Just because he wasn't playing in the NFL doesn't mean he wasn't playing, he was still playing football. In fact, in 2006 he played 2 seasons (one in NFL Europe and one with the Bills.) He's now played 8 seasons of professional football (9 if you count the double season in 2006.)
I love Freddie, and I hope he plays 5 more productive years. But the odds are against that happening.