As Gantt recently has pointed out, the Jaguars aren’t interested in quarterback Josh Freeman.
The Browns aren’t, either.
Per a league source, the franchise that doesn’t seem to want its 2012 first-round quarterback doesn’t want Tampa’s 2009 first-round quarterback, either.
The Browns remain in the hunt for a franchise quarterback. They’ll presumably target one in the draft. Unless Brian Hoyer becomes a franchise-type guy on the fly.
The biggest impediment remains Freeman’s contract. Per a league source, Freeman won’t be inclined to reduce his remaining base salary or sign an extension as part of a trade. With this week’s game check already earned, he’s due to receive $6.44 million from Week Five through Week 17.
While Freeman will remain the No. 2 quarterback in Tampa for now, the ongoing presence of Freeman at a time when the Buccaneers are trying to bolster Mike Glennon could become a distraction that results in the Bucs simply cutting Freeman loose. Because he’s entitled to recover the balance of his salary as termination pay, it really doesn’t make much sense to pay him to not play.
There could be a point, though, whether the coaching staff simply doesn’t want him around -- especially if Glennon struggles and the team anticipates a local push for Freeman to be reinstated as the starter.