BUCCANEERS 101

On the final day of training camp for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman was present at One Buccaneer Place preparing to call two early regular season games.

After their home opener against the Carolina Panthers, which starts at 4:25 PM, the Bucs will go on the road to take on the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. Fox Sports' broadcasting team of Aikman and Joe Buck will be calling both of those games and that means a lot of national exposure for Tampa Bay in its first three games for a team that lost its final 10 games last season in horrible fashion.

While he was taking notes on the young Bucs, Aikman had some good things to say about quarterback Josh Freeman.

"I liked Josh a lot when he was coming into the league," Aikman said. " We had a chance to do a preseason game of his. And then I think we’ve had him just one other time against Green Bay last year. I think he’s a really talented player. Obviously he was exceptional a couple of years ago and I think his play last year was pretty reflective of the team’s. High expectations and just didn’t play with the same kind of efficiency. There’s a lot of reasons for that. And I think that some of the things they’re going to be doing within this offense and the way that Greg Schiano wants to approach this thing, I think it’s going to help him. I expect him to go on and continue to have a great career. I really do. I think a lot of him."

Big words from a guy who knows a thing or two about winning games in the NFL. Freeman looks like he is on the right path and losing 25-30 pounds this offseason shows that he is dedicated and invested to playing at a high level.

And with three high-profile games to open the 2012 season, the Bucs are going to need Freeman at his best if they are going to get off to a fast start.

Tags: Football, Josh Freeman, NFL, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Troy Aikman

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