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NFP: No need for Bucs to hold Freeman back

By Michael Lombardi, The National Football Post

Jun 19, 4:10 pm EDT

Buzz up!10 votes

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Quote: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover”.

– Attributed to Mark Twain, speaking to a graduation class

From Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times: The Bucs are re-evaluating their plans at quarterback and will consider starting rookie Josh Freeman(notes) if he continues to progress in training camp. Quarterbacks coach Greg Olson said “it’s not out of the question,” that Freeman takes the path of the Falcons’ Matt Ryan(notes) and the Ravens’ Joe Flacco(notes) and starts as a rookie. “We did talk last week, and when I say we, I’m talking about everyone in the building from the GM, the head coach, Doug Williams – other people were involved and we just discussed the Josh Freeman plan,” Olson said. “We decided we’ll go through the summer, we’ll go probably a week into training camp and we’ll revisit it again … we may expedite what he’s doing. “You know, maybe we get him involved early – earlier than we thought.”

When the Bucs surprised the football world and fired Jon “Love You Bro” Gruden in January, the major reason given by ownership was that “Love You Bro” was unable to stabilize the quarterback situation. So, as is always the case, the next regime fixes the major problem from the previous regime.

The Bucs would be better off making Freeman the starter.

(J. Meric/Getty)

The Bucs have had a revolving door at quarterback since Brad Johnson(notes) won the Super Bowl during the 2002 season. We’ve heard “Love You Bro” say he would’ve loved to have had a young quarterback to work with but never had the chance (that always made me laugh because Gruden controlled all the player movement for the Bucs from the day he set foot in Tampa). So when the new regime took over, one of its most significant moves was to pick a quarterback in the NFL draft. That was no surprise. While moving up in the draft was rather perplexing from an outside perspective, the Bucs clearly wanted to take no chances and risk losing Josh Freeman.

Prior to the draft, the Bucs extended the contract of Luke McCown(notes), who they initially felt might be the right fit as they transitioned to a younger player. McCown, however, was not impressive in the first minicamp, causing some concern among the coaches, which then led to the signing of Byron Leftwich(notes). So before the draft, the Bucs had four quarterbacks on their roster, giving credence to the great John Madden line, “When you have a lot of something, you have nothing.” Veteran quarterback Brian Griese(notes) is going to be gone at some point, McCown and Leftwich will compete for the backup role, and Josh Johnson(notes), a fifth-round pick in 2008, will fight for a roster spot.

So will Freeman be the starter? There are a few factors that indicate he will – maybe not on opening day against the Cowboys, but some time soon after. The first is his contract. Freeman was picked 17th overall in the 2009 draft, which means the Bucs are limited to just getting five years in the overall length of the deal – the same length that Mark Sanchez(notes), No. 5 overall, just signed. And we know – despite all the rhetoric about the Jets having an open competition in camp – that unless Sanchez falls flat on his face, he’s the starter on day one. The Jets are not wasting a year of the deal on player development.

Goooo Freeman, the "next matt ryan"....

I pray they start the kid.

Do us a favor Tampa- go down that road!!!!! :dita:

more-- http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AoKd7JPK8cLrtbDWHZi4echDubYF?slug=ys-dinermorningnews061909&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

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I wonder if LBF is happy or sad about this? No, not really.

Did we finally run him off? I haven't seen him for awhile.

The way I look at it. They are starting over. The might as well let Freeman have the growing pains with the new organization. If they suck with Leftwich or McCown what is the difference if they let the rookie go.

Freeman Leaf or Ryan.... 50/50 you choose.

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Did we finally run him off? I haven't seen him for awhile.

The way I look at it. They are starting over. The might as well let Freeman have the growing pains with the new organization. If they suck with Leftwich or McCown what is the difference if they let the rookie go.

Freeman Leaf or Ryan.... 50/50 you choose.

Yes. :hurray:

If rookie QBs look like they can handle it, I don't see a problem starting a rookie. ie PManning and TAikman. But what if you have Akili Smith or Alex Smith or yeah, PLeaf (:DI call him pussyleaf) I say if you have a Leftwich. you go with him and ease in Freeman, the name is Freeman.....right?

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