Licht Not Jameis’ Puppet
August 13th, 2017
Limited power.
One could say America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, wields power at One Buc Palace.
But he isn’t running football operations and Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht does not dance to Jameis’ whims and desires.
That’s the word from winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter.
Yesterday, Koetter was asked if Jameis was consulted before Licht and Koetter and “Hard Knocks” gave former Bucs kicker Roberto Aguayo the boot. Koetter scoffed at such a notion.
“You guys put way too much on how much Jameis affects our personnel decisions,” Koetter said. “Jameis is the face of our franchise and he’s a fantastic quarterback, [but] he doesn’t get involved in our personnel decisions.”
Joe remembers asking Jameis a similar question last year. Immediately after, Joe felt guilty of awkwardly phrasing a question that may have embarrassed Jameis. That was not Joe’s intention.
Remember when Jameis said after the Carolina loss to end his rookie season that if the players cared about winning as much as the coaches did, then the Bucs would be a good team? Well, Joe asked Jameis months later (about a year ago) if he had sitdowns with Licht to go over the roster and point out the bad eggs.
Jameis didn’t like that question and said he would never throw a teammate under a bus and that they were all family.
No, Jameis may not tell the Bucs who to get rid of, but he isn’t bashful about saying who he would like.
August 13th, 2017 at 8:12 am
Jameis is the standard by which ALL Bucs will be judged!
August 13th, 2017 at 8:13 am
Now, Lovie’s puppet?…
August 13th, 2017 at 9:09 am
Jameis respects all those are older
He was raised with old school humbleness and always replys with sir or maam….to everyone he meets
August 13th, 2017 at 9:28 am
And I would be shocked if Jameis didn’t want Aguayo cut after Saturday as well. Even if someone’s your former comrade in college, at some point you have to get sick of praying every time the kicker lines up. Like I said earlier, it’ll be nice to go to the restroom when we line up for extra points again. Folk will be a lot more reliable. I was rooting for Aguayo, but enough is enough.
August 13th, 2017 at 9:29 am
The Bucs obviously don’t listen to Jameis when it comes to personnel decisions, as they foolishly passed on Dalvin Cook.
August 13th, 2017 at 9:58 am
Why do some think that JW3 has to run and do everything for this franchise!!!!! I have heard stories and rumors that he is single-handedly been building the indoor practice facility in his off time!!!!!!!
We Have a very good structure with the Bucs right now!!!! With a very good GM!!!!! A Coach that changed the culture and is bringing the winning attitude to the team!!! A defensive coach that is the strength of the team!!!! and A very good QB that is leading the offense!!!!!! Their is no reason to make anything more than that!!!!! Everyone is doing their job!!!!!!!! No reason to take one and make him the savior of everything!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 13th, 2017 at 10:02 am
John F Says:
August 13th, 2017 at 9:29 am
The Bucs obviously don’t listen to Jameis when it comes to personnel decisions, as they foolishly passed on Dalvin Cook.
………
Howard better than Cook all day and twice on Sundays
August 13th, 2017 at 10:14 am
What reporter asked that question of Koetter? Because a question like that is designed to create angst within the team.
* Roberto is from the same school as Jameis. I am sure Jamies was rooting for him to succeed as much as anyone on that team.
* Jameis is also the poster child for team player and he will not voice is disagreements to management decisions
* This does not prevent him from voicing his opinion on players to draft or free agents to go after
Right now Jameis has his hands full on leading this offense and improving his play from season to season. The whole Aguayo situation was sad, I was even rooting for him until the missed PAT the other night and the missed FG sealed the deal. I am happy the team waited no time in making the decision. It is a business and right now the Bucs are in the business of making the post season.
I know idiot reporters will ask idiot questions. Part of life.
August 13th, 2017 at 10:15 am
CautiousOptimism
I don’t know about the characterization of “Lovie’s Puppet”…but there was a major difference in their relationship and that of Licht/DK
Love WAS the boss. He came first. He was given total power over roster decisions and FA’s. Licht was hired after Lovie and answered to Lovie.
I’ve never liked this arrangement. I guess it works in NE…but it generally blows up more frequently than works. I still believe that was Chucky’s downfall…he simply had to much power. If the Glazers had hired a truly powerful GM and given him control of the personnel and had Chucky simply coach I think there would have been a different Chucky legacy after the SB where he was five games below .500 over six years.
August 13th, 2017 at 10:49 am
The reason this is an article on your website is it was a comment by the head coach meant specifically for joebucsfan who always question whether Winston’s feelings are taken into consideration on all things personnel.
Get real, please. Through the entire offseason, numerous media has asked Jason Licht and Koetter about Jameis’ influence in free agency and the draft. Joe’s not going to ignore the subject. And frankly, great QBs through the years have directly and indirectly influenced personnel moves. –Joe
Not even Tom Hardy has input on his roster why would a third year quarterback. Maybe because it’s Tampa and I don’t think we’ve ever signed a quarterback to a second contact but thank God Glennon wasn’t the first
August 13th, 2017 at 11:12 am
If the team listened to JW, we would have drafted Dalvin Cook or would have signed AP.
August 13th, 2017 at 11:14 am
Dear NotThereYet,
Why would a supporting actor from Dark Knight Rises and Inception have roster control of an NFL team?
BT
August 13th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
Oh, you think darkness is your ally. But you merely adopted the dark; I was born in it, moulded by it. I didn’t see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but BLINDING! The shadows betray you, because they belong to me!
Good stuff BT
August 13th, 2017 at 1:39 pm
I think Jameis loves Aguayo BUT that Jameis loves winning even more … I don’t think he’s the type of player or person to put feelings ahead of actions or better yet, relationships ahead of success.
I’m sure Jameis loves Donovan Smith too but if Licht did happen to say, “Yo Jameis we have the opportunity to trade Donovan for the best LT in the league; is that okay with you”, Jameis’ reply would be, “Do what you feel is best for the team, I just want to win!” and I respect that.
August 13th, 2017 at 1:52 pm
NFLNut has it!!! Just like after the 2015 season, JW3 liked lovie, but he “LOVES” winning!!!!! and for the Bucs to win, lovie had to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 13th, 2017 at 6:10 pm
To the poster that thinks OJ is a better prospect than Dalvin Cook. You are obviously one of three things:
1. An Alabama fan
2. A Florida State hater
3. Not very bright
OJ has a chance to be a very good tight end. He has tons of potential. Dalvin Cook is going to be a superstar in this league for a very long time. Cook is a transcendent talent. Big mistake by Licht on passing on him.
August 13th, 2017 at 6:39 pm
LMAO BB4, if that wasn’t the most garnet and gold reply, then I’m blind. Pot meet Kettle? Transcendent? I think time will tell there, and you may be right. I see teams passed on him 40 times, wonder why? I’m smart enough to know, that I don’t know. What I do know is that they spend 120 hours per man (8-12 personnel) a week and 40 times a team chose not to draft him. That’s all I know. I hope he sucks and never amounts to poop, one less team to deal with in the NFC 🙂 yes, I’m a Buc fan first
August 13th, 2017 at 7:30 pm
It is clear Jameis wanted Dalvin Cook eventhough he loves Martin and some of the rest of our backs, but it’s not like Licht rushed out to get Cook even when Cook was within arms reach in the 2nd round (maybe if there was a deep snapper or solid punter available in the 2nd round, Licht would’ve traded up to get him tho)… so the question about whether Jameis was consulted about canning Aguayo is truly moronic… if I’m Koetter, I say, there’s no need to even respond to such a stupid question.
August 13th, 2017 at 8:16 pm
Maybe one trade up for a FSU player was enough to teach him a lesson. Was FSUs punter and deep snapper a can’t miss prospect? Lol
August 13th, 2017 at 9:11 pm
Who thinks Licht would consult Winston before cutting Roberto? First, it was a move that had to be made (and I, unlike most of the dullards in here actually wanted Roberto to succeed) and second, the kicker spot has nothing to do with the offense. If he was Winston’s best friend then perhaps Dirk or Licht pull him aside just to make sure he’s Ok, but even in that case I don’t think anyone would need to explain the move. I still say Roberto goes somewhere and plays a long time, but he had his chance here and he just can’t, for whatever reason, get it done in games – lack of opportunity wasn’t an issue.
August 13th, 2017 at 9:21 pm
The only person who is silly enough to think that Jameis has any power over the roster is Joe.
Koetter and Licht have been at this game since Winston was knee high to a toad, what makes anybody think they’re going to put their careers on the line because of what a wet behind the ears 23 year old kid has to say about anything?
It’s an asinine assumption.
August 13th, 2017 at 10:32 pm
The kicker should have never been picked before the 5th round…but he will be picked up and Colin still has no job! The one who has the power here should get his head out his ass and give Colin a call…I’m no GM but we need a back up QB really bad! Somebody needs to stop the run, (Mixon) up the gut…Somebody needs to rush the passer…Noah! One other thing, this SMITTY DEFENSE (not LOVIE) looks weak in the first preseason game of 2017!!! Will we REGRESS?
August 14th, 2017 at 2:29 am
Uuummm… might want to rethink what is asinine.
For example, it’s on record that Licht sat down with Kwon Alexander to go over Kendell Beckwith when the Bucs were researching him — both Licht and Kwon talked about this. Kwon even talked to Joe about this. It would be “asinine” not to since Kwon played with the guy.
You don’t think Licht talks to Jameis about defenders he played against in college that they might have been scouting? It would be “asinine” if they didn’t. You don’t think they talked to Jameis about Dalvin Cook? Would be “asinine” if they didn’t.
Why would a team totally ignore resources of information in their own building?
August 14th, 2017 at 7:43 am
Talking to your players about other players is one thing, signing or releasing players because one of your players says so is another.