Frazier Hints Freeman Didn't Get a Fair Shake

[Demi]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... minnesota/

“We made a decision to try to figure out where Christian Ponder was and also take a look at Matt Cassel as well, as we tried to determine and get some questions answered at our quarterback position,” Frazier said. “Josh got caught up in the shuffle of that. It probably wasn’t the fairest situation for him, made it difficult for him, made it difficult for all of us as we were trying to evaluate quarterbacks in an NFL season. That’s not a wise thing. But nothing to do with Josh. He prepared and worked as hard as he could to get on the field. It just didn’t work out.”

[Webbfann]

That quote doesn't make any GD sense. Touche' Leslie.

[Eli]

No, it makes perfect sense. Freeman showed up in exactly the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. He probably thought it was a great opportunity coming to a team without a clear starter and nothing but third-tier QBs on the roster. Little did he know, however, that a badly overmatched head coach was going to torpedo his career within days of his signing by shoving him in as the starting QB, and then never look his way again for the rest of the season.

I don't care how awful you think Josh Freeman is as a QB, he got bent over hard.

[Funkytown]

I don't care how awful you think Josh Freeman is as a QB, he got bent over hard.

Truth hurts. Eli keeps it real.

[radar55]

No, it makes perfect sense. Freeman showed up in exactly the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. He probably thought it was a great opportunity coming to a team without a clear starter and nothing but third-tier QBs on the roster. Little did he know, however, that a badly overmatched head coach was going to torpedo his career within days of his signing by shoving him in as the starting QB, and then never look his way again for the rest of the season.

I don't care how awful you think Josh Freeman is as a QB, he got bent over hard.

Freeman came into a terrible situation. Getting thrown into the one game he played may not have been fair but, if he had shown ANY SIGNS OF BEING A CAPABLE NFL QB he probably would have played more. But getting paid 3 million (I believe that was the deal) for playing one game is hardly getting "bent over".

[Mothman]

Freeman came into a terrible situation. Getting thrown into the one game he played may not have been fair but, if he had shown ANY SIGNS OF BEING A CAPABLE NFL QB he probably would have played more. But getting paid 3 million (I believe that was the deal) for playing one game is hardly getting "bent over".

Agreed and one game doesn't torpedo the career of a guy with Freeman's overall resumé. If his career is done it's because of what led up to his release from Tampa, not because he started one disastrous game shortly after signing with the Vikings.

As for the quote, I don't think it's that hard to decipher. Frazier is saying Freeman didn't get a fair shake at QB because he was signed mid-season and thrust into a situation he wasn't ready to handle. It's not hard to read between the lines and see what's really being said there. "That's not a wise thing" is a diplomatic way of saying, 'I was strong-armed into playing the newly acquired QB".

I think the rest of it says they were auditioning QBs to see if Ponder or Cassel could seize the job for 2014 (and help Frazier keep his job after 2013). They were looking for an answer and hoping it would be the guy they invested 2.5 years and a first round pick into developing.

[Eli]

Freeman came into a terrible situation.

What was terrible about it? He signed for a nice chunk of money to play with a team that desperately needed a QB. That's just about an ideal situation for a young free agent QB who had previously been a starter.

What Freeman didn't anticipate was that the head coach would be so desperately grasping for straws in trying to save his own neck that he'd get tossed into a game before he'd learned either the playbook or even his teammate's names. It was an idiotic move, and not just in hindsight.

[radar55]

What was terrible about it? He signed for a nice chunk of money to play with a team that desperately needed a QB. That's just about an ideal situation for a young free agent QB who had previously been a starter.

What Freeman didn't anticipate was that the head coach would be so desperately grasping for straws in trying to save his own neck that he'd get tossed into a game before he'd learned either the playbook or even his teammate's names. It was an idiotic move, and not just in hindsight.

For the record, I agree with you that being tossed into the one game he played was not a fair way to evaluate Freeman. However, I said that the situation he came into was terrible because,

1) Frazier was trying to get some wins to save his job,
2) Spielman was trying to save face by continuing to play his 1st round pick Ponder
3) Fans were screaming for Cassell
4) The team was in total disaray and they had no idea whether they had any NFL calibre QB's on the roster at all

So, Spielman signs Freeman for 3 million and he needed to validate that cost. As such, Freeman is thrown in prematurely and without a full knowledge of the offense and he looked completely lost. Frazier still needed to get some wins and the Q/B carosole continued between Ponder and Cassel. Thats simply my opinion and if yours is different.....so be it.

[PacificNorseWest]

Whole situation was mismanaged from the jump. No way was Freeman ready for that MNF game against the Giants. They should've rolled with Ponder or Cassel and gave Freeman at least another week. I liked how the Vikings finished the year with Matt, but if they really wanted to see what they had then that was the time to do it.

Even still...There's also rumors that supposedly come directly from players on the team about Freeman's poor work ethic. If true, then he probably didn't really deserve a shot anyway.

[Husker Vike]

I don't think that Freeman will get a shot next season if work ethic is a problem, Zimmer doesn't seem like a coach to put up with slackers.

[PurpleKoolaid]

No, it makes perfect sense. Freeman showed up in exactly the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. He probably thought it was a great opportunity coming to a team without a clear starter and nothing but third-tier QBs on the roster. Little did he know, however, that a badly overmatched head coach was going to torpedo his career within days of his signing by shoving him in as the starting QB, and then never look his way again for the rest of the season.

I don't care how awful you think Josh Freeman is as a QB, he got bent over hard.

He got 3 million dollars for keeping the bench warm. After an average QB rating of 45.5 in TB, and being a headcase. I think he did ok. Wish I could get bent over for half as much.

[thatguy]

I don't really feel all that bad for Freeman one way or another. But this just goes to show you that Frazier wasn't necessarily calling the shots (Spielman) when it came to the QB position.

[Webbfann]

ROFL. It's also a way of saying "I made a big mistake but I'm not man enough to come out and admit it".

In fact, he didn't say either of those things which is why it made no freekin sense. It was another parting dose of say-nothing from the King of Say-Nothing.

[PurpleKoolaid]

I don't really feel all that bad for Freeman one way or another. But this just goes to show you that Frazier wasn't necessarily calling the shots (Spielman) when it came to the QB position.

I think, and always thought, this has Rickie all over it. But he, in his classless way, dumped it on Fraizer, right after he was fired.

[PacificNorseWest]

I don't think that Freeman will get a shot next season if work ethic is a problem, Zimmer doesn't seem like a coach to put up with slackers.

Could also be just the guy he needs. Then again, Schiano wasn't.