| I had written an article a little over a week ago | | | | played far better than most could have hoped |
| titled, "Who Wants To Play Quarterback?...Not It!" | | | | for. Of coarse many skeptics will say, "It's just |
| That article basically summed up the struggles | | | | one game, let's see what happens next week?" |
| that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gone | | | | Definitely a fair question, however for an |
| through for so many years, especially at the | | | | organization that has been more than starving for |
| quarterback position. All of the players who have | | | | a quarterback that is capable of playing above |
| played quarterback for the Buccaneers, have not | | | | mediocrity, I truly believe that Freeman is the |
| only struggled, but according to most, have | | | | answer to the numerous Buccaneer's questions / |
| played well below their level of talent. It has | | | | problem of running a stable offense / issues/ and |
| almost been a position that has seemed to be | | | | fans' and players alike depressions. |
| cursed and plagued for failure. In my previous | | | | During the game against the Green Bay Packers, |
| article, ("Who Wants To Play Quarterback?...Not | | | | did Freeman blow us all away with his |
| It?") I had brought attention to the fact that this | | | | performance, and did he have a perfect game? |
| year had started off no different. I had also | | | | Of coarse not, nor did half of the starting |
| stated that the Buccaneers had spent their first | | | | quarterbacks this week. He did make some |
| round draft this year on a quarterback out of | | | | "Rookie mistakes" that all rookies make, especially |
| Kansa State, Josh Freeman. The Buccaneers | | | | those playing quarterback. Because the position of |
| spent yet another draft pick last year on a | | | | quarterback is always watched under a |
| quarterback from San Diego, Josh Johnson. That's | | | | microscope, as opposed to other positions, they |
| two draft picks, in two consecutive years, on the | | | | are more highly criticized. Freeman did throw one |
| position that has been doomed for failure in so | | | | interception; however, he threw three touchdown |
| many years of past. | | | | passes as well. The Buccaneer defense played an |
| Winless going into last weeks game, Freeman and | | | | absolutely stellar game, which of coarse helped |
| the Buccaneers earned their first win of the | | | | Freeman, and the Buccaneers earn their first win |
| season against the Green Bay Packers, who had | | | | of the season. Freeman, also had a completion |
| been heavily favored to win. This game against | | | | percentage that wasn't exactly spectacular (14 of |
| the Green Bay Packers was Josh Freeman's first | | | | 31, or 45%), but the Buccaneers finally were able |
| game as a starting Quarterback in the National | | | | to chalk one up in the "W" column. To hear the |
| Football League (N.F.L.). Freeman's last start as a | | | | fans cheering as well as to see the adoration in |
| quarterback came last year as a "stand-out" and | | | | their eyes as Freeman walked through the tunnel |
| highly sought after quarterback at Kansas State. | | | | after the game was something that I hadn't |
| This past week, however, wasn't the first time | | | | witnessed in a very long time. |
| that Freeman has taken snaps for the | | | | Analysts from E.S.P.N., were quoted as saying of |
| Buccaneers. He had split playing time with second | | | | Freeman's first start in the N.F.L. that "he had |
| year quarterback, Josh Johnson, two weeks ago, | | | | great pocket presence, and moved very well |
| when the Bucs lost their 6th consecutive loss this | | | | when he was under pressure form the Packer |
| season. There was absolutely no excuse or | | | | Defense." They also stated that "Josh Freeman |
| reason for the Buccaneers not to start Freeman | | | | has, and will continue, to have great up-sides of |
| at quarterback. After this year's draft, the | | | | his play in the future as an N.F.L. quarterback." I |
| Buccaneer Organization as a whole, claimed that | | | | have to bring this to your attention. These are |
| Josh Freeman would be unquestionably "the future | | | | the very same analysts who thought that Josh |
| of the Buccaneer franchise." The National Football | | | | Freeman came out of college and entered the |
| League is a business, and each of the individual | | | | N.F.L. draft a year too early, like so many college |
| franchises within it, are businesses as well. Each of | | | | athletes do. The temptation of becoming a |
| these organizations within the N.F.L. are in business | | | | professional athlete, as well as the instant fame |
| to win...and only win. Starting the season this year | | | | and fortune of becoming an overnight celebrity, is |
| 0-6, (zero wins, and six losses), it's more than | | | | often too hard for these kids to say no to. In my |
| time for the "future of the organization" to take | | | | opinion, that's why so many athletes at the |
| over at the quarterback position and do what he | | | | collegiate level, decide to roll the dice and enter |
| was drafted to do, win! The future is most | | | | the professional draft, regardless of the sport in |
| certainly, without a doubt, now! | | | | which they participate in. However, college football |
| Being a starting quarterback in the N.F.L., is one of | | | | players, more than any other sport, decide to |
| the toughest jobs in professional sports, if not the | | | | leave school early and enter the draft with |
| absolute toughest. Not only the physical aspects | | | | finishing school and earning a degree. (Basketball, |
| of the position, but the mental aspects are equally | | | | takes a very close second, in having players enter |
| as tough. When Josh Freeman took the field | | | | the professional draft.) I personally was lucky |
| Sunday, many had questions on whether he | | | | enough to earn my degree before I decided to |
| would be able to play at the level he knew he | | | | enter the professional baseball draft. I was |
| was capable of, as well as the Buccaneer | | | | drafted in the second round, by the Detroit |
| organization and the fans hoped he would. | | | | Tigers, out of Minnesota State University. |
| (Considering the quarterbacks for the Bucs in | | | | (Another topic, for another article, for another |
| recent, and not so recent past, the shoes weren't | | | | time. |
| all that big to fill.) In my opinion, Josh Freeman | | | | |