“Carried It Like It Was A Wiffle Ball”
January 12th, 2011
Even Ronde Barber says it’s all about No. 5.
Pending free agent Barber spoke in depth about how Josh Freeman is the main man on the Bucs last week during an interview with J.P. Peterson on 1010 AM last week.
Barber even went so far to say that Freeman will determine the fate of the Bucs.
“The sky’s the limit for him. It’s the silliest cliche ever, but he is so talented now. I’ve been around 14 quarterbacks in my career, and not one of them can come close to touching what he can do physically. As he continues to grow, gets above the neck and starts really understanding every intricate part of every football game, I can only imagine how good he can be. Obviously, it helps that he had a great supporting cast this year, Mike Williams stepping up, Arrelious Benn stepping up, LeGarrette stepping up.
“But when it came down it, at to the end of the game, whether it was close or we were behind or we had a lead, I don’t think I ever felt like he was going to make a mistake to lose it for us. That’s asking a lot out of a 22-year-old, second-year quarterback. We put a lot on his shoulders and he just picked it up and carried it like it was a Wiffle Ball.
“The guy has got a lot of confidence in himself. And, you know, because of that I think everbody on the team had a lot of confidence in him. We rode with him This team going forward will be as good as Josh Freeman wants it to be, if you ask me.”
Barber went on to talk about Freeman’s consistent calm and how players feed off his strength and command. Barber said Freeman is not much of a vocal leader but his presence throughout the year — offseason, practice and regular season — set Freeman apart as a leader.
Joe wonders how many steps up the ladder Freeman can take this offseason.
Joe imagines he’ll be back working with Alex Van Pelt in the bowels of One Buc Palace in a matter of days.
January 12th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
I hope hes not in the bowels of One Buc in a matter of days .. Time for some time off and away from Football for Freeman. He has earned it and needs to take a vacation. Take atleast 6 weeks and come back refreshed to start weightlifting.
Dont Burn out and over analyze. Take some time to reflect and absorb what he learned when the bullets were flying this year.
January 12th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
As far as Ronde goes…I sincerely hope he writes a book about his NFL career. He is a very well spoken man, and my guess is he has not missed much that happened around him during his career.
Whether he plays or not next year (and I sincerely hope he does), the Bucs would be smart to keep him in the house, with an eye toward coaching/leading young men.
January 12th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
There’s something significant about the picture. Freeman towering over Brees
January 12th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Do the Saint seriously quote Bree’s height as 6 foot? Look at this picture Josh is at least 6 to 8 inches taller than him, and thats without the ‘fro.
January 12th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
hey joe the cheifs are trying to pry away greg olsen for their new OC job
January 12th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
nick,
It’s called height. Kinda like the difference between losers and winners is the score! It truely is a game of inches!
January 12th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
flmike,
Probably not, cause Shawn King was listed at 6′ and he wasn’t. Same for Garcia and Flutie.
January 12th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Joe here,
cjackson – Saw his name mentioned in the KC Star, but it’s pretty ridiculous considering Olson is under contract here. Why would the Bucs possibly let him go? …If it’s really all about No. 5, then you surely don’t touch the offensive coordinator after a good year.
January 12th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
It’s amusing how pervasive the “round up to 6-feet” phenomenon is. Take a look at the graph of reported heights here:
http://mugshots.tampabay.com/
January 12th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Joe
Is Olsen still under contract? If so how many more years? I have heard mixed things.
January 12th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
hey joe, off subject but have you heard any new news regarding the cba? this situation with next season hanging in limbo really bothers me.
January 12th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
gotbbucs:
All signs point to a work stoppage of some sort.
January 12th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
oar:
Olson is under contract. Not sure how long. Will try to find out.
January 12th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 12, 2011, 11:14 AM EST
Todd Wash
The Bucs lost their long-time special teams coach to the Chargers, presumably because of money.
They are making a decision to move on from their defensive line coach. The guys at PewterReport.com report that defensive line coach Todd Wash was told he will not be brought back next season. The Bucs didn’t have a single player top five sacks in 2010.
The Bucs have shown interest in Vikings defensive line coach Karl Dunbar to replace Wash.
January 12th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
I hope Brees & the Saints get used to this view of Josh, because starting next season, this is the view they are going to have of the Bucs, always from below…
January 12th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Josh Freeman’s jock > rest of the NFL
January 12th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Oar: in the black and white world you live in, yes only height. However, I see it as a shift in the balance of power at the QB position. Call me poetic
January 12th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
Josh is indeed the future of the Bucs, they will go as far as he can lead them. He is unmatched as a 22 year QB in the NFL. Barber has it right, he will carry them on his back.
January 12th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
nick,
Relax, it was an attempt at humor! Height-game of inches-etc.
BTW My world is more of a RGB wheel and now in new impressive 3-D!
January 12th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Drew Brees – ‘GOD DAMN!!!! Did you see me out there? I was getting killed!’
Josh Freeman – ‘It’s ok Drew, maybe next year.’
January 12th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
The true test for Freeman will come next season. Other teams didn’t expect him to be so improved this year, and when you couple that with the easier schedule and the surprises at WR, it went well for him.
But the Bucs RARELY get an easy schedule. In fact, that was the first time in almost a decade. Teams will also be more prepared from him in the upcoming season.
So he will be truly tested. It’s easy to say he’ll be working with Van Pelt through the whole off season, but that neglects to take into account the possible lockout. After (March?) he won’t be allowed in the facilities.
John Clayton was on a radio station (ESPN 1040) on Mike and Mike yesterday and said he doesn’t think there will actually be a work stoppage. I hope he is right.
Because if there is one, it can only be bad for the Buccaneers and their fans.
For example, we can say the players can work out during hte stoppage, maybe get together and all that…but for one key thing. If there is a lockout, the players won’t be covered by team medical services, so they CANNOT risk getting injured.
In the Bucs case, this is the worse time a lockout could come along.
Speaking of which, the players are mad that the NFL wants the old revenue sharing numbers back in place. I suggest the players give it back, with the stipulation that the minimum and maximum salary caps be much higher. That way the players still get paid.
They can also let the rookie cap through and just increase the vet minimums to make allowances.
See that? I just solved the two biggest problems in the negotiations! May as well shoot for a third…the move to 18 games.
To make it work, just:
– Add a second bi-week
– Increase the roster by 6-8 players
– Increase the practice squad roster by 6-8 players and expand it to 2 years
– Make it so that if a team wants a PS player that has only been elible for under 6 months, the teammust compensate the original team in some way.
– Increase the pension for veteran players, including post league medical coverage
The players and the owners would make out well in such situations.
3 for 3…lord I’m good! 😉
January 12th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
picked it up and carried it like a wiffle ball…
I like that I gotta find a way to use it for myself haha
January 12th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
I guess I’m no longer “bust in waiting”?
P.S. I completed over 60% of my passes. Before this year I had never even come close to doing that. I’m sure you knew that though.
Josh
January 12th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Wow, who would have thunk it? A sports blog, along with a 300+ word post and waa-laa the NFL CBA is fixed!
January 12th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Here’s a quick thought….Jim Harbaugh was Josh Johnson’s college coach in San Diego and loved him. Harbaugh really pushed for Josh to be an NFL QB. We all know Freeman is The Man now and the Niners could really use help at QB. I wonder if there would be any interest by the Niners in picking up Johnson?
January 12th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Scott, we have been talking about a trade for JJ for a while. The 49’r fans have too. We want Patrick Willis. Let’s make a deal. Haha, never going to happen. Vernon Davis would love to catch passes from Freeman more than McNab.
Pete Dutcher’s solution for solving the CBA is about the same as printing money to pay off the Debt. There are rarely simple solutions to complex problems, especially when there is a Union and Lawyers involved. They only make money when a problem exists. Solve the problem and they are no longer needed. They will milk this for all it’s worth. When they milk it dry, an agreement will be reached.
January 12th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
@Pete Dutcher
not buying the “teams were surprised that Freeman was so improved this year”
you can say that for the first few weeks of the season, but teams had film to watch on him after that and he actually had the best two games of his season in the last two weeks
January 12th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Barber knows what he’s talkin’ about:
“I’ve been around 14 quarterbacks in my career, and not one of them can come close to touching what he can do physically.”
You have to wonder if this kind of excitement around Freeman, let alone the rest of the team, will keep him around for another year or so…chance to win a 2nd ring!
GO BUCS!
January 13th, 2011 at 11:23 am
You know Parker and Briscoe and Benn and Stroughter and Spurlock saw how much work Freeman and Williams put in together. One would think, and hope, they will be working with him more this offseason as well.