The Buccaneers have been sending mixed signals about the status of quarterback Josh Freeman, ever since Mike Glennon arrived via round three of the 2013 draft.
At times, they seem to be committed to Freeman. At other times, they seem to be willing to let Mike Glennon make a run for the job.
After the team’s first preseason game, coach Greg Schiano slammed the door on a quarterback controversy. Sort of.
“Josh has done everything to [meet] my expectations so far,” Schiano said, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, regarding a potential position battle. “So I don’t see that being the way things play out.”
Implicit in that observation is the notion that, if Freeman at some point doesn’t perform to Schiano’s expectations, things will change.
The truth is that Freeman has not yet reached the point of untouchable. If he were, he’d already have a contract that extends beyond 2013.
That’s perhaps the best evidence that an opportunity, no matter how small, exists for Glennon to supplant Freeman. If the Bucs truly believed in Freeman, the team would have at least tried to sign him for the long haul.
They haven’t, which means that Glennon could be the starter in Tampa as of 2014, or sooner.