The Power
January 27th, 2014
Bucs fans are absolutely captivated by who possesses power at One Buc Palace not named “Glazer,” who calls what shots when and why? The subject never seems to stop and likely won’t until the Bucs state publicly where the buck stops on what decisions.
Of course, the odds of that happening are about the same odds of Joe returning from Jersey this week to find a cold, shivering Rachel Watson waiting for him at his front door.
After the Bucs hired Jason Licht as the new general manager, Barista-training, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball box score-reading, Peter King, of SI.com and NBC Sports fame was intrigued by Licht’s words about who calls what shots with the Bucs, he or coach Lovie Smith?
I think new Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht (pronounced “Light”) had an interesting take the other day when asked who would have the final say on the draft—him or coach Lovie Smith. (It’s widely thought around the league that the buck will stop with Smith on all football decisions.) Said Licht: “There will be no arguments on draft day. Going in to the draft—arguments are healthy. I’ve had arguments with every coach that I’ve worked for, and every GM. Some of them would be happy to tell you about them, I’m sure. We’ll have arguments on players. I’m going to plead my case. I told Lovie, during the interview process, that if he doesn’t like a player, I’m going to be in his office 20 times trying to prove why my player, that I like, is the guy that we need, and I’m sure he’ll do the same thing. If we don’t come to an agreement, the answer is easy, it lies in itself—we won’t take that player.” I’ll be interested to follow that down the line.
It just seems to Joe that when it comes to the 53-man roster, that’s Lovie’s call. When it comes to personnel decisions and the draft, that’s Licht’s call.
Last week Licht told the Tampa Bay pen and mic club that there were about six or eight other teams that had the same power structure as the Bucs now do. But he declined to identify the other teams, not wanting to break NFL protocol of discussing other teams’ “propitiatory” information.
Look, if the Bucs win, Joe doesn’t think any fan will give a damn who has final say on anything.
January 27th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
Seems more like the media cares more lol
January 27th, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Exactly! If the bucs win that’s all that matters.
January 27th, 2014 at 12:23 pm
I could care less who is the top dog and those that do are fools. Listen up people, it isn’t your money so get over it already. The question has been asked and answered. The media sucks and this is a non issue they are trying to create controversy over. F-off
Just Win Baby!!!
January 27th, 2014 at 12:27 pm
Who cares?
January 27th, 2014 at 12:38 pm
LMAO–No you didn’t bring Issh back..smh…Sporting the Gumby Fade
January 27th, 2014 at 12:38 pm
*this issn back
January 27th, 2014 at 12:41 pm
Nah, I got one for you Joe
(Eric B. & Rakim) – Follow The Leader
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95gP3m-uBHA
January 27th, 2014 at 12:42 pm
I don’t care about power in the organisation. I care about Wins. I don’t root for Licht, Lovie or the Glazers, I root for the Bucs. Let them figure out the best possible organisational structure and let’s see what happen. Only time I’ll start to search answers for these questions are when they are gonna screw big time, like in the Schiano era…
January 27th, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Concur. Nobody really cares who has the power. We’ve had a string of people of questionable ability level for the past 5 years so it makes sense that people would be concerned with what they were in charge of since they knew what to be concerned about. We have competent professionals in charge now. Not concerned with who is in charge of what
January 27th, 2014 at 12:50 pm
I couldn’t care less. I only care about winning. He appears to be the “Do Boy” to me and that’s fine as long as we are winning.
January 27th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
C’mon Guys at some point we should be able to connect the dots. I’m not trying to cut off healthy debate, but there’s enough that been said for us to know how to figure this one out.
Let’s start with what we know. Lovie has final say over the 53 roster. Licht has final say over the draft. You’re familiar with Venn diagrams and the small parts of the circles that overlap – the intersection. That’s what we’re discussing here. There is so much more to being a GM and being a HC that does not overlap, that this really isn’t a likely to ever be power struggle. You’ve also heard of the paradox where the irresistible force meets the immovable object! How can a GM draft a player that the HC can refuse to play on the team? He can’t and it won’t happen.
This is the Glazers way of forcing two critical parts of the equation to be joined at the hip and go through natural catharsis to reach a consensus. As difficult as it is to reach a decision in a dyad, there is not equal power here. For however long it takes to reach a decision, one will be made. Here’s a clue. Lovie sat in on the interviews for the GM. In other words he had input in the decision. Lovie has more power, but does not have absolute power, nor should he.
The results will determine the effectiveness of the relationship. I’m going to sleep!
January 27th, 2014 at 1:03 pm
@Pactrick in VA
you are correct, It was only that the last 5 years some were accustomed to wrongly give the past gm credit for anything that went right and anything wrong was from past regimes, coaches, and bad Luck!
January 27th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Joe, we are not absolutely captivated by who possesses “power” at OBP. That discussion is over. It’s going to be a consensus building organization. Exercising final authority should rarely be an issue. The point is moot. Enough already. Sensationalism. Let’s dial it back a notch.
January 27th, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Interesting mock draft I just saw. It had Atlanta trading up to the #2 spot by only adding a 2nd rd pick going to the Rams. That seems too cheap compared with what the Redskins did 2 yrs ago.
If I were the Bucs, I would do that deal in a freaking heartbeat to draft either Clowney or Bridgewater.
January 27th, 2014 at 1:11 pm
Lovie will have final say on the draft, not the guy who Lovie “hand picked”. Why that bothers some folks to admit, I don’t understand. Licht may be a genius, but as long as Lovie’s here, we won’t find out.
January 27th, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Again, only the media cares lol
January 27th, 2014 at 1:28 pm
I’m flabbergasted that some people are only capable of understanding organizational relationships as a hierarchical structure. Regardless of what is actually codified in the contracts, the goal of the organization will be collaboration between the HC and GM. This is entirely possible with someone of Lovie’s demeanor and Licht seems to understand this concept well.
January 27th, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Yea, gotta say only one pushing this “We need to know” agenda is the media.
January 27th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
Its all about supply and demand. The Skins gave up an arm and a leg because the demand far outweighed the supply. This year, the demand isn’t nearly as high, so it wont be as expensive.
January 27th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
@Chef Paul
It’s to be sold not to be told brotha.smh..lol
January 27th, 2014 at 1:41 pm
lol, I don’t understand what you are saying luv
January 27th, 2014 at 1:41 pm
As long as they get together and draft Johnny Football, all will be well.
NFC South Champs if we can pull that off. I can only imagine what Tedford could do with him.
January 27th, 2014 at 1:46 pm
This website has a serious problem with “Unresponsive Script” warnings. Nowhere else on the internet locks up my browser like this site. Avid reader, love the content, but there’s gotta be a way to clean that ish up.
January 27th, 2014 at 1:51 pm
I feel bad for you Eric lol, he won’t ever be a Buc 😉
January 27th, 2014 at 1:53 pm
Joe Welcome to NJ when you travel you should do meet and greets and give some of us the chance to enjoy +21 and over beverages together and talk a little football!
While your here be sure to stop by Rutt’s Hut in clifton only 5 miles away from the stadium, they make special deep fried hotdogs, a famous NJ food staple its been on several tv shows
January 27th, 2014 at 1:56 pm
Don’t care. Find a QB, find a DE. Win games.
January 27th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Neither person wants the other person’s job….that means they will work things out….I am not concerned if the Glazers arent!!
January 27th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
Bucs fans are absolutely captivated by who possesses power at One Buc Palace not named “Glazer,” who calls what shots when and why?
It’s funny how Joe makes it seem that the ordinary fan is obsessed with who they can hold accountable when things go awry. It’s funny how Joe calls the media Buc fans when it is them who are obsessed.
January 27th, 2014 at 2:42 pm
bucs fans could care less who makes the final decision…..fyi were being force fed because it fascinates the media who are the one’s that constantly debate it and we have no choice but to chime in….stop mentioning it and it will fade faster than news of greg schiano being fired. as long as we we are drafting well and bringing in free agents that actually make a contribution to anything more than our injured reserved list we could care less. i think the first thing lovie and licht should do is take down that no flyzone banner because as long as leonard johnson is logging big time minutes in this defense we will never live up to that name
January 27th, 2014 at 3:02 pm
@ERIC
theres gonna be a mad scramble of teams trying to avoid drafting johnny football….lol even jamarcus russell had talent coming out of college and you think this little guy is gonna come into the NFL and take it over? he’s short and unless he can run a 4.2 at the combine he wont be any quicker than the slowest defensive end in the league….at worst he’ll be like tebow all the love of the fans based on what he did in college, even aaron rodgers sat and learned the game, joebucs post photos of johnny football to mess with your heads, he’ll be a scrub on the next level a little hobbit among men lol
January 27th, 2014 at 3:09 pm
@bucslyfe
Well if there is a mad scramble of teams avoiding drafting Manziel I will be highly surprised.
Lets see if that happens.
January 27th, 2014 at 3:11 pm
And I don’t think we have Favre on our roster for a QB to wait behind.
January 27th, 2014 at 3:11 pm
yea see ya on draft day because i hope he goes first overall….nothing against you or manzel i would rather that pick go to someone taller than i am and someone that can see over our offensive line without running all over the field
January 27th, 2014 at 3:22 pm
I can see Johnny football in the green room throwing a tantrum if he is still on the board after the 7th pick and a bunch a Bucs fan with him, lol. Get the best player available, can’t afford to trade any picks away, maybe trade back and get more picks, that’s what I think, only my opinion though. If Manziel is there at 7 as best available, then take him
January 27th, 2014 at 3:39 pm
I’d like this organization to trade back as much as possible this year and get as many picks as they can and draft a few key positions but ultimately have a fire sale with their picks just to find out what we really have on this team as it is currently constructed because i dont think there’s a quarterback as sure a thing as winston, get enough picks to package together to trade up to the top spot maybe. if we have to endure another rookie quarterback i’d rather it be someone that comes in and earns the title of franchise quarterback like wilson and bob griffen and luck did. im tired of us drafting question marks with top picks and hitting on players like lavonte david in the third round, moving up in the 1st for doug martin….i just wanna see a smart move for a quarterback this or next year NOT A DESPERATE MOVE
January 27th, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Eric,
I would be elated if the Bucs found a way to draft Johnny Football, but I don’t see it happening bro. I think he is too much demand and the Bucs won’t sacrifice their draft to move up for him. I think Lovie is looking more at the Depth problem with the roster, so I think we will miss the next Drew Brees. I can see Lovie/Jason trading back to offset the loos of the 3’rd pick which is going to the Jets. I think the Bucs will also get a 4’th as compensatory this year. Whatever happens though, I’m a Manziel fan just like you and this one we can agree on.
January 27th, 2014 at 4:45 pm
I’m hoping Jason Licht is a draft day wheeler-dealer. This team needs about 10 draft picks instead of the current 5.
January 27th, 2014 at 6:38 pm
over time, 1 of 3 things will happen.
1) we win consistently, pick great players, and fans stop caring who’s in charge of who
2) we don’t win, both “partners” get fired, and fans stop caring who’s in charge of who
3) we don’t win, each guy tries to blame the other, and fans stop caring who’s in charge of who, we just want them both gone.
either way, these guys have ensured that they either rise together or go down in flames together. like every buc fan i am hoping for the former
January 27th, 2014 at 7:55 pm
I hope there aren’t any issues at other positions this coming season. Seems every year we think some position is solid and…..then…..blam. suddenly were looking for more help.
January 27th, 2014 at 9:01 pm
The next Drew Brees…
Ahahahaha that was good BMA lol 😀
January 28th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
Translation
“If Lovie doesn’t agree, we don’t take my player.”
January 28th, 2014 at 6:32 pm
Or “If Licht doesn’t agree, we don’t take Lovie’s player” 😉
lol