Enjoying Newfound Respect
April 10th, 2020
Years of struggles paying off.
The Bucs kingdom lorded over by AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht hasn’t always been smooth.
Since Rich McKay took over as a general manager in 1994, only his tenure as Bucs’ general manager has been longer than Licht’s.
Yet the two general manager’s records cannot be more different.
McKay drafted (at least) two Hall of Famers, built one of the best defenses in NFL history and presided over a perennial playoff team which finally won the Super Bowl in 2003.
Licht’s teams have yet to even make the playoffs, have only one winning season since he arrived in 2014, and they have never had double-digit wins. It does appear Licht drafted a future Hall of Famer in wide receiver Mike Evans.
So yesterday when Licht did a Zoom chat for his pre-draft press conference, Licht was asked about a team he has built that is good enough to lure one of the greatest quarterbacks that ever played.
Licht did not shy away from admitting he has made mistakes.
“I have taken my fair share of criticism – a lot of it deserved – and I’ll never shy away from that,” Licht said. “But we’ve also had a lot of hits and brought in a lot of good players that got us to this point, like you said.
“It feels very good. It feels damn good to have a player of Tom’s stature and the résumé that he has, that he felt like this is a place where he could come and win. It feels damn good.”
Well, now that everybody feels good, it’s time to win games, and more importantly, get to the playoffs.
If the Bucs don’t make the playoffs in the next two seasons with Brady, all Licht has built the past two years will go up in smoke.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:10 am
Half empty with Bucs changes and half full with Winston – cmon guys you’re killing us.
April 10th, 2020 at 1:04 am
Definitely been up and down. Kickers and the second round until last year have been questionable. Hard to argue with where we are at now with a nice mix of homegrown and vet FA talent… a lot has gone right the last 2 years.
April 10th, 2020 at 1:25 am
send a 2nd rounder for Yannick Ngakoue.
April 10th, 2020 at 2:11 am
First of all, Wyche drafted the core of the Bucs during his time while McKay was trying to find the bathroom.
Then, Dumbanik made so many amateurish decisions, listening to pundits and intosicated with the “rock star” BS — he set the team back to Culverhouse ineptitude.
Then, the Glazers hired Lovie Smith and gave him full control. So 2014 and 2015 drafts were Lovie’s drafts and the 8-24 record those two years belings to him.
Licht does indeed deserve a lot of criticism, particularly for his kicker in the draft obsession. But he didn’t go out and pay an aging CB with a bum knee $16million to rehab it, and not only that, everyone knew the Jets were going to cut him but Dumbanik trades a number 1 draft choice for him. Moron.
April 10th, 2020 at 5:56 am
It’s not a coincidence that all of this happens after BA’s arrival…….FA picks better, good draft….Brady signs….
I’ll give Licht credit for bringing in Bruce Arians & Todd Bowles……and little else.
April 10th, 2020 at 5:57 am
Jason Licht drafted a QB #1 overall and let him go. He cut another first rounder. He drafted a failing kicker in the 2nd. His entire 2016 draft is gone. He’s had one winning season.
Jason Licht is the luckiest GM in the history of football.
April 10th, 2020 at 6:05 am
Licht has been given more the one mulligan a round, that’s putting it kindly. He can’t change the past, but beginning with the signing of BA, the future has been looking better. Getting Tom has to be the best FA move any GM could pull off. Again, Tom came because of BA, not Licht. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky, then good, and Licht has been on a lucky streak. Good for him, and us.
April 10th, 2020 at 6:12 am
Sam Wyche is seldom mentioned, yet he was responsible for drafting a lot of our future stars, like Swampbuc says.
Licht has done a lot better, since Arians got here too
April 10th, 2020 at 6:41 am
Licht should let Arians and Bowles pick the players in the draft and Licht handle any trades of draft picks and players.
April 10th, 2020 at 7:06 am
More he better do this since he launched Crablegs or else ultimatums. How about we just play a meaningful game first before we hold Licht’s feet to the fire man? This stuff lately has been dripping with criticism, and feels more like doom and gloom than anticipatory excitement. Yes, there is a chance this QB move may not work out but what was the alterative? Go into next season with Crablegs at the helm only to get you and your entire coaching staff fired at the end of the season. This move may have just saved jobs and reputations. Stop with the gotcha BS.
April 10th, 2020 at 7:22 am
Adrnagy, How are you planning on paying Yannick? He wants 20 million per. The bucs don’t have 20 million. Even if they did, you can’t have 60 million tied up in outside linebackers. You would have to pinch pennies somewhere else. Better to get an aging vet like Matthews or Suggs that can still rush the passer and come cheap. Markus Golden may be an option on a 1 year deal as his market has been slow.
April 10th, 2020 at 7:49 am
@joe
Can you confirm, that “word on the street” that if this roster gets any older, that the Indoor facility will be used for bingo on Tues, Thursdays, and arts and crafts for the elderly roster on Wed???????????
I guess if you can’t draft, you better buy!!!!!!!!!!! But that at best, creates a very small window!!!!!!!!!! So much for the “it’s a talented roster, and all they need is better coaching!!!!!!!!!”
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 10th, 2020 at 7:50 am
Arian should have the final say in the draft room. Better yet keep loser Licht locked out. I would love to sit in a NFL draft room watching what transpires.
April 10th, 2020 at 7:58 am
Oh I see it’s stroll down memory lane day in “play it again, Sam’s” revisionist history neighborhood. Yes let’s exalt the man who “drafted a lot of the Bucs future stars” such as Eric Curry, Demetrius DuBose, Lamar Thomas, and Harold Bishop. I guess were considering cult hero Dilfer and Eric Rhett (only 2 solid years) stars too.
If your giving him credit for 95 w/ brooks and sapp, then debit him for the rest of that year. Quick name anyone else from that draft without looking it up (I couldn’t).
Rich McKay did more good for this franchise than any other GM. When he left, Bruce Allen was a breath of fresh air wasn’t he?
April 10th, 2020 at 8:46 am
Licht is the worst gm ever for the bucs.. his winning % says it all !!
April 10th, 2020 at 8:54 am
Nice 🙂
April 10th, 2020 at 9:31 am
Swampbuc
“First of all, Wyche drafted the core of the Bucs during his time while McKay was trying to find the bathroom.”
Pretty myopic of you.
Actually I think he was trying to fill the Culverhouse/Kreuger vacuum, while negotiating with local government to get a new stadium built, and prevent the team from being sold/moving. While running the day to day.
If the Glazer tots hadn’t been so impatient and left Dungy/McKay alone, we would have had a dynasty. We went from perennial loser to perennial playoff team, but they were too short sided to see the forest for the trees.
April 10th, 2020 at 10:15 am
Jmark if Dungy hadn’t been so offended at a good offense the Bucs would’ve won multiple championships
April 10th, 2020 at 10:20 am
joe we have to have higher standards than just making the playoffs. this team needs to make a run. every season the goal is to win a championship and if ownership is all in then they need to get it done.
April 10th, 2020 at 10:42 am
David
One more year would have done it.
April 10th, 2020 at 11:49 am
It is crazy to see how negative the tone is on this site right now. I get that Winston is a trigger issue that has split the fan base so it’s probably driving traffic to the site which is way pays the bills, but COME ON.
We got Tom Freaking Brady and our expectations are now that we make the playoffs. Can we just sit back and enjoy that ride??
We have a real shot at winning the turnover battle next year which has and always will be critical to a teams success.
Let’s lighten the F up and enjoy the ride
April 10th, 2020 at 1:17 pm
I glad to see that the late Sam Wyche is still getting some deserved run.
Jmark
Giving ALL the credit to Sam as much as I loved him would be myopic as is giving all the credit to anybody.
But while I have mad respect for Tony Dungy and all of his accomplishments including the culture change here with the Bucs there is one thing that is virtually irrefutable.
If Dungy had been here earlier we would have missed out on Sapp. Recall Sapp dropped because of his weed usage…Wyche realized that shouldn’t be a deal breaker…very little chance Dungy would have done that…short of Sapp showing up in front of Dungy and saying PTL…don’t worry no more weed for me I’ve found Jesus!
April 10th, 2020 at 5:11 pm
Hey swamp buc , do Joe a favor and make a list of trades, below market value buc to be or free agent signings and league signings that Mckay did !!!! You may just wanna check that out because it is pretty dam impressive, well until Chuckys attitude and ego ruined it !!!