Josh Freeman situation somehow gets worse; QB fires back after report he’s in NFL drug program

[joeybee12]

There was a story on Monday that Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman is in stage one of the league's substance-abuse program.

And with that leaked news, the Buccaneers-Freeman relationship really goes off the rails. There's a small, small chance that it was someone close to Freeman who chose to leak that news as the player faces an uncertain future after being benched. ESPN cited "league and player sources" in the report.

No matter if Freeman skipped meetings last week after being benched, as was reported, or missed a team photo or anything else that has been said about him, that news being leaked is a major breach of his privacy rights. Someone broke common decency and etiquette to reveal that news. This goes well beyond the team banishing him to a suite for Sunday's game. Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano said it was a mutual decision, but Freeman's agent told the Tampa Bay Times that Schiano was lying.

Freeman was understandably upset to see his status in the drug program became public, and that came through loud and clear through a statement he released to Pro Football Talk through his agents.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/josh-freeman-situation-somehow-gets-worse-qb-fires-021457807--nfl.html

My gut reaction is that I believe him...and the slime campaign would make Karl Rove proud.

[JonLP24]

1. I believe him too

It was also the same day he was demanding to be cut. He was "inactive" for the Cardinals game.

Schiano is a mess.

On edit - Even if it is true, leaking it still makes Schiano look bad.

[joeybee12]

3. The timing is very suspect...nt

[trotsky]

2. The Bucs are a horrible organization and Greg Schiano is a total asshole.

They've pulled this kind of crap before.

[joeybee12]

4. Yeah, and it's not something anyone who is close to Freeman

would want to make public...had to come from the Bucs.

[JonLP24]

5. NFLPA to investigate Freeman leaks

TAMPA, Fla. -- NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said Tuesday the union is looking to investigate how Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman's presence in Stage 1 of the league's substance-abuse program became public.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen first reported the news Monday night. Freeman later released a statement in which he said he has a prescription for Adderall to treat ADHD; however, last year he inadvertently took Ritalin, which triggered a positive test. As a result of the positive test, he submitted to frequent drug screenings, leading to his placement in Stage 1 of the league's drug program.

"We are sufficiently concerned about what we've heard to begin an investigation,'' Smith said after a previously-scheduled annual meeting with the Tampa Bay players.

On Tuesday, Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano was asked by reporters if he was the source of the information and said, "absolutely not."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9755738/nflpa-investigate-leaks-info-josh-freeman-tampa-bay-buccaneers

[joeybee12]

6. Schiano can probably deny that...

But did they ask him if he knew who was??? I doubt he could deny that. Plausible deniability only gets you so far.