Report: Josh Freeman “Likely” to Seek Trade from Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jul 26, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) calls a play as center Jeremy Zuttah (76) gets ready to hike the ball as head coach Greg Schiano watches during training camp at One Buccaneer Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

CBS Sports’ Jason LaCanfora unveiled a report that may show further evidence of a serious rift in the Tampa Bay locker room. If his report is true, Josh Freeman will seek a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the 2013 trade deadline.

Here is an exact quote from his article, posted on Sunday morning.

"With the relationship between Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Josh Freeman and coach Greg Schiano seen by league and team sources as beyond repair, Freeman is likely to ask for a deal ahead of next month’s trade deadline. Schiano, whose tenure already stands at a perilous point despite coaching just 17 NFL games, further alienated the quarterback by revealing why he was absent for a team photo, and the lack of trust between the men has long been no secret in that locker room."

This is truly huge news, as starting quarterbacks are never traded during the course of a season. The Buccaneers would be giving up on a player who is clearly the most talented at his position on the roster in an effort to move on from a quarterback that coach reportedly doesn’t want.

This is also huge news because it further adds legitimacy to reports of serious issues in the Tampa Bay locker room. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” is the cliché phrase to use in this instance, as its clear there’s someone in the Buccaneer organization leaking this information to the media.

The situation is quite interesting, because if the Buccaneers feel they can’t win this season with Josh Freeman, and have no intentions of bringing him back on another contract, this deal would make perfect sense. The team would be able to see what they have in Mike Glennon, and likely end up with a high draft pick to possibly add Teddy Bridgewater, Marcus Mariota, or another top player in the NFL Draft.

The problem is, there is far too much talent on this team to abandon the best option at quarterback in the first half of the season. Josh Freeman continues to represent the best chance to win for the Buccaneers, and Mike Glennon is not ready to lead the Bucs to a winning record.

I am torn on this topic, but I believe that if the team has no intentions on bringing Freeman back, they might as well just let him go and get whatever value they can. If the Jaguars, Vikings, or Raiders offer the Buccaneers a first or second round pick for Freeman, he should probably be traded.

The problem is, that means the team will likely fail to reach five or six wins.

Does getting rid of Josh Freeman buy Greg Schiano more time as head coach? More importantly, does it buy Mark Dominik more time as general manager?

If Dominik is let go because the Buccaneers conceded Freeman’s failure, that likely means a new coach will be brought in by a new GM. The Buccaneers would then start over, and getting rid of Freeman doesn’t help Schiano at all.

So unless Greg Schiano knows he’ll get another chance if he doesn’t succeed this season, it doesn’t make sense for him to spearhead a trade of Josh Freeman.

We’ll be sure to keep you up to date on this rumor as more is reported.