Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Buccaneers do not have any plans to discuss a long-term extension with QB Josh Freeman during the upcoming offseason.
Freeman will enter the final year of his rookie contract next season, but Stroud adds that the Bucs could elect to use their franchise tag on him next year, assuming that he plays well enough to earn that figure. Stroud suggests that franchise tag total for quarterbacks next season could be as high as $17 million.
Greg Schiano publicly mentioned that he plans to bring in some competition for Freeman next year, so there’s by no means a strong sense of loyalty coming from the head coach.
Stroud adds that Tampa Bay doesn’t want to end up in the same position as the Jets did after they locked up Mark Sanchez, so it seems as though Freeman is headed for a true make-or-break season in 2013.
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