Bucs drafting QB Josh Freeman a foregone conclusion?

Everybody and their mother is suggesting the Bucs will draft QB Josh Freeman with that first pick. Despite my better judgment I'm starting to believe them. Walter makes a good point stating, "new regimes mean new quarterbacks" ... Dominik has repeatedly said the Bucs will add another QB and they havent talked to any Free Agents, so that 4th guy is going to come via the draft...

Raheem and Josh bonded in his one season at K State so there is that connection as well:

"Josh Freeman walked into the interview room at Lucas Oil Stadium as Raheem Morris was headed out and they stopped to shake hands before falling into each other's arms like relatives reuniting at an airport." - NFL Draft Scout

At this point I'm not saying they should. I am saying I wouldnt be shocked/surprised...

Hat tip to Matt for the links

8 months ago JScott 20 comments 0 recs |

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Please...

…don’t do it! This is the 1st round and Freeman seems like the stereotypical hit or miss prospect. Yes, we need a QB of the future, but there will be better players at other positions available with the 19th pick.

Take a look at this article. It’s pretty interesting and if you go by it, Freeman ranks very low. Of course Stafford is much lower, which is funny.

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by The Bull Gator on Mar 12, 2009 8:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's made sense since Day 1.

I don’t agree with it, but I have long ago resigned myself to accepting it.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Mar 12, 2009 10:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No no no.

We must stand together. We must fight!

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by The Bull Gator on Mar 12, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fighting has proved to fall on deaf ears

with Dominik. He obviously could care less about his approval rating (which would be interesting to see).

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Mar 12, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well to be fair...

…he shouldn’t care at all about his approval among the fans. I know that’s not the best thing to say. But he shouldn’t. He should care about winning. And I know some of us are starting to doubt his commitment to that, but until we see this team on the field, who really knows.

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by The Bull Gator on Mar 12, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well.....

I agree partially. It is his job (and he has admitted this) to sell the team to the fans. It’s his job to put butts in the seats and groups in the boxes. When you have a questionable off-season like this, it negatively effects that (esp. in a down economy). It is also his job to get us on national TV. So…approval rating kind of DOES matter.

Also, as fans we have to feel like our voices need to be heard. Millen put together a terrible package when he was in Detroit and the Fans won out. If the fans were still showing up and buying what Millen was selling, losing would have taken a back seat. Maybe he would have been gone sooner, but regardless. In Philly, New York, Boston and LA to management is in tune with the community around it. When fans don’t like something, they make changes.

So, I agree with you. His priority SHOULD be winning. However when the fans perceive that it isn’t (or maybe just ME), he needs to do a better job.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Mar 12, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True...

…but you also just named cities that are about 100 times more passionate about sports than Tampa and are much bigger markets. Living here for as long as I have, I can definitively say this is a (if not THE) bandwagon town. Part of the reason most people my age (nearly 30) can’t name anyone outside of Selmon and Williams from the pre-Dungy era.

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by The Bull Gator on Mar 12, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's irrellevant.

In fact, it’s probably more important to “sell” the team in a smaller market. In a city like Philly they are showing up regardless. Tampa….well let’s ask the Bay Rays.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Mar 12, 2009 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you...

…I was just saying we can’t really compare Tampa to the cities you listed because it’s a very different dynamic in this market. Yes we’ll get the people coming to the games to see some big signing play, but the bandwagon won’t fill until the wins come. The true fans may be paying attention now, but Tampa is much more of a casual fan city and they don’t care until the season starts anyway. Remember, we’re a very small percentage.

Yes it’s his job to sell the team to the fans, but until this team gets on the field, we really don’t know what we have. Although I don’t think this will happen, for all we know Luke could be the next big thing and we’re in for a great ride. I’m just reserving most of my judgment for when the games actually start. Well except for my feelings toward drafting Josh Freeman (wink!).

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by The Bull Gator on Mar 12, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well said, sir.

Don’t forget about Atlanta fans in the bandwagon king discussion. They’re pretty rotten, fairweather sports fans.

We don’t know how free agency will round out and how the team will do in the draft…. or if they have any surprises up their sleeves. To rate how he’s doing now is premature, since the roster now won’t necessarily be the roster going into the season. Moreover, missing out on guys like Haynesworth and Houshmandzadeh could end up being a blessing… if Haynesworth lets his fat and lazy side out and Housh shows he’s not a downfield threat/can’t hack it as a #1. The future will let us know how he did. Let’s see how it shakes out…. that patience thing again I keep talking about.

Cannons... fire them.

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by Craig T on Mar 12, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I don't have much of that.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Mar 13, 2009 7:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope not

….There is nothing wrong with the kid, lets just address something a little more important need, we have a decent QB in place right now, lets plug a whole with our first pick please

by shadowchicken on Mar 12, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No!

I don’t see the point in drafting Freeman. We already have a new quarterback for the regime, Luke. I really don’t see Luke as a long term solution, but we have much bigger issues to address. If more quarterbacks had entered this draft, Freeman would be a 3rd round pick. He is very hit or miss. If anything, give Josh Johnson a shot. We need defensive help, or to take a WR

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by n1ck34 on Mar 12, 2009 2:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I still think we draft Harvin

If I remember correctly, Morris said he wants the Bucs to be known as explosive. Adding the most explosive player in the draft would certainly help.

I dont think a QB in the 1st is a foregone conclusion. Especially if Sanchez is gone. I know we will draft a QB but I think it will be later in the draft. The guy I like is Rhett Bomar. He’s as talented as Stafford and Sanchez. None of the QB’s in this draft are bonafide franchise QB’s. Go into camp with a 3-way competition between Johnson, McCown and Bomar ( i dont know why Griese is still here). Who ever wins the job would have plenty of toys to play with. If by some chance whoever won the starters job has a bad season, than we could get a better QB in the 2010 FA like Rivers, Campbell, and Eli. Plus the 2010 draft is going to be good for QB’s.

by dannythegreat on Mar 12, 2009 2:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I believe the being "explosive"

was a reference to our defense and an excuse to cutting Brooks.

We are going to be run-heavy, which is hard to categorize as explosive.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Mar 12, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Draft

Draft a defensive guy in the first and whatever you want in the 3rd(not a QB). Round one is where you can get a solid young starter. Freeman probably won’t start next yr no matter where he goes. I think we already have a Freeman in J.Johnson. If all else falls and you pick defense in round one and don’t address the QB situation at all, there are 3 decent QBs in next yrs draft. Face it, the odds of us picking high next yr are pretty good. DT, CB, or LB in round one. DEFENSE wins championships. I’m still watching Cutlergate09 in Denver. Just say no to Freeman.

by cowatkins78 on Mar 12, 2009 2:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

why!?

ugh… let JJ have his shot! I agree, just say no to Freeman!

by ghosthippo on Mar 12, 2009 3:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They are going to take a WR or LB with their first pick

That is just a smoke screen.

by PewterPirate55 on Mar 12, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think DE is a possibility

Michael Johnson is a beast. Like I said, I think we go with Harvin, but Johnson is my #2 choice. I wont believe Freeman is any better than a 3rd round pick until I see it. Ok he has a big arm….so what? IMO Pat White had the most accurate and strongest arm at the combine. I would even take White over Freeman. I’m bracing for the disappointment if we draft Freeman in the first but I’m still hoping Morris and Dominik are smarter than that.

Something to keep an eye on….Pat White worked out as a QB only in WVU’s pro day. He had previously said he would work out as a WR after the combine. Maybe this is his way of saying he wants to be a QB? Hopefully that will scare teams off. I LOVE his play making ability and accuracy. If we can get him with any 2nd day pick than I would do it.

by dannythegreat on Mar 12, 2009 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs