CBS analyst Rich Gannon, a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback and the league's 2002 MVP, worked Sunday's game against the Texans. The first thing Gannon noticed about Josh Freeman last week was the tape around Freeman's right thumb.
"I don't think he's healthy right now,'' Gannon said. "That's my personal opinion. I watched him practice Friday and I don't think that thumb's 100 percent. I don't see Josh Freeman driving the ball. I see him now in warm-ups and when you see a quarterback wrapping his thumb with tape, that indicates something's bothering him.
"Quarterbacks are very funny about having any tape on their throwing hand. I could tell in practice that it's bothering him. It just takes time to heal. He's a tough kid and right now, he's gutting it out.''
After a 37-9 drubbing by Houston that saw Freeman complete only 15-of-35 pass attempts, he was asked about the thumb.
"Nothing's wrong with me,'' Freeman said. "I feel like I'm a better quarterback this year than I was last year. As crazy as that might sound looking at the numbers, I feel like I'm throwing the ball as well as I ever have. It's just things aren't going my way.''
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