“Apocalypse Now”
September 13th, 2013
There are fewer better wordsmiths/humorists around, inside or outside the Tampa Bay area, than Martin Fennelly of The Tampa Tribune.
Joe’s not even going to try to set up Fennelly’s latest piece because Joe will do him an injustice. Fennelly has some damning information for Josh Freeman fans, brilliantly pieced together in an entertaining read, which is Fennelly’s forte.
Six days into the 2013 season and we’ve got an Apocalypse Now bullet train flying down the tracks, already filled with The Case of the Missed Team Photo and, more ludicrous, The Case of the Missing Votes — the story roundly refuted by all in pewter: that the head coach, the grand tabulator, rigged the returns to keep No. 5 from being elected a captain by his teammates.
Freeman’s brainless act (or was it?) of oversleeping that photo shoot (that’s a leader?) as his Toes On The Line boss waited, is a window to a disconnect that won’t change, even if Freeman rallies against New Orleans.
I think the Bucs’ narrative, dictated by Schiano, is set if this season falls apart: Freeman takes the fall. And Freeman will leave, happily, I think, free of Schiano as much as Schiano is free of him.
In short, Fennelly is confident last week’s team photo won’t be the last Bucs team photo Freeman misses.
Fennelly truly sums up both the ridiculousness of Photogate and Bucs commander Greg Schiano allegedly pulling a Dick Daley, while blending the seriousness of the Bucs having essentially lost — or are in the process of losing — their franchise quarterback, all in one column.
Joe cannot recommend you clicking the above line enough.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Maybe it was freeman who didnt want his agent to negotiate a contract with the bucs. I believe it because people are saying lets get rid of freeman, why would freeman want to play here when he could get his payday anywhere and play for a organization that has a head coach with credibility and the understanding that you have to put your qb in a position to win not tell him he sucks but make him go out there and play…doesnt seem like he cares and he wants glennon to have at it so you people can see how bad this offensive game planning is
September 13th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
“or are in the process of losing — their ‘franchise quarterback'”
People are STILL calling him a franchise quarterback? If we see more performances from Freeman like we did on Sunday, his exit will be a blessing for this franchise!
September 13th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
I love the smell of napalm in the morning – josh freeman
September 13th, 2013 at 1:13 pm
It’s sad Patrick. It’s really sad.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
This is becoming a soap opera
September 13th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
I really can’t stand how he writes.
Really I just can’t.
Can you?
I mean, has he not been through elementary school english?
Paragraphs make reading easier.
I can write in paragraphs.
Can you?
September 13th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Btw coach sounds pissed at the media …
I Don’t blame him .
September 13th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Bucs don’t want to lose Freeman …. That would be bad .. Very bad
September 13th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
gotta be some kind of reason people in the NFL not COUCH QB’S are calling him a franchise qb, they arent calling blaine gabbert that…people in tampa have never had a franchise qb that was drafted by our front office but they act as if they know. If schiano feels the way we do then what is he waiting for, i say pull the trigger and start glennon, he’s the one that got all the preseason snaps and everyone else is starting their rookie qb’s….im not a freeman or glennon supporter, im a buc supporter and whoever gives us the best chance to win have at it but for god sake’s schiano stop the frickin circus and play glennon already
September 13th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Schiano is the second coming of Ray Perkins. Rather than coaching up players’ talents & correcting their weaknesses it is ‘my way or the highway’.
We all know how Ray Perkins worked out!
September 13th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Raphael
Can we atleast agree that it’s schiano’s fault because he planted the seeds of doubt. freeman had those two 4 interception games but schiano lost us the skins and philly game so their even on that. if he hadnt played with the media about the qb competition and drafting a qb in the 3rd round then what. saying one thing but acting another is the reason for this. why isnt freeman on the bench if schiano is so confident that freeman isnt the guy….i’ll tell you its because everyone in the bucs organization likes freeman except schiano
Consider this when freeman came here everyone knew he needed to develop, everyone knew he was inconsistent but no one ever questioned his leadership and toughness and desire to win until schiano got here…trying to tell me this guy is hoping for failure with millions of dollars on the line, come on people all of a sudden schiano gets here and freeman is a party guy? he does drugs? after his rookie season he spent the entire off season studying and being at the facility training. come on people something’s not right, if you have 2 qb’s you dont have one…make a decision is all im saying to schiano
September 13th, 2013 at 1:26 pm
This is ridiculous TMZ style BS
September 13th, 2013 at 1:27 pm
I articulated many of these sentiments in the Sheridan article comments and caught some flak for it…I’ll say it again…teams usually don’t overcome mistrust and doubt. This is a rotten affair. If HC and GM aren’t on the same page about the QB, this could get even uglier. What a freakin’ mess.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Jim … If freeman doesn’t run or scramble this week …. You might be on to something .. Josh can run and coach should let him .
September 13th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Jfro-6pak’s job is to take his baeating up to the bye week, then its Glennon time.
official member of the MGM ( mike glennon mob )
September 13th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
my my my how we forget the trent dilfer days….why is it dilfer went to another organization and won a superbowl?
September 13th, 2013 at 1:31 pm
Losing Freeman would only be bad if he actually shows the consistent high quality play we want. If he has another season like the last two, it would be horrific, borderline catastrophic, to give him an undeserved extension.
That said, if he does have another mediocre season, we’ll be in position to lowball the living hell out of him. It won’t be like he’ll have teams lining up to sign him, the Bucs might be competing against 2 other teams.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:31 pm
I think freeman believes he is the 2010 qb we saw and the only way for him to play like that is to be a runner and slinger that i guess schiano and sullivan won’t let him be. I don’t know if he is and really think he’s more of a 25 td 17 int guy that we can’t invest 20 million per. Whatever the case… he is costing himself millions by his work ethic and over sleeping. I guess he want to go to oakland at 5 million per to be with olsen next year.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Nobody has stopped Freeman from running. Josh has said it himself, Schiano has said it himself. Stop making up things to try to shift blame from where it rightly belongs.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:33 pm
We will not win 1game with Glennon at QB ….fact
September 13th, 2013 at 1:33 pm
all the Bucs had to do was schedule the photoshoot at Freemans house and have the players pose around Josh’s bed.
whatever though. he’s 25. money can turn even the stongest willed individual. did he oversleep?? or was he hungover? but whatever.. when I was 25, I was a DJ at a couple clubs in Denver. and inbetween sets, I would get hammered and hit on girls. (they looove DJs). so when hot drunk girls are flirting with you hard, I can see how Josh might get caught up in that allure… but I cant defend him anymore. I can only back the team as a whole now…
2 DAYS!!!
September 13th, 2013 at 1:34 pm
This year .. If a change happens
September 13th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
oh yeah, I forgot……… Sully 4 HC!!!!!
September 13th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Josh will PLAY for Sully. But Schiano makes him scared to play.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
if he hadnt played with the media about the qb competition and drafting a qb in the 3rd round then what. saying one thing but acting another is the reason for this.
———————————–
LMAO and the BS just continues to pile up. So now the coach isn’t allowed to draft a QB without giving anyone a heads up? No no.
You are right that him drafting a qb is a problem. But the problem is that all the freemanites are now scared out of there mind because the BUCS have a legit reason to bench Freeman IF he continues to screw up…. THAT is the problem.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Well, at least theres a better hooter’s girl to look at now.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
“Joe cannot recommend you clicking the above line enough”
Buc1987 cannot recommend enough you reading the comments on that page on the article Joe suggests that you click onto. Nothing but bashing of the writer of the article no Freeman bashing at all going on.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
First, is this writer a high school girl? Did this article really need to be written? This article is the equivalent of a text message between teenagers, which is also what this whole mess seems like. In far less words… Freeman was striped by his coach of the team captain status, because he overslept. Leaders are not late, and I gurantee it was not the first time. NOW… go play football! Earn your pay! AND… TO THE MEDIA, STOP writing stories that may affect our team! Let them solve it internally! GO BUCS!
September 13th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
The article by Fennell is nothing more than a hack writer throwing shit against the wall to see how many locals will stick with it. Pure conjecture and nothing more.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Wow! It’s so easy for the media to manipulate the sheeple…….
It was one game and after watching the way the Pats struggled in THEIR house against the Jets D I’d say we probably aren’t as bad as we’re made out to be. First game of the season rarely means much in terms of how the entire season will go. Last year game 1 Jets blow out Buffalo by 20 pts. After that…not so much.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
But Schiano makes him scared to play.
————————
so we have a sissyfied 25 yr old QB who is scared because the coach demands better? That is basically what you are saying.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
I’m pretty that “article” just said the same thing in four different ways, and provided no new information or insight whatsoever.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:40 pm
Who here thinks the players can really say what’s going on ??? Anybody ? Your more clueless than I thought if you think that .
September 13th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
I’ve got it now why #5 is so often Lackluster in the first quarter of games he is still asleep. I think we have about seen enough from Freeman, he has way to many oops moments in games for a 5th year NFL QB. I have heard how he is first in the building and last to leave. What is he learning, how not to throw short, medium, deep accurate passes, how to have some idea how much time is on the clock after a timeout. Oh wait he might have slept thru those lessons. As bad as it is with him at the helm, wins wise it might be time to let him go.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
Freeman will certainly be the scapegoat if the season goes south. Before Schiano arrived, Freeman looked promising. Other than some inconsistencies, which is to be expected from a young QB, he looked like one of the better, if not the best QB to ever don a Bucs uniform. Somehow, under Schiano’s leadership, things changed. Freeman is responsible for his actions and attitude, but maybe, just maybe, Schiano is the catalyst.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
Couch said – “Nobody has stopped Freeman from running.”
you gotta read between the lines. he’s not gonna come out and tell us what the coach is keeping him from doing.
but he did say he Loves to run the ball. and we see Schianos teacher pet, Glennon, and we can get a sense of what Schiano wants. A one dimensional, arm.
but when your o-line is as strong as paper, then a mobile QB is the best way to buy a second or two. and it would also keep the opposing D from throwing their front 8 at you and back them up… which would then help the line… which would then help Martin.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
I hate drama. This is a soap opera. Start glennon, at least he wants to be here.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Freeman has looked no different under Dom than he did under Rah… yet another BS excuse… keep em comin.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Here’s some of the comments that the writer Fennelly that Joe speaks so highly of got back from the readers of the article.
I think the fans have spoken, Fennelly! STOP with your toxic and polluted articles!
This is making my head spin…In 2 DAYS the Saints come to town. Any NEWS on that, sportswriters? Just sayin…..
Almost forgot…Dear Mr. Fennelly..Check if The ENQUIRER has a job opening…your TRUE CAREER is there, in my opinion…
Save the Drama for your Mama … Too much coverage on the QB & Coach relationship. Can we just talk football X’s and O’s for the upcoming Saints game?
Unbelievable . Even if any of it was true why write it and show hundreds of thousands of people . No wonder nobody goes to the football games the own media is rebelling against the home team making us look like clowns. Making us look dumb. The bucs should write their own article and call it bucs express , then they could talk bad about the tampa tribune .
The media hates his tight lipped they r @ One Buc. So they have to stir the pot.
Forget this article, just to sell news. How about those JETS last night. ONE td for Pats in the first drive then none for the rest of the game. MAYBE THERE NOT AS BAD AS EVERYONE SAID THEY WERE!!!
September 13th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
you gotta read between the lines. he’s not gonna come out and tell us what the coach is keeping him from doing.
————————————-
are you kidding me? Everything Free says you stick on like glue. But now you are “reading between the lines” something about the Coach that NOBODY has admitted to.
This is insane how you twist EVERYTHING in favor of Freeman.
Maybe, just maybe. Freeman has lost his edge and it’s nobodies fault but his own? LMAO
Keep the excuses coming
September 13th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
I hope for Sharon and the teams sake they don’t start Glennon the whole season.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Bejesus, that was a painful read. So quirky! Clever references! No point!
September 13th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
Fennelly is Buc bashing without facts. It carries more weight, and credibility, when you support it with truth and sources.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
Hardly a “franchise quarterback”
September 13th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
Couch Fan
go back and look at schiano’s history with qb’s my friend it was said he started a true freshman 3 years in a row, this guy is clueless in regards to offense. look what the jets did to us, rex is a defense coach put your stamp on the defense…like he did takeing over the atlanta game last year, he had no time for offense…. kind of ignorant to say dont shift the blame from the qb when it was the entire team that played bad. Yet and still regardless of how bad freeman played he had us in position to win with less than a minute on the clock but yea ok its not the coaches fault, dude even in madden you control the qb and everyone else, you make the offense go, you make the defense go you incorporate a game plan based on the team you play and who your playing against lol so you blame yourself when you get beat down even playing with the patriots right.
if the coach had owned up to not having his team prepared we would all so ok and then let freeman have it but i know who were talking to….young kids that havent sat through how awful qb play has been throughout the history of the bucs. i was born before the franchise so if it isnt saying much that freeman is the best qb that we’ve ever had lol thats on ownership and gm and the head coach which is why we cant keep a coach, get someone with a plan and vision that coaches more than in the offseason
September 13th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Patrick said – “If we see more performances from Freeman like we did on Sunday, his exit will be a blessing for this franchise!”
still??
a) he started off 6-8 for 65 before the helmet issue. which the coaches looked at, and sent him back out with the same faulty helmet.
b) his o-line couldnt even give him 1 mississippi. they even directly caused us 2 points, which could have been 6 if it WERENT for Free.
c) he had no run support, which brought on more blitzes.
d) there were enough dropped balls that, had they been caught, would have brought his completion percentage over 60. and some of those drops coulve turned into or setup a TD.
e) in crunch time, under 2 minutes, he still put us in a position to win the game.
STOP seeing what you want to see, and accept the fact that Josh DID NOT lose that game.
for the record, Im as pissed at him for photogate as the next guy, but that doesnt give you the right to fabricate his play last Sunday.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:53 pm
I love Josh Freeman but I want him to move on for his sake. It’s time to end this seal clubbing and let Schiano play his man. I can see Josh now kicking his heels together as he moves further on down the road just like that rabbit that just got thrown into the briar patch. Lol
September 13th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Want some more replies from the readers of the article…read on. Of course people like Sharon, Couch Fan and Joe eat this article up like a bowl of cereal though. Sorry Joe I hope you don’t consider this a crime against Joe.
Losing respect for you Martin. Stop stirring the pot. For the fans sake let things settle. Seems the Jets are no as bad as you guys told us. Not sure what you are saying now can be completely believed. Seems some poison gas was dropped and you want air strikes no matter who gets hurt. Chill out already. Lets not blow up the whole team , the fans deserve better. If what you say happens you can say told you so but it’s just game 2. Com’on Man.
Yea totally agree…I mean don’t get me wrong. I have lil faith in Freeman these days, but damn it man its only WEEK 2!Anything can still happen. It’s to early for this rubbish.
Fennelly, please take your horrible writing somewhere else.
That article is trash.
This whole thing is absolutely stupid and designed to incite readers. Without the David penalty we more than likely win the game and no of this matters. Here is the fact that matters. Freeman has given the Bucs the lead within the last two minutes of the game at least 6 times in the 17 games under Schiano which his defense gave up the lead and lost the game. Either let Freeman play SS or LB on the last drive of each game or get off his case.
Hard to read, a headache coming on before I finished the article! Maybe Fennelly should join Anwar and join the sorry Yahoo bunch!
If Schiano didn’t trust Freeman he would bench Freeman. Why is this so hard?
Fennelly is a hack. He needs to learn to write paragraphs and stay out of the gossip mongering. It’s not good for the team.
It’s YOUR relationship with readers that is irretrievably broken & lost!
September 13th, 2013 at 1:55 pm
You gotta love the people who say its Schiano who is causing Freemans regression. Maybe its me, but until week 13 last year Freeman was looking mighty good. And then he totally fell apart the last few weeks (the ATL game obviously doesn’t count). So for 13/17 weeks he looks just fine, but those 4/17 weeks show its all Schiano’s fault?
If we do indeed sign Freeman long term, and he’s still this inconsistent in 4 years, are people still going to be making excuses and asking for more time for him? As always, its better to walk away too soon than too late. Josh doesn’t deserve an extension right now, but he can earn it. But he better earn it because an undeserved extension will not play well with the fan base.
September 13th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
Couch, when he says he “loves to run the ball” and “isnt afraid to run”, but doesnt. what can you conclude when he doesnt make 1 single rushing attempt? youre smarter than that.
ON TOP OF THAT, theyre making him wear a breace AND HIS KNEE IS FINE!!
They Do Not Want Him To Run, Period.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
Tony twocents. …. Bingo .. On the last two of your comments
September 13th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
I find it hysterical that you can “read between the lines” then say I only see what I want to see.
Keep the excuses comin
September 13th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Well there is more readers trashing Fennelly and not Freeman like some people here at JBF like to do daily, weekly, and monthly. You can click on Joe’s link above and read them for yourselves. I see no need to post their comments anymore the jury has already came back with Fennelly’s verdict on the article as you can read for yourselves, right? Looks to me like 95% of the comments about the article are trashing the said writer of it. Find us some more Tampa media smearing of the Bucs Joe. We love it. Couch Fan and all the Freeman bashers have their spoons in hand ready to gobble it up.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
@Bucrightoff
Freeman will be gone at the end of this year. Have no fear, Schiano will get us a real QB that can and will take us to the playoffs.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
Are you saying Schiano is making JFro wear a brace to minimize his running? How do you know it isn’t something JFro wants?
September 13th, 2013 at 2:05 pm
2cents you are wasting your time with Couch Fan’s narrow mind.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Because he can “read between the lines” Lightning. He’s talented like that.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Splengo said – “I love Josh Freeman but I want him to move on for his sake.”
For the fans sake, I want to win NOW. It may be wishful thinking, but I want to see Sully take over and breathe new life into this team. You think Sully, a West Point grad, Army Ranger isnt detailed oriented?? He’s got a good upbeat positive vibe, and HE HAS A PLAN. Problem is, like Freeman, his boss is also Greg Schiano. And his work is ALSO being micro-managed.
Sully will give Josh new confidence. That confidence will get us the best play out of Josh. THIS scenario will give us the BEST chance to WIN NOW.. and next year. and the year after…
September 13th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
“Blind faith. Just do it, because thinking is to hard.”
-Freemanites
September 13th, 2013 at 2:08 pm
I wish Josh the best man. Tampa is so filled with drama. We aren’t even talking about football or the Saints game. We are talking about photoshoots? photoshoot? Really photoshoot?
We aren’t talking about ways to improve the offense which if you watch the play calling from the article on Buc Nation. You would’ve thought that they were coaching a flag football team with everyone running go routes.
Start Glennon? Good luck with that. No Oline and everyone running go routes, no screens, curls, or slants. Oh yeah with the RB 2 yards up the field in the flat. With that play calling he would be on IR by week 4.
Come on man.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Media is against Schiano….They can’t get what they want so they are starting up a bunch of BS
September 13th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
I see where this is going. I’m talking to a couple of brick walls. It’s like teaching ABCs…… to a brick wall. All the brick wall wants to think is, “stay still…..stand up. Mike Glennon!!”
September 13th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
So now it’s Schiano’s fault that JFro wears a knee brace in an effort to shackle him from running! This is getting hilarious! Just when you’d thought you’d heard every excuse for the Oversleeper!
September 13th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
can we pool our money together and pay Jim Mora to say, “Photoshoots? dont talk about – Photoshoots?? you kiddin me? Photoshoots???”
thatd be awesome.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
couchfan
You mean freeman can take criticizm but the head coach is free of blame, thats just stupid, some people shouldnt be allowed freedom of speech or to reproduce. thats just stupid. And schiano has his QB so forget freeman bashing forget taking sides the bay is split on freeman whether he should start or not right..Schiano has his QB so why wont he start him, you gonna keep trying to buy time and experience for him while ripping the guy thats trying to win games for you and that really makes sense? START glennon lets see what this coach knows about Offense…..Dominick has a hard on for defensive back coaches, cant look for a diamond in the rough when your looking for a leader for your team. harbaugh went to the 49niners because he had pedigree and a killer offense and mentality…..what does schiano have other than a qb controversy
September 13th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Instead of putting together these long drawn out paragraphs about your hatred for this and that about the Freeman. Why not just make 1 clean short sentence of, I hate Josh Freeman? It’s that simple. Just say I hate Josh Freeman and get it over with.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
I’m with Bucrightoff and CouchFan. Let’s get Freeman out of there now and let Schiano have his day in the sun. As soon as he puts his man in there, I’m sure all of this losing will stop and we will go straight to the playoffs. Oh please, please let this happen. I’ll be the happiest Buc fan in the land. Do it, I dare you!
September 13th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
If I were Josh’s Dad, his agent, I would instruct Josh to fake a back injury, and go on I.R. Move on to next year, and compete for a starting gig somewhere else. Why go any further and take more daggers and scrutiny?
September 13th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Start Glennon as we already know Freeman will doom us to another losing season!
September 13th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
You all want to throw in the towel on the season, then fine. The worst fans ever.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
I’m just stunned people believe Freeman will leave the Bucs and the elite offensive weapons he has here to go elsewhere with worse weapons and somehow he’s going to become a better QB. Such bizarre logic. I keep asking this question and I usually get zero responses: Who here would seriously give Josh Freeman the market rate extension (at least 6yrs, at least $90m)? And if so, what has you convinced he’s worth it?
September 13th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Couch Fan & other “Bucs” (Glennon) Fans:
Three scenarios:
1) Freeman plays as good as last Sunday or better for the rest of the year, and we have a chance at the playoffs in 2013.
2) Freeman gets benched after a handful or more games, Schiano buys 2 more yearsa with his project QB. Minimal chance of Playoffs in 2013, 2014, maybe 2015.
3) Schiano steps down/ gets fired after a handful of games, Sully is promoted to HC, (or he’ll be a HC somewhere else next year), he retains Freeman, he has military structure, a plan, 2x Super Bowl champ, a positive and energetic demeanor, could breathe new life in this team. We’d have a good chance at righting this ship and making the playoffs in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and possibly more.
I cant take another rebuilding year. Cant do it.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
Only the Freemanites BucRightoff, only the Freemanites.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
btw, by “Freeman plays as good as last Sunday”, he put in a position to Win.. DESPITE all the dropped passes and the turnstile offensive line play.
(that was the WORST offensive line play I have ever seen besides the Eagles, when we destroyed McNabb his rookie year)
September 13th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
I think Fennelly and Kaufman and King and Beckles…..ect,ect,ect all have their respective heads up each others assssssssssssxxxxxxxxes. The media in this town hate the Bucs including Freeman and Schiano. They take every opportunity to dig up crap for the sole purpose to get their garbage printed and distract a team struggling to improve. It is a shame the Tampa Media is so self serving. Let the Buc’s and Schiano play ball. Stop trying to brainwash the fans.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
There is no brain washing going on. Did you not watch the game? This team is a mess. Starting with the QB who is still a project in his 5th year.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
“Who here would seriously give Josh Freeman the market rate extension (at least 6yrs, at least $90m)? And if so, what has you convinced he’s worth it?”
Who the hell said he’s worth THAT?? He’s not elite. But the rest of the team, (minus the o-line), is good enough where he doesnt have to be. Whether we want to keep him at the end of the season or not, he’ll want to play the market. And we should let him… Because he’s not gonna get Matt Stafford, let alone Joe Flacco money.
Look at our SB offense. A bunch of middle tier players, at QB, RB, WR… So Josh doesnt have to be elite. I dont know who you think is saying he is.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Whenever I hear these, as Joe calls it, “Overreaction Monday” comments. It reminds me of the 2003 Patriots. They got blanked 31 – 0 by a crappy Bills team, and people called it the demise of the Patriots, ESPN did like a 15min segment on gameday or what ever they called their pregame show at the time. The world was falling in NE at the time. The Pats went on to win 14 of their next 15 games, and won a Super Bowl, once again after getting blanked 31-0 by a crappy Bills team. I’m not expecting the Bucs to rattle of 14 of 15 and win a SB after coming one play shy of beating the Jets, but on the same token to call it an Apocalypse because a guy missed picture day? I would agree there seems to be a lot of smoke, i’m sure there’s a fire in there somewhere, but I really think that we have a good chance to beat the Saints this week, and that would be a huge fire extinguisher, and if we knocked off a struggling NE team the following week, it would seem like lunacy that we even wasted breath on this vote for captain, team photo crap.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Freeman, at this point should get no more than $10-$12 a year.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
“King Diamond Says:
September 13th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
This is becoming a soap opera”
That is what professional sports has become. One big version of Entertainment Tonight. The powers-that-be want it that way. The human interest aspect now over-shadows the game itself. It’s pathetic. People will continue to tune it out, less fans in the seats….Only a matter of time..
September 13th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Thank goodness the Bucs play on Sunday, end the BS and play football !
September 13th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Tonytwocents,
I like you but you don’t know sarcasm when you see it. CouchFan and Bucrightoff know exactly what I’m saying. Josh Freeman is Schiano’s get out of jail free card for a losing season. Without Josh he and his man Glennon would be in the crosshairs of Buc fans and the media who is waiting to crucify him. That’s why I want Josh to leave now. If Josh leaves now the emperor has no clothes and CouchFan and Bucrightoff goes the way of Thomas 2.2.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
Mike M…I fully agree.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
tonytwocents…. Your first post is the best post this week!
September 13th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Splengo…lol good point. I think they are going to be headed there anyways, but good point nonetheless.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Josh can’t sense the pressure to run. It’s like his reaction time is slow. You see it.
And everyone is blaming schiano for bottling him up in the pocket? Watch 2011 under Raheem. Josh was transitioning himself in the same role in trying to develop as a pocket passer. It’s not schiano bottling him up. It’s freeman. He doesn’t sense pressure well enough it seems. They bring the blitz and from watching the games he doesn’t know how to get rid of the ball check into a better play or dump it off. His reaction time seems slow. He locks onto his first read 99% of the time, missing open Wrs in that process.
September 13th, 2013 at 2:59 pm
Freeman is one of my favorite players, and when I met him, he was such a nice dude. At this point, everyone has they’re little minds made up, and want to sabotage the season by going with a slow rookie who won’t take us anywhere. I’ll be glad to see freeman leave you unappreciative fans and sportswriters. The guy just throws for 4,000 yards, but it’s not good enough. I guess the worst defense was Freeman’s fault last year… No, I was a huge fan of this site, but at this point, joe or whomever said they supported freeman, but you beat him down every chance you get. I’m done visiting this site when you have the nerve to try and destroy your own team… Think about it… But you love the bucs??? No… So please freeman, leave at the end of the year, and when you come back to Tampa, whip our butts. Please.
September 13th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
@ Couch Fan
imo the reason why had so much trouble on offense is that we could not effectively run the ball. it made us 1 dimensional and basically threw our offense out of rhythm. this team relies heavily on the running game to get our offense going, so when we loose that its pretty much tough sledding after that. we need to get our running game going and then I believe we will see a much improved offense. hopefully we will be able to run the ball vs the saints.
September 13th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
@tonytwocents
Who said he’s worth it? The market. Mark Sanchez’s deal hurts too, because Freeman’s people can (rightfully) say they’re much better than him. Flacco is worth $20 million a season, Romo is worth $19 million. The going rate for QBs is out of control but it is what it is.
I also think its funny that analyzing and criticizing Freeman are akin to hating the Bucs. You know how badly I wanna make the playoffs? And I actually thought the Bucs would this year. With the talent on the roster, its unacceptable not to. The fact Freeman did “enough” to win Sunday is also unacceptable. Doing just enough is not what franchise guys do. You’ll say Tom Brady last night, conveniently ignore his rather spectacular body of work compared to Freemans (and missing his #1 and 2 options, and having more drops/miscommunication) than I can remember.
Freeman “did enough” which is to say without the defense setting him up with 2 scoring drives that combined to be less than 50 yards, he would have gotten us shut out. People want to talk about the line sucking, but Aaron Rodgers has arguably the worst offensive line in the league and still puts up his crazy good numbers. He also has no running game to. So how does he do it?
September 13th, 2013 at 3:14 pm
It’s already been established as to who is in Freeman’s corner and who wants to see him go. Why then do we get caught up in all this drama? It’s sad that the media has to make it’s way into the entertainment section using days of our lives story lines. Nothing worse than speculation! It’s like the Milf’s who bring their kids to school just so they can complain what the other one looks like & what they are wearing. In short…….Stop the insanity! Most men avoid DRAMA!
September 13th, 2013 at 3:18 pm
“I’ll be glad to see freeman leave you unappreciative fans and sportswriters.”
Bbody…I’m nearing that too. I hope he goes out and has a great season and just leaves us all in the dust. It would suck for my team, but it does seem that many would not deserve him at all if he snaps out of and takes this team to winning a record this season. I think the hatred for him is mostly media driven. Especially when it comes to likes of Fennelly or Tom Jones who destroy this team daily in the news. Even when they win games the media tears them down. It is what it is and it sucks. Thanks for your post, because some people just don’t get it.
September 13th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Bbody …well said , but don’t let a couple of Immature punk trolls get to you . That’s what they live for because they have a pathetic existence for a life.. I appreciate Josh Freeman because I know what it was like before he got here . And as a buc fan I know it won’t be good if/when he leaves …
Lol @ the pathetic trolls who bash Freeman , it is kinda funny how clueless they are .
September 13th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Especially bi-polar Couch Fan this is what he said yesterday in a thread.
Couch Fan Says:
September 12th, 2013 at 4:18 pm
This is an excellent oppertunity for Freeman to step up and shut everyone up. Tampa is watching Free!!
September 13th, 2013 at 3:28 pm
@Splengo,
I could tell you were being sarcastic in that post to couch. I got that.
I know Couchs stance too well. and my posts were directed to him and his clones.
But youre absolutely right. Schiano buys 2 more years of REBUILDING if Freeman suffers.
September 13th, 2013 at 3:30 pm
If JF were traded today, years from now the few that would remember him would likely remember him mostly for his inconsistencies… Not a worthy
“Franchise QB”!
September 13th, 2013 at 3:34 pm
Stupid media. I hate that they are so bias. Even on Monday, media brainwashing fans. Media even went as far as printing Bucs lost at Jets. Don’t fall for mean media tricks.
September 13th, 2013 at 3:35 pm
@Buc1987
Yea I said that so what? He needs to step his sorry @ss up!! What is your pont besides a failed attempt to be intelligent.
September 13th, 2013 at 3:47 pm
You gotta like the Freeman fans who believe he’ll walk after a huge year (assuming he has one). You people are aware of this concept know as the franchise tag right? If Freeman has a huge year he is going nowhere. Bucs will tag him, and if he gets traded afterwards it will be for a nice haul. Bucs aren’t losing Freeman for nothing, that is, unless he has a bad or mediocre year. And his suitors will be very limited if that happens.
September 13th, 2013 at 3:51 pm
what were you guys saying before doug martin got here? can you remember that far back. he has yet to have a decent defense and now we do but lol even with the new toys on defense the coache’s scheme was to rush 3 on a rookie qb just like last year and we lost another game in the last seconds. but im done you guys are kinda slow…this is the only town that puts the problems on the qb and not the coach. so im just curious what you will say this sunday when drew brees comes to town and pick apart this simple minded coaches scheme…..to think you can win a superbowl without a great coach is nonsense. In this nfl we need either a dominant coach or an offensive minded coach
September 13th, 2013 at 3:51 pm
what were you guys saying before doug martin got here? can you remember that far back. he has yet to have a decent defense and now we do but lol even with the new toys on defense the coache’s scheme was to rush 3 on a rookie qb just like last year and we lost another game in the last seconds. but im done you guys are kinda slow…this is the only town that puts the problems on the qb and not the coach. so im just curious what you will say this sunday when drew brees comes to town and pick apart this simple minded coaches scheme…..to think you can win a superbowl without a great coach is nonsense. In this nfl we need either a dominant coach or an offensive minded coach
September 13th, 2013 at 4:06 pm
@Couch Fan….This the point bi-polar one. Today you say this….
Couch Fan Says:
September 13th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
“Start Glennon as we already know Freeman will doom us to another losing season!”
Yesterday you say this…..
Couch Fan Says:
September 12th, 2013 at 4:18 pm
This is an excellent oppertunity for Freeman to step up and shut everyone up. Tampa is watching Free!!
September 13th, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Buc 1987. ….lol. Hilarious …the stupidity of these morons is quite entertaining ..
September 13th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
I love how Fennelly compares the Buccaneers to the Caine Mutiny. Captain Queeg is Schiano while Freeman must be Fletcher Christian.
Last year I compared the Bucs to the 1955 classic movie Mr Roberts. Remember James Cagney as the tyrant Captain obsessively rolling the ball bearings in his hand and his prized palm tree. Josh of course would be the charismatic Henry Fonda character, Mr Roberts.
I’ll bet the hijinks at #1 Buc Place are similar to the USS Reluctant, turning off the headset during play, turning up the thermostats, putting rigatoni in the macaroni and running 30′ out of play during stunts. I’ll bet the coaches up in the press box are even feeding him bad intel and telling him to throw red flags at inappropriate times. LOL!
Cagney (Schiano) fights back by not resigning Mr Roberts (Josh), telling him the wrong time for his photo shoot and football camp while throwing him under the media bus.
I won’t tell you how the movie ends but it doesn’t end well for our hero, Mr Roberts/Fonda/Freeman.
September 13th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Freeman has thrown 40 interceptions since the beginning of 2011 (most in the NFL)
September 13th, 2013 at 5:23 pm
“There are fewer better wordsmiths/humorists around, inside or outside the Tampa Bay area, than Martin Fennelly of The Tampa Tribune”
Hogwash…heres not a bigger Buc hating douche in all of Tampa Bay media.
September 13th, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Freeman should make 1/2 of what Alex Smith is making, because he is about half as consistent.
Let Freeman decide his own fate. I plead with the Freemanites, take a deep breath, count to 10, and STOP MAKING EXCUSES.
Let’s see how the game unfolds. Freeman can right the ship this weekend with a win, but if he comes out looking like our “5th year project QB”, then we will hear MORE FREEMANITE EXCUSES.
Let the wins and losses do the talking, 2 days people!
September 13th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
ShutTheBucUp Says:
September 13th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
I really can’t stand how he writes.
Really I just can’t.
Can you?
I mean, has he not been through elementary school english?
Paragraphs make reading easier.
I can write in paragraphs.
Can you?
Amen. Fennelly is a complete cretin and reading his articles makes me wonder how he even graduated high school.
September 13th, 2013 at 6:02 pm
Buc 1987, Raphael, and other archiving Freemanite jock sniffs,
Screw the petty opinion war, and let’s get a win Sunday. Go Bucs, go Freeman, go D!
Freeman can show me a lot of resiliency by coming out and having a “day” on Sunday. We need it, he needs it.
The sharks are starting to circle, Freeman needs to show progression, not regression.
September 13th, 2013 at 6:02 pm
C’mon man, be professionals. Freeman and Schiano better find a way to get along – and fast – or they may both be done. All this nonsense is just hurting their own marketability.
September 13th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
I don’t give a sh!t about their personal relationship (Josh and Greg), I just want a “win”.
Just win.
September 13th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
For the record, Im not defending Freeman the person. Im defending his play. Its like Im in the Twilight Zone with all the people saying he played like sh!t.
I could give a damn if he was raped by Couch Fan and SteveK tonight… Deliverance style. All Id care about is, can he play Sunday.. Because THATS what gives us the best chance of winning.
Rooting for Glennon, you little fairies are content with throwing the season?? You pathetic dildo riders.. Youre not true fans. Youre haters, blending in with us REAL fans on JBF.
September 13th, 2013 at 6:53 pm
@ Couch Fan
Have you even once criticized the offensive line?? Our weakest link? No?? Well surely you at least took a sh!t on Bostad for that god awful performance… no??
I dont even think you watched the game. If you did, I don’t think you understand the game of football. You probably skimmed through the game while at your MGM Circle Jerk Orgy. Then went home and looked up the stats, saw Freeman’s sub-par numbers, and typed through your asss on here.
Anyways, its Friday! Fu(k All of You! Go Bucs!
September 13th, 2013 at 7:03 pm
“Deliverance cast member extras”
That was my favorite part.
September 13th, 2013 at 7:27 pm
What we have is a second year project coach