The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are under fire after starting 0-3 this season and with Greg Schiano's job likely on the line going forward, quarterback Josh Freeman has been benched in favor of rookie Mike Glennon, who will make his first career start.
Schiano made the decision after Freeman didn't complete more than 50 percent of his passes in any of the three games this season and now trade rumors are starting to percolate surrounding him. According to ESPN.com and Pro Football Talk, the Bucs are fine to keep Freeman as a backup, but that they are actively looking to trade him and some teams that have come up so far includes the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns, but it is unlikely wither of those will happen.
The Vikings appear committed to Christian Ponder, while the Browns feel comfortable with their situation after trading Trent Richardson and likely won't make a big move again. On top of that, with the Arizona Cardinals next on the schedule and all the quarterback trade talk going on, another name has been brought into the mix, as Carson Palmer revealed that earlier in the offseason there was a chance he could have been traded to the Buccaneers.
According to ESPN.com, Palmer revealed in a conference call with local reporters that during the offseason, his agent spoke with the Buccaneers about possibly going there. Palmer was traded to the Arizona Cardinals from the Oakland Raiders, but before that deal went down, there was plenty of speculation about where he could go and with Schiano reportedly unhappy with Freeman dating back to last season, the Buccaneers were an option.
Either way, the Buccaneers and Freeman will likely part ways after this season, as his contract is up after this year and after being a first round pick from Kansas State, the team will likely move on. If Glennon plays well, that will make the decision even easier for the team and they desperately need a win, as they go into a bye week after this game against the Cardinals.
Glennon is tied to Schiano after he drafted him, something that the coach never felt with Freeman and now things are moving towards the future and away from the former starter. The team feels comfortable with Freeman as the backup for now and barring an injury, his time is likely done in Tampa after being terrible over the first three games of the season and while Dan Orlovsky could be an option as well, clearly they are done with Freeman.
Freeman completed just 40 percent of his passes in week 2 and he has three picks and just two touchdowns in three games this season. He completed just nine passes in Week 2 against the Saints and has thrown for 236 yards or less in all three games. Freeman threw for 4,000 yards last season, but now it looks like his future in TB is over and the offseason will give him the chance to start over somewhere else.