Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Bucs / Image: Zuma Press

After the game, Bucs head coach Raheem Morris kept things in perspective in getting his first-ever win:

“A great start to how we want to be, how we want to look, how we want to play. These guys played passionate. Obviously it’s not about me. It’s about us.”

Josh made his fair share of mistakes today. Especially early on. He looked like he had a case of first-start jitters. But after he got rid of the nervousness he was certainly feeling, I think he gained a wealth of experience on a special day for this organization. When the season started—when Byron Leftwich was named the starting quarterback—I knew matters would eventually fall into the hands of Josh Freeman, the QB this team drafted to be their quarterback of the future. And he didn’t disappoint.

I loved the throwback look today (and I emphasize today). But when the Bucs went to red and pewter 13 years ago, it was probably the best uniform upgrade in the history of the NFL. After today’s impressive win, I wonder if the team is rethinking that decision?

Sources: Buccaneers.com, NFL.com, TampaBayOnline

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Josh Freeman Makes First Start, Bucs Win

Josh Johnson, Tampa Bay Bucs / Image: Zuma Press

My money has been on rookie Josh Freeman taking over the starting spot as early as the midway point of this season. And that still might happen. But for now, another young quarterback with very little experience—Josh Johnson—will get the call. Josh will give the Bucs an option they just didn’t have with Byron—mobility (not to mention a rocket arm). Josh can, and will, make plays outside the pocket. But the team will need to improve their 25th ranked ground game if any quarterback is going to have success in this offense. Right now, it’s an experiment at the most important position on the team for the Bucs.

Source: Buccaneers.com

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Bucs Promote Quarterback Josh Johnson

Byron Leftwich, Tampa Bay Bucs / Image: Zuma Press

Byron was in a highly publicized competition with Josh Freeman and backup QBs Luke McCown and Josh Johnson. He was pleased to have another opportunity to be a starter:

“I was very excited. When I get home, I’ll probably be screaming, getting my emotions out. I’ve been holding them in. To work my tail off and get back to this point again, to be a starter on Week One ….. this is what I wanted and I’ll take full advantage of it. I think it will lead to a lot of good things for the Bucs this year ….. When I watched the film, I wanted to make sure I was going to the right place with the ball. I’ve never been an inaccurate passer. I know how to hit those passes. I’m not worried about that. The great thing was that I was able to get to the right reads with the ball. Some of those were on my third or fourth read that I got to, and that’s what I wanted to see. The balls that I missed, I missed them. Thank God it was the preseason and not the regular season. I learned a lot from it, and I’ll hit those when they count. You want to hit them in the preseason, but I’ve never been an inaccurate guy. That was something that I haven’t worried about my whole career and I won’t begin to worry now.”

Source: Buccaneers.com

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Bucs Name Byron Leftwich Starting QB

Byron should be the favorite to win the starting role in Tampa. Otherwise, why would be have bolted from Pittsburgh? He knows he can be a starter in this league so if not now, when? In limited duty with the Steelers last season, Byron managed a 104.3 quarterback rating while completing nearly 60% of his passes. Obviously, Ben Roethlisberger is the choice at quarterback for the Steelers, so Byron was merely a really good insurance policy should Big Ben be hurt. After spending some time shopping his unrestricted free agent services to the Steelers and Redskins, Byron ultimately chose the Bucs and should thrive in the team’s new Raheem Morris/Jeff Jagodzinski offense.

Source: NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

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Bucs Sign Byron Leftwich

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed free agent quarterback Byron Leftwich today. When backup QB Charlie Batch went down with a broken collarbone (he’s out 4-6 weeks) in Friday night’s game against Philadelphia, the Steelers went right to work on obtaining a veteran signal caller to backup Ben Roethlisberger. Enter free agents Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culpepper. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said:

“We made an agreement with Byron Leftwich to sign and be a quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We have some familiarity there, because Ken Anderson, our quarterbacks coach, worked with him down in Jacksonville. He’s a young guy, had a great workout here this afternoon, is very lean, looks to be in great shape. He’s a smart guy, a been-there, done-that guy. He’s been a franchise quarterback for a playoff-caliber team. We’re fortunate to be able to add a guy like him to the mix, and we look forward to putting him in the group as quickly as we can. Hopefully we can have him up to snuff so he can participate as soon as Thursday night in Toronto (vs. the Buffalo Bills).”

Both Byron and Daunte were in Latrobe, PA to work out at Steelers camp, but only Byron signed. Apparently, Daunte is still looking for a starting spot and didn’t want to join the team in a reserve role. That baffles me because with that attitude, he’ll most likely be sitting out this season. If he would just get himself onto a team and start learning a system, he stands a much better chance of getting into a starting role than he does sitting at home. I mean, did he really travel to Pittsburgh thinking he was going to unseat Big Ben as the starting quarterback of the Steelers? I stand as good a chance.

As for Byron, he brings some quality experience to the Steelers should Ben be injured. He’ll also provide great tutelage for rookie QB Dennis Dixon. But what do the Steelers do in 4-6 weeks when Charlie Batch is ready?

Sources: Steelers.com, ESPN.com

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Pittsburgh Steelers Sign Byron Leftwich

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

With about a month to go before NFL training camps open, quarterback Byron Leftwich is without a job. Which is hard to believe considering Byron was the starting QB of the Jacksonville Jaguars a year ago at this time. But after a demotion and release — then a brief, unsuccessful stint with the Atlanta Falcons last season — Byron has been spending his time in a daily workout program at a high-tech training facility near Miami, Florida. NFL players Plaxico Burress, Frank Gore, Anquan Boldin and Fred Taylor have been among those working with him. Byron has lost 25 pounds and joked that if he put on a #81 jersey, people would mistake him for Randy Moss:

“I believe in myself. I’ve got confidence in myself. I won’t allow this to start second-guessing my ability. These types of things happen, man. You’ve got to stand up and see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know I can play the game of football. I’m not gonna let anybody tell me I can’t.”

Despite his substantial injury history, I’ve got to believe some team will take a chance on Byron. He’s damaged goods, no doubt — but I believe he can and will serve in some sort of backup role in 2008. It might not happen until, ironically, an injury creates a need. But I believe it will happen.

Source: Washington Times, Photo: Newscom

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Byron Leftwich Still Looking for Work

With the free agent signing period approaching, you’ll see teams releasing players here and there. Yesterday, the Atlanta Falcons took it to a new level, unloading six players in a major rebuilding effort. Gone are four-time Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler, quarterback Byron Leftwich, defensive tackle Rod Coleman, offensive tackle Wayne Gandy, cornerback Lewis Sanders, wide receiver Jamin Elliott and linebacker Marcus Wilkins. In the NFL, it’s all about “what have you done for me lately.”

For the most part, I agree with these decisions. Alge Crumpler had the be the most difficult decision for Atlanta. He was one of the team’s most respected players and a leader in the locker room. He twice led the Falcons in receptions and had a streak of four straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2003-06. But he was plagued by knee problems this past season and dropped off to 44 receptions. Of course, you also have to factor in that the Falcons really weren’t very good. Anyway, he counted $5.1 million against the salary cap for 2008, money the Falcons felt could be better spent elsewhere.

As for the other guys, look at their ages. Rod Coleman used to be one of the NFL’s most dominating interior linemen, but the years take their toll. This is the reality of playing professional sports. Rod’s been in the league nine years now. He’ll be 32 this year. Wayne Gandy is 37-years-old. And Lewis Sanders will be 30 years old.

I felt that Byron Leftwich could have remained on this team as a backup QB. Injuries have obviously slowed him over the years. He was cut by Jacksonville so David Garrard could pursue his blossoming career. I don’t know the extent of his health problems, but apparently they were too much for the Falcons to handle. Byron’s still young enough that if he can get it together physically, he’ll be able to resurrect his career somewhere else.

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Atlanta Falcons Begin Rebuilding Process, Alge Crumpler Among Six Players Released

Jacksonville Jaguars QB David Garrard was making throws he hadn’t made all season. Bad throws. One of the main reasons the Jags were in the playoffs with an 11-5 record was the consistent, virtually error-free play of one David Garrard. That’s the main reason head coach Jack Del Rio sent Byron Leftwich packing and handed the starting job to David. But with a push of playoff pressure, David had already thrown two INTs. Big deal? Well, in the playoffs, it most certainly is. But factor this in — he had only thrown three all season!

In this Wild Card playoff game, these weren’t just accidental interceptions. These were awful decisions thrown into ample coverage. This was not like David Garrard. In the process, Jacksonville had squandered an 18-point fourth quarter lead and given the Pittsburgh Steelers all the momentum they would need to achieve the biggest final quarter comeback in the history of the NFL. Then the Jags took it back. David Garrard took it back. On a 4th and two, David ran 32 yards to the Pittsburgh 11 to essentially seal the victory (Jags 31, Steelers 29 on a Josh Scobee FG) — the play of the year so far for Jacksonville. And that play was everything I like about David Garrard. Mobile, elusive, smart. For as big as he is, he moves quickly. He’s not fast … there’s a difference. And once he found himself in the Steelers’ secondary and close to contact, he had both hands wrapped around the football as if he was carrying his own child toward the endzone. This is a quarterback who is thinking. This is a quarterback I want on my football team.

Are the Jags a team of destiny? Well, until they meet the Patriots they are. So, I guess that means no. But I like what they bring to the playoff table in the meantime. They run the ball and stop the run. Their QB rarely makes mistakes. And look at the depth. Here’s just one example. When monster DT John Henderson went down with a strained hamstring, enter Derek Landri. The De La Salle high school product (see also Maurice Jones-Drew) and Notre Dame rookie only had one tackle but he added a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery for very good measure. Now that’s productivity off the bench. Depth will always be a key ingredient to any successful championship run.

No, I’m not predicting the Jags will get to the Super Bowl. I don’t think they’ll get past New England or Indy, but they will make those teams play four full quarters. Jacksonville is going to make life miserable for the rest of the AFC.

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Jaguars Spoil Steelers’ Comeback Effort, David Garrard Leads Jacksonville to Win