Freeman has special interest in league's title games

[michael89156]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Freeman has special interest in league's title games






 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The performance of Joe Flacco (left) and Matt Ryan (right) in the conference title games could impact Josh Freeman as he seeks a contract extension.




 By ROY CUMMINGS| The Tampa Tribune
Published:  January 19, 2013 - 6:16 PM



TAMPA --

From the perspective of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there is reason to monitor the outcome of today's AFC and NFC championship games that surpasses knowing which teams will play in Super Bowl XLVII.
 
As they continue to formulate a game plan for the possible re-signing of QB Josh Freeman, the Bucs will take great interest in how Ravens QB Joe Flacco and Falcons QB Matt Ryan fare. Their success, or lack of it, almost certainly will impact future contract negotiations between the Bucs and Freeman.
 
Flacco is slated to become a free agent this spring and Ryan in the spring of 2014, at the same time as Freeman. If either the Ravens or Falcons loses today, that will relegate Flacco, Ryan or both to the category of quarterbacks who appear to be good enough to take their teams to the Super Bowl, but have so far failed to do so.
 
That could cost Flacco and Ryan not only their current jobs but millions of dollars. The trickle down affect will absolutely reach Freeman, unless, of course, he suddenly takes the Bucs to the Super Bowl next year.
 
In that case, Freeman could have a hand in setting the new standard for quarterback contracts. But if all three players continue on their current paths, Freeman likely will see his new deal fall in somewhere below those of Flacco and Ryan.
 
What that will mean in terms of dollars and cents is hard to gauge. Peyton Manning led all quarterbacks with an $18 million base salary this season. Even if they win a Super Bowl, it's hard to imagine Flacco, who ranked sixth ($6.76 million), or Ryan, who ranked third ($11.5 million), getting that type of money.
 
What's more realistic, should either win a Super Bowl, is a base salary for 2014 and 2015 similar to those for quarterbacks who have already won at least one Super Bowl such as Ben Roethlisberger ($12.1 million in 2014) or Aaron Rodgers ($10.1 million in 2015).
 
If they lose, of course, the numbers come way down, and the same would hold true for Freeman. So, the Bucs will probably wait until after Flacco and possibly even Ryan have agreed to new contracts before they begin negotiating a new deal for Freeman.
 


Fast track
 
It started with a phone call, then-Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin inquiring about a secondary coach. Next thing you knew, Kiffin and Gus Bradley, then the defensive coordinator at little-known North Dakota State, were talking Tampa 2.
 
Kiffin was so impressed with Bradley's knowledge of the scheme Kiffin made famous with the Bucs that he offered him a job as Tampa Bay's quality control coach for the 2006 season.
 
Bradley accepted and has been on the fast track ever since, going from Bucs linebackers coach to Seahawks defensive coordinator and, now, to Jaguars head coach in a matter of seven years.
 
No one should be all that surprised. Kiffin has long displayed a unique knack for finding quality assistant coaches who quickly moved to the ranks of NFL head coaches.
 
When Bradley was hired by the Jaguars last week, he became the fifth former Bucs assistant coach hired by Kiffin to be named an NFL head coach, joining Lovie Smith (Bears), Mike Tomlin (Steelers), Rod Marinelli (Lions) and Raheem Morris (Bucs).

[The Anti-Java]

Ryan makes a lot of cheese for not accomplishing much.

Freeman is going to have to really light it up next season, if he is hoping for a large contract. 

[1sparkybuc]

Ryan makes a lot of cheese for not accomplishing much.

Freeman is going to have to really light it up next season, if he is hoping for a large contract.

This article is stupid. Ryan could just miss the SB for the next ten years and not lose his job. He's definitely overpaid but he's the most productive QB they've ever had. Their franchise is much older than ours, and they never had consecutive winning seasons until he arrived.

[JC5100]

Freeman is going to have to really light it up next season, if he is hoping for a large contract.

Bucs need Freeman more than Freeman needs the Bucs.

[JavaRay]

Freeman is going to have to really light it up next season, if he is hoping for a large contract.

Bucs need Freeman more than Freeman needs the Bucs.

Just the opposite.   The Bucs would be better off without Freeman.   Freeman would not be better off without the Bucs.

[JC5100]

Freeman is going to have to really light it up next season, if he is hoping for a large contract.

Bucs need Freeman more than Freeman needs the Bucs.

Just the opposite.   The Bucs would be better off without Freeman.   Freeman would not be better off without the Bucs.

If Freeman was a free agent right now he would get a mega contract and the Bucs would go 3-13 next year.

[Al Bundy]

Freeman is going to have to really light it up next season, if he is hoping for a large contract.

Bucs need Freeman more than Freeman needs the Bucs.

Just the opposite.   The Bucs would be better off without Freeman.   Freeman would not be better off without the Bucs.

If Freeman was a free agent right now he would get a mega contract and the Bucs would go 3-13 next year.

You are 100% correct. Freeman wouldn't last past 12:01, however the Bucs would be in 2-14 to 5-11 type of trouble, with the other QB's on the roster being Brady Quinn types that turn the ball over 35 times.

[JavaRay]

Freeman is going to have to really light it up next season, if he is hoping for a large contract.

Bucs need Freeman more than Freeman needs the Bucs.

Just the opposite.   The Bucs would be better off without Freeman.   Freeman would not be better off without the Bucs.

If Freeman was a free agent right now he would get a mega contract and the Bucs would go 3-13 next year.

Really?   Had the Bucs drafted Russell Wilson last year, they would be better off than they are right now at QB.     

[Dolorous Jason]

This is horsesh!t.

Freeman's future contract has everything to do with how good he looks next season , and nothing to do with these games today.

[FireThemCannons]

I so tired of reading posts that just absolutly bash freeman. Show me this shiny beacon of light that's out there thats better.
I not saying freeman is great but he's pretty damn good. He had two horrible games this year. Take those away and his number are awesome.
He can win use games, we have soooo many bigger problems than freeman.
     I had a giants fan telling how much better eli manning is compared to josh. We looked up the stats
And guess what in their respective fourth year freemans number are better.

[Al Bundy]

FTC, some have hated Freeman since he was drafted, some are new to the hate machine. Some like to point at Russell Wilson, they forget how dominating the Seahawks defense is.

[Hate]

From the perspective of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there is reason to monitor the outcome of today's AFC and NFC championship games that surpasses knowing which teams will play in Super Bowl XLVII.
 
As they continue to formulate a game plan for the possible re-signing of QB Josh Freeman, the Bucs will take great interest in how Ravens QB Joe Flacco and Falcons QB Matt Ryan fare. Their success, or lack of it, almost certainly will impact future contract negotiations between the Bucs and Freeman.
 
Flacco is slated to become a free agent this spring and Ryan in the spring of 2014, at the same time as Freeman. If either the Ravens or Falcons loses today, that will relegate Flacco, Ryan or both to the category of quarterbacks who appear to be good enough to take their teams to the Super Bowl, but have so far failed to do so.
 
That could cost Flacco and Ryan not only their current jobs but millions of dollars. The trickle down affect will absolutely reach Freeman, unless, of course, he suddenly takes the Bucs to the Super Bowl next year.
 

BS!!

[QaZ]

Really?   Had the Bucs drafted Russell Wilson last year, they would be better off than they are right now at QB.   

If we just would have had half a HC after 2002, Rodgers would be playing here, we would not have traded for Plummer etc. We would not be in the position we are in right now, still suffering from having wasted 6 years of 'rebuiling with the offseason genius called J Gruden'.

We COULD be better without Freeman, no doubt, IF we find a better QB than Freeman, Just i'm pretty sure, Freeman will have no issue finding another team like team TB or even better.
As a team we are competing with 31 other team, we can not be successfull by just being top 10, but not #1.By theorie we have the exact same chance of being #1 as any other team in the league. So we can not justify mediocrity, see a successful season in not finishing first.
Freeman plays for himself, it does not matter to him how much better a guy like Brady is, he can still make the most out of HIS opportunities, which do not have to be the same as of other QB. He will make 8mil next year here, i guess he will make more than that in 2014, where ever he signs after 2013. Suffering from a bad defense and miss the PO he can do on another teams aswell, he does not need us at all. Still Freeman has value to this team, why not make use of?

[Bucfan40]

Freeman is going to have to really light it up next season, if he is hoping for a large contract.

Bucs need Freeman more than Freeman needs the Bucs.

Just the opposite.   The Bucs would be better off without Freeman.   Freeman would not be better off without the Bucs.

If Freeman was a free agent right now he would get a mega contract and the Bucs would go 3-13 next year.

Because it is SO HARD to get the ball to two elite receivers and a top tier running back. The weapons Freeman has are among the best in the league. We'd be fine with someone who played smart football and didn't turn it over or miss easy throws.

[Chief Joseph]

"If we just would have had half a HC after 2002, Rodgers would be playing here,"

Because Gruden didn't want Rodgers, right?