“A Pro In Every Sense Of The Word”
January 15th, 2014
Leslie Frazier speaks
Bucs defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier fielded the inevitable leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman questions today at One Buc Palace, as he met with media for the first time in his new role.
Frazier could easily have said he was only going to talk about Buccaneers, but instead he offered plenty of typical coachspeak about Freeman and also went out of his way to praise Freeman’s professionalism.
“Josh did a lot of good things for us in that short time that we had. Unfortunately it didn’t work out where we got him a lot of snaps in ball games. He worked as hard as he could every week to try to prepare and be ready to go. He was a pro in every sense of the word in that way,” Frazier said.
“But we made a decision to try to figure out where Christian Ponder was and also take a look at Matt Cassel as well, as we tried to determine and get some questions answered at our quarterback position. Josh got caught up in the shuffle of that. It probably wasn’t the fairest situation for him, made it difficult for him, made it difficult for all of us as we were trying to evaluate quarterbacks in an NFL season. That’s not a wise thing. But nothing to do with Josh. He prepared and worked as hard as he could to get on the field. It just didn’t work out.”
Frazier went on to say Freeman has a “chance to be a very good player in our league.”
Frazier is a standup guy in the Lovie Smith mold. Joe trusts his take, and Frazier likely did Freeman quite a service with this public support. As Joe wrote, Frazier easily could have declined to talk about Freeman.
No, Joe’s not going so far to think Frazier will tell Lovie he needs free-agent-to-be Freeman to return.
January 15th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
He got paid a couple extra million on top of the 6 million from the Bucs. It was more than fair to him.
January 15th, 2014 at 4:19 pm
The way the Freeman era ended in Tampa was so disappointing. Had high hopes that we had found our QB of the future. :/ he got spoiled in Tampa though, everybody anointed him before he had proven anything.
January 15th, 2014 at 4:25 pm
Please stop with the Josh Freeman has potential, every person in the league has potential until they prove they dont. The guy was 3rd behind to guys who are back ups, his name does not even get mentioned regarding free agent QBs, he’s on nobody’s radar except for those in Tampa that are sour from a bad season.
Josh Freeman is terrible, his desire to work the necessary hours of film study is beyond poor, his mechanics are just above Tebow’s as is his accuracy, his leadership skills are pitiful, his mental toughness is embarrassing, folks need to face the music…..he’s not good. If referencing one good season determined a career, Tebow would still be in the league. Josh Freeman is awful at QB, saying that he showed up to work and conducted himself as a professional as a Viking after the colossal meltdown we witnessed during a CONTRACT YEAR is hysterical.
January 15th, 2014 at 4:26 pm
I wouldn’t mind seeing LEAKY FREENMAN Back for a little comp with Glennon!!
January 15th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
That Monday night game when Free played his one and only game with Minnesota had to be the biggest meltdown I have ever seen. Freeman will probably have one more shot with another team, if he is lucky. Not many coaches will want to put their arses on the line for him due to his past reputation.
January 15th, 2014 at 4:31 pm
Freeman Free Agency + Olsen = Raiders
January 15th, 2014 at 4:33 pm
At best he will be brought in by a team under the premise of being a #2 with the ability to compete for a starting role. Maybe the Pats will pick him up and trade Mallet to the Bucs as a thank you for Blount and Talib.
January 15th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
@Mulligan
That would be ideal! Or reunite him with Rah in Washington as a #2 and they can trade Cousins to the Bucs.
January 15th, 2014 at 4:42 pm
@JMN
Josh freeman isnt jamarcus russell….maybe you listen to the news but to think that josh freeman would get one more shot in the nfl because of ONE game is kinda weak considering he’s done more than orvlosky has in his career. they still say josh freeman has all the talent to be a great quarterback, greg schiano has the biggest meltdown ever from a head coaching standpoint….freeman could have won more than 4 games if he had played out his contract instead of cutting the guy and just giving him 6 million dollars!!! like him or not that was a bad move and if your for glennon or not doesnt matter that dude is going to have competition this offseason and i really dont care who it is, i dont think theres a ex starting quarterback in free agency glennon could beat out to become our starter…..including josh freeman, i dont see him all of a sudden learning to throw an accurate back should fade in one offseason while learning a new system
January 15th, 2014 at 4:43 pm
Exhibit A for coach speak. This is why you don’t believe every interview or press release that comes out in the NFL.
January 15th, 2014 at 4:49 pm
@bucs4lyfe
I never said Freeman could not be a successful QB in the NFL. Take a chill pill man. My point is, it would take a certain type of coach to work with him to get him right. He has all the physical tools to be a great QB in the NFL. He is messed up in the head, plus work ethic questions, and with the the way the NFL is now, with the revolving door of coaches, how many of them are going to want to take a chance on him? Listen, I was the biggest Freeman supporter until I heard the rumors about his dedication to the team and he threw a hissy fit when he was chosen not to be the starter. The rumors are out there for a reason. Do you hear rumors of any other starting NFL QB’s being late to team meetings or function? Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, heck even the non elite ones. A big NO!
January 15th, 2014 at 4:55 pm
can’t believe he said this. the fact that he brought in free made me question his credibility, now he verified he has zero credibility.
no comment would have been more than fair. he threw himself under the bus for a lot of fans.
what an idiot.
January 15th, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Think where we’d be if the Bucs had given Freeman that long-term contract last offseason. Keep him away from Tampa.
January 15th, 2014 at 5:53 pm
Just like schiano , Frazier is a true professional. He will not bad mouth a player to the media.
Now sit down one night off the record and have a few beers with the two of them and I’m sure you’ll get some entertaining news.
January 15th, 2014 at 5:54 pm
Yea Chris I agree, he sees a player whose already in a downward spiral and he’s just making sure he doesn’t add to the pitt he’s fallen into.
January 15th, 2014 at 6:48 pm
oh look, somebody’s making excuses for josh freeman. that’s new.
January 15th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Bobby M:
….his desire to work the necessary hours of film study is beyond poor, his mechanics are just above Tebow’s as is his accuracy, his leadership skills are pitiful, his mental toughness is embarrassing….
How do you know these things? Do you have any concrete proof, or is this what you think from reading the fan sites, or whatever, or wherever you get your information.
I just get tired of some of these accusations without sources.
Can you tell me what was/is wrong with his mechanics? What would be your plan to correct his mechanics?
January 15th, 2014 at 7:10 pm
None cause he’s old news, another teams back-up
January 15th, 2014 at 7:55 pm
What you expect a coach to say. I wanna hear about the players we have. I wish freeman all the luck in the world. I still think he would do great wherever he goes.
January 15th, 2014 at 7:59 pm
Haha, love the action shot of Free starring down his receiver
January 15th, 2014 at 8:03 pm
I give Joe credit for this. Joe has drug Freeman through the mud regarding his time with the Vikings based on so-so evidence, but Joe has changed his take based on this account, while the peanut gallery calls Frazier a liar. Props to Joe.
January 15th, 2014 at 8:16 pm
Joe hasn’t changed any take lol, he just provided a quote by Frazier.
So-so evidence? Two organizations came out saying the exact same thing about Free Free. It’s not a coincidence.
The big bad world is after Free Free, lol yea… right ahahaha
January 15th, 2014 at 8:43 pm
Sign him up coach! I’d like to see freeman and Glennon have equal shot at the starting position to see who would really win. Schiano was always biased against freeman. Now, freeman is not a great QB but he is a gamer. He’ll fight to the end for his team. Glennon does not. Glennons worst part of the game is the Forth quarter, that just so happens to be Freeman’s best quarter.
January 15th, 2014 at 8:45 pm
Let me clear this up. Actually I would prefer to cut Glennon, sign freeman and draft Johnny football. Now that would be a real competition.
January 15th, 2014 at 8:46 pm
Lol Dream on, he’ll do his best to sink the organization on his way out is what he’ll do.
Oh wait, he already did that 😉 ahahaha
January 15th, 2014 at 9:35 pm
Damning Freeman to NFL purgatory is ridiculous. Say what you want, but he’s still accomplished more in his five year career than Kurt Warner, Rich Gannon, Brad Johnson,, and Jeff Garcia did at Freeman’s age. Plus, he’s got way more ability than any of them…he just needs to mature, rededicate himself, and take a couple more steps in his development. He’s got great tools to work with and if he ever gets back on track, he could be a great QB.
I still contend that playing for one of the league’s worst coaches and worst offensive minds ruined him. If it were us working under a tyrant boss, we’d just up and quit, but that is not possible while under contract…so he sucked and slept and leaked his way out of the bay while the other players went down with the ship.
January 15th, 2014 at 10:23 pm
Maybe coach,Frazier is telling the truth. Coach schiano, may have misjudge Freeman like he did with all of the other players.
January 15th, 2014 at 10:26 pm
Free was a disaster! An embarrassment to our team and to himself. Coach Schiano was an excellent producer of NFL talent while at Rutgers,.. He saw early on that Free was Not NFL QB material and it showed when he got his one game on national TV with the Vikings! Good that he moved on,. Glennon will get it done for us here in Tampa Bay! GO BUCS!
January 15th, 2014 at 10:36 pm
What’s a Josh Freeman?
January 15th, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Your right maybe everyone else that said he’s a lazy bum is wrong lol
January 15th, 2014 at 10:46 pm
Said it yesterday…. I’d like to see Freeman with some real, good, coaching with a plan.
January 15th, 2014 at 11:04 pm
Come on guys Freeman was not consistent enough and it was frustrating at times to watch him because he was so hot and cold but the guy was none of those things described by bobby. He was the guy who put a crappy Bucs team on his back and lead them to 10 wins his 1st year starting. As far as the game in Minn goes he played piss poor but he had 10 days to learn the playbook in order to start that game. No-one let me say that again No one has ever done that before in the modern NFL. His coaches came out after the game and said it was no fair to him to be put it that situation. Have a little class, like coach Frasher and just wish the guy well.
January 15th, 2014 at 11:05 pm
Can we move on with this? There is no reason that this organization needs to reinvent a failed project. Those days are over…
January 15th, 2014 at 11:39 pm
Oldfart44, yes, I have clients who played with Freeman, he’s a joke. Here’s a little insight in just how bad Freeman is…
Dominick built a pro bowl offensive line to buy him more time to get through his progressions however he can’t read a defense so it doesn’t matter…why, because he doesn’t prepare like a starting NFL QB
You then bring in big large targets (mike Williams and Vincent Jax)to mask his terrible inaccuracy…still was awful even when he happened to guess right and had time…FYI, part of a QB appearing to have time to read his progressions is the adjustments he makes at the line but when you can’t read a defense, it’s easy to make you look “rushed”
Draft a stud running back to pound into the ground to control the clock, stack the defense and pray to stay close enough that you can squeak a few games out…Freeman still managed to throw pick six’s, fumbled or took sacks that put the defense in terrible field position or took the team out of FG range.
The entire offense and defense was built to mask Freeman and in the end it was blown up by guess who….Freeman. He’s awful, all the Bucs needed was a game manager but even that requires film study which is why Glennon is in and Freeman is out.
January 16th, 2014 at 12:04 am
Stanglassman, A 5 year QB in the league who has played QB his entire life can perform basic passes….unless they can’t. Tell me again how many teams were lining up to trade a 7th round pick for Freeman before we cut him? Or what about the remaining games in the season, he never made it higher than 3rd on the depth chart. Glennon looked better in his first preseason game with scrubs. You do realize teams talk more about trading for Kirk Cousins than signing the one winning season of glory aka Freeman? The line on Freeman is he wants to be given a starting job or he’s not interested.
January 16th, 2014 at 12:26 am
2010 is no longer a viable excuse for Free Free
January 16th, 2014 at 6:24 am
It would have been in poor taste to say anything negative about Freeman. Plus, it would have made him look even more foolish for signing in him in the first place. He chose the honorable path which is always a good thing.
January 16th, 2014 at 9:27 am
Bobby M,
I’m going to go through each point of yours and show you how stupid you sound…
You don’t have clients.. Lets get that right out of the way.. You are a keyboard fan who doesn’t go to games.
You don’t know S*** about what he does in the film room or anywhere else. Teams aren’t going to trade a 7th round pick for a player they think they can sign once they cut him or sign him to be a rental at the MOST important position in football unless your the Raiders(Palmer).
Our “PRO BOWL OFFENSIVE LINE” is anything but a pro bowl offensive line this year in the 3 games he played.. Last year he played all of last season without Davin and half the season without Nicks.. Along with moving Zuttah from center to guard and back to center and the benching of Trueblood…
He had no help whatsoever from his defense last year.. We had scrubs playing at 3 of the 4 DB positions (4 of 5 if you count nickel and Ronde was OKAY at FS) but wait WE HAD THE NUMBER 1 RUN DEFENSE… Ya because people threw it on us ALL GAME LONG because it was THAT EASY.
Did your sources also let you know that Glennon was practicing quite a bit with the 1st team in the off-season and preseason along with during the first couple weeks into the regular season? Sounds to me like the HC didn’t want him in there to start and didn’t have the balls to go to Team Glazer to try and start HIS GUY.
Last year I’m pretty sure Freeman threw for 4k yards and 26 TD’s.. Didn’t have a 3rd receiver last year and an over the hill TE who came on in the second of the season… Oh we had 1 Pro bowl RB and WR and another who finished just shy of 1k yards.. Didn’t know that was ALOT of help.. OH and all of this was done while HE DIDN’T HAVE A QB COACH WHO TEACHED MECHANICS! Ya he started to tail off but not ALL of the blame goes on Freeman.. There are other people who catch, block, call plays, and play defense & special teams to help him out.. When did Tebow EVER have a good season? You mean the year they went to the playoffs? I’m sorry I didn’t know running an option offense while throwing the ball sometimes less than 15 times in a game and playing extremely good defense attributes to having a good season… Oh and having a magical 4th quarter.. This all coming from a GATOR FAN.
If GLENNON was so great why didn’t he bring us to more wins? Why was Glennon missing short intermediate and long throws? Why was Glennon running away from Phantom Pressure? Why was Glennon willing to eat sacks then throw the ball away? Why was Glennon not willing to let it rip on a 3rd and 9 down 17 points? (but instead throw it on a 2 yard check down)
Last thing.. So Freeman has to learn an entire offense mid-season that’s nothing like the ones he has played in… Along with the fact Frazier KNEW he was going to get fired if he didn’t play someone who gave him the best chance to WIN… A QB coming over mid-season doesn’t give you the best chance to WIN.
Go crawl back in your hole troll you know NOTHING about football.
January 16th, 2014 at 10:00 am
Time will tell who is right. Let’s check back next year, the year after, and the year after that.
Let’s see who’s right on Freeman. I predict he will never even get close to his prior “success”. He will be a backup at best.
We will see, won’t we?
January 16th, 2014 at 10:30 am
IF Free is such a PRO at every sense of the word why isn’t he a starting qb somewhere? I think his job status speaks for itself!!
January 16th, 2014 at 11:05 am
Phillip are you Freeman’s older or younger brother. Sorry dude but not all your opinions are true facts. Just opinion on what you saw, there is reason you aren’t voted captain cause you have not demonstrated the ability to lead by example. Trust me he lacked in that all offseason. (Fact). You wouldn’t see brooks or hardy have a captain titled removed from them. There are many QB who get picked up and forced to start and learn a system but the want to has to be there. Fact! Viking players made same comments about him you heard here in tampa. I’m sorry maybe schiano went to the Vikings locker room and impersonated a player. I was josh supporter hope he gets Himself together. Josh college QB inconsistant. Bucs yearly records inconsistant bucs went as josh went inconsistant. Fact. Dude he came in last on QB CHALLENGE at open practice at stadium got beat out by O and Glennon. Threw ball into ground twice instead of hitting even the outside of target.
January 16th, 2014 at 11:32 am
Philip,
Tell me how good was Freeman in his 3rd yr? You know, the one where we lost 10 in a row and he threw 16 TDs and 22 INTs…Was Schiano coaching then?
Yeah, he’s really starting to peak professionally, what did he complete, 49% of his passes last year.
Your rebuttal of “whys” is about as hysterical as your claim I don’t work with NFL players. Glennon is the classic Bill Parcells mold of QBs , senior in college, captain of the team, sound fundamentals with a passion for football. Guess who learned under Parcells…Belichick and guess who Schiano models after? You probably would be shocked to find Glennon avg more yards per game than Brady did in his first season. Brady had the luxury of sitting and learning under Bledsoe, Glennon got to witness a total flameout. Teams know that work ethic is more important than “physical tools” and ultimately executing on the field is what keeps you on it. Name the last “franchise QB” that was cut in season and later went on to lead another franchise. Glennon may be a Brad Johnson but guess what….Brad Johnson has as many rings as Peyton Manning. You can field contenders with sound QB play, Freeman is not stable in any way.
I’m guessing you’ve never been “upstairs” on club level, tryi spending a few seasons in the players suites and gain a better understanding of the workings of the NFL. I’m guessing you wait in a line at RayJay …what’s that like?
January 16th, 2014 at 12:20 pm
2010 was a fluke guys. Move on.
January 16th, 2014 at 12:42 pm
Bobby M and The truth,
First off name one thing I said that wasn’t fact?
That Pro Bowl offensive line.. Fact
No 3rd receiver.. Fact
Dallas Clark coming on strong towards the end of the season.. Fact
Other reasons as to why a QB has a poor performance.. FACT
One of the worst secondaries in the nNFL
January 16th, 2014 at 12:42 pm
Bobby M and The truth,
First off name one thing I said that wasn’t fact?
That Pro Bowl offensive line.. Fact
No 3rd receiver.. Fact
Dallas Clark coming on strong towards the end of the season.. Fact
Other reasons as to why a QB has a poor performance.. FACT
One of the worst secondaries in the nNFL
January 16th, 2014 at 12:59 pm
@Phillip
So, care to predict his future as an NFL starting quarterback? It seems that you seem to think he has everything it takes.
Remember, teams are desperate for quality QBs. So, feel free to tell us what you see in his bright, bright future.
I predict backup QB for a few years. Eventually washes out of the league. Never again a longterm starter.
January 16th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Bobby M and The truth,
First off name one thing I said that wasn’t fact?
That Pro Bowl offensive line.. Fact
No 3rd receiver.. Fact
Dallas Clark coming on strong towards the end of the season.. Fact
Other reasons as to why a QB has a poor performance.. FACT
One of the worst secondaries in the NFL.. Fact
Glennon taking reps.. Fact
Glennon taking check downs and sacks and not attempting a deep pass.. FACT
The receivers and Doug being good.. Fact
Freeman’s 2012 stats.. Fact
QB coming in mid-season and not doing good… Please name me ONE
I never once said he was a leader nor a franchise qb or did I say he showed up for work on time.. None of that was typed by me… Definitely reading between the lines there.. When you say someone sucks when they have indeed proved in this league they can play at a pro bowl level is called slander.. I’m not a Freeman supporter I could care less where he plays next but hope for the best because I don’t want anyone to fail at what they do for a profession.. You didn’t say any facts just made up rumors you heard from your “clients” keep that non sense to yourself keyboard warrior
Idc where you think you watch the football game from.. Maybe you need to actually watch the game before you comment on things..
Comparing Glennon to Brady or anyone that didn’t come into the league in the past couple years is some of the dumbest things I have ever heard.. It’s and entirely different NFL now if you haven’t been watching.. The game is faster and more video game like now then ever before..
Oh and what players came out and said something?? Where are the sources??
January 16th, 2014 at 1:16 pm
“When you say someone sucks when they have indeed proved in this league they can play at a pro bowl level is called slander”
Do you truly understand what slander means?
January 16th, 2014 at 1:28 pm
I honestly feel like he can be an average to above average QB in the league if he gets some quality mechanics coaching .. But feel he did more damage by leaving the BUCS the way he did so he might not get that shot again… But then again Carson Palmer got another shot.. And injuries happen all the time. I can easily see the jets cardinals titans rams Raiders taking a look at him though..
January 16th, 2014 at 1:30 pm
The facts show that he struggled in 4 of his 5 professional seasons in the NFL with career passer ratings of 59.8, 98.5, 74.6, 81.6, and 52.6 for an average of 78.8 (didn’t include Minny).
Enough with the excuses. He is lucky to have made a fortune on his potential, not his ability. Now if you want to point to his apex in 2010, we all can see that this is the outlier, not the norm.
I think his future performance will confirm this. Unless all 4 of 5 of his poor season weren’t his fault. If you really think that, then, I just don’t know what to say to people like that.
We are what we are.
January 16th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
So, through 4 years of high school, 3 years of college, and 5 years in the NFL (combined, roughly half of his entire life), it was teaching that failed him? Not him, but, the fact that he didn’t receive adequate coaching?? That’s your theory?
January 16th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
It’s not an excuse when you had 4 different offensive coordinators 2 different head coaches and no qb coach to teach mechanics the past 2 seasons … It was the same problem he had coming out of college and hasn’t changed because he hasn’t had that coaching.. And last year wasn’t a bad year at all.. He had an ugly stretch at the end of the year so everyone thinks it was a bad year..
Dude you asked of my opinion and I’m giving it there are no excuses.. Could he have done more on his own.. You bet your @$$ he could.. Could the coaches have done more.. They sure as hell could.. Could the rest of the team.. Yes..
Everyone was riding his nuts last year when he went through that 6 game stretch where he was a top 5 QB and we were winning.. Then are so quick to bury someone when they don’t perform as well.. Just saying he isn’t a garbage QB like many “BUC fans” suggest.. Even the alright JOE was comparing Freeman to Brees in the off-season so there’s that..
January 16th, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Almighty damn autocorrect
January 16th, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Doesn’t matter if people think he’s garbage or not. It’s what GMs think. And results. Results matter.
Again, we will see if the next few years show whether 2009, 2011-2013 were accurate barometers of his capabilities as a starter, or if 2010 was.
Also, he has plenty of $ to hire a George Whitfield Jr type, if he thinks his mechanics need refinement. I personally don’t think he cares. In my opinion, the only thing he has going for him is his physical traits. He does less with more. I just can’t respect that.
You have your opinion. I have mine. We will see what comes of it.
January 16th, 2014 at 9:54 pm
Bobby M: thanks for replying.
For me, hopefully, more will come out as to what changed him. I wish someone would state absolutely what his personal problems are.
Did Schiano perhaps destroy his confidence?
I just don’t understand how he could have changed so quickly.
By the way, if you want to look at proper throwing mechanics, just watch Payton Manning; how he grips the ball, how high he holds it, and the lack of wasted motion. Of course, he is also very experienced isn’t he?:-)
It is almost an impossibility to find a “franchise” QB.
January 17th, 2014 at 12:29 am
Phillip the jig is up for Free Free and time has run out on all possible excuses lol.
Time will tell.. lol Time has already told that he can’t cut it.
The exception to the rule was 2010 fan boi
So while you fan obi’s continue making excuses reality has already stepped in and cut him from one team and benched em on his next one.
Good ole Free Free the Franchise QB, the victim lol 😉
January 17th, 2014 at 4:51 pm
Freeman played about as well for us as any other QB ever has. he had two AWFULL coaches, a bad oline, a awfull TE (or one that yelled at him) and a average WR core. funny we heard NOTHING about his character issues untill a coach came in who ovbiously didnt want him!
January 19th, 2014 at 4:30 pm
Read all your comments..Why not give the kid a break and stop trying to end his career. Lets all wish him good luck and success and hope he has a break out year with some team who can steer him in the right direction.
January 19th, 2014 at 4:37 pm
Olderfart:
That’s kind of backwards thinking isn’t it? Let’s keep a guy just in case he may succeed elsewhere? Why not bring in someone else and force Glennon to rise or fall on his own merits? So far, Glennon sure looks like a decent backup.
January 19th, 2014 at 5:50 pm
Coaches won’t bury a player public ally.. I talked to 3 members of local media and they agreed; Vikings players spoke volumes about him. Frazier would never say anything bad about the guy but the excuse was lame. Since Freeman’s contract was up, wouldn’t they want to see the most of him, not Cassle or Ponder.
April 11th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
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