TAMPA, Fla. -- The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers have changed starting quarterbacks again, with rookie Josh Freeman taking over the offense.
Freeman was the 17th overall pick in the first round of this year's draft. He made his NFL debut last Sunday, playing two series during the fourth quarter of a 35-7 loss to the New England Patriots in London.
"It's definitely something I've been working toward," Freeman said Wednesday. "It's finally going to be great to get an opportunity to step out there and do something.
"My mind-set right now is to prepare the best I can and then go out and do what I do, which is play football and try to find a way to get a win."
Bucs coach Raheem Morris was noncommital about his quarterback plans after Freeman completed 2 of 4 passes for 16 yards and was sacked twice for 16 yards in losses during his brief stint against New England. But Morris officially made the change when the Bucs practiced for the first time since returning from London.
"He's been waiting for his time patiently, but he's used his time wisely," said Morris, who has maintained from the day Freeman was drafted that he will not rush the 21-year-old's development. "The plan bringing him in here was let him sit behind a vet. Hopefully, the vet will get you a bunch of wins, but that didn't happen. ...
"He's earned the right. He's went into the lab, he's done the extra studying, he's done the extra preparation."
The Bucs (0-7) have a bye this week, meaning Freeman will have extra time to prepare for his first start Nov. 8 at home against the Green Bay Packers.
Freeman replaces second-year pro Josh Johnson as the starter. Johnson, a fifth-round pick in 2008, made four starts after veteran Byron Leftwich led the Bucs for the first three weeks of the season.
"No discredit to what Josh Johnson has done for this football team," Morris said. "He went out there and gave his best efforts. But due to the preparation, the timing, how we want to implement (Freeman) to our system, to our organization, to our town ... it's time for a little Josh Freeman."
Morris has known Freeman since the quarterback was a freshman at Kansas State and the coach was the defensive coordinator there.
Freeman was the third quarterback selected in this year's draft, behind Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez. The 6-foot-6, 248-pounder said it was difficult riding the bench the past seven weeks, but he believes it will prove beneficial.
"I've learned a lot," Freeman said. "I've had the opportunity to watch it from a different point of view and see things unfold. I feel like I've really grown as a passer and also as a leader on this team."
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
