Jason Licht: Mariota Got “Almost” Equal Time
April 21st, 2015
Jameis, Jameis, Jameis, lots of Bucs fans and observers think it’s just one big Jameis Winston party investigation at One Buc Palace.
That’s just not true, general manager Jason Licht explained today.
Licht hopped on WDAE-AM 620 this morning and seem compelled to dispel the common myth.
“Believe it or not the general public thinks we’ve spent 90% of our time on Jameis Winston, but we’ve spent almost as equal amount of time getting to know Marcus Mariota,” Licht said. “There’s more things with Jameis off the field that we had to become comfortable with than Marcus, but still no matter who you’re taking, if we’re taking one of those two with the quarterback position you need to know everything about them.”
Licht went on to acknowledge that Mariota would have a greater learning curve than Winston and is more of a “projection” when it comes to the NFL.
Joe finds this all quite funny. While the Bucs were busy grilling everyone associated with Winston, including bible school camp counselors, were they really running around Kalaepohaku seeing if clean-as-whistle Mariota punched people on playgrounds or stole pineapple in the lunchroom?
Perhaps they did.
You can hear all of Licht’s interview via the 620wdae.com player below. And don’t miss Joe on WDAE-AM 620 at 5 p.m. today with Steve Duemig.
April 21st, 2015 at 12:38 pm
Yeah! They looked at Mariota. Even flew up there.
Yawned allot during the interview, loaded up on coffee and flew back.
April 21st, 2015 at 12:39 pm
Both of these guys had reputations that they EARNED long before the Bucs “earned” the top pick in the draft.
Fameis may have turned over a new leaf. Let’s hope he has whether we draft him or not. I heard one interview that gives me hope that he’s learned. He said it disturbed him that people view him as a sociopath. At least he’s aware of his rep. And when he sees his pic on ESPN the mag with the caption this year’s most polarizing player it would be hard for him to not at least have a clue.
I get that you Joes wish to minimize his offenses. But stop grasping for straws.
I think on a personal level my problem with Fameis is the description his biggest supporter on this blog has given him. 87 would jump off the Sunshine Skyway bridge to see us draft Fameis. He claims that Fameis is not a bad kid just a big showoff which 87 claimed he was as well during his own youth. That gives 87 more of an appreciation for a fellow showoff. That’s cool.
Alas I’m old school raised to admire players like Jimmy Brown my all time favorite football player. I was just raised differently. Showoffs simply turn me off. But hey if Fameis can play and win for the Bucs I’ll simply look past the showboating.
One thing should stop on this blog however. Fameis is not being persecuted.
He brought all of this on himself and to say otherwise is simply enabling bad behavior and will harm Fameis more than help him.
April 21st, 2015 at 12:40 pm
I don’t care if you call it covering your a$$, doing do-diligence, a smokescreen or just being professional. If you don’t cover all options with equal amounts of care and research, you stand a better chance of picking the wrong guy. I appreciate the Bucs are being thorough in their research.
Sure, each one of us wants a particular guy, but an unbiased review and decision is what is needed to be sure.
April 21st, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Just end it already. Everyone is tired of it. What time did Winston wake up this morning? Does Mariota sit when he pees?
April 21st, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Licht left out the fact @Joe provides JW 99.9% of the coverage on his site.
April 21st, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Mariota will be out of the league in 3 years. No body wants his softness leading a team.
April 21st, 2015 at 12:56 pm
All you winston Haters, what will you do when he is the pick and makes Tampa Bay relevant
April 21st, 2015 at 1:14 pm
My heart melts for you jameis
April 21st, 2015 at 1:18 pm
@TheDon. To say Mariota will be out in 3 yrs makes u no better than the Winston haters. And thats coming from a Winston supporter
April 21st, 2015 at 1:21 pm
I gotta go take a jameis…
I’LL BE BAAACK!
April 21st, 2015 at 1:21 pm
I find it very telling that Jason Licht made the following comment: “there’s more things with Jameis off the field that we had to become comfortable wit …” IOW- as they have said many times they are ok with Jameis. So, the decision is purely an on- field one. Jameis wins that hands down
April 21st, 2015 at 1:23 pm
Thank you Arealbucsfan. BOTH of these guys are good PROSPECTS. I’m amused by either side claiming that the other side is full of haters. Seems to me there is enough hate displayed by BOTH sides.
I’m glad you took the high road. I’m now back to Mariota but I won’t be overly disappointed if we take Fameis. Some of his fans are turning me off more than Fameis’ own actions. I’m glad to see he has some classy supporters as well.
April 21st, 2015 at 1:29 pm
@stpetebuc thanks. Im all for Winston myself but i wouldnt mad with Mariota. All the hate i see is flat out ridiculous. They are both very talented and can any team better.
April 21st, 2015 at 1:31 pm
I love waffles but it doesn’t mean I hate pancakes because they aren’t my preferred Sunday breakfast. I realize pancakes have some good qualities but I don’t appreciate their lack of square pockets to hold my syrup.
April 21st, 2015 at 1:33 pm
@Stpete
“robert 9 Says:
April 21st, 2015 at 1:21 pm
I gotta go take a jameis…”
You were saying?…….
April 21st, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Anyone wonder why no one mentions trading up to get Jameis? They KNOW that it would take a deal of the century. I would say trading 1’s this year plus 3 more number 1’s and a 2. IMO..Mariota will play for either San Diego or Cleveland via trade, which i think more likely SD. Can’t wait to get this done already! If we could somehow get AP To go w/winston for the first couple years, the pirate ship would be sold out for two years straight!
April 21st, 2015 at 1:46 pm
I fail to see the hatred of Mariota that someone on this site speaks about all the time….
If there’s hatred for both them on this site. It’s like an 80% hatred for Winston vs 20% for Mariota.
Yet someone still thinks Mariota gets bashed all the time and it’s simply not so.
April 21st, 2015 at 1:53 pm
87 That’s because you’re blinded by your Fameis mancrush. If you wish to say that that “hate” for Fameis is more directed at his off field activities…fine…but people here have called Mariota all kinds of crap like soft, lacking in leadership…pssy. BOTH sides have said stupid things.
@Jfat Agree with your take on waffles. In addition those little squares hold the butter so much better. The pats just slide of the stack of pancakes.
April 21st, 2015 at 1:55 pm
L&WD
One example does not really make your argument especially when it’s Robert.
I think Barry is another guy you could probably bring up who has tossed out some racist rants as well. I don’t really keep up with posts that are totally ridiculous from either side.
April 21st, 2015 at 1:57 pm
@87 – That’s because you’re so keyed in to everything that has Winston’s name in it. I see people calling Mariota “boring”, “soft”, “weak” on a pretty regular basis. Additionally, people that prefer Mariota often get tagged as “haters” and “idiots” during the Winston gloat fests that tends to take place in the comments.
April 21st, 2015 at 1:59 pm
I would agree that Jameis probably takes more flack though. That is likely in large part due to the fact that 90% of the articles on this site are about Jameis.
April 21st, 2015 at 2:04 pm
the reason nobody talks about trading up to get Winston is nobody wants him. he has a long throwing motion. Winston has way too much baggage off the field. most teams wouldn’t draft a player like him until the 3rd round at best. it should be interesting to see how far he falls when the bucs don’t draft him.
April 21st, 2015 at 2:06 pm
Jfat FTW. That makes perfect sense.
April 21st, 2015 at 2:12 pm
jamis will be out of the league in 2 years bet on it
April 21st, 2015 at 2:14 pm
@ areal
I could care less about “being better than winstons haters”.
Its my opinion. I dont think Mariota has it in him to run a pro style offense. Not really an insult to say he wont be in the league in 3 years. Not like hes shown he can run the pro style offense. Theres a reason every analyst keeps saying he’ll succeed if hes in the “right system”. Well what happens if he doesnt get in the “right system”? Good bye Marcus.
April 21st, 2015 at 2:15 pm
And I dont hate Mariota, I just dont see his game translating to the NFL. Hasnt proven it.
April 21st, 2015 at 2:16 pm
This is a good story to read….it gives me hope!!!
April 21st, 2015 at 3:31 pm
@StPete,
I’ve been wanting to reply to you on this issue for some time now, I guess today is the day, lol. The issue I’m referring to is the claim that JW has earned his reputation, or that the media has treated him unfairly; these are the two opposites of the same issue.
It’s hard to say JW doesn’t deserve, or hasn’t earned, his reputation. He has done everything the media has reported (with the exception of the autograph story). The logical conclusion is: he did these things so he deserves the ramifications of those actions. This appears to be your position and it makes some sense.
The opposite position seems to involve some accusation of targeting by the media, as if to say the media made a conscious decision to attack JW. I think this is garbage and you’ve made past statements to the same effect. The media did not target JW with malicious intent, they wrote articles that made money. It’s their job.
What seems to get lost between these two lines of thinking is that the media has “unusually” damaged JW’s reputation without necessarily being driven by that purpose. It doesn’t need to be the case that the media intended to excessively harm him in order to do so.
Let me offer some evidence to support this. The potential rape happened around the same time as the BB gun and soda incident. The rape story was delayed, no need to focus on the reason, it simply was as a matter of fact. The other two incidents were reported locally, but no national outlet cared to report on it… why? Answered simply, they were small time stories that nobody really cared about. Then something changed, the rape story broke, and instantly everybody in the country was reading every article that had JW’s name in the headline. There’s no media bias here, this is business.
The primary point is this, without the rape accusation nobody knows about BB guns and soda. Without the rape accusation some hipster bag boy probably doesn’t report him for crab legs. Without the rape accusation nobody cares he quotes the meme. Without the rape accusation it’s very possible, if not likely, that you never would have read a single negative thing about JW.
I will now emphasize that this is NOT me apologizing for silly things he DID DO. The sensible question to ask is: How prevalent are these kinds of incidents with other NFL draft prospects?
Has RB “X” punched 3 bouncers but nobody knows? Did LT “X” walked out on dinner tabs in his college career? Has WR “X” been associated with drug incidents, but none big enough to make national headlines? I imagine you get the point.
This is not saying JW is justified in his mistakes, or that the media was out to get him. I am questioning what the results would be if every draft prospect was investigated with the level of scrutiny he has been. My gut feeling tells me we would all think less of most prospects, and in that sense JW has earned his criticism, but I suspect most draftees deserve much more than they have received. That’s the relative complaint I have, and I suspect many other Winston fans would agree.
April 21st, 2015 at 4:24 pm
According to Winston himself he hasn’t changed.
He claims he’s just “grown.”
The question is, how has he grown? Into a mature young man? Or a better criminal?
In years to come, when people look back to examine this draft, they may well say how stupid Tampa is because he even told us he hadn’t changed.
April 21st, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Just get Winston out on that field….the rest will take care of itself.
April 21st, 2015 at 4:32 pm
“It’s not etched in stone that Winston’s going 1 and Mariota’s going 2,” Mel Kiper Jr. said today in a conference call with reporters.
interesting…..
April 21st, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Tampa Bay Times -Matt Baker Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 20, 2015 11:01am
Now the updated mock drafts:
NFL.com’s Charles Davis: Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. “The Buccaneers have spent a tremendous amount of resources vetting Winston and appear to be ready to make the top-ranked QB on my board the top selection in the draft.”
CBSSports’ Rob Rang: Winston. “Winston essentially sealed his position as the top pick with a solid pro day workout. Though questions still remain about Winston’s maturity, from a purely football perspective it is an excellent match as he possesses the awareness, accuracy, and arm strength to take full advantage of Tampa Bay’s massive pass-catchers.”
CBS/NFLDraftScout’s Dan Brugler: Winston. “Nothing has changed at the top. The Buccaneers have a need at quarterback and Winston is believed to be their target with the No. 1 overall pick.”
CBSSports’ Pete Prisco: Winston. “Unlike some, I don’t buy the idea that Marcus Mariota is anywhere near Winston as a potential pick here. Winston is the guy.”
SBNation: Winston. “This is the only pick where 20 out of 20 mock drafts had the same choice. Go figure. Does anyone else find that total consensus to be a little strange, though?”
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke: Winston. “Over? Done? Not quite, though the scales continue to tip steadily in Winston’s favor over Marcus Mariota.”
Unchanged picks:
ESPN’s Todd McShay: Winston. “I think Mariota is still a possibility to be selected here, but purely from an on-field standpoint, I think Winston has a clear advantage. He is one of the best QB prospects to enter the league in the last 10 years in terms of the skills that translate to NFL success, including reading defenses, anticipating throws and delivering the ball accurately.”
CBSSports’ Pat Kirwan: Winston. “Winston visited with the Bucs ownership…in hopes of convincing them he is not a risk.”
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: Winston. “By now most people are aware the Bucs made the somewhat unprecedented move (at least as far as I can recall) of having Winston visit with the team and owners for a few days this week. This followed a great combine for Winston. I wouldn’t read into it further than to say it reflects just how pivotal this decision is for Tampa, but I ultimately think the Bucs will end up with Winston. …”
The Sporting News: Winston
Yahoo! Sports’ Shaun King: Winston. “No matter what you hear, the Bucs are not trading the first pick and they are drafting Winston.”
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks: Winston. “The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner is a perfect fit as the franchise quarterback in Tampa.”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: Winston. “Winston has warts, to be sure, but pairing him with Mike Evans could ultimately prove to be too enticing for the Bucs to pass on.”
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah: Winston. “Winston is the top quarterback in this draft class, and he can be the long-term solution at the position for the Buccaneers.”
NFL.com’s Charlie Casserly: Winston. “Winston is a gifted talent. The question is, can you rely upon him?”
Pro Football Talk: Winston.
San Diego Union-Tribune: Winston. “It appears the Buccaneers are comfortable with Winston, regardless of his off-the-field baggage. At very least, they’ve gone out of their way to make it appear that way.”
The final tally: Winston 17; The field 0
April 21st, 2015 at 5:04 pm
@87,
There’s a subtlety that many MM supporters seem to conveniently ignore. If MM is the better football prospect from a talent, system, or planning perspective why would they waste so much time vetting Winston? If they wanted MM from a football standpoint they wouldn’t even bother wasting the resources to examine JW. I’m pretty sure Winston will be the pick, unless the Bucs uncovered something in 3 months that ESPN couldn’t find in 2 years.
April 21st, 2015 at 5:13 pm
@Bonzai,
Criminals usually need to change…. Immature kids need to grow. His choice of words are not random, hopefully they come from some honest self-reflection and not a lawyer written memo.
April 21st, 2015 at 8:02 pm
TL;DR
April 21st, 2015 at 10:52 pm
The Bucs would be completely shirking their responsibility if they did not investigate both top QBs thoroughly. They have the #1 pick. They are drafting a QB. Even though they have favored Winston the whole time – they have to put all the work in on Mariota as well.
You never know what might happen. Tennessee could offer their top of the 2nd and 4th round picks to move up to #1 because they want Winston – and that would have to be seriously considered. (well – not that seriously – but it would have to at least be considered).
Bucs have to be prepared for any and all contingencies or offers.
#1 pick almost never gets traded though – So it’s a very, very high probability they are just gonna pick their preferred QB which is Winston. I think it will take a hell of a lot to move them off that selection.