Bucs' Josh Freeman gets vote of confidence, sort of

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik raved about some of Josh Freeman's accomplishments in 2012, but said he still planned to bring in quarterback competition.

By Larry Hartstein

Jan 23, 2013 at 12:52 pm ET • 1 min read

Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman passed for 27 touchdowns in 2012 but also threw 17 interceptions. (US Presswire)

Josh Freeman’s general manager gave him a quasi vote of confidence.

Tampa Bay’s Mark Dominik told the Tampa Tribune that while he still plans to bring in quarterback competition, he has confidence in Freeman, considering Freeman threw for 4,065 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2012.

"If you look at what Josh did over a 16-week season and take it all in, you realize there are areas you are very excited about and things he did this year that were as good as he's been,'' Dominik told the paper.

"Some of the big plays he made and the way he used his feet, the way he moved around the pocket, which he did very well this year -- that's why you're excited and why he set some of those franchise records.''

Freeman also threw 17 interceptions, eight in two key losses, and saw his completion percentage drop from 62.1 in 2010-11 to 54.8 in 2012.

"Obviously, Josh wants to have a higher completion percentage,'' Dominik told the paper. "We all do.

"But at the same time, you look at his [7.3] yards per attempt and his two starting receivers' yards per catch (Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams ranked first and eighth respectively with 19.2 and 15.8 marks) and those are significant numbers.

"So that is very exciting to me, and to think that we can continue to build the offense and work on the defense now knowing that your quarterback is there, that your running back is there and that you've got two of your receivers, that's encouraging.''

The return of injured linemen Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph should help Freeman next season, Dominik said.

Still, he told the paper he'll look to add a quarterback in the draft or free agency.

The team has no plans to extend Freeman's contract, which expires after the 2013 season. Freeman, 25, has not led the Bucs to the playoffs in his four-year career.

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