Mental Misses
July 1st, 2019
GM Jason Licht
Four years ago, the agent of former Bucs defensive end Michael “Ghost” Johnson explained how his client really missed the Bengals and should have stayed there instead of signing with Tampa Bay.
And that was before the Bucs cut Johnson after paying him $16 million for one-year of non-service.
It was one of the most expensive free-agency fails in Bucs history.
And it didn’t have to happen.
In that same 2014 free-agency class, the Bucs signed Anthony Collins to play left tackle, another dude who didn’t want to be here.
Alterraun Verner and Josh McCown arrived in free agency that season, too. They wanted to be here and tried hard; but they failed because of their poor skills. Same for linebacker Dane Fletcher, who was out of football a year after arriving in Tampa from the Patriots.
Evan Smith and Clinton McDonald were the heroes of that free agency class that also featured (Joe uses that verb loosely) tight end Brandon Myers.
Joe hangs Johnson and Verner on former head coach Lovie Smith. He was a defense-first head coach and obviously handpicked those guys after he determined Darrelle Revis wasn’t worth his time. But general manager Jason Licht was here, too, and he should have learned a lot from that experience.
Joe brings this up today because the good folks who cover the Eagles at NJ.com have rehashed the troubling spring words of departed Bucs defensive end Vinny Curry. He was a big Bucs free agent signing last year and fell on his face and was limited by injuries.
“It just felt like I had a long offseason, that’s all,” Curry said of his year with the Bucs. “One thing when I was gone, I still talked to everybody [on the Eagles], every day. Not a day that went by that I didn’t talk to Fletch, didn’t talk to BG or JP, those guys. I talked to those guys everyday and we was still on a group text. It just felt like a long offseason.”
Curry was a New Jersey native and lifelong Eagles fan when he arrived in Tampa for an $8 million paycheck after earning a Super Bowl ring in Philly.
Somehow, he conned the Bucs into believing he could transplant his heart to Tampa. Kind of like how Brent Grimes tricked the hot shots at One Buc Palace that he was willing to play his position.
This year, Bucco Bruce Arians and Jason Licht took a somewhat different approach to free agency. They are banking on a big handful of one-year, prove-it kind of deals to several players.
Joe likes the approach but it’s hard to peg the Bucs’ plan. If these guys pan out, then the Bucs won’t be able to afford a lot of them next season.
Regardless, Joe hopes Licht and Arians have figured out the mental side of free agency, which first and foremost means picking guys who really want to be here and cherish every snap on the football field.
July 1st, 2019 at 9:46 am
Licht is following the New England Patriots free agent game plan. If the players sucks, then they only take a one year hit. If the players is great and they can’t afford to pay him a heftier contract the following years, then they will get a comp pick. If the player chooses to stay and signs a reasonable contract the following year then both sides benefits.
July 1st, 2019 at 9:50 am
Lol, news flash no one wants to play here and those that do are run out of town ASAP bc “the real fans” think they actually have a good team or town or oh yea no state tax rotfl.
I think what this town lacks is perspective on how the rest of the country views the meth/lightning capital of the world.
July 1st, 2019 at 9:54 am
the approach changed because the salary cap was slim to none….lol…had we had money in the bank, those same players wouldve been signed to multi year deals…..
bottom line is, licht has swung and missed in FA and the draft multiple times with 2 previous HC’s…..
GO BUCS!!!!
July 1st, 2019 at 9:58 am
I thought all those one year ‘prove it’ deals were mainly due to the CBA coming up and the high probability of a owner’s lockout.
July 1st, 2019 at 10:01 am
Is Licht the worst gm in the nfl??
July 1st, 2019 at 10:03 am
“We need a new GM
We need a new President of operations between the new GM and the Glazer boys”
Kobe Faker
July 1st, 2019 at 10:15 am
These new players want to play for Arians & Bowles….and it doesn’t seem to matter to them where that is.
One thing I really like about Devin White is his obvious love of being a Buc…..it is genuine and exciting….I think that will rub off on other players.
This FA class, while not high profile, is different in that respect.
July 1st, 2019 at 10:25 am
Alabama bucs fan Patriots are Superbowl winners and the Bucs are perennial bottom feeders. The Patriots are fine tuning a winning machine. The Bucs are trying to keep a broken machine barely running.
July 1st, 2019 at 10:28 am
Actually,l for a struggling team with good draft picks, Licht has missed on quite a few. To many and his acquisition of free agents overall has been dismal. Can’t get that 2nd rd kicker and Running back out of my mind…….
July 1st, 2019 at 10:30 am
The bucs didn’t “take” a different approach this year; They were forced to take a different approach due to overpaying for terrible players and not being able to go into Free Agency because the bucs have NO MONEY. Now, you could say a playoff team like the Colts who have a ton of cap space took a different approach because they are a solid franchise with tons of money still. The bucs are a lousy team with NO MONEY! How is that possible licht?
July 1st, 2019 at 10:31 am
It’s all about value. For example. Our starting Center is ranked @ 18th in the league. He is being paid as a top 5 Center in the NFL. Same can be said about starting Guard Marpet and Tackle Smith. That’s why this team isn’t very good while at the same time we have zero salary cap money available. GM Licht is consistently OVERPAYING for players who are UNDER PERFORMING. POOR VALUE all throughout this roster. You can’t win that way.
July 1st, 2019 at 10:32 am
So I guess you are saying we should never sign a player who was happy playing where he was.
July 1st, 2019 at 10:41 am
One year prove it deal in Tampa.. Prove you too can go vacation and get paid millions of Bucs money. Then leave and the GM Givivg it away still keeps a job.
July 1st, 2019 at 11:05 am
AlabamaBucsFan Says:
“Licht is following the New England Patriots free agent game plan. If the players sucks, then they only take a one year hit. If the players is great and they can’t afford to pay him a heftier contract the following years, then they will get a comp pick.
.
.
Really? If that’s what he’s been doing, then where are all of our comp picks? Somehow, this New England model isn’t working for him in Tampa. Lichtweight is the travel agent for Paid Florida Vacation, Inc.
July 1st, 2019 at 11:26 am
GM Licht is consistently OVERPAYING for players
———–
You have to overpay bc no one wants to play here. Worse yet is you’re overpaying for guys in the twilight of their careers.
Anyone remember Logan Mankins demeanor when he was traded to us? That my life is over look on his face as he sat on the bench figuring out where it all went wrong. Classic!
July 1st, 2019 at 11:31 am
Crack Pipe – Alabama was stating that is what JL is doing THIS year.
Now go back and light yourself another pipe full.
July 1st, 2019 at 11:34 am
@ DB55
True. This is why it is extremely important to have the ability to draft valuable players and develop them. Something Licht has been incapable of as well… Below average drafts combined with below average free agents = a below average team.
July 1st, 2019 at 11:37 am
Licht basically spent future 2020 3rd and 4th round picks on a punter and Breshad Perriman lol.
I wouldn’t put it past him to sign a bunch of cheap minmum vet deals in 2020 that will cost us potential 2021 draft picks. He’s an idiot when it comes to compensatory pick hoarding and FA
July 1st, 2019 at 11:56 am
bucnole Says:
Crack Pipe – Alabama was stating that is what JL is doing THIS year.
Now go back and light yourself another pipe full.
.
.
LOL
July 1st, 2019 at 11:56 am
DB55 cmon, all free agents get overpaid, be in in Tampa or anywhere (except NE). I’m ok with criticizing the team but virtually every GM gets excoriated for overpaying FAs.
July 1st, 2019 at 12:18 pm
@Joe … “Somehow, he (Curry) conned the Bucs into believing he could transplant his heart to Tampa. Kind of like how Brent Grimes tricked the hot shots at One Buc Palace that he was willing to play his position”. Conned? Tricked? Really Joe? It’s not like either one of them came begging to Tampa looking for a job. Licht RECRUITED them. And he threw money at both of them because we sucked at their positions (DE & CB). The REAL question should be ‘WHY did we suck at DE & CB?’ Of course, you know the answer as well as I do. (Hint: lousy drafting in those positions & lousy coaching/development in those positions). That’s the only hint you get though.
Some awesome comments right down the line on this thread. It’s obvious that most JBFers GET IT. There are LOTS of valid REASONS why the Bucs have stunk it up in years past. It’ll be difficult, but not impossible, for BA & company to turn this ship around overnight. Not only do we now have a cadre of young, talented players but we’ve also got a coaching staff with the experience to develop them AND to put them in the best position to succeed on the field. The POTENTIAL is there, but it might take awhile to turn that potential into PERFORMANCE … and WINNING. But I’m convinced that IF folks are patient, it’ll come.
July 1st, 2019 at 12:36 pm
Joe – I get all of the negativity but honestly what has changed since last offseason? Last year everybody was saying we would do badly and we did. You kept saying get better coaching and get rid of Mike Smith. Well that is done and you’re still saying we are bad. I get it, they sucked last year.
I just think there may be some hypocritical comments. What else is the team supposed to do? You claim that Nassib is so bad yet he played well last year. Yes it could have been a career year but then could the argument be made other players that played like garbage and still have high potential and will be good (Rojo, MJ Stewart, VH3, etc.)? Just saying it goes both ways and you harp that Peyton Barber had no production but would you say that Nassib did? So how does he suck so badly then?
Another thing that nobody is even talking about is that our defense before was so plain vanilla. Another reason why QBs had time. And our defense did improve last year, but our offense let them down a bunch (Baltimore and New Orleans game end of year to be reminded). Bowles’ scheme brings disguise and confusion so even if our talent isn’t great, that alone can change things. If were going to bash every damn thing this team does, then why cheer or care.
When we hired Bruce Arians, you loved it. Now it seems not so much because we suck, but didnt we suck before? I mean at some point we have to give it up. We sucked in Koetter’s first year people said then we went 9-7.
The bucs need to be a better kicking team and better red zone team offensively and defensively. I think you give Jameis way too much credit and part of this is the running game but if they cant improve TDs in the redzone, this team is doomed.
Would appreciate your follow up to this as just want healthy debate but I think everyone needs to pump the brakes. When has a national pundit ever predicted anything different than what the previous season was? Really never because they are playing it safe. You know better than anyone the national media is clueless to this team so maybe state that more as the fans are really beaten down at this point and this team needs to take the mentality of who the &*%$ cares what they say.
July 1st, 2019 at 12:38 pm
Lord C…
Licht is an IDIOT in every aspect of being a GM…not just compensatory picks
July 1st, 2019 at 12:43 pm
SC
Not all teams overpay. Gruden signed Richie Incognito a probowler for 1 mil. Caleb Benenoch will make 2 mil this year.
Some might say signing McIceCream for 4 mil guaranteed is pretty good although if you ask me they overpaid by 5 mil
July 1st, 2019 at 1:02 pm
Cmon DB you know McCoy turns out to be at least 8
July 1st, 2019 at 1:18 pm
Out of those free agent busts, how many hurt the salary cap for more than one year?
None, right?
This is why good teams build through the draft and do not over spend. Of course, because of Culverhouse and the years leading up to the most recent lockout, fans call our owners cheap.
Free agents almost never last more than 1-3 years. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part that is true. The better investment is good drafting.
Unfortunately, I don’t think that was Licht’s good drafting year either.
But general manager Jason Licht was here, too, and he should have learned a lot from that experience. – Joe
Careful, Joe. At the time I said Licht was equally responsible and EVERYONE here jumped my case. Ironically, I was the Jason Licht hater back then. Now, I like him and others do not. I was right then…I’m right now. Nanner-nanner, trolls!
July 1st, 2019 at 1:28 pm
This year will tell me a lot about Licht. Many seemed convinced that he is responsible for choosing all the bad players. I think he is guilty of giving coaches what they ask for and want. I think this is evident by the Bucs good selections on offensive and the many misses on defense. I believe we are seeing the same game plan from Licht again. He is clearly giving the coaches what they want. There is no doubt a lot goes into grading players. However, if the staff has four or five players graded about the same and the coach wants his guy…he gets him. Also, under Mike Smith he was guilt of asking for one type of player and then using the player in a totally ineffective way. Personally, I want to see how the current coaching staff develops the players and how their wish list upgrades the team. The staff made several desperate moves last year in an effort to save their jobs. Licht is certainly among the guilty in that regard.
July 1st, 2019 at 1:29 pm
Allbuccedup Says: Alabama bucs fan Patriots are Superbowl winners and the Bucs are perennial bottom feeders. The Patriots are fine tuning a winning machine. The Bucs are trying to keep a broken machine barely running.
Barack’s Crack Pipe Says:Really? If that’s what he’s been doing, then where are all of our comp picks? Somehow, this New England model isn’t working for him in Tampa. Lichtweight is the travel agent for Paid Florida Vacation, Inc.
Licht is trying this for the FIRST time this year. He is good friends with the Patriots back office and the word of the mouth is Licht is trying to duplicate the success of the Patriots. Trust me, moving forward, if Licht is retained next year, you’ll see a continuation of 1 year contracts. Notice who many comp picks the Patriots get each year – I believe it is more than any other teams for the last 6-8 years.
July 1st, 2019 at 1:31 pm
Chris L,
The thing to keep in mind is that both Joes are Bucs fans as well, just like us.
After all of this time with the off season hypes and regular season disappointments, it can’t be easy to write strictly positive in every article. The best we can hope for is balance.
It’s only natural for fans to feel negative after what this team has put us through. Last season hit me pretty hard, I know that. I liked Koetter, although I think him being on the hot-seat led to a bunch of mistakes last year, so his firing was a self-fulfilling-prophecy.
As a result though…the way I see it is fans have three options this year:
• Wear blinders and assume everything will be fantastic, just like some fans do each year. While having a positive attitude is great, it also has led to severe disappointment every year. So these fans (of which I have been a member of in the past) might be setting themselves up for a lot of stress later.
• Be overly negative and just assume a horrible season is coming. This group is mostly populated by haters and trolls, or by fans who have been effected by the haters, trolls and losing. Some of these are never pleased, even if good things happen. In fact, some even hope things go badly so they can be right (not all of them)
• Be guarded. Protect themselves emotionally. This is where I am at this year. Don’t assume good or bad will come. Maintain a ‘wait and see’ attitude. Not negative. Not overly positive. Ignore the hype. Ignore the negativity. Be prepared for whatever comes.
I may be off base here, but I think at least one of the Joes are in the last group. Not sure about the other. I think Ira might be in the last group as well. Maybe.
July 1st, 2019 at 1:33 pm
K2 says
“I think he is guilty of giving coaches what they ask for and want. I think this is evident by the Bucs good selections on offensive and the many misses on defense. I believe we are seeing the same game plan from Licht again. He is clearly giving the coaches what they want.”
That is a great point, and it makes a LOT of sense. Also…Licht played offense I think.
July 1st, 2019 at 2:28 pm
Marine
Not if he gets hurt in the preseason which is completely realistic
July 1st, 2019 at 3:34 pm
Ahh the joys of having the worst gm in the leauge
July 1st, 2019 at 5:33 pm
Great post. Marine Buc nailed it in 3 sentences.
July 1st, 2019 at 5:49 pm
The free agency fails from this team is just comical. Collins/Johnson/Verner/Swaggy/DeSean (kind of – talk about a football decoy)/Sweeney/Conte (lets be real)/Grimes in his last year/Curry/Beau Allen. There’s been like 4 moves Licht has made that have made real differences (JPP, Logan Mankins, Darly Smith, and Grimes his first year). Licht can scout but nobody in the league must like him with the kind of player intel he’s getting (unless he’s all film and no scuttlebutt)
July 1st, 2019 at 6:05 pm
When your comment is longer than the story, you’re talking too much.
July 1st, 2019 at 8:48 pm
Well the problem was the hold weapons for Winston. Instead of building the hold team every body focused on the quarterback position instead of building a good running game and defense like what wining teams do.
July 1st, 2019 at 9:00 pm
If these proove it contracts work out Tampa Bay will be a hot commodity for free agents. Players around the league will be wanting to come here to play good football and earn themselves a fat payday.
Then if that happens we won’t be paying top market free agents we will be paying guys who are eager to come here and play great football. These players will have a ton of motivation.
I’ve heard Bruce did this with several guys in Arizona. There is a great chance that the guys we brought in like Barret & Perriman know that Bruce has this track record & they are highly motivated to play well for our Bucs.
July 2nd, 2019 at 11:02 am
Free agents come here to get paid and sit on their a$$es? No way, never could have imagine that…. 😀