A Fresh Look At Josh Freeman
March 21st, 2018
Yes, Joe has been closely monitoring the movements of the Buccaneers’ former franchise quarterback.
Why?
It’s interesting — and certainly more fascinating than the horrendous shooting on display in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
So Freeman, for those unaware, is a member of the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL. He met with them last year and inked a deal a couple of months ago. They’re very serious about Freeman up there, and Freeman is taking things very seriously, as well.
First, below is a recent Twitter photo of lean Freeman a few weeks ago with two of his Montreal teammates.
That’s what you call being totally immersed in Montreal culture! Josh Freeman caught a Habs game with teammates Luc B.-J. and @7Bowman as he was visiting Montreal this week. #AlsMTL #GoHabsGo @JF5x pic.twitter.com/kHUBoevSty
— Alouettes de Montréal (@MTLAlouettes) February 27, 2018
As for Freeman on the football field, CFL.ca writer Jeff Krever typed up a really interesting look at NFL quarterbacks transitioning to the CFL, where the rules are quite different. Football junkies will love it, and Joe recommends it. Here’s a snippet:
The other one comes from the quarterback, and it has to do with work ethic and especially humility. I say humility because sometimes that’s the biggest challenge for players, especially quarterbacks, coming from the NFL to the CFL. These players have played one version of football their entire lives, and suddenly they’re playing what’s essentially an entirely different game.
What the quarterback sees on the field in Canada as opposed to the States, whether it’s the unlimited motion or the extra defensive back, could not be more black and white. There’s no fast-tracking the hours of film needed to get up to speed.
Will a seven-year NFL veteran and a former first round draft pick like Freeman eagerly take the advice of a Matt Shiltz, Antonio Pipkin or Drew Willy? Players that are less celebrated but have seen more and have a better understanding, at this point, of the three-down game?
Joe wishes 30-year-old Freeman well, and Joe is long over Freeman freaking out and getting himself launched from Tampa when Greg Schiano benched him after three games of the 2013 season for rookie Mike Glennon.
Freeman’s story, ironically, has become about his deep love for football. He’s not in Canada for the relatively small paycheck.
March 21st, 2018 at 9:59 am
The ‘MikeGlennonMob’ was not real. They are a segment of non-sheep fans that saw right through Josh Freeman and his sh!tshow that’s screwed our season four years ago.
Good luck to Freeman, and shame on those who refused to see that Freeman was the problem.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:02 am
Good to see J-Fro getting it together! Best wishes.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:06 am
Poor guy got totally ate up and spat out of the NFL machine. The way the bucs treated him was despicable and dirty. Wish they would have been better to him like they were with Dougie. Maybe they learned from the Freeman fiasco.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:08 am
The more shocking revalation is that Josh Johnson is still in the league while Josh Freeman is not. Surprised Freeman can’t catch a clipboard somewhere.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:08 am
steveK
but the heartless Glennon was clearly not the answer now was he… It’s ok i have been wrong Once too…
March 21st, 2018 at 10:09 am
I wish Josh Freeman luck. However I will always remember that weird ass interview he did with ESPN on his way out of One Buc Place. What the F was that mess?
March 21st, 2018 at 10:12 am
derrickbrooksforGM
freeman and doug made bad choices… Their OWN BAD choices so screw them they deserve to fail… it’s not a businesses or teams job to fix employers or players BAD CHOICES… drug and alchol bad choices are not diseases… they are simply bad personal choices that soft arse libtards labeled a disease to get insurance to pay for it and remove responsibility for the loser making bad choices. Every bad choice boils down to PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY….
March 21st, 2018 at 10:16 am
Josh Freeman wasn’t the only QB taken in the 1st round to flame out. List of QBs drafted in 1st round since Josh Freeman
Tim Tebow
Sam Bradford
Christian Ponder
Blaine Gabbert
Jake Locker
Cam Newton
Brandon Weeden
Ryan Tannehill
Robert Griffin
Andrew Luck
EJ Manuel
Teddy Bridgewater
Johnny Manziel
Blake Bortles
Marcus Mariota
Jameis Winston
These are the QBs taken in the 1st round from 2009-2017
Not an all-star cast
And people are actually telling Cleveland to pass on Bradley Chubb and Saquon Barkley for the QBs in this draft. What a joke!!
March 21st, 2018 at 10:18 am
jfro-6pak was a liar!!!!!! I hope that piece of garbage on his first snap slips on black ice, breaks his leg and poops his pants as the few fans in the stands laugh!!!!!!!!
His story is about lies, self indulgence, and blaming others!!!!!! When he admits that and apologizes to all the people he hurt and blamed, then he can start to be a human instead of the waste that he is!!!!!!!!!
F you Jfro!!!! and why does he insist on direct snaps????????
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2018 at 10:18 am
tmaxcon Says:
March 21st, 2018 at 10:08 am
steveK
but the heartless Glennon was clearly not the answer now was he… It’s ok i have been wrong Once too
—————-
Agree 100%
Glennon was not the answer, but he was thrust in there because our 1st round QB went mental. I didn’t think Glennon was the answer, but Freeman was clearly off the rails and 100% incapable.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:20 am
Derrickbrooksforgm,
Josh should’ve been helped more, and cut instantly. Dude was such a selfish joke.
The Jets game, 2013 opener is all you need to know. He was toast from the first drive.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:21 am
The sheep don’t even know half of the crap that piece of garbage got away with at one Buc!!!!! The Rah/Dom 3 year bachelor party just enabled that junk!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2018 at 10:22 am
Oh boy… @SCBucsfan is gonna love this one!
Go Bucs!
March 21st, 2018 at 10:22 am
Exactly Realist!
Some folks coined the “mikeglennonmob” when in reality they were the next n-sheep fans that saw right through Freeman and his horse manure antics.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:23 am
Non-sheep*
March 21st, 2018 at 10:25 am
derrickbrooksforGM…..I seen Freeman come in to the stadium wasted three hours before the game….not the bucs fault at all
March 21st, 2018 at 10:25 am
@Stevek
Don’t forget another reason of the MGM was that the team roster was not good enough!!!!!!! And we wanted better talent before bringing in a QB, That with no team that could not accomplish anything!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2018 at 10:26 am
steveK
100% agree.. freeman was dumarse… get your second contract win the big game then party you brains out for the next 40 years… free had the skill set just a pea for a brain.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:28 am
I really hope Freeman has a great run the rest of his playing career, whether that’s in the CFL, the NFL, or both.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:29 am
You got it, Tmaxcon!
Remember post game presser where he blamed guys for not gett Not open?
I remember his MNF sh!tshow start with Minnesota. Even Gruden couldn’t put enough lipstick on that pig!
I remember when the Bucs deactivated him and he wanted to sit with his friends, but the Bucs made him sit in the inactive suite for injured players. Love it!
Freeman missed the team photo, opening day breakfast among other things. What a total uncommitted, entitled brat!
March 21st, 2018 at 10:29 am
I love the CFL. The unlimited motion prior to the snap is awesome!
March 21st, 2018 at 10:37 am
steveK
first time I was ever embarrassed for someone else was watching that Minnesota melt down.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:42 am
I really want to know what caused his mental breakdown. I thought it was drugs. My wife said she got a gay vibe from him.
March 21st, 2018 at 10:44 am
For one year Freeman was the BEST qb the bucs have ever had!!!
March 21st, 2018 at 10:46 am
@tmaxcon
For me it was during the Rah/Dom era and I was at a certain South Tampa bar and saw jfro carried out like a dead body!!!!!! My buddy turned and said I think thats the Freeman!!!!! LOL!!!!!!
Lightweight, it was not even midnight yet!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2018 at 10:47 am
BucTrooper
it’s a gender netural world now… can’t be straight, gay, tranny or an IT… just all one big happy gender neutral world. pretty soon using the terms man, woman, girl or boy will cost more than a DUI….
March 21st, 2018 at 10:50 am
The Buc Realist
Being a lightweight is far more concerning than being a drunk… unless it’s your date and your trying to save some cash back in college then lightweight is good thing.
i have a buddy that works at a bar in Wichita, KS that shared a similar story about freeman it was off-season but he was a sloppy sloppy
drinking takes practice and we all know jfro sucked at practice…
March 21st, 2018 at 10:51 am
******************
LAKELAND, stop spewing the madness about how the Browns should draft Saquon and Chubb … THAT would be a fireable offense for their GM.
See my LONG post to you in the “Betting on the Come” thread … it’s time you saw the light my man!
Chubb is NOT an “elite” DE prospect; he’s just the best DE prospect in this draft … similar to how Chad Pennington and EJ Manuel were the best QB prospects in their respective draft classes and the only guys to go in the 1st round those years.
Sam Darnold is an elite QB prospect, Josh Rosen is an elite prospect even with his apparent jerkiness … even Josh Allen is an ultra-elite physical talent.
******************
March 21st, 2018 at 10:54 am
NFLNut
dude, thank you for so much entertainment over the last few weeks. much appreciated… now on a serious note can you share the strain or chemical combination used to come up with all these scenarios and observations.
March 21st, 2018 at 11:02 am
Yes tmax…. we are a world of gender fluid Ken dolls ….
March 21st, 2018 at 11:06 am
^^^Sure tmax, like you need to be mixing YOUR meds! LOL!
Hello pot, meet kettle!
March 21st, 2018 at 11:07 am
NFLNut
I can totally see the Browns drafting Saquon-1 and Chubb-4.
Then, using their second round picks plus more to move back up and draft a QB.
I don’t see Darnold as better than Barkley or Chubb, not Rosen for the matter.
I hope you’re right and 4 QBs go in the top 6, but I just don’t know. The Browns could draft the best offensive and defensive players with their first picks. Maybe they draft the best remaining QB in round two: Lamar Jackson or Mason Rudolph, especially if they are not sold on the top 4 over taking two blue chippers?
March 21st, 2018 at 11:11 am
All these perfect souls, casting the first stone.
I wish Josh Freeman the best. Kid messed his life up pretty bad, but The great thing about life.
There is opportunity for redemption.
For one great year- Freeman carried this wretched team on his back, to a 10-6 record. With half the help Winston has!!
Im happy to hear Josh is one the right track.
Love how people are saying Freeman cost this team a year!
Lmfao
Like this P.O.S, constant loser of a team needs a kid to derail it.
Honestly,Freeman at his worst, was still better than a Mark Dominick disaster deserved!!
March 21st, 2018 at 11:13 am
Bucsfanman
dude modern chemistry is a beautiful thing used responsibly… it’s all about personal responsibility. even mixing meds can’t make the bucs defense watchable….
March 21st, 2018 at 11:36 am
tmax- LOL! no truer words have been spoken. And, believe me, I’ve tried!
Beam and….
Crown and…
Tito’s and…
Maker’s and…
Bacardi and…
March 21st, 2018 at 11:43 am
Freewee needs to gain some weight. Skinny free sucked. Fat free looked like an actual QB on the field. Coincidence? I think not.
Slow news day – eh Joe?
March 21st, 2018 at 11:50 am
Josh Freeman had his opportunity, he was a 1st round draft pick. But he blew it. I wish him the best in the CFL. I’m pulling for a guy like Tyrod Taylor..a 6th round draft pick, who actually had to earn his keeps. And with a 10-5 record with the Bills last season. Plus leading the team to their 1st playoff berth since 1999.
Super Bowl champion (XLVII)
Pro Bowl (2015)
ACC Player of the Year (2010)
3× ACC champion (2007, 2008, 2010)
But the EXPERTS say he can’t play
March 21st, 2018 at 12:07 pm
LakeLand- Don’t forget, Hokie Alum.! Yea, mad props TT!
March 21st, 2018 at 12:14 pm
To tMax: Dude. I agree with you—for once—about the “bad choice gtfu” versus “oh you poor person who has this ‘addiction’ disease” issue.
Nut: It would be interesting to see what we get at 12 and 22 (Bills Trade-down) I’m convinced that one of James, Fitzpatrick or Vea is there at 12 and one of Gwynn, Guice or Davenport is there at 22.
Pickgrin: this is a terrible time for a slow news day, taking care of grandson and it’s cold and really windy.
March 21st, 2018 at 12:21 pm
I could forgive Freeman a little bit if he was wearing a Lightning jersey under his sweater.
March 21st, 2018 at 12:30 pm
BBB.
Speaking of. Bucs want to see guts and determination. Watch last nights game and learn!!
March 21st, 2018 at 12:30 pm
**Tyrod Taylor 8-6 with the Bills in 2017**
March 21st, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Is there any word about the NFL investigation of Freeman and the Bucs? Or are they still investigating it?
March 21st, 2018 at 12:38 pm
ROTFLMAO!!!!
There never was an NFL investigation. D. Smith, president of the NFLPA, came to Tampa and huffed and puffed about launching an NFLPA investigation which was a total smokescreen because it was TOTAL BS.
March 21st, 2018 at 12:40 pm
good bye, freeman is a loser, he wont last long in canada, even they wont want him
March 21st, 2018 at 12:40 pm
^^^
LOL – we’ll probably be asking the same thing about the “Winston Investigation” in 4 or 5 years as well…
March 21st, 2018 at 1:04 pm
LOL!
March 21st, 2018 at 1:13 pm
So let me get this straight. Joe wishes FreeWee the best even though he clearly through the whole organization under the bus and set us up for failure with a fake investigation (the proof is out there, just open your eyes to common sense). But Joe hates Doug Martin [[Joe wishes Doug Martin well, too, and never wrote or said anything about hate.]]–Joe and tried to run him out of town because he didnt perform well here and had a drug problem but never the less gave it his all. Gave it his all? Do you forget he was suspended in December for violating an undisclosed team rule?–Joe… The Joes thinking is @$$ backwards. Screw FreeWee The Mental Midget.
March 21st, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Vinny Testaverde was 30 years old when he left the Bucs. We forget how young Freeman was with the Bucs. If he can work himself back into the NFL he still has a chance to be around for a while. Fat Freeman was a stud football player, was such a waste when the Jersey Trash(tm) ruined him.
March 21st, 2018 at 1:33 pm
He was the last qb that won 10 games here. We should have kept Morris here. The problem is that coaches coach there instinct out of them. He was the last qb that won 10 games here to we should have kept Morris here know body want to amid that. But that’s truth. Coaches should learn to let these qb be them selves. Stop trying to coach there instinct out of them . The same thing is being done to Winston. Let him run some times if know ones open. Freeman had 500 yards rushing,25 tds 6ints . We went 10 n 6 . They said stop running n now he’s done. And people talks bad about him know. Winston is going to have to play his game win lose or draw that’s what I will do if I’m him. He’s a black qb so he will not get the pass that white qbs get . So he might as well play his game I think that will give this team a chance to win!!!!!!!! Go bucs!!!!!!
March 21st, 2018 at 1:34 pm
Lol People can read between the lines Joe. You desperately wanted him gone for several years. Just because you didnt mention the word hate doesnt make it any less true. And yes he gave it his all. He got popped for drugs. Ok…. That doesnt mean he didnt try his best on Sundays. But fine lets go that route and hold Martin accountable for his drug issues(whcih he apologized like a man for). Freeman clearly didnt give it his all (and NEVER apologized to anyone. All he did was blame blame blame.) Why are you not holding the Mental Midget to the same standard?
March 21st, 2018 at 1:44 pm
King of the one-hop screen pass! GO Bucs!!
March 21st, 2018 at 1:53 pm
He was much better when he was fat.
March 21st, 2018 at 2:45 pm
Trooper – He was constantly seen out in Soho living the life. He chased a lot of tail, partied a lot, and was eaten up by it.
Tampa can be rough for some, depending on their vice.
March 21st, 2018 at 3:35 pm
That’s really interesting because it was always my impression, apart from the rumors, the real reason for Freeman’s fall in the NFL was because he didn’t love the game.
March 21st, 2018 at 3:56 pm
As Joe points out Free obviously doesn’t need the chump change of the CFL.
He’s doing it because he still loves the game. I wish him well. Hopefully he’s slayed his demons and he’s ready to go all Warren Moon.
He can hope that like Moon he gets 15 NFL seasons after he turns 30!
March 21st, 2018 at 4:38 pm
StPeteBucsFan – That’s why I brought up Vinny, the guy played for 14 years after leaving the Bucs. At the time I didn’t think of Vinny as already being 30-years old, he still felt like a young-ish guy learning the position, but he was 30. Freeman is only now 30 and it feels like he’s been around forever. If I was running a team I’d absolutely bring him and see if his head is clear and make sure his arm is still good. At his size and with that arm he can play for a long time and would seem like a perfect backup QB. I’d just tell him to play around 260lbs, that was when he was at his best.
March 21st, 2018 at 4:43 pm
D-Rome – I got the feeling at the time that Jersey Trash ™ Schiano just absolutely hated him because he wasn’t a vocal leader, basically the same thing the GMC haters say. Freeman wasn’t, and maybe still isn’t, very mentally strong and I he responded to Schiano hate by turning to drugs I guess, or perhaps he turned to drugs to lose weight after Schiano probably called him a fat pig or something. I really have no idea what happened behind the scenes but I know when Schiano got hired and the first thing he did was tell Freeman to wear these big bulky knee braces that took away his mobility because he wanted him to sit in the pocket like Brady, I knew it was all over.
March 21st, 2018 at 7:01 pm
@Rod Munch
You are so far off on this topic as usual!!!!!!! Jfro was in the club and passing out with many drug rumors a year before Coach Schiano was even interviewed!!!!!!!!!!
Coach Schiano was hired to clean up the locker room and fix Jfro!!!!!!! If hate is telling an employee to show up at work on time ( which was a huge on going problem)!!!!!!!
I know most local media covered fro Jfro during the rah and dom years, But the problems were ongoing way before 2013!!!!!!!
If anything, Coach Schiano might have saved jfro life!!!!!!!! But that piece of crap freeman would never admit that!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2018 at 8:40 pm
Freeman at the top of his game in 2010 was better than Winston will ever be. Give me 2010 Josh all day.
March 21st, 2018 at 9:00 pm
Clown
March 21st, 2018 at 9:21 pm
Dan Says:
March 21st, 2018 at 8:40 pm
Freeman at the top of his game in 2010 was better than Winston will ever be. Give me 2010 Josh all day.
spoken like a true Gaytor fan… You would not happen to be Aaron Hernandez’s ex prison boyfriend would you?
March 22nd, 2018 at 1:19 am
@tmaxcon
No way Freeman was in Wichita ks. I lived there and there was no word about him and trust me we would’ve heard about that. We knew when Joseph Randall, rb that played for Dallas that lived in Wichita every time he was in town. Is you’re friend sure it was Freeman?
March 22nd, 2018 at 6:25 am
Rod,
A couple things.
Big bulky knee braces, look big and bulky but they aren’t. They couldn’t possibly
take away a person’s mobility because they don’t impede it. Next…
Freeman was probably put in as a starter before He was ready. His first year, rookie year, He made plays by running no doubt. The fact is He played really well at the end of games if behind, he was better. This is what you and I and buc fans saw and appreciated.
The fact is that He really didn’t know the playbook nor the defense more times than not. He was able to improvise and make plays outside the pocket as a passer and runner. Talent and the ability to focus the more pressure he had allowed him to make plays. But that’s not the way a starting QB is supposed to play.
Rod, I don’t have to agree with the traditional nfl qb orthodoxy to acknowledge it.
That’s another day. Point is , NFL teams discourage QB’s from running first throwing 2nd. They are particular in their playbook and schemes. Not knowing a coaches play is far worse than not remembering his kids names and less forgivable. It’s not new. It’s not Schiano or koetter. It’s league wide group think for oh let’s just say 40years…….how you missed this is ?????
No one was more dependent upon JFro’ s success than Schiano. No one. Why would schiano take an antagonistic approach to his #1 bread winner. If you think anyone had more riding on Freeman’s success than Schiano you’re plain nuts.
Dirk is riding JW’s success…..If JW fails Dirk isn’t a nfl coach.
Neither Schiano or Dirk is coaching in attempt to take away from their qb’s. skill sets, to suggest that is just another example of how utterly clueless fans are. I can argue against that easily …….But it’s not on your radar screen as to what or how I would be referring to. So, It must be something right, and because you’re not understanding it, then the default is ….personal conflict…and ?????. The reality is much different.
If you throw in the drugs and partying to the mix that usually puts the kibosh on elaborate x file conspiracies. Yet in Tampa the fans swallowed up the lies and overlooked the grevious offenses that in most places outside the magic kingdom
leads to the person’s termination. Point to Schiano…..forget about the white powered falling out of frees nose……missed meetings…It’s all Schiano.
The first person who smelt it, dealt it. Learn it, live it.
Because it’s 99% of time true. 100% in politics.
March 26th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Tmaxcon,
Dude if nothing else you are entertaining and most of the time spot on.Im not a huge J.W fan as of late but freeman ,even in his best days is no J.W.
Freeman screwed the pooch himself bye all accounts
I dont expect these players to all be role models but when you earn the amount of money these guys make ,I do expect a modicum of respect for the game and themselves.
I still believe Jameis is headed for suspension. Im hoping for the best and that the guy doesnt become a cautionary tale.I could be wrong !