Does Team Glazer Believe The Bucs Are “Very Close?”
March 7th, 2018
Bucs co-chairmen Bryan (left) and Ed Glazer.
The free agency dinner bell is just seven days away, set to clang its sound of hope at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14.
In some ways, what really matters has little to do what general manager Jason Licht thinks.
We heard from Licht at the NFL Scouting Combine last week, he says the Bucs are “very, very close.” Dirk Koetter thinks the Bucs are close, too, based on strong leadership in the locker room, a 3-7 record last year in one-score games, a competitive finish to the 2017 season, a great coaching staff and a helluva young quarterback. (Did Joe miss anything, Dirk?)
But what matters at this time of year is what Team Glazer believes. They are the guys who set the budget for the franchise and approve the direction of the franchise when it comes to big names, big deals and win-now thinking.
We’ve seen Team Glazer speak softly and carry a big stick in previous years, spending large and showing impatience with losing. We’ve also seen Team Glazer take a more patient and low-budget approach. See 2011.
What Joe knows is that Team Glazer is aching to win but has a basement-dwelling franchise riddled with uncertainty. The head coach and the general manager are entering a hot-seat season and the face-of-the-franchise quarterback is under investigation by the NFL and could face a six-game suspension.
They also own the NFL’s 32nd-ranked defense, whose top player is 30 years old. That combination right there is enough to make any ownership group take pause and reassess strategy.
Tampa Bay now has the most salary cap room in the NFC at $72.3 million, per reliable OverTheCap.com. So what will Team Glazer approve and desire?
If they buy Licht’s “we are very, very, close” message, then it’s reasonable to think Team Glazer will refuse to lose on any desired player when free agency strikes. If they don’t buy it, or Licht wasn’t being forthright, then look for the Bucs to steer clear of the best available players.
Lotta answers coming very soon.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:28 am
Just trade up to Indy’s #3 for Chubb….include GMC if needed. He’s replaceable.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:28 am
“close” to what ?
March 7th, 2018 at 9:28 am
Very close to another nfl south basement title
March 7th, 2018 at 9:31 am
I think Joel/Bryan/Ed do fully realize what a good character kid and huge organizational impact that Saquon Barkley can make for the appeal and performance of the franchise. THIS Bucs fan believes that they have blesses Licht to GO GET HIM.
As far as FA spending is concerned, maybe a 6 out of 10 on the spending spree scale.
Go Bucs! Go Barkley! Go Healthy! Go Primetime!
March 7th, 2018 at 9:36 am
Hopefully close to being sold to people who care about winning and aren’t total idiots.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:36 am
Desperate need for a well respected President of Football Operations that the Glazers trust implicitly. Need a big picture go between them and Licht.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:36 am
Hey guys this is Jason again. Have you tried to call me back? I just realized my ringer was off… Um… just wondering… anyhoo… it’s been a few months now and you guys haven’t returned my calls… I want to thank you guys for picking up my 1 year option, that was great… and so… AGAIN, free agency is around the corner and I’ve left a couple of messages about that Quinn guy but I guess you guys were busy? I understand… look if you don’t want me to keep calling just let me know… I’ll stop but for now I guess I’ll keep running trade ideas your way… we’re really close guys… (weakly mumbles) fire the cannons… :voice cracks: mumbles incoherently. Sob… Dial tone…
March 7th, 2018 at 9:39 am
The Glazers would do best to be silent, hands off owners, and hire a true football person to run the team. They are not their dad, Malcolm was a great owner, and he would not have approved of firing Gruden had he been lucid and not not suffered the strokes in 2006.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:39 am
If they thought we were close Quinn would be a Buccaneer. We are not according to everyone in the NFL except our coach & GM so don’t look for a spending spree from the Glazers. The blame really needs to go back to a Decade (or more) of poor drafting. When there is no one worthy of a franchise tag on your entire roster then that kind of proves a point right there. In 2002 the Glazers brought in everything Gruden needed to upgrade the offense and I’m sure they would do it again with the right core group of players. Why bring in 30 year old’s or keep McCoy for that matter if there isn’t enough core players to make a run.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:41 am
I think that with a good running game, and 5 new good pieces on the defense, we will be close to playoffs…..Not to be great , but yes….. a playoff team…. No doubt about it
March 7th, 2018 at 9:42 am
if dirk and licht believe we are “very very close”, then why did licht “cringed” at expectations before the season?…..
did he figure we were “very very close” during one of the 5game losing streaks?…..or did he think we were “very very close” when Winston ignored dirk, called godwins number and won the game in spite of dirk?…….
we’re “very very close” alright……very very close to finding a new staff and GM!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 9:42 am
Bucs are close to replacing Cleveland as the Clown Team of the NFL. The Bros. Glazer are way more enamored interested in Man.U. Too bad the fan base can’t acquire the team and run it like the Green Bay Packers do. The definition of apathy is keeping a GM with a .333 winning/losing record and a coach who needed to be coddled by a 23 year old QB.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:44 am
I think Licht has something cooking…..be patient Buc Fans.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:44 am
I’m hoping to be proved wrong but it seems like this team is going nowhere this year. I just don’t understand why they seem so confident and complacent after last year. I’m starting to feel like Licht knows his job is secure for some reason. Who’s down to rent a billboard like the fire Schiano one if this off season goes wrong?
March 7th, 2018 at 9:46 am
Joe.. our cap situation is not as good as it seems. We have 52 players under contract top 51 count against the cap. We are searching for 2 CB’s, Safety, 2 DE’s, 2 DT’s, 2 G’s or 1 G and 1 C 1 TE and a #1 RB. That’s maybe 8 or 9 starters we are searching for. That space will get eaten up real fast…. we will be relying heavily on the draft and mid level FAs. We also need to sign extensions which have been well documented. Not such a rosy picture.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:47 am
I like the part where Joe acknowledges that the Glazers set the budget. So when you guys hear the GM say he didn’t have the money to sign somebody(C.Campbell) now maybe you understand.
IMO the Glazers have the same planning that they have always had. They will build a team through the draft and spend more as the team proves they know what their doing. This saves them from wasting money on a front office that’s just going to waste it…..Do you really think Dominick could of spent more money and turned this team into a winner? If your answer is yes my response is a laugh.
If you remember when we won our title we stayed pretty cheap until the team was making the playoffs every year. Then they went out and spend big on Keyshawn, Rice and Brad Johnson.
I personally think it’s a good plan…..Of course we have just been stuck watching a loser ass football team for the last 17 years because our front office has been an abomination.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:51 am
The Bucs Front Office selling dreams and season tickets to their fanbase.
This team is horse manure, nothing more
March 7th, 2018 at 9:56 am
R.o.
Bucs can’t go 2 weeks without embarassing themselves on the field and you are worried about the cap…. priorities lol…. thanks for the laughs.
FEAR LOSING NOT THE SALARY CAP
March 7th, 2018 at 9:59 am
Know what I think?
I think that all of the trolls and haters who wanted Dirk Koetter out the door this year are upset that he didn’t get the boot, and are now saying anything and everything they can think of to make the team look bad.
For example: I can’t wait for 2019 when the coaching staff and GM are gone!
These people don’t actually care about winning, though they claim they do. They would rather see a season of losing just so that they can finally get their way.
That alone proves that they are nothing more than trolls.
The same goes for the ones always hating on specific good players who have no support around them. What they should be wanting is complimentary players to be brought in so that the team can get the most out of those players…but no, they just want to give up on them.
And their instant comeback to these points? They call the real fans brainwashed masses out of touch with reality. Just watch. You’ll recognize the people I am talking about, because they will get all upset that their fictional fandom was questioned…and I did not even name names. They will identify themselves.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:01 am
They tend to spend around 91-92% of the cap….the requirement is that they avg 89%. The cap is $177 million….89% would be $157 million. They actually only need to spend around $53 million to meet the minimum requirement and $58 million would be closer to their norm for spending. This idea that they’re going to max out just isn’t likely. What has Licht done that equates to any level of success? He has 3 losing seasons in 4. Nearly all his major signings have been busts or under-performed…..Its yr 5 and there’s so many holes to fill that it can possibly inspire confidence to overspend. My guess is they hover between $55-60 million in spending.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:01 am
Bonzi
Reality is not hate…. reality is the bucs led by cancer93 are failures….
March 7th, 2018 at 10:03 am
The truth is this: we are no further away this off season than we were last off season. We have the same needs outside of Grimes because the free agents brought in were failures.
We were plagued with injuries to our good players. The trolls will say every team deals with injuries. That is true, but two important points to be made here…first, where the injuries occur matter. In our case, they hit every starter on the team except one. Second, no other team has had that many injured starters in almost a decade.
No I know…haters will say same old excuse. Its not an excuse. It is history. Fact. Unlike what they say, which is opinion and fiction.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:05 am
IMO the Glazers have the same planning that they have always had. They will build a team through the draft and spend more as the team proves they know what their doing. This saves them from wasting money on a front office that’s just going to waste it
***************************************************************
so that must mean the glazer figured 2016 9-7 was a fluke…..if they felt we were close, they would’ve signed CC and maybe traded for Sheldon richardson….
so according to that theory, the glazers told dirk smitty and licht to prove it and they failed miserably…..
like you, I agree with that plan….but whats more important than building thru the draft is selecting the right staff…..fail at that and the ship will sink…..like it has for so long…..
imo, we need an ex player as a HC(harbaugh) and ex players on the staff…..real football people who know how to win and what it takes to win….this staff only has 1…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 10:06 am
Hey Buccaneer BrownEye…let me be the first to “self identify”. Again…now that your Elf Erotica site is mercifully defunct, you’re trying to pass yourself off as a real “Buc Insider” by kissing berries in hopes of garning favor with The Joes’, Jenna Laine et. al It’s more transparent than your previous Chester Del Molester site/blog. At least this way the creeper factor is much lower.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:14 am
In a worst case scenario we can pick up players as FA’s…and UDFA’s…there are places besides the draft.
So what if this draft we came away with nothing but Chubb and Vita Vea. What if Spence actually stays healthy next year. 2 of the 3 are rookies so we might not be great in 18 but we’d be greatly improved.
So what does that take? Are we willing to pay the price? All seven of our draft picks for two players…a trade or two mixed in? DJAX? GMC?
I just have to think that Vita Vea clogging the middle and Chubb and Spence coming off the edge could be a scary DL.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:15 am
Bonzai…..Maybe your right. If that’s their deal I can’t blame them. Personally, I never liked the Dirk hire and I stood unimpressed in the 9-7 year. That season was nice for a minute then as soon as we had a chance to play for the playoffs we choked and were physically dominated by the Cowboys. We were unprepared in that game and couldn’t adjust just like this season. Following that game we got spanked by the Saints where we played with no intensity.
We had a chance to make a run this season and got completely destroyed in back to back weeks vs the Panthers and Saints.
Dirks teams have no attitude or intensity. They are not badass like he says they are soft. They are wildly unprepared and can not adjust on a weekly or season basis let alone in game. We can’t even use timeouts properly.
I’ll support the coach and hope the team shows different form next year. But I get the feeling the players will have to set that tone cause it ain’t coming from the staff. Even if they do it may not make up for the coaches not having the team prepared for fundamental game situations like redzone or one minute drills.
The more I type about Dirk the more I hate about him. I’ll support him hoping this is one of the times I’m wrong, but yeah, can’t blame the fan base for turning on his soft team really.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:19 am
It would cost next years first plus a second rounder this year for starters. But it will defiantly take much more then that just to trade way up back into the first to get Vea.
So basically by the time we got done trading up for Chubb we wouldn’t have enough to make the first trade.
Unless Chubb falls
March 7th, 2018 at 10:19 am
The Glazer’s are cheap. The only time they spent any serious money that paid dividends was when they’re dad was running the show. It’s no surprise that the last time we had a 10 sack guy was when Malcolm was in charge. Every year I get my hopes up this time of year only to see top players that are difference makers parade wave past the Bucs and do great things elsewhere. I personally think Jason’s hands are tied by ownership
March 7th, 2018 at 10:20 am
Bobby M. Says
“He has 3 losing seasons in 4. Nearly all his major signings have been busts or under-performed…”
His drafts have been top-notch. With the exception of our division rival last year, who hit on nearly all their picks, no GM has drafted better in his time here. Sure, you can hold Aguayo against him…but it really was not as big a deal as people like to claim. He took a chance on a top college kicker and missed. With as many hits as he has in the draft, does it really matter? Look at it this way…he took a chance with Ali Marpet in the second round too, and it paid off. The scales are balanced.
So far as free agents, there is no denying its his weakness, but then he’s had more successes than he is given credit for.
Evan Smith, Brent Grimes, Robert McClain, Robert Ayers (6.5 sacks the year he was signed), Patrick Murray, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jacquizz Rodgers (averaged 4.3 ypc and 112 yards per game started his first year), Chris Conte, DeSean Jackson (in theory), etc.
Last year was a horrible year of circumstances that worked against the team. A lot of things contributed to the issues of the year. Yes, Baker and Ward were bad signings.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:22 am
StPeteBucsFan Says
“So what if this draft we came away with nothing but Chubb and Vita Vea.”
I love how you think, but getting both would have to be impossible, lol. Both are top ten picks. Frankly, if I had my choice, I would take Vita Vea…mainly because there are DEs that will be good in the next round, but there really won’t be a great DT outside of Vea worth picking.
Getting both would probably make me die of happiness the instant it happened though.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:29 am
Browns, Barkley
Giants, Nelson
Cards tradeup, Darnold
Browns, Mayfield
Broncos, Rosen
Bills tradeup, Allen
Bucs, Chubb
March 7th, 2018 at 10:30 am
• Round 1 NT Vita Vea
• Round 2 DE Harold Landry, DE Sam Hubbard, LB Rashad Evans (as DE)
• Round 3 CB Tarvarus McFadden
March 7th, 2018 at 10:31 am
@JimmyJack
You know how every year a projected first round QB slides out of the first? Mayfield is that guy this year. He may even fall to the third.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:34 am
The Jags were considered up and coming but they did not break through until last year.
You don’t break through until you do.
I maintain that if Jameis can play a season like he did the last four games last year, and we can smartly fill some holes, we could be close to a playoff season. It is doable.
Of course that’s only if he plays the whole season…..but we have a young QB who has thrown for 69 tds in his first three seasons…that is reason for optimism. Ive lived through worse scenarios with this team, like counting on Steve Deberg or something.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:39 am
Bonzai….How dare you!!!! I put out a very reasonable mock that sees Chubb sliding to us and you immediately shoot it down.
BTW Rosen should be the guy who drops. He will be the bust in this years crop. That’s why I have the Broncos selecting him.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:46 am
Guys I get we need DL, thats clear……guys we need a RB, and a relly good one……
March 7th, 2018 at 10:47 am
close to bottom ? bucs aren’t anywhere near close
March 7th, 2018 at 10:53 am
Yyyyyyy did they pick up the option on Chris Conte!!!! YYYYY DAMIT!!! HE TOTALLY SUCKS!!!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 10:56 am
Tmaxcan – congratulations to you are in order. Thanks for not being a part of the Buccaneers management team. You make Dumbonik look like a genius. That is a major accomplishment. Grab another bottle of glue, it’s humorous.
March 7th, 2018 at 10:56 am
If we were close Bruce Arians would be our HC. Encase him in an air-conditioned space suit, complete with artificial heart. Watching him systematically destroy our teams over the past few years should be interview-enough. If it’s all about #3, then why isn’t this guy here?
They boys want to win. I honestly believe that. It’s time to make a splash and put this town back on the football map for all the right reasons.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:01 am
Been “close” for 16 years. Ridiculous. Btw, the uniforms blow…
March 7th, 2018 at 11:09 am
bonzai
That’s BS and your dead wrong……
first, fans like @realist couldn’t wait to send the previous regime packing…..the previous staff had to deal with injuries….suspensions….even losing an important staff member before the season started…..no one gave them a pass…..
many thought this staff was so much better then the previous but it turns out they’re wrong…..this staff is worse….they are doing far less with more talent…..
with this staff, when failure happens EXCUSES are made……every team has to deal with injuries…..point blank period…..injuries are apart of the game just as much as penalties and touchdowns….they will happen….there’s no way around….every team can blame injuries for their lack of success every year…..
bottom line is, this staff is in over its head!!!!…..this staff and front office has no idea what their doing…..
folks like you are butt hurt because you thought this staff would be head and shoulders better than the previous staff…..you screamed “I told you so” all 2016…..but when reality set in, you want to make excuses……sorry don’t work like that…..you held the previous staff to a higher standard, you should do the same with this staff…..
history has shown us winners make adjustments and losers make excuses……the “REAL FANS” want to see the bucs MAKE history…..not repeat its self like we’ve continue to do……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 11:10 am
Max says we can’t go 2 weeks without embarrassing ourselves on the field-
Absolutely correct- now we cannot go 2 weeks without embarrassing ourselves off the field and it is the freaking off season!! Hard to believe.
BTW- I totally disagree with your opinion on 93 but respect your consistency, LOL
March 7th, 2018 at 11:13 am
Close to getting me to give up my season tickets after 38 years….
March 7th, 2018 at 11:25 am
813….Good points. At the end of the day Lovie was fired and Dirk was fired because somebody in that front office(wish we knew who) knew Dirk was going to get offered a starting gig and we were scared to lose him. It was a panic hire. He was hired for all the wrong reasons……And what does he do? He goes around and hires a DC for all the wrong reasons. Mike Smiths defense relied on the same four man pressure that Lovies defense failed with.
The kicker for me is that Lovie set this team up with a far superior offense then Dirk has us in now.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:42 am
CLOSE..close? (done in the Jim Mora mode)..You kiddin me!! PLEASE..Joe Please! Don’t bust my knees! You finish dead last in your division and you are close? Will somebody please hook me up with the Glazers and Licht’s weed man. They smokin top of the line New age stuff!
March 7th, 2018 at 11:47 am
JimmyJack Says
“Bonzai….How dare you!!!! I put out a very reasonable mock that sees Chubb sliding to us and you immediately shoot it down.”
To be fair, I had not seen your mock at that point. I was responding to St Pete, lol.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:48 am
Tmax and 813bucboi, thanks for identifying yourselves.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:49 am
jimmyjack
agreed…..
at the end of the day, we all want the bucs to be SB champs regardless of who’s coaching…..but whoever coaching needs to be held to the same standard as the rest……if you weren’t willing to give lovie a pass for losing his OC before the season or losing kwon the finale 4 games, then don’t give out passes for this staff because of HK….IRMA….SOS….INJURIES….PLAYCALLING etc…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 11:53 am
BONZAI
we know what side of the fence you stand on…..”give dirk a pass until he gets us to the playoffs”
you forgot a lot of other folks too!!!!!!…..they share the same views……
you and @realist continue with the excuses…..you make my point with each excuse!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
813……I am so sick and danged tired of hear the SOS excuse on a yearly basis. If anything I’d rather have a hard schedule so you can see if your team is worth getting hyped about. Fans wanted to cry last year about SOS and we got our asses kicked by the Panthers twice and they were exposed badly in the playoffs. They weren’t a good team and Bucs fans have no business crying SOS when you get whipped by an average team.
Most of that SOS came against division teams. And yes they were good teams but we should know these teams and be able to at least put up a contested effort since we see them twice every single year, there is no excuse to getting blown out by these teams. There is one one realistic conclusion and that is you are a bad team. These fans can that their SOS argument and blow it out their a$$h@le.
Don’t even get me started on the Hard Knocks or Irma excuses. The is the most saddest most pathetic and disgraceful excuse I’ve ever witnessed in Pro sports. Anybody peddling HK or Irma is an utter embarrassment to the entire fan base.
**END RANT**
March 7th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
@Bonzai- I’m a Bucs fan, so I root for my team however awful it might be in hopes that someday it’s not awful anymore.
It’s never as black and white as we might assume but injuries ARE part of the game. My contention is that good coaching can overcome some injuries. When I look at last season, I see a team that did not adjust. We didn’t adjust to injuries, we didn’t adjust in removing struggling players, we didn’t adjust in establishing leadership, and we sure as heck didn’t adjust play-calling. That right there is ALL on COACHING.
I’m a fan so I support my team but make no mistake, I am not happy about the retention of a coordinator whose group was DEAD FREAKIN’ LAST in the NFL and looked just as bad doing it.
813’s point about having more talent is 100%. Now, they will have even more talent than last year. The excuses are running paper thin. Some had no issue running Lovie out of here for far less IMO.
March 7th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
jimmyjack & bucsfanman
thank you!!!!!!…..both of you, well said….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 1:16 pm
I’m counting NINE starting holes right now (2 OLine, RB, DT, 1 DE, 2 CB, SS plus a PK). That doesn’t include another 4 key rotational players (1 RB, 1 DT, 2 DE), Lord know how many depth-players, and of course lots of assumptions that guys who ended last season on IR make it back healthy. Now THAT’S what I call close … actually a LOT closer to 4-12 than we are to 12-4 and a division championship. BTW Joe, awesome description of the Glazer Boyz guidance to Licht: Hey Jason, we don’t care what you do, just make sure that you use a ‘LOW BUDGET APPROACH’ in whatever you do. … except that’s not what Joe wrote. –Joe
March 7th, 2018 at 1:17 pm
Whatever happened to teams needing to spend 90% of their available cap dollars? Ever since that rule was enacted since the last CBA, we haven’t been close to 75%.
March 7th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Jason’s idea of getting value in free agency is like looking for the blue light special at Kmart then rolling them out in a press conference acting like these guys are the best players in the league. Then he talks about building through the draft well that’s great if your team is loaded with first stringers then the draftee’s can learn how to be a great pro by watching the great pros in front of them . Well Jason because of your “genius” thinking we don’t really have anything and that is why you have to start rookies
March 7th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
The Jags turned it around in one year because they hit on their draft picks and they were the most aggressive team in free agency.
The Bucs have typically gone bargain hunting, which is a recipe for disaster.
If the Bucs sign players like Norwell, Robinson and Johnson then it will renew my faith in the franchise.
March 7th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Close to becoming the Manchester Privateers.
March 7th, 2018 at 6:01 pm
Yeah, very close to earning the 1st round 1st pick! They need to test the owners for drugs too! We stay at the bottom of the barrel! I could definitely built a team BETTER THEN them!
March 7th, 2018 at 7:32 pm
Closer to the number 1 draft pick in 2019!
March 7th, 2018 at 7:54 pm
Close to 3-13
March 8th, 2018 at 4:03 am
Very close to being a below average team