SITE TOOLS
|
|
Freeman, cont'd
|
Courtesy Antonio Freeman
|
|
Freeman almost threw away this golden opportunity when he
was suspended for three months in the Spring of 1992 for unauthorized use of an access
code to make long-distance telephone calls.
For reasons unrelated to the suspension, Freeman “has a bitter taste in [his]
mouth” about his alma mater. Surprised that he was a third round pick by the Green
Bay Packers in 1995, Freeman saw eight wide receivers drafted ahead of him. In his
opinion, Virginia Tech football officials undermined his draft chances by telling NFL
scouts that he “didn’t work hard” and other negative things. He counters
those allegations saying, “when I was at Tech, I gave it my all. I lifted weights, I
worked hard, I practiced hard.” Freeman conjectures that the negative comments ensued
from a sideline verbal altercation between he and the coaching staff during the 1995 Gator
Bowl game against Tennessee. Freeman, frustrated he “wasn’t getting the ball
enough” despite two weeks of practice to do just that, expressed his anger to the
coaching staff. Freeman’s collegiate career ended with him holding Virginia Tech
records for career receptions (121) and touchdown receptions (22) and a 23-45 loss to
Tennessee in that contentious bowl game. |
|
|
|
|
But a new day awaited him in the NFL. After a less than
mediocre rookie season with the Packers, Freeman has emerged as one of the NFL’s
elite pass-receivers as evidenced by his league-leading 35 touchdown receptions over the
last three seasons. For his consistent, high-caliber play, Freeman was named to his first
Pro Bowl - as a starter - in 1998. His Pro Bowl selection was foreshadowed in Super Bowl
XXXI (1996 season) when Freeman caught a record-setting 81 yard touchdown reception in the
Packers’ 35-21 victory over New England, and in Super Bowl XXXII (1997 season) when
he caught nine passes for 126 yards, including two touchdowns in the Packers’ 24-31
loss to Denver.
The Packers obviously think Freeman is something special. After a year of intense
negotiations, last month the Packers signed Freeman to a seven-year, $42 million contract
with a $10 million signing bonus. Only quarterback Brett Favre has received a higher
signing bonus - $12 million - from the Packers. Recognizing that he “can’t play
this game forever,” Freeman told me he wanted a multi-year contract with a sizeable
signing bonus “as a means of security.” His incredible contract, which includes
two voidable years and is the richest among wide receivers in the NFL, certainly answers
the call.
|
|
|
 Click Here
|
Despite Freeman’s on-field flamboyant style and big
money, he's a self-described “humble person and a homebody.” His big brother,
Clarence III, a staff sergeant in the Marine Corps whom Freeman respects and looks up to,
characterizes his little brother as “laid-back, easygoing, [and] very giving of
himself and everything he has.” Clarence laughed when he revealed that Freeman likes
to go to Popeyes or Kentucky Fried Chicken after games. Clarence teased “he’s
very picky and you can’t get him to try new things all the time.” Freeman
jokingly shot back, “if the food has more than six letters in it, I don’t eat it
- fettuccine, linguini.” Two word dishes like “spare ribs” and of course,
“fried chicken”, are exempt from the rule. But Freeman’s humility and
down-to-earth demeanor are most apparent when he speaks about his 2-year old daughter,
Gabrielle. With a wide smile on his face and tenderness in his eyes, Freeman describes
Gabrielle as “the bright spot of my life.” To Gabrielle, Green Bay’s $6
million dollar man is just “daddy”. I’m sure that’s the way Buttons
prefers it. M
September 1999 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 
|
RLP Ventures, LLC and/or its
suppliers. All rights reserved.