No Offseason For Freeman
March 23rd, 2010
While you read this post, Josh Freeman is probably a little sore from a morning workout and pouring over game film deep in the bowels of One Buc Palace.
Taking a break from his new TV career, good guy St. Pete Times columnist Gary Shelton returned to his day job to spend a typical March day with Freeman. Shelton didn’t find a typical skirt-chasing 22-year-old with seven figures in the bank. What he found was a quarterback working full-time to improve.
After starting the final nine games, however, Freeman showed he has a little fire to him. His rookie season had enough moments to make you wonder just how good he might be.
For the record, Freeman wonders, too. That’s what gets him out of bed when he could sleep in. It’s what pushes him toward the film room. When a man works when he doesn’t have to, it usually means he’s driven toward something better.
“I’m not here to collect a paycheck,” Freeman says. “I’m not here to say I played in the NFL. I want to leave the NFL as one of the best quarterbacks who played the game.
“The thing that all great quarterbacks have is their work ethic. You only have a short life span in the NFL. I don’t want to be the guy who is sitting back in 30 years saying, ‘Man, if I had only worked a little harder, studied a little more film, done a few more offseason workouts, I would have been better prepared.’ I want to be the guy who says, ‘I laid it all on the line. I gave it all I had.’ Then I’ll be able to sleep at night.”
Joe recommends you read Shelton’s entire column. It will surely get you fired up to see what Freeman has to offer in his second season.
The kid is clearly confident, hard working, talented and improving. Joe only hopes he gets a pair of quality NFL receivers to throw to.
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:06 am
30 years from now, I just hope Freeman isn’t regreting the fact he played for the Bucs having never made it to a Superbowl.
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:08 am
One hell of an article by Shelton. I always liked the draft pick and the QB, now I like the person even more. If you’re the GM, how can you NOT get this guy some WR’s? Best of luck to him.
March 23rd, 2010 at 12:46 pm
He has like a Tom Brady/Payton Manning work ethic….I hope that translates onto the field
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:35 pm
awesome work ethic. Now get him some receivers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 23rd, 2010 at 5:33 pm
bucfanjeff, I agree & just emailed Shelton so. The piece was very heartening.
We need to remember also that Josh didn’t even think about holding out last summer; he signed his deal & got himself into camp. You gotta like that.
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:23 pm
i wish i had such foresight at 22…i couldn’t even picture the next month…
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Building blocks of a great football team in this order:
1. Franchise quarterback – got that
2. Offensive line – need another tackle
3. Defensive line- need everything
4. Shut down corner – got that
5. Running back with explosiveness – need it
6. Wide receiver – need those
March 23rd, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Freeman is the lone bright spot in a sea of dogshit
March 23rd, 2010 at 7:21 pm
IM GLAD TO SEE FREEMAN IS A HARD WORKER. NOW THE BUCS NEED TO GIVE THIS GUY SOME WEAPONS SO HE CAN BECOME A GREAT QB LIKE BRADY AND MANNING..