Josh Freeman And The FBI
January 13th, 2020
“What has happened to my agency?”
No, this isn’t about a former Bucs quarterback getting caught in a sting.
This is a where-are-they-now kinda story:
It appears former Bucs leaky, sleepy quarterback Josh Freeman was at a recent FBI job fair held in the bureau’s Kansas City field office for former athletes interested in fighting crime. Freeman grew up about 20 minutes south of there.
Freeman, a former first-round pick of the Bucs in 2009 out of Kansas State, was always shrouded in mystery.
It was a mystery why the Bucs drafted him in the first place, but in his first full season he damn near guided the Bucs to the playoffs with a 10-6 record.
After that, Freeman fell apart and his career crumbled after a series of bizarre and very public episodes that included being habitually late to both his football camp as well as to both practices and scheduled Bucs events. An offseason radio appearance before the 2013 season is still talked about today for its weirdness from Freeman, which fueled rampant speculation and stoked the rumor mills.
During the 2012 season, Freeman headed to Orlando for a BSPN photoshoot where he posed as notorious alleged pedophile Michael Jackson, which did not go over well within the walls of One Buc Palace. At all.
His feuding with former Bucs commander Greg Schiano, which included thousands of dollars of fines for repeated team violations, was the final straw.
Freeman appeared in two more NFL games after he left the Bucs, both starts, one in Minnesota and the other with Indianapolis. Then he had a cup of coffee with multimple teams over a short period of time that included a stint with the Brooklyn Bolts of the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL).
Freeman’s career ended after he retired from football weeks after signing a two-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes in 2018.
With the Bucs, Freeman was so protected by the team and shielded from just about everyone, so no one really knew him. One was lucky to just be able to say “Hi” to him without Freeman being hustled off a practice field or escorted through a doorway.
Among local media, Joe knows of only two people who remotely knew Freeman away from One Buc Palace. One was the late, great Steve Duemig. Even then, Duemig rarely spoke with Freeman away from Duemig’s radio show. Joe remembers Duemig telling him the last time he spoke with Freeman was a chance encounter in a Las Vegas casino.
Never before and not since has Joe seen a team keep a player hidden in the shadows like the Bucs did Freeman. In retrospect, the protection of Freeman seemed so suffocating, Joe has to wonder what the team was hiding?
Freeman didn’t come across like he would be an FBI agent or an employee of the agency in any way. CIA, maybe, because he was so secretive.
On the FBI’s jobs LinkedIn page, there is a post about a recent FBI job fair for former athletes and the picture used highlights Freeman wearing an FBI bulletproof vest.
Last year, the FBI Kansas City Field Office welcomed former NFL players through a partnership with @AscendingAthletes to talk about future careers with the Bureau. The athletes had a chance to examine evidence and blood spatter, tour the command post, and gun vault, operate a remote-controlled bomb robot and more. #FBIJobs
Given the FBI’s controversies in recent decades (wiretapping of the 60s, covering for the mob, trying to frame Richard Jewell, and many other incidents) perhaps someone with the Bureau was impressed by how Freeman tried to pin the leak of a drug test result on his coach and thought Freeman was worthy hiring to use in some form of domestic surveillance?
Hat tip: @acheron1377.
January 13th, 2020 at 4:48 am
Yes, to go with the current first round pick QB mistake by the Bucs, Free is the next most recent bad example. Ugggh!
January 13th, 2020 at 5:22 am
^^^^ what are you talking about …FAMOUS is the best QB this team will ever have period!! KEEP GRINDING FAMOUS ….YEAR OF THE BUCS 2020
January 13th, 2020 at 5:33 am
FAMOUS is already working on his craft because of the will to be great!! He will cut that turnover rate to 15 interceptions and 36 TD’s. Another year in this system should provide him a lot more comfort within this system!! All we need to do is keep adding talent to this team and it will be THE YEAR OF THE BUCS 2020!!
January 13th, 2020 at 5:41 am
I think the Michael Jackson thing was unfair. For whatever reason, society gave him a pass until that documentary came out. A lot of people thought he was framed, and when Jackson died people pretended like it never even happened, or excused it because of his own childhood. So if you’re mad at Freeman, you should be more mad at BSPN and every other news outlet that glorified Jackson.
But yeah, Freeman seemed to have some issues and it’s a shame it didn’t work out. Such a weird time in Bucs history
January 13th, 2020 at 5:44 am
I can’t believe I read the whole thing !
January 13th, 2020 at 5:52 am
@BigHog
You are right!
Jameis is 25 years (the frontal lobe is not fully developed until the age of 26)
He has one of the best arms in the NFL.
He blocks for his teammates.
He plays through pain. He takes tons of hits.
Hes fearless. Hes tough. Hes passionate.
And He loves working hard.
Jameis for 10 more years!
10 years. 200 million. 150 million guaranteed.
Lets build a Dynasty like the Patriots!
January 13th, 2020 at 6:27 am
I have heard and read all sorts of crazy stories about Josh Freeman doing all sorts of illicit things over the years. I tend to believe the Bucs were hiding something about Freeman.
January 13th, 2020 at 6:48 am
I guess they do have a position open for a leaker since the last one got canned.
January 13th, 2020 at 6:51 am
Freeman’s downfall was being drafted by Raheem. Raheem was partying as much as the players, it was a terrible environment to develop a young QB/team. Unfortunately Freeman drank too much of his own kool aid became impossible to coach or provide feedback. Tough lesson….as the saying goes…the NFL stands for Not For Long.
I see him occasionally at the Harbour Island Athletic Club, he still looks the part of an NFL QB. Friendly guy….shame it didn’t work out.
January 13th, 2020 at 7:02 am
[There is no evidence of that. — Joe]
January 13th, 2020 at 7:04 am
“I work hard…nobody works harder than I do…. I play best relaxed and being myself”. Some things never change. And he first praised the Lord for his success. Seems to be some disconnect between the words on his lips, his heart, and his actions…you think?
January 13th, 2020 at 7:21 am
We picked Freeman bc Raheem was Def Coord at Kansas State & supposedly knew how good he was…. Guess Raheem is not a good evaluator of QB’s…
Freeman was a reach in Rd 1 Jameis was not….
January 13th, 2020 at 7:33 am
Anybody want to finally shed light on what happened on the way back from London in 2011? It’s been nine years, let’s have it
January 13th, 2020 at 7:45 am
Too bad pro sports teams aren’t required to provide full transparency to the public since they are so heavily dependent on public tax $$$$. Also in relation to Stadium plumbing, why not come up with a plan where if the team performs well then tax dollars contributions increase for the stadium but if the team doesn’t do well then it’s on the team to pay more for their own stadiums. This would create more accountability for the owners to put a winning product on the field.
January 13th, 2020 at 7:53 am
The sell job the team did on the front that Freeman was a dedicated worker was sure a con.
January 13th, 2020 at 7:54 am
Helluva good point.
January 13th, 2020 at 7:58 am
he’d fit right in………without getting all political…but yeah. he’d fit in.
January 13th, 2020 at 8:02 am
It was the opinion (the opinion, the opinion) of many in my tailgating group that he [Not cool — Joe].
January 13th, 2020 at 8:08 am
i know for a fact the some of the south tampa alleged stuff is true, and I hope the bucs do not draft jordan love who seems like a freeman clone; however if he has turned is life around and is going to be an FBI agent then awesome for freeman and his future and his service
January 13th, 2020 at 8:40 am
Frontal lobe development?
Whaaaaaaat?
January 13th, 2020 at 9:04 am
Winston = Freeman
January 13th, 2020 at 10:00 am
Soo the whole article was about taking shots at the FBI and Freeman? Are you done with the drama reporting now? Good for him he is moving on with his life and doing something worth reporting. Kinda dumb taking shots at the FBI over something in the 60’s damn you are old.
January 13th, 2020 at 10:01 am
No. Drama sells. Fans like drama (they claim they don’t but actions speak louder than words).
January 13th, 2020 at 11:07 am
I wish Freeman the best. Yes, he made some bad choices,however, haven’t we all? I hope he is & stays sober…
January 13th, 2020 at 11:13 am
I happen to know for most of my life the person who owns the operation : GHI Reptiles in North Palm Beach where I am from.
Josh Freeman back in the day was a “good” customer. He would show up impaired when he came over to pick up his python. Very impaired and not on drink.
January 13th, 2020 at 11:15 am
I’d take Winston over FreeWee any day. Winston is at least a true team guy unlike Freewee who will throw the whole team under the bus(Espn Interview when he got benched and the leak) if he dont get what he wants.
January 13th, 2020 at 11:16 am
Maybe the FBI can lock him up long term with a huge “team friendly contract”?
😜
January 13th, 2020 at 1:31 pm
JOE,
I like the drama and all these sideways talking fans do too, that’s why they read your articles everyday (lol).
But I love, even more, the off-the-field stories about Bucs players from yesteryear. Especially when they are about a failed top draft pick who was doing bad things or causing trouble. It brings some sense to the years and years of failure. Keep it up.
January 13th, 2020 at 1:37 pm
FIRETHECANNONS
Yeah, he probably was. I’ve known several drug dealers (mostly frat boys) from my days at USF that have their own share of stories about FreeWee (man I like that nickname).
This one guy once told me FreeWee donated a huge flat screen TV to his frat in exchange for a connect.
January 13th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
Maybe Freeman is still trying to find who leaked his medical records (hint: it was the Jersey Trash)…
January 13th, 2020 at 3:23 pm
Strip Club Capitol
Swinger Capitol
top 10 party drug capitol
Dumb ass drug taking jacket wearers capitol ( what’s up w the suit jackets at night its FL.)
Yukatan Liquor Stand has nothin on todays party crowd !!!
Beckles Josh made your boys look like elementary kids !!! Stacking ho ‘s and blowing dollars 💵 !!!
January 13th, 2020 at 4:38 pm
Yet #5 and #3 numbers are very similar !!! But JOE calls #5 names all while Praising #3 JOE you are a hypocrite !!!!!!!!
January 13th, 2020 at 4:50 pm
^^^ Their numbers are similar??????
LOL, what the HELL does that have to do with anything?
January 13th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
One was a “couldn’t care less” freak who couldn’t be counted on by his coaches, teammates, or anyone else.
January 13th, 2020 at 5:09 pm
What the HELL does that have to do with anything?
Both are bad QBs > The numbers / wins /losses/ints/Td/ yards .That’s what you Dolt!!!
Joe makes fun of one while calling the other Americas QB????? Winston is a couldn’t care less” CREEP!!!!!
January 13th, 2020 at 5:44 pm
Tampa Bay Demon Says:
January 13th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
One was a “couldn’t care less” freak who couldn’t be counted on by his coaches, teammates, or anyone else.
____________
And the other one is a chronic bullish!tter who says what people want to hear and keeps doing what he wants.
BTW….
Did FreeWee ever hurt his team by lying to them and then get suspended by the league?
January 13th, 2020 at 6:15 pm
All we’ve ever heard about his off the field stuff has been rumors….
I’ve yet to ever see a single source on the record.
People acting like they know something… so tell us! Otherwise STFU
January 13th, 2020 at 7:58 pm
Ship Thief Says:
“Frontal lobe development? Whaaaaaaat?”
.
.
IDK. Maybe waiting for his lobotomy scars to heal?
January 13th, 2020 at 8:02 pm
@Pewter power
Framing Richard Jewel didn’t happen in the 60s, and FBI participation in the intelligence community corruption against the current administration didn’t take place in the 60s. But whatever makes you feel better.
January 13th, 2020 at 11:54 pm
Or a photo.
Or a video.
Have heard all sorts of things. Even had a guy email Joe swearing on a stack of bibles Freeman got carried out of a crowded south Tampa bar one Saturday night. Yet not one photo or video.