Josh Freeman kept out of team meeting

Josh Freeman was kept out of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team meeting on Tuesday morning, but the reason for the absence is disputed.

Jay Glazer reported on FOX Football Daily that the Bucs QB was told by the team not to go into a team meeting. Freeman apparently was told to wait in the trainer’s room while the meeting took place. Glazer says sources told him the intent was to make it look like Freeman missed another team meeting.

Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik confirms that Freeman did not attend the meeting, but he termed things differently.

Dominik told Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud that Freeman was excused from a 7:45 am meeting because head coach Greg Schiano wanted to talk to him about everything that transpired the day before.

“Because of all that happened Monday night, Greg wanted to meet with (Freeman),” Dominik said, via Stroud. “I excused him and told Josh hold tight until 8 a.m. Josh did everything else today. He didn’t miss anything. Coach wanted to talk to him about how we’re going to move forward with him.”

On Monday it was reported that Freeman was in stage one of the league’s drug program. Freeman was furious that this private information was made public and indicated in a statement that he felt there was an ongoing smear campaign. Freeman is hoping the team will trade or release him.