Bucs QB Josh Freeman Will Make First NFL Start Week 9

The Tampa Bay Bucs have had a woeful season. They currently stand at 0-7 and their offense is one of the worst in the NFL. They began the season with Byron Leftwich at QB, but that didn't work, so they went to second-year man Josh Johnson. Most people were confused since all the hype had been about their rookie QB Josh Freeman. Well, the Bucs finally bit the bullet and decided to throw the rookie into the fire.

Rick Stroud reports that sources have confirmed that Josh Freeman will start in two weeks against Green Bay. The Bucs are in a bye week which is as good a time to make the change as any. The St. Petersburg Times filed this report:

Bucs rookie quarterback Josh Freeman took warmup reps with starting center Jeff Faine Wednesday, the earliest indication that he is preparing to start against the Green Bay Packers Nov. 8.

Freeman is working with the first-team offense during practice today and Thursday -- the team's bye week.

Both sources say there will probably be an official announcement from the Bucs later today.

For a good rundown on the situation, Buc 'Em, SB Nation's Bucs blog, provides all the details. Including some skepticism that Josh Johnson was only given four starts to prove he could handle the job.

I can defend a lot of things the Bucs have done and will do.  I can not defend or agree with a decision that pulls Johnson and declares him unfit to be a starter in the NFL after 4 games.  I understand the need to see what Freeman has at some point, but do we give him 4 games?  How about 8?  You need probably two seasons of data before you can really draw conclusions.  Flacco was not this good last year, Ryan didn't really come on strong until the second half of the year.  Aaron Rodgers wasn't studly his first few games.  Drew Brees didn't light the world on fire his first few years.  Eli Manning, Kyle Orton, David Garrard all had a rough start that was followed up with success to varying degrees.