Tampa Bay is slowly but surely ruining the reputation of Josh Freeman. At this rate, the quarterback will be lucky if he ever plays football again. However, many will be surprised if he even wants to after the treatment the Buccaneers have been giving him. As the saga between the two continues on, the latest chapter features fines and a possible suspension.
After confidential information leaked that Freeman was part of the NFL drug program, it is now being reported the quarterback has been fined twice in recent weeks by Tampa Bay for conduct detrimental to the team. According to Sports Illustrated, the Buccaneers fined him for missing a team meeting and participating in an unauthorized media interview. The fines total up to $31,500, but Freeman does plan to appeal them.
"The fine potentially sets up a scenario under which Tampa Bay can suspend Freeman without pay," SI's Jim Trotter writes. "That would allow the team to attempt to trade the fifth-year QB while not paying a portion of his salary."
Tampa Bay appears to be looking for any excuse to try and get rid of the quarterback. According to Trotter, the fines are just the beginning of something much bigger to come. Tampa Bay is attempting to trade the quarterback, but so far no team has shown any interest. That could cause Tampa Bay to suspend Freeman without pay and use these incidents as the reason.
Freeman has already accused Greg Schiano of creating a smear campaign against him after the quarter believed his coach was the leak in the drug program information. Apparently other teammates agree. Left tackle Donald Penn is concerned all of this information getting out to the media is hurting Freeman's reputation. He told Pro Football Talk that he is concerned for Freeman an credits the quarterback as a "humble, good guy."
"It's just real tough. I feel bad for Josh being put in this situation," Penn said. "You know, the stuff that came out [Monday, regarding Freeman being in the drug program] and stuff like that, it's like they're really trying to bring him down and Josh is a great guy. Josh is a very humble spirit. He's a very good guy. He's a very good person and he really cares about him teammates and cares about his team."
There is something big and bad brewing up for the Buccaneers. No matter how much Schiano denies and downplays all of the claims; things will come to head soon.