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Rookie Freeman could contend for Bucs' starting QB

Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ

The coaching staff has been pleased with rookie Josh Freeman's progress thus far in preseason workouts and camps.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 17, 2009

TAMPA - As they brought their offseason workout program to a close Wednesday the Bucs sent a seemingly ominous message to quarterbacks Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich: watch out for Josh Freeman.

McCown and Leftwich are still the leading contenders for the starter's job, but the Bucs now say they won't hesitate to throw Freeman into that race if he continues to show the progress he's shown in recent weeks.

"We discussed the Freeman plan [last week] and decided we'll probably go a week into training camp and revisit it and maybe expedite what he's doing,'' quarterbacks coach Greg Olson said. "We may get him involved earlier than we thought.''

Freeman's involvement to this point has been limited. As was the case during voluntary workouts, he saw very little playing time with the first- and second-team offenses during minicamp drills. That could change once training camp gets going.

"When he first got here he was forcing the football too much,'' Olson said of Freeman, the Bucs' first-round draft pick out of Kansas State. "If shows he's progressing as far as the decision-making goes, then shoot, why not?

"If he's comfortable in there, he throws a great ball, he's accurate and if he's not turning the ball over, then gosh, maybe he will be ready to play [this year].''

The Bucs originally planned to have Freeman watch from the sidelines this year and that plan hasn't changed. Freeman, however, has given them reason to believe it could change.

"He's pushing the envelope,'' Bucs coach Raheem Morris said of Freeman. "And the other guys are pushing back. But that's what you want. You want guys pushing each other. You want that competition everywhere on the field.''

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

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