Bucs release Freeman

[EKnight]

The team called a players only meeting to address the matter. Had nothing to do with Freeman's agent or Freeman.

If he has a substance abuse issue, surely he would have had a DUI, a failed drug test for some sort of recreational drug, an arrest for public intoxication... some sort of documentation of SOMETHING. I'll await the links to those. Something concrete- not rumors or innuendos put forth by the team that screwed released him. -EK

[MikeO]

The team called a players only meeting to address the matter. Had nothing to do with Freeman's agent or Freeman.

If he has a substance abuse issue, surely he would have had a DUI, a failed drug test for some sort of recreational drug, an arrest for public intoxication... some sort of documentation of SOMETHING. I'll await the links to those. Something concrete- not rumors or innuendos put forth by the team that screwed released him. -EK

Not all drunks or people with alcohol issues get a DUI or arrested for public intoxication. 

You can believe what you want, not trying to change your mind you are entitled to be wrong. But he was cut for reasons other than his play and it wasn't like teams were fighting to sign him when he was a FA. He has issues.  Hope for his sake he can turn his life around.

[Spider-Dan]

Do you have any sort of source for these "alcohol problem" claims?

Seems to me that Schiano wanted to get rid of him for no good reason (which he has a history of; see Talib and Blount) and they intentionally leaked his drug test failure to try to provide cover, which is super sleazy.  Freeman failed one test for a drug that has very similar effects to the one he is allowed to take, and he has been completely clean since then.

If someone is going to accuse him of alcohol problems, they'd better provide some evidence.

[MikeO]

Do you have any sort of source for these "alcohol problem" claims?

Seems to me that Schiano wanted to get rid of him for no good reason (which he has a history of; see Talib and Blount) and they intentionally leaked his drug test failure to try to provide cover, which is super sleazy.  Freeman failed one test for a drug that has very similar effects to the one he is allowed to take, and he has been completely clean since then.

If someone is going to accuse him of alcohol problems, they'd better provide some evidence.

It was leaked from the Bucs camp that Freeman had alcohol problems and he did call into a local radio interview one day and was slurring his speech. He also no-showed his own "youth camp" that he put on and called into another local radio show apologizing....he was slurring his speech then too on that radio show and rambling about stuff nobody could understand what he was talking about. Do we know for 100%, no. But there is enough evidence to suggest that something is going on. Everyone from Warren Moon to Boomer Esiason all but said it on telecasts as well that Freeman liked to "party hard". I mean they gotta be careful what they say so they aren't sued but everyone knew what they meant reading between the lines. There are enough stories out there from various sources (Not just the Bucs) that points to Freeman having issues with alcohol/drugs.

This notion that TB wanted him gone so bad they leaked a bunch of lies. Usually when a coach or team wants someone gone they "talk him up" and heap praise on him and trade him for anything they can gete. You don't run his name through the mud and badmouth him and cut him. Makes no sense!!! That logic doesn't fly!

[Tenshot13]

Freeman did have alcohol problems.  First off, I live in Tampa.  I've seen regular pics of him drunk passed out in a closet.  My fiancé's friend was banging him and there would be pics put up in Facebook that would quickly be taken down. I have no proof of this, so take it for what it's worth, but I have no reason to lie.

Like I said, I live in Tampa and have a lot of Bucs friends. Here is what they say about Freeman:

He chokes.
He throws boneheaded INTs.
He's a coke head (rumor)
He does molly (rumor)
He never learned not to throw off his back foot.
He's inaccurate.
He's not a leader.

Personally, I don't see how he can have a top tier WR and one of the best RBs in the league, and be as bad as he is. Even his 2nd WR in Mike Williams could be a number 1 on some teams.

That being said, Bucs fans hate Schiano just as much.  They want him gone now. 

[CF DolFan]

Seems to me that Schiano wanted to get rid of him for no good reason (which he has a history of; see Talib and Blount)

It's pretty cool that the Patriots could use them.  If they could only do that with other cast-offs then they might have a pretty successful organization. Talib was suspended by the league for drugs and then traded. Blount had already failed in Tennesee.  Hardly no good reason.


Not sure what the love affair Freeman is other than something to argue about. He has/had issues and burned some bridges in Tampa. If he does well somewhere else then so be it. He wasn't the first and won't be the last.

[Spider-Dan]

This notion that TB wanted him gone so bad they leaked a bunch of lies.

So where'd the leaks come from?

Usually when a coach or team wants someone gone they "talk him up" and heap praise on him and trade him for anything they can gete. You don't run his name through the mud and badmouth him and cut him. Makes no sense!!!

Sure it does:

- you decide that you want him gone, whether you can get something for him or not
- you try to trade him but get no bites
- you leak a bad story to sour public opinion on him
- a few days later, you cut him (with the appearance that "drug issues" were a factor)

[Pappy13]

So where'd the leaks come from?
Sure it does:

- you decide that you want him gone, whether you can get something for him or not
- you try to trade him but get no bites
- you leak a bad story to sour public opinion on him
- a few days later, you cut him (with the appearance that "drug issues" were a factor)

The only problem with this logic is that it assumes it would be a public relations nightmare if you just cut the guy. From the sound of it, that doesn't seem to have been the case here. Why leak a story to sour public opinion on a guy that have already soured on him? Seems like those in Tampa weren't that enamored with Freeman in the first place.

[MikeO]

I don't care enough about Josh Freeman or TB to debate this topic forever. I have said my piece.  But to me TB had a player on its hands that was in Stage 1 of the Substance Abuse policy (for whatever reason, he's in it) and has a alcohol problem. Who was missing team photos and meetings, calling into radio shows drunk, and on top of all of those headaches was playing poorly on the field. They were dealt a crappy hand with having to put up with all of this and cutting him was their only option. And when you just cut your starting QB who you used a 1st round draft pick on not that long ago..that isn't all on the coach. That decision is agreed upon by the owner, GM, and coach. No coach or GM is able to make that roster move without approval, it's not like they cut the 3rd string TE. From top to bottom in that organization they all saw the same thing and it wasn't a pretty picture with Josh.

For Freeman's sake I hope he turns his life around off the field, gets clean and has a Cris Carter like turnaround in life.