“I Think Josh Is A Tremendous Quarterback”
September 7th, 2013
Bucs Super Bowl winning quarterback Brad Johnson sees the Josh Freeman cup as half full. In fact, Johnson thinks Freeman is a great player, so he told Woody Cummings of The Tampa Tribune.
Johnson’s got a different perspective than most. In addition to 17 years in the NFL, Johnson didn’t become his starter until his fifth season at 28 years old.
“It seems to me like they’re always playing from behind a lot,’’ said Johnson, who watches the Bucs regularly in retirement. “As a quarterback, that can be tough, because no matter who you are, you need help. You need your defense to get you turnovers and you need your kick and punt returners to get you a short field now. And then and it really helps if you can just be able to play with a lead.
“After a while, if you’re playing even or from behind, the game will catch up to you. And if you’re not surrounded by a great team, you’re just not going to win that much. But I think Josh is a tremendous quarterback.’’
Joe’s pleased to hear the endorsement from Johnson, but it’s moot is Freeman doesn’t win games. Johnson finished his regular-season career 72-53 as a starter.
September 7th, 2013 at 8:56 am
People will never understand what you are saying Brad, defenses aren’t held to any standards in Tampa Bay anymore, only QB’s. I know, it’s tragic. A once proud defensive football town doesn’t care if their defense is among the worst in the worst in the league nowadays.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:09 am
It’s amazing that a 17 year NFL vet that watches the Bucs on a regular basis makes SO much more sense than the media who may catch the Bucs once a year or so. He understands the importance of field position as well as playing from behind all the time. The Defense plays such an important part in any offenses success simply shortening the field.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:18 am
Josh was blasted on Yahoo Front page about an hour ago for not being a team captain.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:18 am
Super Bowl Champion Brad Johnson.
Good stuff.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:26 am
Its also all over NFL Channel. Must of seen it mentioned about 20 times in the 3 hours I was watching it.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:27 am
@ScottyinFatAntonio
Same with ProFootballTalk.com and NFL.com
It appears Josh is the media’s next target to tear down.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:29 am
Brad Johnson, the 1 and only QB to lead the Bucs to the Super Bowl AND win. HA!
September 7th, 2013 at 9:30 am
BradJonson, the only QB to lead the Bucs to the Super Bowl and WIN!
C’mon Joe, how can you always mention it in every King article but this legend gets nothing? Lol
September 7th, 2013 at 9:31 am
This is the one Bucs QB that should get the same written intro Shaun King receives whenever King opens his mouth, except The Bull not only made it to the NFC Championship game, the man won a damn Super Bowl with the Bucs. He also wasn’t the weak link, like King was for his team.
The Bull is on point and so are you, Joe; Freeman needs to win this season or else he’s gone. He doesn’t need to be Peyton Manning, just be a QB who limits his mistakes and finishes games strong. If Freeman can just be ‘good’, the Bucs will win ten games.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:36 am
Sorry about the reposts, none of them were showing up for me Lol.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:39 am
Now im gonna sit back and watch people cry over BJ getting mentioned as a super bowl winner when according to some he had nothing to do with it. It was all the defense. BJ was just along for the ride… even though he broke the same records Freeman did, before Freeman did it.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:40 am
Brad Johnson is a class dude & a was an extremely intelligent QB. Represented himself and the organization very well. Oh the good ole days!
September 7th, 2013 at 9:45 am
He’s exactly right…
Our main gripe here with Freeman is wins right? If we went 10-6 last season and earned a playoff berth…the media would’ve spent the last three months talking about something other than replacing Freeman…
How many quarterbacks in this league can overcome that defense that we’ve had for the past two seasons? 32nd and 23rd in points and 30th and 29th in yards…
There are a handful of quarterbacks in this league who can overcome that…Brees, P. Manning, Brady, and Rodgers…if fans are hoping that we can find a guy like that and not have to worry about what are defense does, then they’re dreaming. It’s a team sport folks.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:54 am
Haha couch, I was going to say the same thing only spin it the other way. Freeman doubters gotta say hes right because he led this team so he knows what he saying.
September 7th, 2013 at 9:57 am
@Couch Fan
Brad played great football in 2002, so anyone who says he doesn’t deserve credit for that Superbowl run is an idiot
September 7th, 2013 at 9:58 am
Josh is nobodies target. The Bucs are irellevant.
It is just getting noticed that Freeman is underachieving, and may not be resigned if consistency issues haven’t worked themselves out.
September 7th, 2013 at 10:00 am
Brian Dorry,
Good point. Would it be better to pay the “21st ranked” starting QB 10 million + per year, or would it work out to pay a 3rd round QB money and put 10 million + into pass rush?
September 7th, 2013 at 10:08 am
@Stevek
Lol no NFL team is irrelevant, and the Bucs get talked about A LOT lately, especially since we aquired Revis. And yes, Freeman has become a target, hence the blowing up of him losing his captains role, even though we all know Joseph and Jackson have seniority over Freeman and pro bowls on their résumés. I mean, would anybody on this site really choose Freeman as captain over Jackson and Joseph?? I know I wouldn’t.
September 7th, 2013 at 10:10 am
I don’t think Brad gets near enough credit. He was a very sound field general and if I recall was one of the most, if not the most, accurate passer in the league at the time. He also managed to lead the Bucs offense while helping the TEAM win that one insignificant game called the Super Bowl too. Yet Joe barely gives him a nod compared to the likes of King.
If Josh were afforded the same defensive integrity as the Dungy/Gruden coached teams had, I have no doubt our W-L ratio would look much better. Will Josh ever be known as a highly accurate passer like Brad was, probably not but I do think Josh would take chances on down field throws Brad would openly admit he could have never made.
I’m cautiously optimistic for this year. The preseason sputters by the first team and the apparent lack of intensity does have me a little concerned. I’m sincerely hoping Josh puts to rest all the doubters and has an All Pro Year. He has the tools to get it done. If the O-Line can hold up the onslaught of blitzes sure to come his way he will have a bang up year.
Bucs 24 – Jets 10
GO BUCS!!!
September 7th, 2013 at 10:17 am
I would not either, but if Freeman snaps to it and hones in the consistency this year, then yes.
Freeman has the physical gifts to be a “franchise QB”, we just have mental questions about the decision maker’s process.
We will see, playoffs it be!
September 7th, 2013 at 10:28 am
Johnson hit it on the head. He is not trying to sell ratings so he can be honest.
September 7th, 2013 at 10:29 am
@Stevek
That’s what I’m say though, Freeman losing his captains role is not nearly as huge a deal as the media is making it out to be. Then you have old-timer QB’s coming out and bashing on him, calling him “god-awful” (I don’t know how a god-awful quarterback led a top ten offense), then you have the media blowing up the Glennon pick, constantly insisting that the QB position was an “open competition” even though Schiano stated over and over and over again that Freeman is the starter for the regular season, then you have reports with no evidence or names to attribute to saying that Freeman is some kind of party animal that isn’t focused enough on football, even though there isn’t even a microscopic shred of evidence to prove that, and you want to tell me that Josh ISN’T a target?? And I haven’t even gotten STARTED on how the fans have been acting all offseason.
September 7th, 2013 at 11:07 am
Brad is basically making the same points the “Fremanites” have been making all summer long. That it takes a team to win games and that when your secondary is garbage your going to be playing from behind a lot in games. Add Brad Johnson to the JFro jock sniffing Freemanite apologists club. While your at it put Gruden in that club too.
September 7th, 2013 at 11:08 am
If Freeman ran the offense more like Johnson – good decisions, move the chains – and quit depending on deep throws to stay alive even his harshest critics would get off his back.
But I’ll never understand why he wants to sleep with snakes.
September 7th, 2013 at 11:09 am
Johnson is basically making the same points the “Freemanites” have been making all summer long. That it takes a team to win games and that when your secondary is garbage your going to be playing from behind a lot in games. Add Johnson to the JFro jock sniffing Freemanite apologists club. While your at it put Gruden in that club too.
September 7th, 2013 at 11:23 am
1987. Yes, he us usung logic. Interesting.
September 7th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
BrainDorry you can take Brees of your list. He threw a ton of interceptions and only won 7 games too. I bet all the Saints fans are having the same conversation on there fan sites. Start Ryan Griffin
September 7th, 2013 at 12:55 pm
@couchfan brad johnson carried his own weight. Im startin to think u really r a troll. Every buc fan can appreciate what he did. BUT at the same time everyone will remember the defense.I think they set an nfl record for defensive team points in a season tho right? Brad was pointing out what us Freemanites have been saying.
September 7th, 2013 at 1:41 pm
Solaire,
Brees is a FRANCHISE QB, and a HALL OF FAMER.
The only list he isn’t on is the list of QBs without making the playoffs: FREEMAN!
September 7th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Brad johnson, the Bucs only SB winning Qb, who has big hands and is not a big fat slob …
September 7th, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Thanks Joe, I live in Cali and JBF is by far the best site for ALL things Bucs…, YOU ROCK !!!!!!! GO BUCS !!!!!!!! So ready for some BUCSBALL !!!!!!!
September 7th, 2013 at 9:08 pm
@Raphael….lmao…I wonder who your referring to?
September 7th, 2013 at 10:33 pm
@Delson
Dont really care what you think…
September 7th, 2013 at 11:45 pm
I’ve always liked Brad Johnson……huge reason why we won the Super Bowl! Freeman is not even near Johnson’s level yet….