Penn........"I know what some fans are saying about Josh"

[michael89156]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers LT Donald Penn defends QB Josh Freeman


 By IRA KAUFMAN| The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 07, 2013





TAMPA --

 Tampa Bay Buccaneer left tackle Donald Penn, who has protected Josh Freeman's blind side for every game of Freeman's career, said the embattled fifth-year quarterback is being unfairly maligned.

Penn will take a streak of 93 consecutive starts into the 2013 season and sounded confident Freeman will rebound from a December slump that coincided with Tampa Bay's late-season stumble to a 7-9 finish.

"Quarterback is not always a glamorous position,'' Penn said during last week's Super Bowl festivities in New Orleans. "It's glamorous when you're in the Super Bowl – then you're the best thing since sliced bread. But plain and simple, to be a good quarterback, you need a good team.

"The two best quarterbacks in the league weren't playing in the Super Bowl. The two best teams played in the Super Bowl. We need to be a good team for Josh.''

Freeman, who turned 25 in January, set career highs by throwing for 4,065 yards and 27 touchdowns, but was intercepted four times apiece in consecutive losses to New Orleans and St. Louis before Tampa Bay closed with a 22-17 triumph at Atlanta.

"When we win the Super Bowl, Josh will be getting all the endorsements,'' Penn said. "He'll be on all the talk shows, getting all the love. We were so close last season, and we weren't a complete team.

"I'm looking forward to this coaching staff with a year under their belt. I know Greg Schiano is sitting down every day dissecting the season. That makes me excited as a player, knowing how much work my coach is putting in to make it right. We're going to be a serious team to deal with next year.''

The Bucs appear to be in no rush to work out a long-term deal with Freeman, whose rookie contract ends after the 2013 season.

"I know what some fans are saying about Josh,'' Penn said. "It's part of the game. As quick as they turn, that's how quick they will turn right back. This has happened to a lot of quarterbacks. Josh is growing up faster than he's supposed to because of the situation, and he's handled it very well.

"He's very mature. It's not Josh Freeman's fault if someone misses a block and gets him killed. It's not Freeman's fault if he has to throw the ball early. When things go wrong, fans can't put all the blame on one guy.''

[zsmith22]

Josh Freeman is gonna be this franchises QB for a long time, as he should be. He'll lead us to much greener pastures if you give him time.

[chace1986]

Wonder if he will show the same faith in Schiano if his ultimate plan ends up being to let Freeman walk after the '13 season.

[caradoc]

Josh Freeman is gonna be this franchises QB for a long time, as he should be. He'll lead us to much greener pastures if you give him time.

All praise unto thee, Lord Freesus.  Ye maketh us lie down in green pastures...someday...soon...you're only 25 after all...

[Beatles123]

rhere was a lot free did wrong last year, but the D is a far bigger attribution to our struggles,

[Hayseed]

Shut up, Donald Penn! We, as fans, declared Freeman as sucky. Who are you, as a player, to defy us? We totally know more than you, sir.

[Benchwarmer#1]

The pass defense sucks. I find that hard to blame freeman for.

[caradoc]

The pass defense sucks. I find that hard to blame freeman for.

So do I.  In fact, I find it not only hard, but impossible to blame Josh for the pass defense.

OTOH, many people seem to blame the pass defense for Josh's failures.  Strange.

[DeltaBuc5]

The pass defense sucks. I find that hard to blame freeman for.

You find it hard to blame Freeman for throwing 11 INTs down the stretch and having a 53% completion rating?

[bamabucs]

I too can't blame Josh for our bad pass defense. But I certainly can and will blame him for his accuracy issues and turnovers during the most crucial points of the season.

[Boid Fink]

Career backup.

[Benchwarmer#1]

The pass defense sucks. I find that hard to blame freeman for.

You find it hard to blame Freeman for throwing 11 INTs down the stretch and having a 53% completion rating?

Because of teams like the eagles, who beat the pass defense down with FOLES?

Yeah. Again, I'm not going to blame freeman for wimpy QB's looking like they're playing madden against the bucs weekly.

[chace1986]

The pass defense sucks. I find that hard to blame freeman for.

You find it hard to blame Freeman for throwing 11 INTs down the stretch and having a 53% completion rating?

Haven't you heard? Those games were "glorified pre-season games".

[Hate]

Shut up, Donald Penn! We, as fans, declared Freeman as sucky. Who are you, as a player, to defy us? We totally know more than you, sir.

Are you insinuating that it's impossible for Joe Public to know more than someone inside the bldg?

[Dolorous Jason]

I can understand concern about Freeman's development  . I'm concerned also. What I don't understand is the non-stop vitriol . Every thread that mentions him the same guys come in and pile on  .

Like him or not , he's our QB for at least one more season.  There's no one better to acquire. What are you a-holes trying to accomplish exactly ??