Jason Licht Doubles-Down On QB
March 26th, 2015
As Joe has so often typed, Stevie Wonder can see the Bucs need a quarterback. Everybody can see the Bucs need a quarterback.
And it looks as if the Bucs are five weeks away from drafting one.
Joe’s good friend “The Commish,” Justin Pawlowski of Scout.com, unearthed an interview of Bucs general manager Jason Licht on a BSPN podcast. Licht all but stated the Bucs will have a new franchise quarterback.
“But we’re not going to pass on a franchise quarterback if we feel like one of these quarterbacks is franchise ready – franchise worthy for the Buccaneers,” Licht said. “That’s one thing that we, the team, the fans, the town has wanted for a long time.”
Indeed!
In a quarterback-driven NFL, Joe doesn’t give a damn how good the rest of your team is, without a quarterback a team is p!ssing in the wind. It’s like having a Ford Mustang in mint condition without a steering wheel.
Isn’t it high time we got to watch decent football, exciting football for a change at the Den of Depression?
March 26th, 2015 at 8:05 am
But, but, but Joe we’ve got Glennon.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:08 am
Raymond Jameis !
March 26th, 2015 at 8:09 am
Winston’s agent is going to negotiate an early signing in return for Winston going to Chicago……
My prediction….you heard it here first.
Winston wants to be the face of the franchise and his face needs to be on the stage getting his #1 Bucs jersey & hat from Goodell.
If Winston is the Bucs pick….they don’t need to put him through going on the clock and exhausting all trade opportunities…..they need to sign him and send he and his entire family to Chicago!!!
March 26th, 2015 at 8:09 am
The rest of the team is in mint condition?
Call the tower and advise pigs flying at 2,000 feet.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:10 am
Looks like the pick is in
March 26th, 2015 at 8:13 am
Might as well head to nfl.com and order my jersey now.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:14 am
The titans are on the clock 🙂
March 26th, 2015 at 8:15 am
“if we feel like one of these quarterbacks is franchise ready”
key word is IF.
IF you can read minds then you would be correct……
March 26th, 2015 at 8:19 am
Somebody order Biff Barker a remedial reading comprehension course.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:24 am
If Glennon is on the block are drafting two QBs? We only have Glennon right now. Is someone available in June? Just doesn’t make sense to me.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:25 am
@Tampabaybucfan
If they sign him early, I would think he’s more likely to be at the Raymond Jameis Draft Party than Chicago.
Furthermore, the hypocrisy of this whole draft attendance thing is ridiculous. The draft is a 3 minute photo-op with the Commissioner who, once Jameis signs his NFLPA union card, is in direct opposition to Jameis for the next 15 years. I guarantee you that place would be 90% empty on draft night if those players knew then what they know now.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:34 am
@ Nick
We will see…but Lovie, Licht and others will be in Chicago…and it’s my prediction that the Jameis will also…..I believe he doesn’t want to take a chance of not being drafted #1 and having attention like Manziel did last year. An early signing would take that anxiety out of the picture and permit he and his family to enjoy the event.
For me, I’m a traditionalist….I want my #1 draft pick on the stage like most all others have gone before him.
If Jameis wants to be the “face” and represent the Bucs….he needs to do it there where all Buc officials will be.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:34 am
lol damn biff hahaha everyone in the world knew we didn’t have a quarterback last year and we took a receiver, this year we have no line and we’re taking a quarterback…you don’t pass on quarterback even if the rest of your team isn’t in mint condition. no other position can improve a team more than star quarterback…..see GMC and lavonte david. get a quarterback and the rest will fall into place, no one will get a new rookie quarterback without worrying about making sure he’s protected
March 26th, 2015 at 8:37 am
@skyline crew
Plenty of vet QB’s around capable of being a stop gap or a back up to whoever we select with the pick.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:39 am
@Tampabaybucfan
Lovie and Licht will be at One Buc on draft night. Hardly any representation from the teams are at the Draft. I think last year the Bucs had the equipment guy handle the phone and fill out the card in New York.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:41 am
Next to Licht’s office there is conference room that literally says “Draft Room”. That’s where everyone will be.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:44 am
@Nick
You’re right…..an AM slipup for me….
March 26th, 2015 at 8:45 am
robert 9 Says:
March 26th, 2015 at 8:15 am
“if we feel like one of these quarterbacks is franchise ready”
key word is IF.
IF you can read minds then you would be correct……
————————————————————————————
Robert get out from under the rock…Both Lovie and Licht have said numerous times that they are comfortable with making Jameis the face of the franchise..no need to read minds..
March 26th, 2015 at 8:45 am
yeah, picking the guy without the character issues and belly full of cheeseburgers is the way to go…the speed of the pro game will hinder winston not mariota
March 26th, 2015 at 8:45 am
@tampabaybuc
I predicted that the bucs would sign him early before the draft as soon as he announced he was staying home. But then a few minutes later said I think if they sign him then he has to go to chicago so the bucs will wait until draft night
March 26th, 2015 at 8:45 am
I dont think there is anything wrong with Winston not attending the draft, and I dont believe it says anything negative about him as a person, nonetheless I would like to see him walk up onstage and hold up a Bucs Jersey, what a beautiful sight that would be
March 26th, 2015 at 8:47 am
@TBBF,
I don’t believe the NFL allows teams to sign draft picks early anymore as it takes away the “suspense” of their money making draft show.
Personally, I loved Joe’s idea of helicoptering Jameis into Raymond James after he is picked #1 to a Miami Heat style intro. Standing there with VJax, McCoy and Evans. That would be cool. But like King James, it would be very bad for how people accept/like King Jameis’ outside of Tampa.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:50 am
Sign him and get it over with. Most of us fans can’t take the speculation anymore. The ones that don’t want him are going to need a good month for it to sink in anyways, instead of a surprise on draft day. Robert 9 and Bonzai come to mind.
No need to put it off any longer….no need for secrets when 85% of the country knows you’re going to take him.
Get it over with already. Stop screwing around.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:53 am
@ Harry
Only the first overall pick is permitted to be signed early….NFL rules…
March 26th, 2015 at 8:53 am
all the couch scouts that evaluate talent are out early this morning. people of importance in the football world all think Winston is the pick so if your on this site in this small corner of the world saying otherwise you don’t know and no one is listening because when the haters talk about Winston it always comes across as a woman scorned lol stick to facts people just the facts, saying Winston cant adjust to the speed of the game is not a fact, its dumb so save that type of analysis for someone who cant read defenses because that’s not Winston OR mariota
March 26th, 2015 at 8:54 am
bucco brice Says:
March 26th, 2015 at 8:45 am
“yeah, picking the guy without the character issues and belly full of cheeseburgers is the way to go…the speed of the pro game will hinder winston not mariota”
Classic example of why they just need to sign him and get it over with.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:59 am
If I’m Winston’s agent…..I tell the Bucs….if Winston is your guy…..lets sign him early…..the only reason not to sign him is that you want to exhaust all trade opportunities up until the last minute.
Another reason to sign him early is to get the no baseball language settled.
March 26th, 2015 at 9:00 am
@bucs4lyfe…
Winston wont have all day in the pocket to do the big windup and hit wide open receivers in the NFL….love the Bucs, don’t trust the winston pick, AT ALL
March 26th, 2015 at 9:07 am
I’ve warmed to winston, I just don’t feel he’s the best action plan based on the risk and don’t think mariotta is ready. backing that up I feel the OL is not ready, and don’t have confidence they will find top guys to be ready, before getting a rookie qb killed.
just think they should build the trenches and get a good backup and or development guy behind glennon. he’s not a superstar, but i do think he and licht can get us a winning record given a decent OL if they really wanted too they could package glennon to move up next year in the 1st round.
guess some of us still think MG8 has it, most don’t.
March 26th, 2015 at 9:08 am
koetter i meant
March 26th, 2015 at 9:09 am
You guys think he wears #5 or something else? Trying to plan things for my jersey
March 26th, 2015 at 9:09 am
A Florida State assistant coach said earlier this week that even with all the talent they have at that school Jameis was a man amongst boys. Jameis has a chance to finally give our Bucs an elite QB. I can’t wait for the Bucs to draft him next month.
March 26th, 2015 at 9:21 am
Exactly TBBF…because they aren’t fooling anybody…
March 26th, 2015 at 9:30 am
if you want mariota then might as well get a kings ransom from the skins and RG3 because I think that’s as much as we can expect only with that guy we’d win right now. if that’s not in their plans and we are using the first pick then it’s Winston for me, I don’t trust Winston off field but I don’t trust mariota on field and in a locker room he just screams mediocre from a personality standpoint and bucs need to have atleast one dynamic personality. the team is boring and losing which is a bad combination
March 26th, 2015 at 9:45 am
Robert 9 said it best. He believes Glennon and Koetter can work together and maybe get us a winning record.
Well, I dont just want a winning record. I want a playoff appearance, and then I want a playoff win, and then I want an NFC South title, and then I want an NFC championship, and then another Super Bowl.
And I just dont see Glennon doing that.
Sorry Robert9. You may be ok with mediocre, but I want more. I want it all.
Now go get Winston.
March 26th, 2015 at 9:46 am
Obviously he does not think Glennon is a franchise QB, otherwise no need for another one.
Looks like Jameis unless he pulls a Mariota and chokes at his pro day.
Unlikely.
March 26th, 2015 at 9:52 am
In a quarterback-driven NFL, Joe doesn’t give a damn how good the rest of your team is, without a quarterback a team is p!ssing in the wind
Joe here is exhibit A in your point about the need for a QB.
Bill Belicheat was a LOSING coach before Brady, including 5-11 his first year in N.E. He lost big time at Cleveland.
An incredibly LUCKY sixth round selection has made Bill Belicheat the “genius”.
Lovie without ever having a “franchise” QB has a far better record than Belicheat did without Brady. Draft Fameis and if he’s all that he’s been purported to be then Lovie will become the next NFL genius.
March 26th, 2015 at 9:56 am
Glennon’s best move is to update that resume for radio stations. It’s not a job it’s a calling!
March 26th, 2015 at 10:00 am
“I said it at the NFL combine that with the information I had, I was very comfortable with him,” Smith said. “Since then, we’ve had a chance to spend a lot more time with him and nothing has changed. It’s even grown a little more now that I know him better.”
“If we decide to go that direction, we’re very comfortable with Jameis being the face of our franchise and the quarterback on our football team.” – Lovie
March 26th, 2015 at 10:05 am
I’ll be looking forward to hearing about the looting and rioting in Tampa if Winston is not the pick. Middle aged dudes throwing beer cans at TV screens and then immediately getting on their cell phones to blog about how badly Lovie and Licht just screwed up the team for the next 10 years…real scary stuff for sure. I mean Winston has never taken a snap in the NFL, but the NFL should be saving a spot in Canton, OH for this guy…Winstonites do make this site entertaining.
March 26th, 2015 at 10:07 am
Excellent point St.Pete.
Bellichick would have zero Super Bowls without Brady. Dungy would not have won one without Manning, Shanhan zero without Elway, etc. etc.
The best Lovie has had is Cutler and Rex Grossman.
March 26th, 2015 at 10:11 am
@ 87
There’s an old saying in sales…..”once the sale is made…..stop selling”
Time for you to become the old 87 again…..you’ve been a one trick pony for a long time now….
March 26th, 2015 at 10:19 am
TBBF…Eh it was an impulse posting…it won’t happen again. Maybe.
March 26th, 2015 at 10:28 am
Still hanging on to that last bit of hope, aren’tcha…
Correct me if i’m wrong, but i believe that the #2 pick can be signed if the #1 pick decides to sign early.
almost like a domino effect. Signing the #1 pick would essentially put the #2 pick on the clock, giving them the opportunity to sign. Its just that, obviously, a pick picking lower than a pick that hasn’t signed isn’t possible.
Its funny, that’s why i think that Winston WILL be the pick. Its because he (Mariota) won’t be able to hit wide open receivers all the time (as it seems like he was always doing in college) vs Winston’s ability to throw into tight coverage.
March 26th, 2015 at 10:37 am
Jamarcus Winston is the man!!! Famous Porky Jameis Russell can’t out run the Big Poodle, but team Lovie is ALL IN on FSU water walker!
Now Lovie has not figured out how to coach a winning mentality, cannot evaluate talent, has no idea what the difference between 11 & 12 on the field means, or has no clue how to tell time in regard clock management….but he has coached the Buc’s into the worst record in the NFL and has been awarded the pick of (#1) shame to go out and pick the next franchise QB in the Buc’s history.
Oh wait a minute…this was the guy who picked McCown? This was the guy who picked Tedford? This was the guy who through the interim OC under the bus! No coaching talent, no evaluation skills, and no loyalty!
Famous Porky Jamarcus is definitely the coach to be paired with Lovie!
Greg Schiano
March 26th, 2015 at 10:39 am
Jamarcus Winston did throw into tight coverage better than Mariota….it was just to the defensive back too many times!
It was still a completion into tight coverage down field, but who cares as long as someone caught the ball!!
March 26th, 2015 at 10:39 am
I know plenty of ppl who have smoked and moved on to other drugs, and plenty of ppl who have smoked and nothing more, or who have quit when they got tired of it.
Everyone’s personality and self-control is different. Now if you’re someone who has an addictive personality to begin with, I could see it being a problem.
But really the NFL should just take it off the banned substance list.
March 26th, 2015 at 10:55 am
I’m pretty sure we don’t have to worry about the Bucs NOT picking a QB – not that there was ever really cause for concern that they wouldn’t – but after comments from both Licht and Lovie this week – its all but sure to happen. Unless something MAJOR happens to change things as they stand now – Winston is the pick.
March 26th, 2015 at 10:57 am
Joe – for what reason are my comments not showing after submitting???
March 26th, 2015 at 11:02 am
@unbelievable
I think you’re responding to the wrong post, lol…
March 26th, 2015 at 11:03 am
Lovie said no one is working harder than Glennon. Yet, he also said no one is going to out work Winston. HHHMMMMM????
March 26th, 2015 at 11:04 am
Jameis should show up at the draft in a full Buc’s uniform and just stand there with his helmet on and go all in.
March 26th, 2015 at 11:06 am
Where did the drug subject come from?
March 26th, 2015 at 11:12 am
@Brock
Watch Randy Gregory Fall
March 26th, 2015 at 11:17 am
Coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday discussions about Glennon, who is 5-13 as a starter, could continue until the draft.
“We’ve had the first pick and we’ve been taking calls for a long period of time, and I assume that would go right up until the draft,” Smith said. “Yes, specifically on Glennon.”
“I think we want to have our quarterback position as strong as possible,” Smith said. “Yes, you’re a veteran and you’ve been in the league, you can help a young player coming in a little bit more. But Mike Glennon is on our roster because we think he can play. You need more than one good quarterback, that’s why Mike is there. No one is working harder than Mike Glennon at improving his body and becoming a better quarterback.”
March 26th, 2015 at 11:35 am
@ Skyline Crew
You forgot the line” first one in and last to leave” rhetoric. These tag lines were also used to describe Freeman for years.
March 26th, 2015 at 11:37 am
I know, which makes me always wonder in the back of mind that what Lovie says is all a lie regardless of them saying they like someone or not.
March 26th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
Guys. It’s the 21st Century. We don’t call it lying we call it spinning.
And EVERYBODY does it. Every coach and every politician from both parties.
Spinning has become the American way. Lovie is not doing anything unusual at all.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:47 pm
Funny. I didn’t see a word mentioned about Winston there. Or Mariota.
@Skyline Crew
I also didn’t see a lie in that quote. He said Glennon was on the roster because he could play. He also said “You need more than one good quarterback…”
So obviously he was including the backup quarterback position.
Everyone calls Lovie a liar, but he has yet to actually lie to us. People have made false assumptions based on his words, that’s all. Even when he said Glennon is a franchise quarterback, he did not say “starting” franchise quarterback, now did he? Franchises have backup quarterbacks as well.
and really, if he meant starting quarterback, you can place the blame completely on the shoulders of Mike Glennon, who did not step up and claim the job for himself.
Every player knows, you wait for an opportunity and when you get it, you make the best of it. Glennon hasn’t. And that isn’t just game situations. He can claim it in practice as well.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:50 pm
Think back to Mike Williams. Kid was drafted late because of his problems in college. He was designated to a backup role.
But he took hold of his opportunities and earned a starting position in his first year. In training camp.
That’s what Glennon should have done.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:51 pm
btw, Bucs could easily take DE, then trade back into the first round for the third QB on the list.