Comments on: Freeman: Bucs Told Me Leftwich Was A Smokescreen

By: jlinnell98

jlinnell98 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:12:00 +0000

I don’t see this as much of an issue, Leftwich is competing this year for the starting job, that hasn’t changed. It was a ‘smoke screen’ as well as a pick up they needed when the got Leftwich. They needed a QB (assuming they’ll cut Griese) and they got one plus took some heat off picking Freeman. I see Leftwich starting day 1 & helping develope Freeman over the year

By: praveen

praveen — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:37:50 +0000

Why sign a 2 year contract if the first year doesnt guarantee a single dollar?

By: halestorm74

halestorm74 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:27:14 +0000

Wow what a clever kid! Welcome to the NFL…. Remember that old phrase “Loose lips sink ships?” Keep your damn mouth shut.

By: garyofferdahl

garyofferdahl — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:15:28 +0000

Ouch dude! Whoa!

By: Larry David

Larry David — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:55:16 +0000

This guy was an average QB in the Big 12, aka the worst defensive league in history, and now he’s supposed to be an NFL qb? Biggest bust of the draft right here, bar none!

By: inmymind

inmymind — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:36:34 +0000

Good sign Freeman will be a bust. If he is not smart enough to see how that will make the Bucs look and Byron feel, then he is not smart enough to be a good QB in the NFL.

By: DC_Bengals_Fan

DC_Bengals_Fan — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:18:11 +0000

“Chucky and Bruce would never have allowed this.”
Of course not. Chucky wouldn’t sign a QB as a smokescreen, he actually wanted 12 of them on the roster.

By: gtskyrider

gtskyrider — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 07:58:42 +0000

The new kid will learn…hell…he came out as a junior, so he’s really wet behind the ears. Once training camp starts the veterans will get him to simmer down. He’ll begin to learn the ropes and hopefully make better decisions speaking, playing, and professionally. Goodbye Griese!!!!!! GOTTA GO GOTTA GO!!!!

By: jlvfla

jlvfla — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:51:31 +0000

The pick isn’t terrible, may pay off eventually, but the circumstances give me pause as to the maturity and savvy of those in charge. I think Morris is in over his head, he certainly gave that impression during his first news conference (shortly after he was named headcoach). I can think of several unhappy players and coaches this morning (McCown, Bates, J.Johnson), not to mention “smokescreen” Leftwich. Chucky and Bruce would never have allowed this.

By: Rulerofthemasses

Rulerofthemasses — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:17:33 +0000

So what Freeman is supposed to lie for the Buccaneers? How about instead of doing things your going to be ashamed of and fearful of the consequences for, you dont do them instead. That makes the cover of up much more manageable.

By: brian_21

brian_21 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:27:19 +0000

How idiotic was that for Josh Freeman to say. What an idiot! Seriously. Doesn’t bode well.
I hope Freeman does well, and I’ve been cheering for him the whole time.
Here is a conspiracy theory that I just thought of and that I know is unlikely. Perhaps to make Freeman feel OK internally, Tampa just told him that Leftwich was a smokescreen when in fact he was not — and Leftwich might even end up being the starter. I, for one, would pick him over Luke McCown any day, any time.
But perhaps Freeman was just told that so he feels more accepted and that he has a fighting chance to star this actual year.
Or not. But it’s a thought.
And Florio, you shoulda posted one of my comments during the draft. Not cool to completely ignore!

By: downsouth49er

downsouth49er — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:55:46 +0000

coming from a fan whose team is struggling with the QB situation, the Bucs played themselves and not Leftwich….Byron has come out on top when the Jags let him go for David and no improvement was made, and the Bucs won’t improve with this newly drafted guy….take a hint Tampa, once the Jags stank up the joint this year also, Jackass Del Rio will be fired and he will have himself to blame for running Leftwich out of town…don’t be surprised if he is replaced with crappy Tice, who I feel only joined the Jags because he knew Del Rio wasn’t cut out to be head coach

By: ryan13636

ryan13636 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:34:22 +0000

It wasn’t much of a smoke screen. I think Freeman was Tampa Bay’s pick in every mock draft I saw.

By: cunn9305

cunn9305 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:18:47 +0000

Something tells me Raheem Morris does NOT equal Mike Tomlin

By: Tampa21

Tampa21 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:18:35 +0000

i hate the draft

By: flamincheney

flamincheney — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:12:45 +0000

They were so smart that they cost themselves by trading up when no one was after him at that spot anyways. Good move Buc’s…

By: Hosstyle in Tampa

Hosstyle in Tampa — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:03:48 +0000

This is by far the most disappointing moment in Tampa Bay Bucs history. The pick is horrible. The perceived threat of anyone else drafting this BUM is ridiculous. I will defend Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik NO LONGER. They are completely ridiculous and way in over their heads. Signing Leftwich as a Smokescreen is despicable. What kinda message does this send the rest of the team?? With all the defensive talent on the board at 19 and the chance to trade out with the Eagles (which the Browns did) and collect another draft pick, we trade UP to get this LOSER with NO CLASS???
What this draft pick means for Bucs fans:
1) The Bucs did not get an impact player for the upcoming year on the first day of the draft
2) Forget about Josh Johnson, he is a myth. He never will be in the running for the starting qb position (therefore this 5th round pick, as valueless it may seem, is completely worthless now)
3) Raheem Morris has a two year deal. Freeman might not be ready after two years. How long will the Bucs be handcuffed by this QB pick? Think San Francisco 49ers. They still can’t wash the stink of Alex Smith off of themselves.
4) Don’t worry about getting a good spot in next year’s draft for a suspected qb-heavy draft. With McCoy, Bradford, and Teabow to lead next year’s crop of qb’s, the Bucs “have their guy” with this Gerry-Curled Loser…Freeman.
5) Using Leftwich as a pawn will surely be on the minds of any future free agents. Not that we ever get top tier free agent talent. We just stock pile money, while we charge our patrons more and more each year.
This franchise is run for fools, by fools.
FireRaheemMorris.com

By: cobrakai

cobrakai — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:54:46 +0000

Wow, you really drafted yourself a think-tank in freeman, I cant wait till he posts the entire playbook on his facebook page.

By: bearsfan34

bearsfan34 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:40:10 +0000

He came from Kansas St. He probably had a tumbleweed in his mouth when he spilled the beans that Leftwich was just being used like a bachelor party stripper.

By: Hosstyle in Tampa

Hosstyle in Tampa — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:34:37 +0000

FireRaheemMorris.com

By: ayo75

ayo75 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:11:33 +0000

Hahaha slow joe!! Best comment ever!

By: 1stngoal

1stngoal — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:10:25 +0000

Way to toot your own horn there,Mr. Florio,and you deserve to,lol.But it looks as though the first order of business for the Buc’s front office will be to put a gag order on their latest QB of the future,to cure him of his foot-in-mouth disease…

By: 4theloveofthegame

4theloveofthegame — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:05:16 +0000

You were on it Florio… i thought the smokescreen theory was just a bunch of bull… but now who are they going to cut. It’s got to be Griese. They just drafted Josh Johnson, just resigned McCown and if they let Leftwich go it would be a perminant scar on new GM Dominik’s rep are far a big time free agents are concerned in the future.
This kid better be as good as he says he is and the Bucs hope he is…. because I think the pick should have gone to the D-line. Maybe they can grab Michael Johnson in the third.

By: Tyler E.

Tyler E. — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:03:44 +0000

The only guy that should be looking to sell his house is Brian Griese who doesn’t fit this teams offense. Freeman will not be starting this year so Leftwich and McCown will be fighting for the starter’s position anyways. The Broncos may have been thinking about Freeman at pick no. 12. If that’s the case, the “smokescreen” worked, and Raheem got his guy. If anybody should be hurt, it’s McCown, who was thinking he would have a chance to be the Bucs “franchise QB”. I think Freeman is the real deal but for now he will have to sit, watch, and learn.

By: Eddie Drycleaner

Eddie Drycleaner — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:58:01 +0000

Man! I too wish I was missing a few ribs so I could blow myself as much as you guys do.
War self oral sex?

By: homerunharrigan

homerunharrigan — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:56:43 +0000

Yep Florio, I guess when you post 100 threads a day, you’re bound to get one right sooner or later, after all, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

By: dustin_chandler

dustin_chandler — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:44:52 +0000

BUST

By: shaggeez

shaggeez — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:42:44 +0000

poor leftwich…
thats kinda bull

By: Slow Joe

Slow Joe — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:32:42 +0000

This is a great example of saying the wrong thing–even just one little sentence in an online chat–can blow up to be something pretty big. Freeman needs to be smarter about what he says to the public.

By: mnhit55

mnhit55 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:30:32 +0000

killwithme,
Leftwich and his agent have to be the biggest idiots out there – hell, Florio figured it out! Neither of them realized something was amiss when the Bucs offerred him more than twice as much as the Steelers offerred him and then didn’t give him a dime in signing bonus???
The Bucs have no obligation to look out for Leftwich, that’s what he has an agent for. I seriously doubt it will affect any other potential free agent signees – the NFL is stil a business, not a charity.
Kudos to the Bucs for pulling it off and getting the guy they wanted (even though I personally think it was a poor pick).