NFL Free Agent Rumors: QB Josh Freeman Draws Interest From NY Giants, Chicago Bears

Veteran quarterback Josh Freeman is drawing interest from multiple teams, including the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants, a reliable league source reported last week.  

Freeman, who played last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings, remains an intriguing player available on the free agency market, as teams look for more experience at the backup quarterback position.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports first broke the news about the Bears' interest in signing Freeman. The 26-year-old quarterback already met with the Bears' top brass last Monday, the same day the team conducted a workout for quarterback Adam Weber.

The Bears' desire to get Freeman off the market is surprising, given the quarterback's miserable outing last season. After opening the 2013 season as the starting quarterback for the Bucs, Freeman was booted off the team after locking horns with then head coach Greg Schiano.

Badly needing a quarterback, the Vikings made a gamble by signing Freeman midway into the season, but his tenure in the Twin Cities immediately turned nightmarish following his lackluster debut against the New York Giants.

However, not everyone thinks Freeman is a complete waste. There are some who think the former Kansas State University Wildcat star can thrive in a better situation than last year, perhaps as a backup quarterback for a playoff contender like the Bears.

"Jay Cutler is the guy -- the Bears made that clear with an extension and their willingness to let McCown walk -- and Freeman wouldn't present any sort of challenge as a starter. But he could be an interesting signing as a backup with upside," wrote Will Brinson of CBS Sports.

Other than the Bears, the Giants are also intrigued by bringing Freeman to the Big Apple, especially after finding out that quarterback Eli Manning will miss six weeks of spring workouts following an arthroscopic procedure on his left ankle.

Josh Katzowitz of CBS Sports confirmed the Giants' interest in Freeman, though the insider is not sure if their level of interest is enough to hammer out a contract with the former Bucs star. The Giants are also looking at former Green Bay Packer QB Matt Flynn, who played with Giants new offensive coordinator Ben McAddo, where the coach served in the role of quarterback coach with the Packers organization.