When looking at Tampa Bay starting quarterback Josh Freeman, there are several qualities that jump out; size, athleticism, arm strength, leadership, and a hard work ethic.
After a stellar 2010 season, Freeman and Co. have turned their attention to the 2011 season and building off the success that they had last year. The thing about Freeman though, is if you were to ask him how awesome of a year he had, he will be the first person to tell you that it was a disappointing season. How can someone who threw 25 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions say that it was a “disappointing” season? Easy, we didn’t win the Super Bowl.
I have read many articles, mainly on Pewter Report, that Freeman was not satisfied by going 10-6, mainly because it wasnt good enough to make the playoffs. And he couldn’t take it that his Buccaneers were not in the Super Bowl when Green Bay and Pittsburgh played for the greatest prize of them all.
That is the type of passion for the game that Bucs fans should love to see out of their 23 year old quarterback.
Freeman has continued to show that he is the real deal during this off season. Because of the NFL lockout, he and his teammates have not been able to get together with their coaches and go over plays and other nuances of the schemes that the coaches have added since the end of the 2010 season, Freeman has taken it upon himself to organize player workouts and get the team together so that they can start forming comradery among each other.
Freeman was one of the very first players in the NFL to organize team practices. It wasn’t until Drew Brees and Mark Sanchez started up that the media started to pay attention to it. I love how Freeman doesn’t want attention drawn to himself, he quietly goes about his business and focuses on nothing but becoming the best player he can possibly be.
To me this off-season for Freeman is more impressive than the last; mainly because he has had to take on a much bigger role than he already was before the lockout began. When you are able to get 50 plus guys to go to a voluntary, player organized workout for 3 straight days, that tells you exactly the type of respect his teammates have for him.
I have thought it over many times, and have looked at players around the NFL, and I have come to the conclusion that Josh Freeman is one of the hardest working player in the NFL now. Yes, there is Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady, but remember, Freeman has said he wants to be better than them and he continues to show the work ethic and drive that it takes to be great. Freeman may only be 23, but he acts and plays like a 15 year veteran.
It’s my opinion Josh Freeman will turn into the best quarterback in the NFL. Once Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are done, Freeman will be the golden child of the NFL, but what’s great about that is that he doesn’t care about being the poster boy, he just wants to win Super Bowls and win a lot of them. With Manning like work ethic and love for the game, and Donavan McNabb type ability, Freeman is turning into one of the deadliest quarterbacks around. He can beat you in the pocket, or on his feet, and with his knowledge and understanding of the game continuing to grow, the sky’s the limit for number 5 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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