Robert Kraft Misses Jason Licht
February 1st, 2017
Patriots owner has fond memories of his former employee.
Just a little background on what Super Bowl Opening Night is like:
Thousands of media (not an exaggeration) are trying to talk to and ask questions of roughly three dozen people per team, all crammed into (thankfully this year) a baseball infield.
In the past, it has been an NHL arena or even worse still, an NBA arena (basketball floors are much smaller than a NHL regulation ice rink).
For players and coaches like Matty Ice or Bill Belicheat, it is near impossible to ask them any questions. To grab an owner is a coup.
And Joe had a coup, sort of, when he ran into Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Obviously, Kraft had all sorts of folks tugging at his expensive Italian three-piece gray suit. Joe had one question and one question only (allowed) with the friendly NFL heavy hitter; Joe asked him if he knew when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht worked for him that Licht was on a path to be what he became: NFL general manager.
As soon as Joe mentioned Licht’s name, Kraft let out an “Ooohhh, Jason!” (The kind Joe imagines could be heard in an intimate moment with Rachel Watson between the sheets.)
“Oh, always,” Kraft said of how impressed he was with Licht’s work in his two stints in New England. “He’s a terrific guy! Very capable, very smart and very well grounded.”
And at that moment, Kraft had to be whisked away to a previously scheduled appointment by what Joe believed to be Kraft’s personal muscle, who never remotely cracked a smile and eyed Joe up and down as if Joe was going to try to lift Kraft’s wallet.
February 1st, 2017 at 8:18 am
Joe, if you are ever in bed with Rachel Watson and she says “oooh jason” u are doing something wrong. That’s how I read it.
February 1st, 2017 at 8:21 am
^^^ This! LOLOL
But since MY name is also Jason…..
February 1st, 2017 at 8:22 am
That’s funny Dewey
@Joe
How can you post this. Dallas is here everyday to assure us that Licht is an awful GM. I mean who ya gonna believe? An NFL owner and the rest of the league…or a troll on an internet board! LMAO
Some people here do not understand just how badly they’ve torched any semblance of credibility. And when you’re totally stupid about one topic/player/coach/GM it makes you unbelievable in all of your posts.
February 1st, 2017 at 8:25 am
Oh wait it’s a new day in America. Dallas is just expressing an “alternate truth” bwaaahaaa
February 1st, 2017 at 8:31 am
So sad. –Joe
February 1st, 2017 at 8:47 am
We in good hands man,I love his guile. Unapologetic no regrets all inn when it comes to a mission statement.
February 1st, 2017 at 9:11 am
In Licht we trust!!! He’s seeing up this team for an extended run. Some may not see it… My #DREADNAUGHTS see it though. No more talk of “were coming” damn it WE’RE HERE NOW
SB Says:
January 31st, 2017 at 8:08 pm
I feel completely left out Whatda……….
Please don’t big homie. Couldn’t think of all you great posters… It’s kinda cool that you guys/girls are even mentioning my list of the TRUE FANBASE here on JBF. I love it. Lol guess I’ll have to update the club in the right article. Don’t want to be cheesy with it as I am so sincere about it.
February 1st, 2017 at 9:42 am
He’s gotta have that beefy security around him! Putin stole his super bowl ring some years ago!
February 1st, 2017 at 9:42 am
if you think we can do better with our GM please list the names that are available…..sure licht has struck out, but he’s also hit some home runs….im satisfied with licht and happy he’s aboard….
with that said, this offseason will either propel us into playoff contention or step us back a year or 2….whiff on high draft picks or FA’s and we could be in for a long year….hit big as he’s done in the past thru the draft and repeat what he did last year in FA and we’ll end up in the big game….
I have faith licht will draft and sign the right players that can come in, contribute and get us into the playoffs….GO BUCS!!!!
February 1st, 2017 at 10:02 am
How can an Owner not like a ” Company Man”?
February 1st, 2017 at 10:05 am
lol @ joe. please don’t ever let Rachel Watson fade into obscurity
February 1st, 2017 at 10:06 am
StPete- what do you think Kraft is supposed to say? I don’t recall Kraft hiring Licht to be the Patriots GM. You just can’t keep Dallas out your mouth!
February 1st, 2017 at 10:17 am
Very funny DeweySelmon but I don’t care what a woman calls me, let alone Rachael Watson, when I am in bed with her, as long as it’s when I’m in bed with her.
February 1st, 2017 at 10:25 am
Very true 813Bucboi. Every GM has his hits and misses but it’s not always on the GM but he is truly the one who has to fall on the sword.
I can only question one draft selection by Licht and that was the one many others question as well and that was the second rounder for Arroyo last year.
If he pans out, he gets somewhat of a pass but to use a 2nd rounder on a kicker he should be over 75 percent on kicks over 50 yards.
I give Licht a pass on the ASJ selection because no one can foretell if a single DUI is going to mean you are drafting an alcoholic. A second one, however, means just that.
Also, did anyone else notice how well are FA’s did this year without Lovie Smith hanging around mudding up the waters
February 1st, 2017 at 10:57 am
Hey Joe, does Rachael know about your fantasies?
February 1st, 2017 at 11:34 am
CalBucsFan:
Have a hunch, yes.
February 1st, 2017 at 11:58 am
Dallas
“StPete- what do you think Kraft is supposed to say?”
Duh! This is what your trolling has reduced you to…dumb questions.
Did you read the piece. Do you understand context? Kraft could have EASILY said NOTHING. He was on the run and could have simply blown by and nobody would have noticed. Instead he stopped in his tracks and said…
As soon as Joe mentioned Licht’s name, Kraft let out an “Ooohhh, Jason!”
Joe can correct me if I’m wrong but I read this as if Kraft was GLAD to take the chance to stop and give Licht praise. He did NOT have to be effusive in his praise. He works for NOBODY. Kraft IS the boss he owes nothing to anybody…save perhaps Belichek or Brady certainly not Licht…why would he?
If he didn’t want to burn bridges or felt “obligated” as you suggest that in itself would mean that Kraft felt he may NEED Licht in the future which in itself would be an endorsement.
See what all that hate gets you…lack of critical thinking.
February 1st, 2017 at 12:17 pm
Stpetebucsfan… Yes Dallas has no credibility… Just ranting, trolling. Pretty sad
#grudgemob
February 1st, 2017 at 12:19 pm
St. Pete:
You are right, thanks. If folks could have seen Kraft’s reaction, it was genuine.
February 1st, 2017 at 12:59 pm
“Dallas” – Johnny Winter
Goin’ back to Dallas, take my razor and my gun
Goin’ back to Dallas, man, take my razor and my gun, oh yeah
Lots of people lookin’ for trouble, man, sure gonna give ’em some
I believe old Dallas, man, is the meanest town I know
I believe that Dallas, man, is the meanest town I know
Because you’re not safe in Dallas, I don’t care where you go
You know that I ain’t evil, just wanna have some fun
There’s so much s**t in Texas, I’m bound to step in some
Goin’ back to Dallas, take my razor and my gun
If there are people lookin’ for trouble, sure gonna give ’em some
I load up my revolver, sharpen up my knife
Some redneck messin’ with me man, I’m bound to have his life
Down to Dallas, take my razor and my gun
Man, people there lookin’ for trouble, sure gonna give ’em some
February 1st, 2017 at 1:09 pm
87 FTW!!! Great choice of music!
February 1st, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Kraft is without a doubt the best owner in the NFL if not US sports in general. New England is essentially the Alabama of the NFL world and it’s remarkable given how free agency and the salary cap is supposed to keep a competitive balance going.
The downside is that because the program in NE is so well run even mediocre talents on the field (Matt Cassel) and off (Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Scott Pioli) look amazing. Will Licht be able to prove to be an exception? The jury is still out but he has some more time to make up for some pretty big failures (ASJ, Sweezy, Sims, Agauyo).
February 1st, 2017 at 3:35 pm
His quote didn’t say he missed Licht
February 1st, 2017 at 3:46 pm
Tom
3 of the 4 you mentioned are still on the Bucs’ It’s premature to right them off yet. ASJ was clearly a mistake. Sweezy may be but if he returns to form this year and we get a run game to give #3 some breathing room he will be a good addition. Players get hurt.
As for Aguayo…looks dim but not done…and Sims was a 3rd rounder who has shown some flash…his worst fault is he gets injured too frequently.
Now Tom you realize you’ve posted an incredibly ONE SIDED story.
Couldn’t you have taken the time to provide some insight…a real point..as in…did Licht and his team score with #3 or is that just luck or credit to someone else. Licht only gets responsibility for the bad choices?
How about the Jameis of the defense…does scoring our MLB in the 4th round count for anything. How about a UDFA who led all the TE’s in touchdowns this year does that count. Do Ayers…Grimes count? Does taking a flyer and moving up to get Marpet count…does Donavan Smith count…Pamphile…I’m feel pretty sure I’ve left folks out.
So how about some genuine analysis here. Rank Licht’s hits and misses against all the other GM’s in the league. What is there batting average. Life is graded on the curve…if Licht is doing better than them he deserves props…worse he deserves criticism…I have yet to see anybody do that kind of analysis…perhaps you have.
February 1st, 2017 at 5:47 pm
Tom S….I wonder how much Kraft paid that San Fran reporter for the playbook.
February 1st, 2017 at 5:48 pm
@no Bucs given-exactly Joes just fillin space
February 1st, 2017 at 7:02 pm
@StBucsFan
Licht has made mistakes and has failures as every GM does. Not every GM pays big money contracts to players who never take a practice snap for them in their first season of said deal(Sweezy). Not every GM, or any really, trade up to draft the worst kicker in the NFL in the 3rd highest draft slot in modern NFL history giving up two premium picks in the process. Not every GM makes a point to ignore obvious needs at a position (Guard) where Pro Bowl players are available (Trai Turner, Gabe Jackson) to draft a position they were deemed strong at (RB) who has been below average and injured 2 of their 3 years in the league (Sims). Not every GM butchers an offer sheet so badly that he ends up having to trade a 5th round pick for a restricted free agent and gives up a draft pick of which either his rookie QB’s favorite target and all time school receiving leader is available (Rashad Greene) or a starting caliber safety (Adrian Amos) picked right after the lost draft choice for a player (Sackless George Johnson) who has done nothing other than collect a paycheck. I could go on….
But let’s talk about successes, Jameis Winston is a great choice. The Bucs had the number one pick overall, so the consensus decision was either Mariota or Winston and while I strongly preferred Winston, is anyone calling Mariota a bust? No. So congrats on not screwing up the number one overall pick by taking a kicker, Licht leaves that to his second round choices.
Mike Evans 7th overall pick was another great pick, Evans has been everything the Bucs could hope for and of course Kwon Alexander and Ali Marpet. Cameron Brate is a guy the Bucs let go to the Saints before lucking out and getting him back. And frankly, Winston and the lack of talent at WR last year gave Brate chances to do things he would have done few other places.
Does Licht get more time because he’s had some hits? Certainly. Does he get criticism for his awful, atrocious, poorly thought-out mistakes, that too. There’s a curve, but right now Licht is strictly in the middle of it.
February 1st, 2017 at 9:46 pm
Tom
You offered no comparisons…just your opinion of what YOU see as Licht’s failures
I’m not about to scour all the GM’s to see their mistakes and how many of the players they picked got hurt.
And so Houston has a moron for GM…after all they drafted Clowney #1 despite Spurrier’s warnings and Clowney was hurt his rookie year. That’s just one that comes to mind.
In the abscence of any FACTS we’ll just have to agree to disagree because I’m far too lazy to do the proper exercise which LUVMYBUCS might do…a true comparison of all the other GM’s FA’s…draft picks and UDFA’s.
And that doesn’t take into consideration that 3/4 of the league had far better rosters than Licht inherited…and the fact that Lovie had major input in Licht’s first year of FA’s.