For all the disagreements Josh Freeman and Greg Schiano had in Tampa, the one that really mattered was the most fundamental of all: Freeman believed he was the franchise quarterback, and Schiano did not.
Freeman, now the Vikings’ starting quarterback, said on the Dan Patrick Show that what it all came down to is that Schiano didn’t believe in him.
“They didn’t see me as the guy,” Freeman said. “They didn’t see me as the guy who could get it done and I strongly disagree with that. But at the same time, it’s not really my decision to make. It’s just been an awesome deal, being blessed, having the opportunity to come play with an organization like Minnesota.”
Freeman said Schiano called him after the Buccaneers drafted Glennon and assured him that the Bucs saw Glennon only as a developmental player for the future, not as someone who would compete to start as a rookie. But Freeman learned over the next several months that Schiano doubted him.
“You hear a lot of speculation and whispers and people saying different things, but the bottom line is it was a situation where the coach wanted to bring in his guy,” Freeman said. “It happens all the time in this league.”
Freeman says the Vikings’ offense is similar to the offense he ran in college, and he’s ready to start this week. Now he’ll try to prove that he’s the guy in Minnesota.