“I Think He Is Awesome”
August 21st, 2013
Mike Williams came to Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman’s defense today in the wake of Hall of Fame QB Fran Tarkenton’s harsh views of the embattled Bucs signal-caller.
While Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman claimed today he had not heard the harsh words of Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton claiming Freeman was “God awful” on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday, perhaps Freeman’s staunchest supporter did.
And while Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams didn’t directly address Tarkenton’s comments, he had, as he always does, Freeman’s back.
“I think he is awesome!” Williams said. “I think he is one of the best quarterbacks in this league. Some people have the right opinion; some people have the wrong opinion.”
Despite callers to local sports radio stations seemingly wanting Freeman’s head on a platter for a couple of bad practices, Williams claims Freeman is immune to the viscious attacks.
“I don’t think he pays attention to it at all,” Williams said. “It’s people like me who try to say something back for him. He just goes on to the next step.”
Williams is convinced the criticism is unfair to Freeman but No. 5 is playing it right.
“People are going to judge you the way they want to judge you,” Williams said. “I have been dealing with that my whole life. You just have to move on. And that is what Josh is doing.”
Joe remembers last year Williams coming out swinging with a passionate defense of Freeman, claiming that it wasn’t just the quarterback to blame for an incompletion in Bucs coordinator Mike Sullivan’s offense. Williams told all who were within earshot that receivers were equally responsible if not more so for the reads on the defense.
Joe thinks it is way cool how Williams has Freeman’s back. Joe has no issue whatsoever if someone doesn’t like the play of Freeman. But this nonsense spouted by Warren Moon, which seems to have been hatched by Boomer Esiason last year, with zero attribution, is simply outrageous.
To hear all of Williams’ words, click the arrow below, audio courtesy of Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.
August 21st, 2013 at 3:19 pm
I agree. Nobody seems to give credit to the fact that Freeman has not had the same offensive coordinator since he came into the league. This is his first year. I think we will learn more about him moving forward than looking back. Go Bucs!
August 21st, 2013 at 3:21 pm
Josh deserves criticism for being inconsistent for sure. But the people who are going beyond that and just calling terrible are way over the top. Ironically these same people probably think Cam Newton is going to be great, except if you actually look at his stats he gets fat against teams once Carolina is out of contention for the playoffs, or against bad teams. I’d rather have Josh personally.
August 21st, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Ronde Barber said “We all know that Freeman is prone to mistakes”….not really a vote of confidence from a teammate who watched Freeman for all of his career and was responsible for practicing against him everyday.
August 21st, 2013 at 3:43 pm
could you imagine ronde playing against free in a real game.
he’d have like 3 pick sixes LOL
August 21st, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Ronde never said Freeman was a bad qb. He just said he can’t carry a team. There are only a few qbs in the league who can.
August 21st, 2013 at 4:47 pm
Only three I can think of and even they can’t do it with a bad defense as evidenced by the fact that the Ravens won the Super Bowl and New Orleans wasn’t even in the playoffs. Guess that was Brees fault because he threw all those picks. Don’t give me all the stats because it’s only about the W’s right?
Even Brees can’t carry a team on his back. It is a TEAM sport. Noone is that good, not in today’s NFL.
August 21st, 2013 at 4:53 pm
An opinion is never right nor wrong. Freeman’s got everything he needs to succeed in this league. Who else does he need around him? Six of the starters around him have been on the Top 100 over the past 3 years. His stats look good on paper, he just makes bad plays at the worst of times. Everyone can analyze him all day, this is his shot. The starting offense looked pathetic in the preseason games thus far. We can speculate all day, we shall see.
August 21st, 2013 at 5:09 pm
So, Ronde Barber, Freeman’s teammate for 4 seasons, pretty much said the same thing in a “Nice way”. Tarkenton doesn’t know how to put his judgements into professionalism.
August 21st, 2013 at 7:10 pm
I really hope Freeman doesnt get caught up in this ridiculous whirlwind. Or any player for that matter.
The media machine (you too Joe), as well as the fans are getting antsy for the season to start, so we pass the time by creating a controversy that doesnt exist.
Joe mentioned the Glennon “Mob Mentality” on 620, but the Media’s a “Mob” as well. Controversy’s your bread & butter. I just hope the players stay focused and dont read or listen to any of this. To all you Glennon d*ck-riding groupies: keep waiting, bitches.
August 21st, 2013 at 8:10 pm
The irony is that even if Josh Freeman has a great season, there are some fans who will still want him out of here. Some people operate on Chaos Theory…they’ll only be happy with constant change.
August 21st, 2013 at 8:54 pm
@chris SUGAR COATER.
August 21st, 2013 at 9:52 pm
OK so a HOF QB doesn’t know what he’s talking about; the national media doesn’t know what it’s talking about; and Ronde, the best Buc ever, doesn’t know either. But all of you who truly believe that Freeman has a brain do….hmmmm.
August 21st, 2013 at 10:08 pm
To get back on track, I think it’s great to see Mike and Gerald have got our QB’s 6. that’s the kind of team we need… TOGETHER WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL !!!!!!! GO BUCS !!!!!!!
August 22nd, 2013 at 5:26 am
It’s really comical how we fans here in Tampa Bay have held our QB’s with such little regard. These same things, plus the race issue, were often said about Doug Williams. Since it’s wins and losses that are the measure of a QB; San Diego thought their little injury prone QB wasn’t the answer and allowed him to leave. Then the little guy led his new team to a championship before digressing to win the same number of games in 2012 as our own Josh Freeman. The QB who impersonates Superman took the league by storm but in his second year digressed to win the same number of games as our own Josh Freeman. But only here in Tampa are some ready to start over with virtually anyone but # 5. He might not be one of the few elite QB’s that some demand but he’s no Shaun King either.
We have the term “road rage” for people who can’t control their emotions on the highway and become overly bold when hiding behind the wheel. It’s always the other guys fault. There must also be a name for the web page posters who likewise hide behind their keyboard, shouting profanity, name-calling, giving the “We’re # 1” sign at their screen and boiling up their anger until it is out of control. How about “Web Wrath.”
August 22nd, 2013 at 11:52 am
Pardon my French, but Fran Tarkenton can go [take it easy!] himself.