Bucs release Freeman

[Landshark]

While I agree Freeman was culpable in his own demise, the way the team is being run is a mess. The Bucs apparently through him under the bus badly with the whole drug testing thing, despite the fact that he reportedly passed 46 drug tests after he failed one for taking Ritalin instead of Adderall. Trading Aqib Talib and LeGarrette Blount to the Pats seems odd as well. I can't put my finger on what exactly bothers me about the way they seemed to discard them (Talib especially, as he's quite good), but something's fishy. -EK

That organization has been run haphazardly ever since they won that Super Bowl back in 2002. 

[EKnight]

Apparently. If someone told you that a 2012 team had a 4000 yard passer, a nearly 1500 yard rusher, and basically 2 1000 yard receivers (one was at 1384, the other at 996), how many guesses would it take you to come up with last year's Bucs? They had talent, but are horribly mismanaged. -EK

[Sunstroke]

Freeman's time on the soup line lasted all of four days, as he has reportedly just signed with the Vikings. Not sure if this means that they don't trust Ponder or Cassel (who just led them to a win over Pittsburgh in London last week), or if it means that Ponder's rib injury is going to take longer than expected to heal, or if it means that someone slipped a dozen hits of good acid into the Vikings' front office water cooler.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Freeman's time on the soup line lasted all of four days, as he has reportedly just signed with the Vikings. Not sure if this means that they don't trust Ponder or Cassel (who just led them to a win over Pittsburgh in London last week), or if it means that Ponder's rib injury is going to take longer than expected to heal, or if it means that someone slipped a dozen hits of good acid into the Vikings' front office water cooler.

Unless it is the acid hits one, I think it means they are worried about Ponder's injury and don't trust Bethel-Thompson to back up Cassel.  Either Ponder or Cassel is a better option at QB than Freeman. 

[MikeO]

I heard today on SIRIUS NFL RADIO that Ponder's broken rib broke in a way that there something near his heart and its dangerous and bad (I'm not a doctor just what a reporter was saying) and a very bad injury. Thought is he is done for the year. This wasn't your typical broken rib injury that you can heal quickly. It was a very bad break

[Landshark]

Update.  Freeman will be starting this week

[EKnight]

I'll bet he ends up being far better than anyone thinks- good enough that people will think TB cutting him was a mistake. -EK

[Landshark]

I'll bet he ends up being far better than anyone thinks- good enough that people will think TB cutting him was a mistake. -EK

Sometimes a change of scenery can revive a stalled career

[Phishfan]

I'll bet he ends up being far better than anyone thinks- good enough that people will think TB cutting him was a mistake. -EK

I think Mike Glennon's performance will need to be taken into consideration as well. Looking at his stats though, Freeman has been on a continual decline.

[EKnight]

Which stats are you looking at? He had career highs in TDs and yards last year and his QBR was up from the previous year. I'm not implying he's a Pro Bowl QB, but Tampa just seemed to have an agenda and I'm not sure that 3 games this year after the solid season he had last year is justification for cutting the guy. -EK

[CF DolFan]

Which stats are you looking at? He had career highs in TDs and yards last year and his QBR was up from the previous year. I'm not implying he's a Pro Bowl QB, but Tampa just seemed to have an agenda and I'm not sure that 3 games this year after the solid season he had last year is justification for cutting the guy. -EK

Other than being last in everything he became a cancer to the team. They were forced to cut him and in fact, were made fun of for not doing it sooner. Regardless of whatever happens anywhere else he was done in Tampa before they benched him.

[EKnight]

Last in everything? Are you talking about this season? The whole team is having that kind of year.  Insofar as the "cancer" thing, I haven't read anything other than him missing the team photo that wasn't filtered through the organization- the same organization that tried to throw him under the bus by implying he had a drug problem- which was a complete fabrication.

And let's be honest- TB has quite the history of quitting on QBs who promptly become winners and leaders, at a disproportionate rate to any other team I can think of. -EK

[MikeO]

IF the rumors about Freeman are true (and the way TB handled this situation you must think they are or else why would they have just let him go) TB had to get rid of him ASAP. Goes beyond on the field stats. He has serious issues he needs to deal with and his off the field behavior was not that of a professional. Stage 1 of the Substance Abuse program among other issues TB has said he has is no small matter. His own teammates didn't even vote him captain because they know his issues off the field and such.

I don't blame Minny for taking a shot on him, each team has their own set of values and for them its little risk. But I don't blame TB for kicking this druggie to the curb.

This story is similar to when Buddy Ryan and the Eagles CUT Cris Carter years ago. It was for Carter's own good and helped him turn his life around and get help to live a clean lifestyle. Hopefully Freeman can get off the drugs and can likewise turn his life around.

[EKnight]

IF the rumors about Freeman are true (and the way TB handled this situation you must think they are or else why would they have just let him go)

The same reason they let Blount and Talib go. They weren't part of the new management's plan going forward.

TB had to get rid of him ASAP. Goes beyond on the field stats. He has serious issues he needs to deal with and his off the field behavior was not that of a professional. Stage 1 of the Substance Abuse program among other issues TB has said he has is no small matter.

Intersting, insofar as he was part of the program due to taking Ritalin. He voluntarily went into the stage 1 program, passed 46 drug tests, and is not subject to the suspension rules as they would play out for other players. Gee, I sure hope he can get off his ADHD drugs in time to not ruin his life. 46 clean tests and one failed one for Ritalin and you're comparing this to the CC situation? Really?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9750827/josh-freeman-tampa-bay-buccaneers-nfl-drug-program

His own teammates didn't even vote him captain because they know his issues off the field and such.

Odd, since there were several reports that they actually DID vote him captain and Schiano altered the vote.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/11/its-players-only-meeting-time-in-tampa/

Edit to add: I'm not a big Bucs, Vikings, or Freeman fan one way or the other. I just think it's cowardly to use a player as a scapegoat for your team's own poor play and your management's inability to run said team, then when you can't find a trade partner for the player, begin smearing him in the media. Have some class. You'd think after the way the careers of Doug Williams, Steve Young, Vinnie T, and even Trent Dilfer (he DID finish 2nd in MVP voting the year Baltimore won their first SB) panned out, that Tampa would learn something about giving up on a QB so soon. -EK

[MikeO]

The same reason they let Blount and Talib go. They weren't part of the new management's plan going forward.

Intersting, insofar as he was part of the program due to taking Ritalin. He voluntarily went into the stage 1 program, passed 46 drug tests, and is not subject to the suspension rules as they would play out for other players. Gee, I sure hope he can get off his ADHD drugs in time to not ruin his life. 46 clean tests and one failed one for Ritalin and you're comparing this to the CC situation? Really?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9750827/josh-freeman-tampa-bay-buccaneers-nfl-drug-program

Odd, since there were several reports that they actually DID vote him captain and Schiano altered the vote.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/11/its-players-only-meeting-time-in-tampa/

-EK

"altered the vote" seems like something Freeman and his agents would "spin" to put him in a better light

Blount and Talib are different circumstances. Players come and go on NFL teams every year, Freeman's situation is totally different and involved substance abuse among other issues.

Freeman has issues and it wasn't like teams were beating down his door when he was cut. Word spreads. I'm glad he has passed 46 tests since the one failed. Hope it continues but he has issues not just drugs but with alcohol as well. Caused him to miss meetings and team photos among other things. Constantly showing up late and not in a "clean state of mind". The TB players, coaches, and management know this, lived this, and saw it first hand. They saw it first hand...he has a substance abuse problem. Period! Hope Josh cleans up his life.