The Dom needs to focus on the defense some more, again.
February 4th, 2013 at 9:59 pm
@76buc76:
If you want your posts to be taken seriously, simply start by inserting a space after a completed sentence. It’s a good first step. You can work on the rest of your (numerous) mistakes later. Your takes aren’t horrible, but your use of the written word IS.
February 5th, 2013 at 12:03 am
Wow Piratic your that guy are you.The grammer police dude.Most likely a pencil necked nerd.Do you correct people’s grammer to their face or just on blog’s.If I gave a crap about what anyone thought I’d spell check ect.See I can’t even remember if it’s ect or etc.Put the comic down move out of your mom’s basement.You have a better grasp of the english language than I.But your statement is one of the stupidest thing’s I have ever heard.
February 5th, 2013 at 12:30 am
Competition is a good thing.
We would be best served to draft and develop a 3,4,or 5th round QB.
I hope we are doing our due diligence and scouting for a big time Free Agency overhaul.
Depth, proven talent, and guys that fit our mold, bring them to Tampa.
February 5th, 2013 at 2:40 am
This is what 76buc76 was TRYING to say:
“Wow Piratic, your’re that guy, are you? The grammar police dude. Most likely a pencil-necked nerd. Do you correct people’s grammar to their face, or just on blogs? If I gave a crap about what anyone thought, I’d spell check, etc. See, I can’t even remember if it’s ect (sic) or etc. Put the comic down; move out of your mom’s basement. You have a better grasp of the English language than I do, but your statement is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard.”
February 5th, 2013 at 7:44 am
Piratic, for what its worth, I agree with you. His takes have some merit, but very difficult to read.