Former Bucs director of player personnel and new Titans GM Jon Robinson, left, with Jason Licht after one of Licht’s pool-plunging victory celebrations. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Talk to people within NFL circles, those who don’t work for the Bucs, and they rave about Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.

Now, those people are coming out in public.

When the Lions hired Bob Quinn as their new general manager, he made a point to mention Licht in his remarks twice, naming Licht among the men from whom he learned the most football. The pair worked together in New England.

On Monday, it was Jon Robinson’s turn. Licht’s right-hand man with the Bucs was just hired as the Titans’ head honcho, and he too made sure to give Licht a couple of shoutouts.

“The Glazer family let me saddle up with Jason Licht,” Robinson said. “The future really looks bright [in Tampa Bay] with the young talent we have brought in. …

“Jason put his neck on the line for me 14 years ago when I was a young coach. He has been a true friend. He did the same thing two years ago with a chance to come to Tampa.”

There were other things Robinson said that may be a peek into how Licht and his staff evaluate talent. Feel free to do any dot-connecting you wish, or have fun reading between the lines.

Robinson made it clear he and Licht are influenced significantly by the Patriot Way and/or Bill Belicheat. Robinson said he and Licht may have tweaked things “a little” due to personal preferences and team makeup, but they are both extensions of the Belicheat tree.

“We want tough players, coachable players, smart players and players with a team-first attitude,” Robinson said. “I will find the guys who are true fits into what we are looking for.”

Robinson said he learned “a ton” about player evaluation in both New England from Belicheat and in Tampa Bay from Licht.

“The way we scout and identify players and processes our scouts go thorough,” Robinson said. “It’s not exactly like New England but we tweaked some things in Tampa to what we fit there.”

One thing that jumped out: Robinson saying he and Licht met with Bucs’ trainers weekly to learn what players may or may not be able to go, when players may or may not be available down the road, so they could mine player talent accordingly, scouring the waiver wire to be prepared.

Another element Robinson discussed was player value. Apparently, the Patriots, and Licht by extension, believe you never overpay, whether in dollars or draft status. If you target a player in the draft and you don’t think he is worth draft slot-X, then trade down. If you feel the player has big value on your roster, then trade up (read: Marpet, Ali.)

“Football has to be utmost importance [to a player] behind faith and family,” Robinson said. “You don’t want to add a bunch of projects.”

As for Licht, he has become a really popular guy among NFL suits and scouts. While at the East-West Shrine Game practice yesterday at St. Petersburg High School, in advance of Saturday’s afternoon game at The Fruitdome, Joe thinks only a dozen or so of the hundred(s)-plus NFL employees there didn’t walk up to Licht and back slap him and/or shake his hand.

You’d think Licht has a job opening or something.