Buc's Freeman can expect competition next year

Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman heads into the offseason knowing that his long-term future with the team is uncertain, despite throwing for more than 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2012.

Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik told the Tampa Tribune that the team has no plans to give the 25-year-old Freeman an extension and that a quarterback likely will be added through free agency or the draft.

Freeman's contract expires after next year.

But despite finishing 7-9 and missing the playoffs for the fifth straight year, Dominik didn't write off Freeman.

"If you look at what Josh did over a 16-week season and take it all in, you realize there are areas you are very excited about and things he did this year that were as good as he's been," Dominik told the Tribune.

But as good as Freeman was, he did struggle at times. He threw 17 interceptions and his completion percentage was only 54.8 percent.

"Obviously, Josh wants to have a higher completion percentage," Dominik said, adding that head coach Greg Schiano suggested adding competition to the quarterback position.

"At the end of the day, we want to increase the competition at every position," Dominik said. "Quarterback is certainly one of them."