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Report: Josh Freeman was forced to watch Bucs game from suite

Josh Freeman was forced by the Bucs to watch Sunday's loss from a suite, his agent claims. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Josh Freeman is headed to Minnesota. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Amid rumblings that he wants to be traded or released, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman was forced to watch Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals from a suite at Raymond James Stadium, according to his agent.

Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano said the decision to bench Freeman and have him watch from a suite was "mutual." Freeman's agent told The Tampa Bay Times'  Rick Stroud that Schiano's statement was a "lie, obviously," and that Freeman was banished from the team's sidelines.

The back-and-forth between Schiano and Freeman's agent comes as Freeman is said to be demanding either a trade or release in what has led to intense drama in Schiano's debut season as head coach.

Freeman is a free agent after the season, but teams have begun to evaluate him as a possible trade option, according to ESPN.com's Chris Mortensen. One of the teams that could be interested in adding Freeman is the Minnesota Vikings.

The 25-year-old Freeman, who was Tampa Bay's first-round pick in 2009, was benched in favor of rookie quarterback Mike Glennon this week. Freeman had completed just 45.7 percent of his passes in his three games, while leading the Bucs to an 0-3 start.