NFLPA: Schiano Leaked Freeman’s Info.
October 12th, 2013
Of course, the circus hasn’t left town. It has pounded down stakes and the elephants still roam around One Buc Palace.
In a story typed by Tom Pelissero of USA Today, the NFLPA has gone on record claiming, after a cursory investigation, that Bucs coach Greg Schiano is the source of the various leaks on defrocked Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman’s confidential information.
And the NFLPA contends it has information the original breach occurred when Schiano discussed Freeman’s status in the league’s substance-abuse program with other Buccaneers players, prior to the quarterback’s Oct. 3 release.
Freeman, 25, confirmed he’s in stage one of the substance-abuse program in a statement Sept. 30, hours after ESPN reported the same, citing unnamed league and player sources.
But Freeman – now with the Minnesota Vikings – said he has “NEVER tested positive for any illegal drugs” and voluntarily submitted to additional testing after a positive result triggered by switching his ADHD medication without notifying the league.
Now, Joe would like to know when exactly is “prior?” Chris Mortenson ran a story detailing Freeman’s involvement in a drug program before he was released. If Schiano did discuss this with Bucs players after the report, then Freeman’s info would have been public record by then.
Joe has come to the conclusion that the circus is not leaving One Buc Palace for some time. It will likely be there the rest of the season if not for months afterwards. Joe just has to be careful to not step in tiger droppings.
October 12th, 2013 at 11:22 pm
And the hits keep on coming.
October 12th, 2013 at 11:29 pm
It’s the NFLPA…consider the source
October 12th, 2013 at 11:33 pm
He gone.
October 12th, 2013 at 11:38 pm
I’m not buying it.
October 12th, 2013 at 11:45 pm
What a mess. Here we go again…
October 12th, 2013 at 11:47 pm
It makes no sense for Greg to leak anything about Josh. There’s nothing to gain from it other then more headaches. On the other hand Josh had every thing to gain from the leak. It gives him a chance to explain his burn out ways and it gave him leverage to put on the Bucs so they would cut him. Greg hates talking to the media. Why start now.
October 12th, 2013 at 11:48 pm
Whatever.
October 13th, 2013 at 12:04 am
GOOD LORD, Joe you said it right. We have the head clown running this circus. Here is my point, why would he say anything at all? Freeman was going or gone, so let it be. Maybe he has to try and bolster his position? Maybe this coach is just a failure and will not, or can not change for the NFL. My fellow Bucs fans, lets review. Barth out, MRSA bout 1, players only “meeting”, Revis ” had a chat”, Freeman turmoil, MRSA bout 2, 4 losses, the Offense down right sucks, and more talk of the Coach being a jack ass. ahhh crap!!!!
October 13th, 2013 at 12:23 am
Captain Buc, read the damn article. It says he discussed it with a player, who leaked it.
An HC should not be discussing this stuff with a player either way.
October 13th, 2013 at 12:25 am
So, a bunch of extortionists have reached a conclusion in their own favor. Cool story, bro.
October 13th, 2013 at 12:29 am
JOE
I have a problem with the way you worded your blogpost. The article you referenced says that the NFLPA believes Schiano leaked the info, it doesn’t say that they’ve proved he leaked the info & since the NFLPA represents Josh Freeman, that is a MAJOR difference.
Yet, you title your blogpost in such a way that it seems the NFLPA is speaking as a matter of fact. Lets try to be a little bit more professional. What do you say?
October 13th, 2013 at 12:54 am
It’s all hearsay and speculation. Everyone in that locker room knew what time it was. Can’t prove where it came from just like the MRSA.
October 13th, 2013 at 12:58 am
24:
You should read the story. Joe made it crystal clear it was a claim.
October 13th, 2013 at 1:02 am
Non-stop witch hunt!
October 13th, 2013 at 1:03 am
Fire him now,if we lose tommorrow he’s gone write it down.
October 13th, 2013 at 1:12 am
Gone when dee? in January? I say he stays until week 17 regardless. Write it down.
October 13th, 2013 at 1:16 am
Fire this guy
October 13th, 2013 at 1:17 am
Whether its true or not….Schiano was never on Freemans side from day one, Weve been set back atleast 5 years my fellow Bucs fans…..atleast!!!
October 13th, 2013 at 1:27 am
Unless the NFLPA has evidence, they can go pound sand. Of course the union is going to take a player’s side. No surprise there.
Also the timing of these articles are highly suspect.
October 13th, 2013 at 1:32 am
where there is smoke…..
At this point does it even matter if Schiano was the leak? Perception is reality and moving forward what top flight player in his right mind would want to play for this coach?
October 13th, 2013 at 1:37 am
We need to draft Johnny Football.
October 13th, 2013 at 1:42 am
Probably because he is a mean, evil, bully. Perhaps he wanted to get even in some way. Based on what I have seen of him, I don’t doubt it. He has to go; the sooner, the better.
October 13th, 2013 at 2:05 am
Meh. I think Schiano can fart in the NFLPA’s general direction on this one.
October 13th, 2013 at 2:22 am
The NFLPA represents Josh
Of course they are going to be making the claim…
Ahahaha Don’t get the pitch forks sharpened just yet.
Nice title joe.. Lol smh
October 13th, 2013 at 2:40 am
Joe and the rest of the media would like nothing more than for it to be a circus. lets call a spade a spade. until I hear it from the the NFLPA that its definite. I agree with PR, nice title Joe.
October 13th, 2013 at 3:22 am
The only thing saving Dominik’s & Schiano’s jobs is winning. Unfortunately, I just don’t see a lot of wins for this team. Bad place for both of them to be, but they can blame themselves. Freeman gave them what they thought was no choice. They had a choice. Beat Philadelphia by 10+ & then, just play up to the talent you got & with a lot of luck, might win a few…but who’s fooling who? This team is in trouble.
October 13th, 2013 at 5:08 am
I dont give a FK! So what if he did or didnt!!! Scew Josh, glad he’s finally gone!!
All I know is we have a HUGE game today, one we better win!!!!!
And I know Glennon and Revis and McCoy and all the other players WILL go out and DESTROY those Eagles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
….just need some decent play calling, thats all 😉
Win THIS GAME, and we can forgive and forget….we need that win….
October 13th, 2013 at 6:30 am
It’s hard for me to read th stuff most of you guys (commenters) write. Most defend the organization blindly and without much thought. I’m a big fan too, but I like to engage my brain a bit as well.
If the NFLPA thinks it has evidence that Schiano leaked the information, and that the leak was from Schiano to other players, then the Bucs are in a bad spot. Those other players? Those are guys that the union ALSO represents.
And what exactly is the benefit for the NFLPA to make this story up? What’s the angle? They’re not concerned if Freeman or Glennon starts, both are in the union.
Without more details, it’s hard for us to know what has really taken place, but it sure appears to be more than what is appropriate.
October 13th, 2013 at 6:30 am
I’m with u Mad Max ……go bucs .hope to see u guys at the game
October 13th, 2013 at 6:34 am
Ian is dead on. Who is going to come to tampa with shiano here? The circus will stay as long as shiano is here.
October 13th, 2013 at 7:26 am
Ian is wrong, there are only so many teams that will overpay for talent. The Bucs are one of the few right no. The diseased filled locker room will keep free agents away more than the coach. Also what has all the high priced free agents gotten the Buc??? Injuries, suspensions, and some had 1 good year and disappeared.
October 13th, 2013 at 7:34 am
This is stupid. He wouldn’t have said absolutely not when he “supposedly” leaked it in front of 70-80 people during a meeting was asked directly if he was the source during his PC.
Bottom line, if someone ask you if you did something that 60-70 people know that you did, you aren’t going to go on record and say “absolutely not” in the PC.
October 13th, 2013 at 7:38 am
What I want to know, is why isn’t sissy Tynes and his overbearing wife getting flack for bringing in the MRSA after they ripped the Bucs.
October 13th, 2013 at 7:49 am
It’s not like this is happening to every player on the team. It’s just Freeman.
October 13th, 2013 at 8:14 am
@Paul.. uhh what? You’re saying that he wouldn’t LIE to someone during a PC? Lolololol! How naive are you?
October 13th, 2013 at 8:15 am
@Jerry… also reports came out that Banks didn’t want the world to know that he was the 3rd Buc with MRSA, but that happened anyways from “sources” inside OBP.. Schiano mouthing off? Who knows?
October 13th, 2013 at 8:15 am
Key to a Bucs win today – Schiano & Sully miss the team bus and do not attend the game!
October 13th, 2013 at 8:24 am
“Now, Joe would like to know when exactly is “before?”
That was my thought as well.
Another one…if players saw Josh being tested they may have gone to Schiano with concern, at which time he may have said something.
However, all this means is that Schiano did NOT leak it to the media…one of those 3 players did. That’s where the leak really is.
October 13th, 2013 at 8:25 am
Ian_620WDAE Says:
October 13th, 2013 at 1:32 am
where there is smoke…..
At this point does it even matter if Schiano was the leak? Perception is reality and moving forward what top flight player in his right mind would want to play for this coach?
___________________________________________________________________________________
EXACTLY! Thank You Ian!
This needs to be explained over and over to those in the area that somehow STILL believe that Schianopolean is the savior of this team. What player in his right mind would want to play for this team as it sits now?
October 13th, 2013 at 8:38 am
I’ve never watched Johnny Football play more than a few drives can he throw th deep ball well?
October 13th, 2013 at 8:39 am
All I can say is Shiano must have pissed off the wrong group of NFL executives. Between the calls on the field and the calls for his head; this has to be coming right from the top. It’s obvious he doesn’t fit in well with the good ole boy network so they’re pushing him over the cliff. I’m on the fence about the whole thing, but it’s not looking good.
October 13th, 2013 at 8:40 am
My source with the NFLPA (their website) doesn’t mention any of this at all. It mentions the MRSA efforts only.
So either this usa today guy is lying or the NFLPA doesn’t have the balls to stand behind their claim.
October 13th, 2013 at 8:47 am
All I can say is:
Freeman is history, gone, departed, terminated, through, finished, vanished, elsewhere, SYONARA, ADIOS, AU-REVOIR, Auf WIEDERSHEN, CHEERIO, ADJO, ANTIO, DO SVIDANIYA, HASTA LA VISTA, BYE-BYE…. SO LONG Of course, Schiano would say CAIO!!!
October 13th, 2013 at 8:53 am
No way he nflpa releases this without concrete evidence. Schiano would sue the pants off them.
And for those of you who think Josh would release this…..wake up. All that report did was lessen his earning potential. From all we have heard of Schiano, we know he is a liar and we know he can be an asshole just to prove he is boss.
If Schano did illegally release ths info, he should be fired. Imagine if your boss starts chatting about your medical conditions to coworkers.
October 13th, 2013 at 8:57 am
One more thing…everything we read seems to suggest Schiano doesn’t believe the rules apply to him since he alone knows how to win. Releasing free may or may not have been the right move, but why has it blown up to this degree? It sure seems that the HC created this circus, or at the very let, allowed it to happen. It is bush league at best, and immoral and criminal at worst.
October 13th, 2013 at 8:59 am
If it was already out why would he discuss it?
Sounds more like Schiano told folks at team, players or whoever, and then it leaked.
But all speculation at this point.
October 13th, 2013 at 9:03 am
Schiano, think he is bigger then the game and do not have to follow the rules. He need to learn how to talk to player’s and not at them. The bucs will win the game to day if he miss the bus. ( thanks Jim)
October 13th, 2013 at 9:10 am
Eric, that’s the point. He’s not allowed to do that. He knows this. Sounds to me like it was intentional. Either that or he’s dumber than dirt.
October 13th, 2013 at 9:10 am
I want Schiano to be judged by wins and losses. I’m not interested in hyperbole. We should wait on the facts. The truth will be found. In the meantime, we’ve got a game to win. Go Bucs!
October 13th, 2013 at 9:22 am
@bilglebowski,
Totally agree if that’s how it went down.
Then he could deny he was the direct press leak.
October 13th, 2013 at 9:47 am
Splengo. By wins and losses shiano is behind the 8 ball. I do not see him coming out ahead in the near future.
October 13th, 2013 at 9:52 am
Jacko101,
Johnny Football is a magician on the field. He is a hybrid of RG3 and Brees.
October 13th, 2013 at 9:56 am
Joe, read the quote you placed again:
“And the NFLPA contends it has information the ORIGINAL breach occurred when Schiano discussed Freeman’s status in the league’s substance-abuse program with other Buccaneers players, prior to the quarterback’s Oct. 3 release.”
The original breach would be the first leak, BEFORE it is public knowledge.
October 13th, 2013 at 10:02 am
“Sounds more like Schiano told folks at team, players or whoever, and then it leaked.
By NFLPA bylaws, Schiano isn’t allowed to tell ANYONE, including players, no matter what they might have been asking. Just cause he didn’t bellow it out to the press doesn’t let him off the hook. On the other hand, as Joe’s article states, the NFLPA ‘believes this’, after a ‘cursory investigation’, so it’s far from proven. I think it is ‘probably’ true, but I wouldn’t run the man out on a rail until they do just that…prove it. Still, who’s to say when the circus gets to be too much for the Glazers.
October 13th, 2013 at 10:34 am
Doubt this is true. A cursory investigation. Really. I’m in a union and trust me they are about facts and documentation.
October 13th, 2013 at 10:41 am
All these stories make being a fan difficult
October 13th, 2013 at 10:50 am
Listening to the NFL players lawyer this morning sure sounds like they got the goods on Schiano.
Gonna turn over their evidence to the league if they will do a joint investigation.
Which means the Glazers will be informed. I suspect they would be highly displeased.
Wild thought. If Schiano did this could the Glazers fire him and not pay him? Violation of his conduct clause?
October 13th, 2013 at 11:15 am
“No way he nflpa releases this without concrete evidence. Schiano would sue the pants off them.”
Couldn’t disagree more. The NFLPA hasn’t even been able to talk to Schiano yet, so they have one unverified side of the story. Someone, somewhere (and we don’t know who) has made a claim, and that’s more than likely the extent of their information. And 9 out of 10 claims we’ve heard over the last 4 weeks have been b.s.
The NFLPA needs the league to join the investigation so they can get access that they don’t have now. So of course they’re going to have to make this claim, whether they can prove it or not.
Maybe they can, but we haven’t seen it yet – concluding that it was Schiano despite all logic saying that the party with the motivation to leak was the Freeman camp is irresponsible and wrong.
October 13th, 2013 at 11:18 am
@Eric, you’re onto something there buddy.
But in the mean time, I hope to see some good play calling from him today…..guess we’ll see how the rest plays out after the game 😉
October 13th, 2013 at 11:22 am
Doesn’t make sense for Schiano to leak it, but if the proof is concrete and shows he did the question becomes who gets the interim HC job…Wannstedt (IIRC has just shy of a .500 NFL win percentage), Butch Davis (not sure what his W-L percentage was in Cleveland but assuming it wasn’t good or he’d still be a HC in the NFL), or someone else?
October 13th, 2013 at 11:25 am
Davis can’t coach without forfeiting a bunch of money from his old college job. It’s why he’s not a coach right now.
Schiano isn’t going anywhere right now.
October 13th, 2013 at 11:26 am
Wow! Josh will sue Schiano personally and the Buccaneer organization if there is proof.
October 13th, 2013 at 11:47 am
Of course it makes sense that Schiano leaked this. He flat out sucks and this media driven circus has not only vilified someone he can’t stand, but also takes away the focus that Schiano is a failure as a coach.
October 13th, 2013 at 11:53 am
@Rob, right on…..but Dom is fkn fair game buddy 😉
October 13th, 2013 at 12:20 pm
Sure, Dom is fair game. I think he’s a guy who’s done a great job numbers-wise, but terrible job talent-evaluation-wise. Thankfully, that looks to have improved dramatically with the new coaching staff. Sadly, I think Dominik was a guy who has been learning on the job. I’m not in a hurry to see him fired as long as he’s not making all the personnel decisions, but I’m not going to lose sleep if he doesn’t make the cut.