Simms: Freeman Deserves Criticism
September 20th, 2013
Much has been made of the relationship between Bucs commander Greg Schiano and franchise quarterback Josh Freeman. It’s even taken over talk across NFL circles; not just locally.
Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms recently dropped in on the “Booger and Rich Show” heard locally on WHFS-FM 98.7, and joked how the alleged rift between Schiano and Freeman is all the rage nationally.
When discussing Freeman, Simms strongly hinted that criticism of Freeman is in large part the Kansas State product’s own doing.
“I will just say this: you don’t see it too often from a starting quarterback is late to any team function or misses a team function. The quarterback is held to higher standard — you know that — and I think that is the right thing to do. Quarterbacks are the second-most powerful guy in every organization. The head coach and the quarterback have to be on the same page. They have to be the two hardest workers in the organization and if they are not, you know what, you are going to have problems.
“I always say this: If Josh Freeman goes out there and prepares and works hard on the practice field every day and he leads, you know what? Greg Schiano is going to be his best friend. I had kids that played football and if they were not starting I always told them the same thing, ‘Make the coach play you. Make him. Go out there and keep practicing hard. They will notice.’ I would say the same thing to Josh Freeman. ‘Don’t worry about all of this fighting. Do your job. Lead the team! Be a great example to everybody else.’ That’s how it works. That’s how it works. There is only one way out of it. If you think there is another team out there for you, get that out of your head. This league moves fast. There is no guarantee there is another starting job for you somewhere else. There are quarterbacks that come into this league every year. Two, three, four or five that are the so-called franchise guys. My advice is, make it work there in Tampa.”
Simms, in a roundabout way, said that if Freeman thinks he is playing for a hardass coach in Schiano, he has no idea what a hardass coach is, referring to his coach with the Giants, Bill Parcells. Simms then began to recount his days with Parcells saying that each and every practice Parcells rode him and was all over his case, largely only because he was the quarterback.
Joe wrote the following before and will write it again. Freeman’s future lies in Freeman’s hands, it is that simple.
Also, speaking of simple, winning cures all ills. If the Bucs go on a winning streak, all of this drama will be backburner material.
September 20th, 2013 at 7:15 am
Man oh man,
Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen….nobody knows them better….
Hey can I get some cheese with this whine?
September 20th, 2013 at 7:18 am
The horse does a week ago
September 20th, 2013 at 7:19 am
* died *
September 20th, 2013 at 7:23 am
Finally someone says to josh freeman to shut up quit whining and lead your team. Every time something goes wrong he gets the drop the head hands up in the air. Looks like a lost cause in the pocket.
September 20th, 2013 at 7:30 am
Finally some very solid advice for Freeman…..and quit blaming Freeman’s problems on Schiano.
I’d like to know what Shaun King’s advice is….he’s been a bit quite on this topic lately.
“Shaun King, one of two Buc Quarterbacks that lost a NFC Championship Game when his defense gave up 11 or fewer points.”
September 20th, 2013 at 7:32 am
Yet another former NFL QB questioning JFro’s work ethic.
September 20th, 2013 at 8:53 am
2 time Super Bowl winner too.
But, I’m sure he will be accused of not knowing what he’s talking about, and just trying to cause problems.
September 20th, 2013 at 8:57 am
Good advise
September 20th, 2013 at 9:03 am
I love this take from Simms. He’s not bashing Josh; just a Super Bowl winning QB telling him from experience what it takes. If you’re not an inherent leader, the QB position is not for you because it takes more than physical talent.
September 20th, 2013 at 9:18 am
Watching the Chiefs and Alex Smith last night just reinforces what solid, steady QB play can get you in this league. Our defense is probably as good or better than Kansas City’s, but their QB play is substantially better and there’s the difference between 0-2 and 3-0. Hopefully Josh was taking notes.
September 20th, 2013 at 9:39 am
Why does everyone keep saying that their is strife between Schiano and Freeman? Didn’t Schiano just say he has no problems with Freeman? Didn’t Freeman just say he and coach has a great relationship? Why all the lies? The continuing strife is between Freeman and the media or Schiano and the media, not between each other like the media keeps on saying. I’m really getting tired of all this BS.
September 20th, 2013 at 10:40 am
Yeah, Parcells was Stalin compared to Schiano. During his HOF speech, my girl told me to turn off the TV and “come join her”. I looked at Parcells and told her “I cant. Im not allowed”
Simms has some good advice for Free, but if he couldnt get through to his children of the corn, what makes him think he could get through to Freeman.
Id like to see LTor Parcells have a sitdown with Free. Like the Scared Straight tv show, NFL edition.
September 20th, 2013 at 10:46 am
@rbell,
If you ever really believe what a coach or a player says to the media…well, I don’t know what to tell you.
I’m not saying there’s strife or not stride (there’s strife), but, in general, they are just giving lip service. Have you ever heard of “coach speak?” Same difference.
Do you really expect them to walk up to a microphone and say, “Yes, I do not want the QB”?, or, “I hate Schiano, I want out of here.”?
It doesn’t work like that. Belichick is the king of this. Schiano is following accordingly.
And, it would look poorly for Freeman to do it, because teams interested in him would be turned off by it. They don’t like players talking about coaches to the media.
September 20th, 2013 at 11:00 am
Oil Derrick,
Dead on about players and the media. That is why I quit listening to the players shows…it was the same regurgitated, rehearsed sound bites over and over again.
September 20th, 2013 at 11:10 am
Everybody’s a f’cn mind reader these days. There is no fact only conjecture.
September 20th, 2013 at 11:12 am
LOL I was watching Schiano’s presser last night. After it was done. I clicked on Freeman’s and I barely got through a minute of it. I said to myself out loud. This is the same old nonsense we hear every week. Then clicked off.
September 20th, 2013 at 11:15 am
Remember Saban in Miami re: the Bama job? Or countless times we hear that players not being on the trading block, only to be traded the next day?
The real business is done behind closed doors and with the agents.
Sorry if this comes as a shock to you. The NFL world isn’t always what you get on the surface. It’s usually a series of platitudes and bromides.
September 20th, 2013 at 11:30 am
The only time I want to hear from Freeman at a podium is after the Bucs win. No more BS excuses. Snap out of it damn it.
September 20th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Where’s WCBF? I remember her laughing at me for suggesting the QB on every team is a leader whether they want to be or not…. seems the pro’s also believe it…. Funny though the Freemanites seemed to laugh off the idea..
September 21st, 2013 at 10:01 am
My Man Buc1987….all we can do is keep hope alive…something will happen soon. It has to. We have a great D! (although Im not liking some of their work like leaving Graham open the whole first half), but we have a D again. Now we just need a QB who can move us in the first 3 quarters.