Jason Licht Reacts To Ali Marpet Retirement
February 27th, 2022
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
In some circles and in some regions, perhaps in another era of football, a general manager selecting a Division-III player may have been fired by an owner or punched by a coach.
But in 2015, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht did just that, though he kept his job and to the best of Joe’s knowledge did not get punched by a coach. In the second round of the 2015 draft, Licht traded up to select Marpet out of unheard of Hobart College in the second round.
The straw-hat-wearing, ukulele-playing Marpet came to Tampa Bay and started at right guard. He also played center before finding a home at left guard where this past season Marpet finally made the Pro Bowl.
In Marpet’s first real NFL practice in training camp as a rookie, Joe remembered the Bucs put Marpet up against then Pro Bowl-defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. At the time, GMC was coming off his third of six straight Pro Bowls. Not only did Marpet not get embarrassed by GMC, Marpet stood his ground.
It was about an even fight that day between the small-school rookie and the former All-Pro who came from a football factory at Oklahoma.
In a statement released by the Bucs, Licht noted how much pride he took in selecting Marpet and watching him grow into a Pro Bowl player himself. And a Super Bowl champion.
You can see Licht’s full statement below.
Statement from GM Jason Licht pic.twitter.com/wLT1jQo7hB
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) February 27, 2022
February 27th, 2022 at 4:44 pm
with so many free agents to resign with little cap space and now this. Lets just start the rebuild. we have enough young guys that we can make this a quick rebuild.
February 27th, 2022 at 4:46 pm
Sad but I wish him well. Along with Paul Gruber, the best of all time Buccaneer offensive lineman.
February 27th, 2022 at 4:57 pm
Time to draft the big kid out of Minnesota. Need to protect Trask (etc) and keep the OLine strong.
February 27th, 2022 at 4:58 pm
Someone else retires Arians will also.
February 27th, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Thanks for everything Ali, but next man up. Keep Cappa at RG and put Stinnie at LG. We’ll be ok.
February 27th, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Say good bye to Lenny & Godwin.
February 27th, 2022 at 5:55 pm
arians is about half way out the door now too…
one more unforeseen thingamajig and he’s bolting…
#TampaTurmoil
February 27th, 2022 at 6:49 pm
Drop Donnie and his fat contract NOW!!! He is sh!t without Marpet and Brady on the left. Trade for picks and get two OL in the first three rounds.
February 27th, 2022 at 7:33 pm
Might as well suck it up and rebuild now.. Start Trask and let the cap reset. If he sucks we’ll be picking high and have a shot at a QB..