It was one of the messiest moves in sports this year. The disintegration of Josh Freeman over a season. He started the season as the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that had high expectations after trading for Darrelle Revis. The team got off to an 0-3 start with Freeman starting and head coach Greg Schiano decided to bench Freeman and start rookie Mike Glennon.
While the Bucs tried to deny it, it was clear there was something brewing in Tampa Bay. Already dealing with players contracting MRSA infections, the locker room seemed divided. It was the first time in his career that his teammates did not vote him captain. It got very ugly when it was leaked that Freeman was enrolled in the NFL’s drug program. He was forced to come forward and admit that he was diagnosed ADHD and was prescribed Adderall. Reportedly, the leak came from Schiano, but it still has yet to be proven. Freeman was traded to the Minnesota Vikings who were also struggling to find a starting quarterback.
He was placed directly in the spotlights as the Vikings had a game scheduled that week against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. It was an embarrassing performance for Freeman who appeared lost and nervous on the field. His throw were almost always inaccurate, and their offense was shut down by the Giants defense. He was diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms and ended his starting streak in Minnesota at one. He has yet to start another game this season, losing the starting job to Christian Ponder and falling behind Matt Cassel on the depth chart.
The Buccaneers lost eight straight, but won three in a row, before losing in Week 12 to the Carolina Panthers. Glennon appears to be the starter for the future and Schiano may have saved his job with Glennon’s strong performance.
