Rick Stroud Now Knows What He Said “We’ll Never Know”
December 22nd, 2018
“Look, Glazer, I drafted Aguayo. I thought this jacket looked good. And I’m not responsible for the rumor mill.”
Tampa Bay Times Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud has been known to confuse fact and fiction when he’s gossiping around town about JoeBucsFan.com.
This afternoon, Stroud was confusing Bucs fans with chatter about Roberto Aguayo and Team Glazer.
In a new story about the future of general manager Jason Licht, Stroud expressed that Licht might be unworthy of full blame when it comes to the botched pick of kicker Roberto Aguayo in Round 2 of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Stroud says Team Glazer “put their hand on the scale” for Aguayo before that draft. That’s a very strong and direct statement regarding Team Glazer meddling in critical football matters.
Everybody will point to misses in the draft such as Vernon Hargreaves, Ronald Jones (so far) and especially Roberto Aguayo. But the owners put their hand on the scale for the Florida State kicker, so you have to wonder how much criticism Licht deserves.
However, when Aguayo was cut in August 2017, Stroud guessed it was Jameis Winston or Team Glazer who led Licht to draft Aguayo, and Stroud advised Bucs fans the truth would never be revealed.
Though Licht has taken sole responsibility for the decision, it always felt like somebody else put their hand on the scale. Maybe Winston. Maybe the Glazer family. We’ll never know.
It appears Stroud’s story has changed without the hint of a source to back it up, even though Team Glazer was adamant that they have never told a general manager what to do on draft day.
JoeBucsFan.com: CBS put out a report, it came from Pete Prisco their senior writer. He said ‘ownership who pushed the draft pick,’ referring to Roberto Aguayo, that it was a Team Glazer pick. Is that ridiculous?
Bucs Co-chairman Joel Glazer: We have never, ever, told our general manager who to pick in the draft. That’s all I can say. We know what’s happening. They explain to us why they’re doing things. But we have never done that. I will say this much; one thing we stress is the importance of all phases of the game, special teams, offense, defense. But that was an inaccurate report.
Joe dislikes the entire notion of absolving or limiting blame of a GM for a draft pick because ownership liked the guy or endorsed him. Maybe that holds a few drops of water when it’s a face-of-the-franchise quarterback with a top-5 overall draft pick. Maybe.
Who cares if Team Glazer said to Licht something like, “Jason, you have our full blessing if you want to be bold and draft Roberto Aguayo early. We love the guy.” Every owner or ownership group probably drops a few college names to their GMs that they “love” in the draft.
You’re either a strong GM that stays true to your draft board and team-building plan, or you’re a weak-sauce GM who would let an owner determine your draft resume. Regardless, it’s your call and you make it and stand by it like Licht did. Heck, Licht was telling stories in public forums two years ago about how his wife was so surprised that he was returning from scouting trips to Tallahassee enamored by a kicker. Apparently, she had never before heard him gush about a kicker.
If Team Glazer indeed is the kind of ownership group that leans on a general manager to draft a kicker in Round 2, then there’s a massive problem in Tampa that should deter any great football man from wanting to work here.
For the love of Bucs fandom, especially at this time of imminent change, Joe hopes that’s not the case.
Bucs legend Derrick Brooks and Sage of Tampa Bay sports Ira Kaufman dive into the Cowboys-Buccaneers match-up and the state of the Bucs on this episode of TAMPA TWO, a production of The Identity Tampa Bay and JoeBucsFan.com. As always, TAMPA TWO is presented by Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating.
December 22nd, 2018 at 5:30 pm
Old news. Everyone knew TEAM GLAZER picked Aguayo. Why do you think they havn’t thrown Licht under the bus in the time being. They are letting him take the bullets. Thats how they operate.
December 22nd, 2018 at 5:34 pm
Team beta male glazer is disgusting
December 22nd, 2018 at 5:40 pm
buddy ,,, so Licht is your hero?
December 22nd, 2018 at 5:48 pm
never said that. Its just known that he made that pick on TEAM GLAZERS urging. He has made his mistakes like any GM does, however he will always be crucified for this particular pick but he is just doing what he is told.
December 22nd, 2018 at 5:51 pm
If Licht is pushing this narrative he needs to go. One of the owners straight said it’s not true and some has convinced Stroud it’s true. Maybe Lovie’s camp is right and Licht is a snake in the grass. Fire Licht!
December 22nd, 2018 at 5:52 pm
All I want for Christmas is for the Glazers to sell the damn team already. Sheeesh !!!
December 22nd, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Buddy how is that known? Did you read the whole story above one the Joe’s straight up asked Joel’s Glazer and he said it was inaccurate. No way ownership wouldn’t take the bullet if they fired it…they can’t be fired. Stroud is doing Licht no favors by pushing this narrative.
December 22nd, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Joe it seems like this is another reason why the Glazer Boyz need to hire an adult to actually run the show (as in a President of Football Operations with enough power not to put up with owner strong-arming?). Licht obviously wasn’t strong enough to stand up to Lovie when he made dumb move after dumb move, and he surely isn’t strong enough to stand up to the Glazer Boyz.
December 22nd, 2018 at 5:57 pm
“If Team Glazer indeed is the kind of ownership group that leans on a general manager to draft a kicker in Round 2, then there’s a massive problem in Tampa that should deter any great football man from wanting to work here.”
Joe – take a look around. Not saying Stroud is even close to being right, but it’s clear there is and has been a massive problem for some time. Name the last great football man that has wanted to come to Tampa. Dungy was unproven. Gruden was traded for. Big name coaches have balked on many occasions. The Glazers are a problem.
December 22nd, 2018 at 5:58 pm
Id fire my GM on the spot if he even joked about trading up into 2nd for a kicker. So yeah Gboys may not have told Licht to draft Aguayo but they sure as hell didn’t tell him not to.
December 22nd, 2018 at 6:00 pm
The Aguayo pick was horrible, yes, but let us not forget that this guy wasn’t going to be picked in the 6th or 7th round. There have been credible reports stating the Vikings were looking to draft Aguayo in the third round, which maybe forced the Bucs hand to make the pick in the second. Still, an absolutely horrible pick either way.
December 22nd, 2018 at 6:04 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo will fall on his sword for Hason….it was Pablo who insisted the Bucs draft his hombre, Roberto. Pablo has been in hiding (somewhat) since Aguayo was such a FU.”
December 22nd, 2018 at 6:04 pm
“Kicker picker knows he will never ever work at an NFL player personnel dept…
Next time we will see Jason Gump is on TV selling swimming pools”
Kobe Faker
December 22nd, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Yes, by all means JBF, we need more controversy.
December 22nd, 2018 at 6:24 pm
Licht’s Out is closing in on the same ( or worse ) record of his predecessor Mark Dominik. He’ll need at least one win in the final two games to tie him for a .3375 winning percentage. Inexplicably, The Bros. Glazer gave Licht a one year extension in August thru 2019. If people were on the fence @ Licht prior to this season, Licht’s complete butchering of the top 4 picks in the Bucs’ 2018 draft should nail the coffin shut.
December 22nd, 2018 at 6:32 pm
the entire organization is a drama-filled circus. glazers make culverhouse look competent.
December 22nd, 2018 at 6:43 pm
Any Chance of a Joe vs Rick Stroud paint gun fight at the draft party. I am thinking parking lot event with spectators getting water balloons to enhance the entertainment.
December 22nd, 2018 at 6:45 pm
I guess the Glazers also to him to draft these players also
CB Vernon Hargreaves, Florida
DE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky
S Ryan Smith, North Carolina Central
OL Caleb Benenoch, UCLA
LB Devante Bond, Oklahoma
FB Dan Vitale, Northwestern
These are the draftees from the 2016 Tampa Bay Bucs draft
December 22nd, 2018 at 6:45 pm
**told him**
December 22nd, 2018 at 7:09 pm
I’m convinced Jon Robinson was going to pick him at the top of the 3rd but Licht out smarted himself and the rest is history… But Robinson made up for it by picking Adoree Jackson 1 pick before OJ Howard. titans could of had Corey Davis and OJ in the first round.
December 22nd, 2018 at 7:21 pm
I would bet a large amount of money that Jameis Winston pressed the GM and the Glazers to draft Aguayo from Free Shoes University.
December 22nd, 2018 at 7:26 pm
Tennessee was ranked 30th in pass defense in 2016. Their pass defense was their weakness on defense. This season they are ranked in Top-5 in pass defense. And they are playing good pass defense with Adoree Jackson. I like that pick then and I like it now. I think Adoree Jackson was the right pick for them.
December 22nd, 2018 at 7:27 pm
I wouldn’t put anything past the Glazers. Would they tell a GM who to pick then make him take responsibility for its failure? Of course they would. Just think abo ut how weak the following statement is: “we never ever told our GM who to draft. That’s is all I can say.”
Yeah, right.
BOYCOTT THE GLAZERS!!!!
December 22nd, 2018 at 7:30 pm
“Lake,
2017, Kobe was verbally persecuted for stating the 2016 draft was the worst draft in the history of the tampa bay bucs
6 out 6 strikeouts. Can that mathmatically happen? What are the odds?
Kobe thinks this website is littered with Atlanta , Saints and carolina front office posting as buc fans begging for Jason Gump to keep his job
*Kobe is still convinced Bucaneer Bonzai is really Arthur Blank”
Kobe Faker
December 22nd, 2018 at 7:32 pm
And by the way. Duh! No great football man has ever wanted to work here. Think about it: Morris, Schiano, Lovie, Koetter.
December 22nd, 2018 at 7:41 pm
Ok we understand Aguayo. What about the rest of the turds the GM picked? Ronald Jones, Winston, etc. And the terrible FA signings. You can’t blame the coaches they have been dealt a very poor hand.
December 22nd, 2018 at 7:57 pm
Kobe
Lol, it’s really amusing
Jason Licht isn’t responsible for anything
But he’s the GM
December 22nd, 2018 at 8:02 pm
We knew Phil Krueger was a puppet GM
But he advanced from special teams coach to GM
Because Culverhouse said he was good with numbers
Krueger once said “I don’t draft em, I just sign em”.
But Jason Licht isn’t a puppet
He’s a shot caller, he call the shots
But he goes in hiding, when the chips are down
December 22nd, 2018 at 8:12 pm
Does anyone watch how competitive the Titans are under Licht’s old friend Robinson?
December 22nd, 2018 at 9:55 pm
I think Licht stays true to his peg board
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:03 pm
Take it from me, I believe Mr. Stroud is clearly suffering from proprioception.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:15 pm
Bucs run by beta males glazers
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:35 pm
3rd most accurate Kicker in NCAA history is who Roberto Aguayo was coming into the NFL. Could’ve easily have been Koetter who begged Licht to get him a kicker. Now if Aguayo turned out to be the GOAT in terms of kickers then Licht would be a genius and not the idiot y’all are trying to make him out to be. How the hell was he supposed to know Roberto would forget how to kick the damn ball? Anyone would think well this kid has a 89.5 fg % coming out of college and surely that talent will carry over to the NFL… the Joes have become so good at spinning all kinds of $h!t up on many different people just as long as it aligns up with their thoughts on that person.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:10 pm
Kickers come a dime a dozen, that’s why they don’t get drafted
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:10 pm
So I guess Phillip Rivers sucks cause his offense didn’t score over 10 against the Ravens d this week at home and in perfect weather? That’s what all the Jameis haters said about him last week? And keep in mind that was on the road in a freaking monsoon.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:16 pm
Have Stroud on your podcast to chat it out
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:18 pm
Ndog
Rivers has a track record of winning and leading his team to wins. Hard to compare him and Jameis when Jameis can’t even throw 3 or more tds in consecutive games. Something he’s never done in almost 4 fullyears as a starter
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:47 pm
He’s too busy spreading lies to Ira on his Twitter account.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:50 pm
The Glazers didn’t tell Licht to draft Aguayo. Come on, people. This is bordering on ludicrous. I don’t really care what happens to Licht, but making excuses for the guy is grasping at straws. Rick Stroud has had inside info in the past, but this is just click bait. I won’t crucify Licht for the pick, but it was HIS pick. The Glazers don’t play GM. They won’t even fire a coach until they “have to”.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:51 pm
Lamar Jackson is a terrible quarterback, he only wins because his defense babysits his mediocre performance
Rather have Jamies, he throws from the pocket like a true quarterback. Except when it comes to completing deep passes to Desean Jackson
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:57 pm
Oh $HIT, Joe! Shots fired! Stroud is part of the old guard that won’t get into the new. Ira gets it and embraced the change in media outlets. I don’t mind Stroud, but Ira understands the changing times. Stroud IS trying though. He’s got a podcast now. On a side note, what’s up with Tom Jones? He seems more “pro Bucs” right now than anytime I’ve heard him. He seems more mello about the team lately.
December 23rd, 2018 at 12:12 am
St Pete Times is fake news.
December 23rd, 2018 at 12:15 am
Every quarterback would be a hall of fame quarterback if they had a defense that could hold an opponent to 10 points!
December 23rd, 2018 at 12:58 am
Loyaltotheend Says:
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:18 pm
Ndog
Rivers has a track record of winning and leading his team to wins. Hard to compare him and Jameis when Jameis can’t even throw 3 or more tds in consecutive games. Something he’s never done in almost 4 fullyears as a starter
Mark my words Jameis will end up way better than Rivers as Rivers is a choke artist but then again people don’t already hate him and have preconceived notions about him so when he turns the ball over or loses to a team in the exact same fashion as Jameis it’s ok. You see Rivers has had this thing called a running game and defensive during his career something that Jameis wouldn’t know anything about. But you keep telling yourself that Rivers is better.
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:09 am
Why not get David Shaw from Stanford throw him a 5 year deal and pay him I think he could help Winston.
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:24 am
I believe the glazers pushed to draft Winston and that was the only pick they told Lovie and Jason what to do
December 23rd, 2018 at 1:49 am
@ndog It’s like pinning jelly to the wall. The haters will not stop. I’m not over here saying Winston was great this year. He wasn’t, but he is light years better than more than half of the starting quarterbacks in this league. At least, let the man finish out next year and see where we are at. This draft and offseason need to address our crappy defense and running game. Barber is a #2. We need a #1.
December 23rd, 2018 at 6:07 am
I’m so glad you all have your facts straight
December 23rd, 2018 at 6:45 am
Excuses, excuses! Lame. Kind of like ndog trying to compare Jameis to an accomplished veteran qb!
Off topic and lame!
December 23rd, 2018 at 7:18 am
Why some are wondering if the Glazer’s had a hand on missing on a kicker in round two or not, We all know they missed on the QB with the first overall pick!!!!!!!!!!! When the offense responds more from fitz then the so-called franchise, that is a huge problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 23rd, 2018 at 8:01 am
Just wondering if all these same idiots we’re saying Lynch, Brooks, Sapp and Alstott were crappy like they are saying Jameis is crappy when they had crappy coaching and were getting destroyed each week? I guess they just magically got better when Dungy got here right, as before that they were just horrible players. Or maybe coaching and using their strengths had something to do with it. Morons, SMH?
December 23rd, 2018 at 8:16 am
“Tampa Bay Times Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud has been known to confuse fact and fiction…”
“It appears Stroud’s story has changed without the hint of a source to back it up. ..” – J0E
First off…let me just say kudos to you, Joe. It is about time a member of the media holds another member accountable and says something like that. Certain members of the local media in the past were always like that.
Second..true story here…
I remember when Trump was campaigning. One day he had to give two speeches on the same day in two different states, one in the morning, the other in the afternoon. I watched the morning speech on tv, and in it, the topic of hacking came up because it had just been discovered that a foreign nation had hacked the U.S.A.
Putin had recently endorced Trump in some press conference, and Trump said something to the effect that we didn’t know if Russia was behind it. He said China could have done it.
Now here’s the kicker. In the after noon speech, in a different state, he said “Just this morning, I heard someone say that China was behind the hacking…”
He had used himself as a source!
Which is exactly what Rick Stroud appears to do here. He posed the theory earlier, and then used his own words from back then to legitimize his claims now.
December 23rd, 2018 at 8:36 am
Ndog Says
“Just wondering if all these same idiots… ”
Back then, we mostly used the Bucs message boards, and the only idiots around were Falcons fans openly trying to troll Bucs fans. I say they were idiots because they were so bad at it. We even had a weekly Smack Off thread to let them make fools of themselves.
My belief is that they were so horrible that they started trying to hide who they were.eventually, the message boards shut down and everyone migrated elsewhere. I ended up here because there was less hate here at the time. Multiple usernames was frowned upon back then too (I miss that).
It seems trolls have learned. They don’t have to be good smack talkers. They just have to be good haters and use many usernames to create the illusion of support, and the sheep gradually fall in line with them as a result.
So…to address your topic…there were some actual Bucs fans that thought they were busts. Warren Sapp started the first 4 games and was so bad that he was designated a backup for the following 8 games. Because of injury, he then started the final 4 games. I think he had 3 sacks that year..and I’m not sure if I remember right, but I think we won most of those last 4 games, so the spotlight was moved off Sapp.
Dereck Brooks had room 5o grow, but he didn’t do too badly his rookie year.
Ronde Barber only had one sack and two picks his rookie year, and there were some fans who claimed he was a bust because of it, but I think he had 70 total tackles that year too. The next year, he had only 2 picks and slightly fewer tackles, but had racked up over 5 sacks.
But on his third year, Ronde exploded with 10 picks.
December 23rd, 2018 at 8:47 am
On the topic of player development, because the NFL rule recently started to favor offense so strongly, defensive coaches and players are struggling to adapt. The result is that development of defensive players is a bit more difficult and takes slightly longer. In the past, offensive and defensive players pretty much took 2-3 years of development. Now, at least until both coaches and players start to figure things out, defensive players need 3-4 years…perhaps up to five years.
There are exceptions, of course. Players straight out of college can adapt quickly enough, but only if their position coaches can do so as well.
That’s why coaches from the old guard are suddenly struggling. Hard to teach old dogs new tricks.
When the defensive coaching staff is rebuild this off season, I hope whoever does it follows the Tony Dungy model. He did a good mixture of veteran and college coaches to fill his staff. The veterans bridged the gaps the college coaches brought innovation.