Jason Licht On Ryan Fitzpatrick: “We Really, Really Trust Him”
September 17th, 2018
“Look, Glazer, we’re flying now and nobody can stop us.”
The architect of the high-octane Buccaneers offense, general manager Jason Licht, was talking quarterbacks yesterday.
The man who delivered Mike Evans, O.J. Howard, Chris Godwin, DeSean Jackson (short pause to wipe the drool off your Bucs-loving face) Cameron Brate and Adam Humphries to Tampa joined the Buccaneers Radio Network before Ryan Fitzpatrick cemented himself as the NFL MVP through two weeks of the 2018 season.
Licht emphasized that Fitzpatrick was the team’s No. 1 priority when it came to re-signing its own free agents after last season.
“He was our first order of business, actually,” Licht said of re-signing Fitzpatrick. “Before we did Mike [Evans’ contract], before we did Cam. You know, it was very, very important for us to have him in the building. We really, really trust him. And you know, everybody calls him an old man and everything, but he is younger than a lot of starting quarterbacks in the league right now.”
Interesting closing nugget right there by Licht. In addition to a couple of NFC starting quarterbacks being older than 35-year-old Fitzpatrick, there are several who are within a year of two of him, Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan. And of course the AFC has their share of old-man QBs, including Ben Roethlisberger, 36, who will face the Bucs next Monday.
Don’t worry. Joe hasn’t lost his mind. All those old QBs are either headed to Hall of Fame ballots or have had a lot more success than Fitzpatrick.
Still, Fitzpatrick says he’s hit his prime now and he’s backing it up. And it seems his age wouldn’t stop Licht from making a bold QB move, if that was the team desire.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:34 pm
trust noun
\ ˈtrəst \
Definition of Trust (Entry 1 of 2)
1a : assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something
b : one in which confidence is placed
2a : dependence on something future or contingent : HOPE
b : reliance on future payment for property (such as merchandise) delivered : CREDIT
bought furniture on trust
3a : a property interest held by one person for the benefit of another
b : a combination of firms or corporations formed by a legal agreement
especially : one that reduces or threatens to reduce competition
4a : CARE, CUSTODY
the child committed to her trust
b(1) : a charge or duty imposed in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship
(2) : something committed or entrusted to one to be used or cared for in the interest of another
c : responsible charge or office
5 archaic : TRUSTWORTHINESS
in trust
: in the care or possession of a trustee
trust verb
trusted; trusting; trusts
Definition of Trust (Entry 2 of 2)
transitive verb
1a : to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of : BELIEVE
trust a rumor
b : to place confidence in : rely on
a friend you can trust
c : to hope or expect confidently
trusts that the problem will be resolved soon
2a : to commit or place in one’s care or keeping : ENTRUST
b : to permit to stay or go or to do something without fear or misgiving
3 : to extend credit to
September 17th, 2018 at 1:34 pm
Keep Conor McGregor the starter until a change is necessary!!
September 17th, 2018 at 1:34 pm
Jason Licht has done a great job. Planted very well. Some seeds are gonna take a little longer— RoJO, VV, Cappa, but this team is in the best shape since 2002. Very solid coaching.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:37 pm
There is a part of “game theory” (mathematics) that says a good strategy is “play the winner”. At least until it fails. Seem that should be the case here.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:38 pm
We should thank the Chicage Bears for taking Glennon off our hands.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:41 pm
Its actually fun to watch this team, cant wait till everyone is healthy so we can see how good they can really bee. GO BUCS
September 17th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
No way you pull Fitz for Jameis right now. I think Fitz goes beyond the Bears game and if the Bucs are 3-1 or 4-2 in a few weeks, you ride the magic mystery bus until it stops winning. I hope Fitz stays in that seat all damn year because that means the Bucs are WINNING. Go Bucs! Thanks for showing us what Fitz is capable of Jameis. We really appreciate it.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
I think you lock up Fitz long term and see what you can get in a trade for Jameis
September 17th, 2018 at 1:48 pm
…or see if Jameis is interested in being our back up for the next 3 years.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:55 pm
Didn’t Jameis outplay fitzy during the preseason, isnt anybody curious what he could do with monken calling the plays.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:57 pm
JW is the future, but that does not mean you don’t take the call if a trade offer comes in. I don’t think his value is as high as many would think. He’s 1 mistake from being out of the league and in the position to take over an offense that can put up points not seen since Randy Moss played for in NE. I think this will bring him much needed humility and he will come out better for it if he starts this year.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
“What I want for Christmas , is JW3 to QB under Monken’s playcalling”
Kobe Faker
September 17th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
I like when Jameis is at home……none of his “rah-rah” BS….Just wins on the scoreboard and ACCURATE passing by the quarterback…..oh yes, the CURRENT QB KNOWS WHEN THE THROW THE BALL AWAY
September 17th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
The best thing for the team would for Jamies to learn from the bench. Not just the football stuff but leadership skills as well. Not saying Jamies doesn’t have leadership but that Fitz has a different style that I think resonates better at the professional level.
The biggest question would be Jamies’s pride if he could relinquish the job with grace and humility. I think he can but it would certainly be hard for anyone to do so especially considering recent history. Look at Kevin Klob with Mike Vick or Alex Smith and Kaepernick. I understand the concerns but ultimately I want what’s best for the team.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
“What I want for Christmas , is JW3 to QB under Monken’s playcalling”
Kobe Faker
_______________________________________________________
I just don’t see how any QB could be playing better than Fitz right now.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Calimike- That will never cross their Jameis hating minds. Facts matter little in their analysis of pretty much anything in their life.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Winston was lighting it up in preseason. I really think this is more Monken + the O-line protection finally getting good use out of our weapons; more so than anything else; but I wouldn’t f*ck with this. I think most of us are on the same page:
Fitz keeps playing like this then you don’t bench him. He hits a wall then Winston gets his chance again. Win Win for the team.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
fitz hits a wall is a win win for the team. only a JW homer would think like that.
I want a SB run. thats a win win.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:15 pm
Been a fan since 76′ and these last 2 games have been the best QB and offensive performances I’ve ever seen. Sure it’s nice to have weapons and a good game plan but that said, Bucs lose both games without Fitzpatrick. His maturity, lead by example demeanor, accuracy and ability to read defenses has made all the difference. I truly hope the coaches don’t screw it up by entertaining thoughts of replacing Fitz unless he’s injured or personally loses 3 games. We tend to forget JW late comebacks are due to his bonehead turnovers which causes Bucs to play catch up. Ride the Amish rifle to continued glory!
September 17th, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Why
September 17th, 2018 at 2:18 pm
Agree with LC…
Some on here apparently have selected memory…a lot has changed and the team does not have a QB with a hurt shoulder since the 2nd game, a nasty Oline, a confident guy snapping the ball under center, an effective RB, an adequate kicker, a DIFFERENT PLAY CALLER, an improved defense, all of WINSTON’s weapons are vets and benefitting from a productive tc, pre-season, and after formal practice…they practice with JAMEIS…so it has been a TEAM accomplishment that ALL of the QB’s have benefitted from…
Before you get it twisted and throw away any talented players including JW, it is early yet and we have 16, 17 games to go and even more IF we make a playoff run.
Of course, the people in charge know this, it’s the FANS who lose site of the BIG PICTURE!!!
September 17th, 2018 at 2:19 pm
Thank god we have #14 on our team. First QB in NFL history to throw for 400yds and 4TDs in each of his first two regular season games. Let that sink in….
September 17th, 2018 at 2:21 pm
“Robert Says:
September 17th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
fitz hits a wall is a win win for the team. only a JW homer would think like that.”
Not what I’m trying to say; although win-win is probably the wrong phrase.
What i mean is worst case you have a potential franchise QB who finished 2017 as a top 10 QB; waiting on the bench in case sh1t went bad or Fitz struggles.
We probably have the best QB situation in the league right now.
Win-Win as in I’ll take a win with either. Team can just play the best option given how the season plays out
September 17th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
“Really really trust him”…….as opposed to _______ .
September 17th, 2018 at 2:29 pm
These posters are incapable of seeing the big picture Nole.
When ALL 3 QBs played good in the preseason, you could see the philosophy change and hard work in the film room paying off.
How many times has Dirk and Todd said the hand checking at the line by all 3 signal callers has been really good.
The sign of an organization being good in this case will be staying ahead of the fan curve and having the imagination to envision Jameis being even better!!!!
People will call them crazy, but nobody even gave Tampa a chance prior to this season, so screw the uninformed!!
September 17th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
I hear yah Lord. my bad for jumping.
as a guy who’s wanted Fitz to start, we’ve been called homers, racist, stupid….evrything in the book.
happy as hell for the W’s and Fitz….and being right IMO. 🙂
that being said, how JW handles this can either be his starting point for greatness and ability to win back fans like me who are tired of the rah, rah it aint me $hit.
or go all josh freeman.
I think even the staunchest JW doubters hope he comes out of this as a learning experience and he kicks a$$.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Calimike
“Didn’t Jameis outplay fitzy during the preseason, isnt anybody curious what he could do with monken calling the plays.”
———————————————
Debatable whether JW outplayed Fitzmagic in preseason. Too many variables.
I do remember JW’s deep throw to Djax in Tennessee, looked to me like Djax had to wait for it. Compare that to now.
Oh, and curiosity killed the cat.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:35 pm
Joe, you had an article last week about QBs with late-career revivals and mentioned Testaverde and DeBerg. I just came across another good example today — Rich Gannon. Guy was a journeyman/backup most of his career before finding his way with Gruden’s Raiders from 1999-2002 (ages 33-37), even winning league MVP honors in 2002. Who knows, Fitz could flop from here on out, but it’s good to know there is such a precedent of quarterbacks who played their best football in their mid-30s.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
So is Fitz to the Bucs what Trump is to the USA?
September 17th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
We hit .500, make the switch. That means he would have had to lose at least 2-3 consecutive games. But if he has the hot hand, keep it rolling. It isn’t rocket science in my humble opinion.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
Look, Jameis is a talented guy. Pretty likable when he is in the limelight and not doing criminal things. He has an arm. He did have a good preseason, and he’s also had other good games. However, to have someone go toe to toe with Drew Brees and not blink, to not fumble, to not throw off his back foot, the decisions by Fitz have been literally perfect. You could drop Brady or Rodgers back there, and they don’t gain a yard more than Fitz has. Very hard to see JW3 doing that.
Also, it seems like the players really rally to Fitz.
Do they block harder? Run their routes crisper? Does the Defense play better because they know it won’t be another 3-and-out or fumble? I don’t know, but compare their reaction to Fitz (the beard rubs, hugs, D-Jax giving him his shirt off his back) to the way the team has been responding to JW3 (eating W’s for example). Is there something more genuine about Fitz’s leadership that has allowed the team to gel?
I hope JW3 has a chance at redemption on and off the field, but I also believe that the job is Fitz’s until injury or performance derails him. That said, the words that we will hear next Tuesday from Koetter are: “Ryan Fitzpatrick is our quarterback.”
#FreeTheAmishRifle
September 17th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
Brate and Humphries are good but are getting left out due to the talent.
Hopefully they stay engaged because inevitably one will have to step up when an injury occurs.
September 17th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
if it aint broke don’t fix it…..
that goes for grimes, VV, rojo, spence as well as winston……
#TUNNELVISION!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 17th, 2018 at 3:12 pm
The only people who miss winston are brate and humphries
September 17th, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Whoa, there’s a lot to Licht’s statement there, huh? It all comes down to TRUST. This organization went to bat for Jameis time and time again- vouched for his leadership and lauded his community spirit and the whole Uber episode became such a bad look for all involved. On the field, off the field, in the locker room. Jameis breached that trust- not just with his early morning Scottsdale shenanigans, but with his apparent lack of candor about it.
Fitz has stabilized the whole situation and exceeded all expectations with his play. He is winning the locker room over with his blue-collar maturity and ‘enjoy the ride’ spirit. He’s winning this town over with his CONSISTENCY, authenticity and results on the field.
Fitz is 100% right, it’s an up/down league- and we have to brace ourselves for the inevitable poor performance, especially once the league dissects these past two games and starts adjusting to what we’re doing. Even so, there’s something reassuring about Fitz right now- something that’s hard to ignore.
Let’s all enjoy the ride…and hope we continue to eat W’s, in style!
Both compelled Licht to keep Fitz.
September 17th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Fitzpatrick also has a lot less mileage than those other QBs do, not to mention superior above the shoulders. You know, Harvard guy and all that…
September 17th, 2018 at 3:21 pm
99.97.92.55.47.40.28.20.7 Says:
Well said, Number Guy. I always got the impression Winston led with his mouth and emotions, and that only goes so far. Fitzpatrick leads with action and behavior.
I hope the Bucs stay with Fitzpatrick as long as he is playing with excellence, and that Winston watches and learns what *real* leadership is all about.
The prank with Jackson giving Fitz his clothes and bling for the presser just screams…in high volume.
Projecting the future: IF Fitzpatrick indeed does make this team happen in a Big Way all season long, I would be fine with trading Winston and grooming Griffin as the “QB of the Future.” This team just seems more settled, mature and driven with Fitz behind center.
September 17th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
I thought he’d say he’s a guy who has started teams off 2-0 four other times, and none of those teams made the playoffs as he fell apart.
Anywho, ride Fitz until his chest hair falls off, because the Bucs have a franchise QB in waiting ready to take over.
…and if Fitz doesn’t fall apart, if he’s literally having the best passing season in the history of the NFL, well he never comes out, and you still have your franchise QB sitting on the sideline, under contract, for next year. I think that’s about a 0% chance of happening, but who knows, stranger things have happened (OK not really, but just saying anything is possible I suppose).
September 17th, 2018 at 3:35 pm
This could be the best thing ever for Winston and his career. Dare I say, this suspension, could be the best thing ever for the Bucs. Fitz is showing Winston how to win from a different perspective. Winston, by all accounts, is a great student of the game who wants to learn, win and be great. The run that Fitz is on is showing Winston something he has never seen. Winston is the type of guy to ask the questions, and Fitz is the type to answer.
All of you that want Winston to be petulant about this, prepare to be very disappointed.
Will Fitzmagic last? Probably not. I’m not expecting 64 TDs and 6800 yards from any QB. Teams will stop playing single high and the running game will have to start contributing. Until then, I’m really going to enjoy this time period.
September 17th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
It’s not like Fitz is just being a good game manager. Dude is lighting it up! Top passer in the NFL after two weeks. No coach in their right mind would mess with that.
And you can tell the team responds to him. I’ve been a big JW supporter but this is Fitz’s team for the foreseeable future.
September 17th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Wow – love the overreactions on this forum. Expected and appreciated for a hearty chuckle.
Fitz is playing terrific. He has had a clean pocket 97% of the time this season. He has always been great with a clean pocket. It’s when his protection breaks down when he becomes perhaps THE most turnover prone player in the league. Right now, teams can’t blitz him too often because of the myriad weapons the Bucs have. It’s the perfect storm.
Jameis is very talented and with the protection and playcalling, I imagine he’d have achieved some success as well thus far in the season.
What we have to wait and see is what happens when the protection breaks down. I think the protection will be good next week again. It will be a nice shootout and the Bucs have a real chance. What I’m curious to see is how this offense does against the Bears. They have the defensive style to wreak havoc. Stay tuned.
September 17th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
and they really, really don’t trust the guy that some called America’s Quarterback
September 17th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
I am guessing Jameis is beating his fist, cursing up a storm, hitting his head on the wall, pissing in his pants, throwing beer cans at the tv, sleeping restless at nights, talking to himself, singing the 80’s “Don’t forget about me”, laughing at his own bad jokes, watching reruns of Happy Days – only wishing he would have kept his nose clean during the off-season.
September 17th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
this has echoes of Jim Harbaugh’s decision in the SF superbowl season….Alex Smith was one of the league’s best QBs and much more of a know commodity than Colin Kaepernick. The coach decided to go with upside, the Niners nearly won the Super Bowl after shredding their playoff opponents on offense. Meanwhile, Alex Smith has continued to be a very good regular season player with almost no postseason success
September 17th, 2018 at 3:59 pm
Tnew……That’s the best possible scenario for everybody. Fitz and Winston can both revatilize their careers during this season.
The toughest part is going to be on the HC and how he handles his 2 QBs. Whatever he decides it may be wisest to be completely honest to his players, none of that BS lying and going behind your back like Gruden and some other coaches do.
GOO BUCS
September 17th, 2018 at 4:08 pm
this has echoes of Jim Harbaugh’s decision in the SF superbowl season….Alex Smith was one of the league’s best QBs and much more of a know commodity than Colin Kaepernick. The coach decided to go with upside, the Niners nearly won the Super Bowl after shredding their playoff opponents on offense. Meanwhile, Alex Smith has continued to be a very good regular season player with almost no postseason success
—————————————————————
I think it’s more of a Randall Cunningham/Brad Johnson situation.
September 17th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
I notice every body is happy I am to . I just don’t want another Kerry Colins. We need to keep Winston let him play when he comes back to see if we need to draft another quarter back. Fizpatrick ain’t leading no team to the Superbowl. The jets felt the same way every body is feeling now . I would love to see what he will do with this play calling now . Y’all just don’t know are understand that it was the plays not Winston. If they trade him and he win a super bowl at another team y’all will be sick . So I say keep Winston let him play when he comes back and if he plays bad then we know we need to draft another quarter back or sing one trust me fizpatrick ain’t going to no lead this team to the Superbowl. But he is playing great go bucs……..
September 17th, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Seems like long before Winston’s suspension began, we were talking about the conundrum that would occur IF the Bucs were 3-0 or 2-1 after Game 3. I seem to remember that there were a LOT of JBFers who were adamant that Jameis is America’s QB and that this is HIS team so he automatically starts Game 4.
Apparently a strange thing happened on the road to Game 4 in Chicago: the naysayers ran off the road. Funny how WINNING seems to change attitudes. Frank Pillow nailed it IMO with this …
“Fitz has stabilized the whole situation and exceeded all expectations with his play. He is winning the locker room over with his blue-collar maturity and ‘enjoy the ride’ spirit. He’s winning this town over with his CONSISTENCY, authenticity and results on the field.”
I share Cobraboy’s bottom line … “I hope the Bucs stay with Fitzpatrick as long as he is playing with excellence, and that Winston watches and learns what *real* leadership is all about.” Jameis is our franchise QB, but he’s still got a LOT to learn to really be great. Fitz is doing an awesome job of modeling what a true FIELD GENERAL operates at game-time. Jameis would do well to take a long, hard look at what REAL leadership looks like.
September 17th, 2018 at 5:05 pm
AlteredEgo Says:
September 17th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
So is Fitz to the Bucs what Trump is to the USA?
—————————————–
GAWD, NO! BTW: this is a sports blog!
September 17th, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Last time Winston played the Eagles he lead the Bucs to an easy 45-17 win and threw 5 TDs, so in that light Fitz and his 4 TDs and 27 points isn’t really that big of a deal.
September 17th, 2018 at 5:44 pm
I’m hoping Fitz is more like a modern day Jim Plunkett.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:02 pm
I will still take Winston over fizpatrick!!!!!! I want to see Winston with this play calling. It’s not fair to compare Winston with dirk play calling vs with the play calling now .
September 17th, 2018 at 6:14 pm
Jameis is still the best QB on this roster and for the Bucs future. I’d like to see what he could do with this revamped OL and dynamite play calling by Monken. He sure looked almost flawless in the preseason. I think Fitz has been a recipient of how much better the Bucs have gotten in the off-season and he’s having fun riding this wave.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:18 pm
JW is a goner. I have been right all along clowns.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:28 pm
Winston threw for 5 TDs last time he played the Eagles, and won the game handily 45-17. Winston last time he faced the Saints went the entire field with no timeouts and threw a perfect game winning TD as the clock ticked almost to 0 to win the game. Meanwhile Fitz only put up 4 TDs against the Eagles and kept it close at 27-21. Also he has yet to throw a 4th quarter TD inside of 5 mins and that’s when it counts. Personally I’m not really all that impressed by Fitz so far.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:42 pm
@munch: put the bong down.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:44 pm
The lesson here for Jameis ,is how Fitz is managing the game. Breaking the other teams spirit by scoring early and often gets more wins than frantic comebacks. Koetter has said that he wishes Jameis would change the play when he feels it is not going to work. No better example than Fitz’s well thrown ball to DJAX on the very first play when he recognized a single high safety..This version
of Shock and Awe is an exciting brand of offense and we need more of to compete in our own division and against all competition.
We should ride this horse until it stops working, but if that happens we will need to see a calmer more efficient Jameis.
September 17th, 2018 at 7:27 pm
Listen, it means something if you are 35 y.o QB and your still here. Regardless of how rocky his career has been to this point, there’s a lot of QB’s who didn’t have much success before 30 that hung it up before 35. The fact that he’s still here is testimony that Fitz is a good QB. He has just been unfortunate to be on teams devoid of star talent. Fitz knows what he’s got here and taking full advantage of it. He’s putting his talented group of play makers in positions to dominate and making sound decisions while doing so.
September 17th, 2018 at 7:52 pm
D o nt matter who the QB is right now…
We are winning on D!!!
As long as we hold them to less points!!!!
September 17th, 2018 at 8:38 pm
Joestang…good point. If Glennon hadn’t gone to Chicago, this would have likely never happened.
September 17th, 2018 at 9:52 pm
Jameis is the franchise. Fitz is a temp. I’m fine with either one. I know Koetter will go with whoever gives us the best chance to win. We’re not likely to win 16 in a row. Fitz will either get hurt or simply have a game like a normal human being, and Jameis will step in. There will be no drop off. Jameis had a near perfect preseason with first, second, third, forth, fifth, sixth, and seventh string receivers. He can and will win games with these weapons, behind this OL, no matter who is calling the plays. Jameis will accept any decision like a man. He is a team player and he knows his time will come soon.
September 18th, 2018 at 5:12 am
I don’t know,is it me or does there seem, that with Fitz they are more calm ?
I know watching when Jameis is in I’m on the edge of my seat not knowing what is about to happen.
Is it going to be good or will it be bad.
I hope that with Jameis, this is a wake up call because if it isn’t,its bye bye the next screw up and life will still go on, without him.
September 18th, 2018 at 1:28 pm
Its funny how people think that Fitzpatrick is the man reason why we are winning….lol…..Im sure you can throw Griffin in there with all the weapons and you will get the same productivity….Cant wait for Jameis to be back!!