Just one week after rumors circulated that there was a lot of tension between Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano and quarterback Josh Freeman, reports say Schiano has replaced Freeman under center with rookie signal caller Mike Glennon for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals at Raymond James Stadium.
Schiano told ESPN Monday that he was sticking with Freeman and that the fifth-year quarterback hasn't been playing that bad so far this season despite Tampa Bay (0-3) only mustering up three points in its 23-3 loss to the New England Patriots last Sunday. Apparently, something has changed between Monday and Wednesday.
"He's done some good things and he's done some things that we'd like to change and he'd like to change," Schiano said of Freeman on Monday, according to ESPN. "But it's the whole offensive unit. We need to be more precise. We need to be coached more precisely."
While Schiano said Monday that Freeman has done some good things during the Bucs poor start, he has still opted to go with Glennon, whom Tampa Bay selected 73rd overall in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Freeman has completed less than half of his passes with a 45.7 completion percentage and has gone just 43-for-94 for 571 yards while throwing fewer touchdowns (2) than interceptions (3).
Reports circulated following the team's Week 2 16-14 loss at the hands of the New Orleans Saints that Freeman wanted a trade due to a disconnect between himself and Schiano, but Freeman denied the rumors and the rift with Schiano.
"No, not at all," Freeman had told NFL.com when asked if he's seeking a new home after that Week 2 loss amid rumors of the rift. "The first I heard of it was literally 10 seconds ago, or right before I walked in here. Without a doubt I am a Buccaneer and am continuing to prepare and try and go out every week and give my team a chance to win the game."
Unfortunately for Freeman, Schiano has ensured that he won't get that chance this week, which raises speculation that there could possibly be a trade coming for Freeman and NFL.com reported last week that interested suitors for Freeman, 25, could include the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans.
The Bucs have been surrounded with negativity as of late as after the rumors of Freeman's displeasure broke out, stories began to fly around that cornerback Darrelle Revis, who was traded to Tampa last April, was also unhappy with Schiano due to his defensive schemes in wanting to play zone defense more than man-to-man, a Revis specialty. Revis, much like Freeman, denied such rumors of unhappiness.
The Bucs had two winnable games in their Week 2 loss to the Saints and Week 1 loss to the New York Jets, but penalties cost them in both of those contests. Despite that, Schiano was questioned as to whether or not Freeman would be starting in Week 3 to which he replied, "I see no reason why he shouldn't be." Freeman did start Week 3 in New England, but after the offense only put up three points Schiano decided to go with Glennon for at least this Sunday's tilt.
Through four years with North Carolina State, Glennon had a 60.4 completion percentage while throwing for 7,411 yards with 63 touchdowns and 31 interceptions.
Freeman will watch from the bench on Sunday, but a possibility of him donning another team's jersey by season's end could be very plausible.
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