Ex-rider saddles up with Colts
Jerrell Freeman’s welcome-to-the-NFL moment came early. It took place Sept. 9, during the Chicago Bears’ second offensive series of the 2012 season against the Indianapolis Colts. Freeman, a former linebacker with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, intercepted Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and returned the pick four yards for a touchdown.
“When I got into the end zone, I realized that I really was in the NFL,’’ Freeman said Thursday from Indianapolis, where the Colts (8-4) are preparing to play host to the Tennessee Titans (4-8) on Sunday. “We ended up losing the game horribly (42-21), but it was definitely a great moment for me.’’
Eleven games later, Freeman is still enjoying some great moments as an inside linebacker with the Colts. The six-foot-one, 234-pound Freeman leads the Colts with 107 combined defensive tackles (64 solo and 43 assists) and is seventh overall in the NFL. He has also contributed two sacks along with a forced fumble and the interception return for a touchdown.
Freeman’s performance has even led to comparisons to Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake.
“I’m extremely flattered,’’ said the 26-year-old Freeman, who was nicknamed “Baby Ray’’ by some of his Colts teammates.
“This is Ray Lewis that you’re talking about and he might be the best player to ever play the position. To be mentioned in the same breath as him is a great honour. Cam Wake is Cam Wake and he’s a great player. I try to emulate his motor and his drive. I know that he’s going to be there for a while. I would like to create my own legacy, but we’ll see how it goes. This is only Year 1 for me.’’
Freeman and Wake both cracked NFL rosters after starring in the CFL. Wake spent two seasons with the B.C. Lions, with whom he was named the CFL’s most outstanding rookie and most outstanding defensive player in 2007. Wake was then named the league’s most outstanding defensive player in 2008 before signing with the Miami Dolphins. Wake was named to the Pro Bowl in 2011 and recently signed a four-year, $49-million contract extension to stay in Miami.
Freeman was with the Riders from 2009 through 2011. He started 17 games in 2011, leading the CFL in defensive tackles (105) and the Riders in sacks (six). Freeman was the West Division’s nominee for most outstanding defensive player, but was beaten out for the league award by Jovon Johnson of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Freeman feels his time in the CFL is among the reasons why he’s starting for the Colts.
“It wasn’t just playing,’’ said Freeman, who signed with the Colts on Jan. 16.
“I learned how to be a professional up there from guys like Eddie Davis, Omarr Morgan, Lance Frazier and Tad Kornegay. Those older guys helped me grow up and to help understand Canadian football. They helped me to play looser. Being a cover-type linebacker, I’m able to implement a lot of that coverage stuff from the CFL into my game here.’’
Freeman looks back fondly on his days with the Roughriders.
“I still bleed a little green,’’ said Freeman. “It was definitely a great opportunity to play there and meet the fans. Saskatchewan is just a great place to be. A lot of guys want to play in Toronto or Calgary or Vancouver but if you want to play football, there is no better atmosphere than in Saskatchewan. ’’
Freeman, who wasn’t drafted after four seasons at Mary Hardin-Baylor, hooked up with the Colts after his second run through the tryout process. In 2011, he took advantage of the CFL’s option-year window to try out with the Houston Texans during the off-season. When that didn’t pan out, Freeman returned to the Riders, with whom he played out his CFL option in 2011 before signing with the Colts as a free agent.