| | Playoffs are Freeman's stage
Associated Press
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Antonio Freeman is returning to top form
just in time for what could be his Green Bay farewell.
Freeman had six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in the
Packers' 25-15 wild-card victory over San Francisco.
The star of the Packers' two Super Bowl appearances in the
1990s, Freeman has always shined in the postseason.
"It's my time of year," Freeman said. "I want to be the guy
if they say we need a play they call on me. I want them to get on
my back and ride it. If that's the case, fine. If not, whoever is
hot, just ride them and I love it, man.
"Shoot, last two seasons I've been sitting at home and
watching."
The Packers' playoff drought was blamed in large part on
Freeman's slide after signing a seven-year, $42 million contract in
1999 that made him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.
Freeman didn't help matters with off-field incidents such as
traffic altercations and tardiness. Coach Mike Sherman suspended
him for last year's regular-season finale even though a playoff
berth was on the line.
"When we were losing, because of the money I made and because
of the off-the-field incidents that I encountered, I was the guy
they pointed the finger at," Freeman said.
Freeman's numbers actually went down again this season. But so
did the criticism of the seventh-year pro.
"I didn't have a great season this year. My stats went down.
But because we're winning, people are looking at the other things I
do now, the run-blocking, my willingness to catch punts," Freeman
said.
"When you're winning, it changes views about everything. Had we
been winning (the last two years), I wouldn't have gotten as much
negative press as I did. But you hit a bump in the road, you keep
going."
In the three years since averaging 74 receptions for 1,200 yards
and 12 touchdowns from 1996-98, Freeman has averaged 63 catches for
934 yards and seven scores.
Moreover, his numbers have declined each season, with his
catches going from 74 to 62 to 53 and his yardage sliding from
1,074 to 912 to 818.
But Freeman remains the team's best route-runner and downfield
blocker and plays with an unmatched fearlessness on crossing
routes.
And he remains Brett Favre's favorite target in crunch time.
"He's having his best season," Favre said. "His statistics
aren't going to show it, but it shows in all the little things he
does: a block downfield, a route that clears things out. Nobody
runs crisper routes than he does. Nobody.
"He's had a great year."
But Freeman no longer has the speed to catch up to deep balls or
get past single coverage like he did when he set a Super Bowl
record with an 81-yard touchdown catch in 1997.
And he's certainly not putting up numbers worthy of the figures
that would be on his paycheck next season.
The Packers will have to release Freeman next summer unless he
takes a pay cut. He's due to count about $6 million against next
year's cap.
"I'm going to address that after the season," Freeman said.
"I'm here now. I'm in the playoffs. We're having fun."
Unlike 1999 and 2000.
"Winning breeds happiness. Winning takes the pain away, and the
last two seasons has been pretty painful for everybody around
here," Freeman said. "But when you're winning, it's like a double
extra-strength Motrin."
Favre doesn't want to see Freeman go anywhere else. They are the
most prolific active quarterback-receiver combination in the league
with 57 touchdowns, fifth in NFL history.
This year, they shot past the duos of John Hadl-Lance Alworth,
Joe Montana-Jerry Rice, Dan Marino-Mark Duper and Sonny
Jurgensen-Charlie Taylor.
Freeman holds 10 team playoff records, including 684 yards
receiving and TDs in four consecutive games. In nine career playoff
starts, Freeman has 40 catches and eight touchdowns.
The Packers will be counting on him again Sunday when they face
the heavily favored St. Louis Rams.
"We're just going down there with the attitude that we're an
exciting and explosive football team, too," Freeman said with a
shrug.
|
|
|
FFL Playoff Challenge
