NFL general managers, like Jason Licht, have to get crafty to see through the BS of combine player interviews.

Regular readers know Joe dismisses the importance of the TV show on NFL Network known as “The Combine” like Joe would shoo away a housefly.

What is not televised is highly significant, the medical tests and the interviews. But it seems the interviews are becoming less important, to a degree.

Just prior to the NFL Scouting Combine, former Jets personnel chief Pat Kirwan, half of the best football radio show in the nation, “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, stated some teams used to send virtually their entire football operations staff to Indianapolis but are now only sending a handful of staffers because video of everything the players do on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium — and interviews — are available on video. Plus, the players are so coached up that the interview practice virtually has been rendered a waste of time. so Kirwan said.

Last week, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht appeared on “The Opening Drive” with Bob Papa and Ross Tucker and said one thing he’d like to see changed at the combine was expansion of interview time. Licht admitted he didn’t know how the NFL could pull that off without making the long combine even longer.

Licht elaborated about this during his presser in Indianapolis.

“They are coached up on how to do these interviews,” Licht said. “Just like most of us getting our jobs, we’re coached up how to interview with our bosses.

“But you can tell when a guy is genuine, usually. You look for some humility, a sense of humor – just being genuine and owning up to their mistakes, if they’ve made some, which most of them have. So, it’s just kind of a gut-feel, between myself, Coach [Dirk] Koetter and whoever is in the room doing the interviewing together.”

Of course, Licht and his charges can interview a player more thoroughly at Pro Days and during private visits. The Bucs can invite up to 30 players to One Buc Palace prior to the draft.