FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 4/23/2013 10:01pm et

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman said he is more disappointed in not winning than he is in not getting a new contract this offseason. 'It bothers me a lot, knowing the type of team we have and our capabilities, being close but not quite getting there," Freeman said. 'The only reason you play this game is you want to go out and win. You want to win championships and you want to walk away and have a handful of rings. That's why you play the game. The drive is there, the intensity is there. We've just got to find a way to put it all together."

Huddle Up: The Bucs are 24-32 in Freeman's 56 career starts with the QB posting one winning season (10-6 in 2010) so far. He is coming off a career year, though, with 4,065 yards and 27 TDs with a strong supporting cast (RB Doug Martin and WRs Vincent Jackson & Mike Williams) to finish just outside the fantasy top 12 with 325 points (Huddle Performance scoring).

Posted: 3/6/2013 12:14am et

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers met with the agent for QB Josh Freeman at the NFL scouting combine. "It was really positive," agent Erik Burkhardt told The Tampa Tribune of the recent meeting he had with Bucs officials at the NFL scouting combine. "They said they definitely believe in Josh, that he is their guy, that they want to reach their goals with him and that they know he is capable of doing the job and are committed to him." Freeman is entering the final season of a five year contract.

Huddle Up: It sounds like the Bucs are looking to commit to Freeman despite the QB finishing the 2012 season with a thud (2 TDs and 9 interceptions over his last 3 games). Still, Freeman's season as a whole was a marked improvement over his 27-turnover disaster in 2011, and he has the weapons (WRs Vincent Jackson & Mike Williams and RB Doug Martin) to get it done in Tampa.

Posted: 1/7/2013 1:25pm et

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't extend QB Josh Freeman's contract, which runs through the 2013 season. If he plays well next season, the team will either franchise tag him or try to sign him to a long-term deal. The franchise tag would likely tender a $17 million salary.

Huddle Up: Freeman isn't worthy of the franchise-tag price just yet, but he's had flashes that suggest he could still get there. The Bucs are willing to play that waiting game; in their two worst-case scenarios, either they have to fork over big money for a young quarterback on the verge of greatness or they jettison Freeman and start over at the position. If OC Mike Sullivan doesn't land a head coaching job he may have a big say in whether or not Freeman reaches a level of play worthy of franchise tag money.

Posted: 8/2/2012 7:36pm et

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman feels like he forced a number of passes that resulted in 22 interceptions a year ago. Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan is preaching smarter throws.

Huddle Up: There are many eyes on Freeman this preseason, hoping to get a hint of which Bucs QB will show up this season. Will it be the 25-TD, 6-INT version who guided the Tampa Bay to the verge of the playoffs in 2010 or the 2011 version who slipped to 16 TDs while tossing 22 picks? With the added help the Bucs brought in the form of WR Vincent Jackson, OG Carl Nicks and rookie RB Doug Martin, Freeman could be in line for a big bounce-back season if he can rein in his turnovers.

Posted: 6/12/2012 1:44am et

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman said the play-action pass is a big part of the scheme offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan has brought to the team.

Huddle Up: Sullivan was Eli Manning's QB coach and before that he coached their wide receivers. He'll be looking to hit Bucs WRs Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams deep, and play-action is a great way to make that happen.