“Well-Deserved Criticism”
August 30th, 2019
Kicker philosophy.
Three years ago, Bucs fans and media types howled when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht traded up into the second round and selected kicker Roberto Aguayo.
Licht’s critics freaked out even worse when Aguayo turned out to be a flop and was cut a year later in preseason. Bucs fans have not forgotten this sin and regularly slam their beer mugs on the bar in frustration.
Last night during the WFLA-TV Channel 8 broadcast of the Bucs-Cowboys game, Licht, making his annual second-half appearance in the broadcast booth during the final preseason game, confessed his sins to the Tampa Bay region while fielding questions from the the broadcast team of Chris Myers and Ronde Barber.
Myers asked Licht about drafting kicker Matt Gay with the fifth pick this spring. It appears Gay is finally the kicker the Bucs have been missing since July 2013, when Connor Barth blew out the Achilles tendon in his kicking leg playing in a charity basketball game.
Myers noted selecting Gay was “a gutsy move considering the criticism you received” in the wake of the swing-and-miss on Aguayo.
Licht did not disagree.
“Yeah, it was well-deserved criticism too because it didn’t work out,” Licht said.
Joe has to give Licht credit there. How many general managers would go on a TV broadcast seen by thousands, many who are either season ticket holders, disgruntled former season ticket holders or just Bucs fans who go to one or two games a year, shrug his shoulders and say, “Yeah, I f’ed up,” rather than try to spin why he took Aguayo.
Of course, Licht’s January contract extension may provide the courage to admit previous errors in such a public forum.
Licht went on to explain why he drafts kickers. He considers kickers to be valuable starters, like an offensive or defensive player because they are produce points.
“If you draft a receiver in the second round and he doesn’t work out, next year, what are you going to do, not draft a receiver in the fifth round?” Licht added.
August 30th, 2019 at 12:05 am
Licht needs to admit his other big Draft Mistake…
America’s Favorite “Only #1 Overall Drafted QB To Ever Get **BENCHED** After 3 Years Yet For Some Reason Is Still The Starter” QB, Jameis Winston.
August 30th, 2019 at 12:07 am
Not a worry in the world contract-wise…ten year deal minimum before it’s all said and done. Whoever is Licht’s agent is both good and lucky.
August 30th, 2019 at 12:12 am
If Gay has a breakout season the crickets will stop chirping about using draft capital on a kicker.
August 30th, 2019 at 12:23 am
Was the last sentence directed at JBF?
August 30th, 2019 at 12:24 am
lict being lict … what an idiot.
August 30th, 2019 at 12:25 am
???????????????
Licht was answering a question from Chris Myers.
Joe somewhat defended the pick at the time… until Aguayo turned out to be brutal.
August 30th, 2019 at 12:31 am
When the second round of the draft rolls around next year would someone please lock Jason Licht in a closet! What did he see in Bunting? For a high 2nd round pick he’s made zero, count them zero plays this preseason. There were so many better options then him that high in the draft, I just don’t get it. Dude has been out played by walk ons, but of course we have to keep him where he was drafted. What a shame.
August 30th, 2019 at 12:33 am
I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure licht has drafted the same amount of offensive linemen as he has kickers since drafting Aguayo (Aguayo/gay benenoch/Cappa)
August 30th, 2019 at 12:33 am
Let that sink in for a second 😳
August 30th, 2019 at 12:47 am
@ bucbandit
Getting benched does not mean it was the right call. That could mean you have an idiot coach who coaches for an idiot fan base such as yourself. Again, manning threw 24 ints in his 4th year yet he was not benched because his coach at the time knew it would be IDIOTIC!!!! Obviously you are an IDIOT so you think jameis being benched was the right call. I will let that be your little secret.
@ joe
Licht did not do anything special with his answer. Every gm has flops in the drafts. At least 50% of 1st rounders bust and those gms would answer that question the exact same way. Why? Because you cant defend a flop regardless of the position. Stop grading on a curve. Licht gets no credit for stating the obvious. Agauyo was a bad pick just like the defensive lineman jordan was for the dolphins, the dlineman the 49ers picked 3 years ago in the 1st round they just cut, the running back the browns picked 5th in the 1st round in 2012 who the colts traded a 2nd round pick a couple of years later, or yada yada yada. All gms make horrible picks. I would be more worried if jason tried to defend the pick. Im glad he did not listen to the idiot fan base and media and drafted another kicker. He has shown thus far he is well worth the 5th round pick
August 30th, 2019 at 1:37 am
Fitz had a a magical beginning to the season and Winston had the worst game of his career when he got benched. Oh and Koetter was trying to save his job so you know… impulsive decisions. On that note Winston needs to be the good Winston we have seen most of the time. If not bye… Next year because Gabbet and Griffin are not the answer.
August 30th, 2019 at 2:53 am
I’ve never understood the logic that Dirk was trying to save jobs when he benched Jamies….
The safe bet was to keep your franchise QB starting. Stoking the flames of a QB controversy and all but admitting he may be a lost cause is the exact opposite of saving jobs.
BTW it worked, Jamies’ stubbornness was finally overridden and he changed from that point on. Go back to the Hard Knocks tape preseason game when Jamies was in the middle of being sacked, threw the ball straight up in the air in the end zone from inside the 20. Dirks reaction is truly telling. “You can’t do that!…” he said in a fedup, disappointing, you’re antics will cost us games kind of way. Jamies decision was unbecoming of a peewee player.
He pulls that crap with BA and it will be ‘The Griff’ era in a hurry.
Go Bucs!
In BA I Trust!
August 30th, 2019 at 7:01 am
“… because they are produce points.” Seriously. Is this english?
August 30th, 2019 at 7:57 am
Just stop it. Griffin will not be starting this year. You guys only focus on the negatives. JW is a lot like Brett Favre, if you want the best of JW you have to take the gunslinger pros and cons that he offers. I don’t want JW to only be a game manager that doesn’t throw picks, but also doesn’t put the team on his back when they need him to do so. If JW throws one pick, but passes for 350 yards, throws four TD passes and the team scores 40 points and wins, I want that guy. We can go hire Glennon if we want 180 yards of passing, 1 TD pass every other game, and loses 14 out of 16 games.
August 30th, 2019 at 8:33 am
Don’t care. Aguayo has not be his only sin during his 5+ year reign of terror.
August 30th, 2019 at 9:06 am
“because it didn’t work out”
No, because drafting a kicker in the 2nd round is stupid regardless.
Licht is grossly incompetent, and the Bucs are doomed with him in charge.
August 30th, 2019 at 9:27 am
Licht has proven that he does NOT deserve his present job!!
August 30th, 2019 at 9:52 am
gay seems to be mentally stronger than the previous kickers….
GO BUCS!!!!
August 30th, 2019 at 8:13 pm
Licht gave such a short answer because, attempting to explain the drafting of a soccer player onto a perennial loser, in the second round, after trading-up, in an NFL draft is as incomprehensible as an ownership group extending the very person who would commit such an assault on intellect!
Fire the cannons, Licht, half of the players and the Glazers!
APB for Eddie De!
August 30th, 2019 at 10:18 pm
WTF else is he gonna say?! He blew it. He gets no props for stating the obvious