Josh Freeman fined $31,500 by Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The quarterback saga in Tampa Bay continues with more news coming out.

By Matt Verderame Oct 2, 2013, 9:40pm EDT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman has been fined by the team for $31,500, with $10,500 of that fine because of his unauthorized interview with ESPN, according to Rick Stroud.

Freeman was reportedly also fined for missing a team meeting and conduct detrimental to the team along with his interview, per Sports Illustrated. One theory of all these fines is the Buccaneers wanting to suspend Freeman without pay. Should they go that route and get away with it (expect the NFLPA to have something to say), they could conceivably trade Freeman and walk away without having to pay him.

More: Extended Buccaneers coverage at Bucs Nation

Freeman has had a brutal year under second-year head coach Greg Schiano. After playing thee really sub-standard weeks where he completed less than 50 percent of his passes in each contest, Freeman was benched in favor of third-round pick Mike Glennon.

All of this comes with the swirling story of Freeman being part of the NFL's drug program. Freeman's involvement in the program is supposed to be confidential, making the next question who leaked the story?