Are The Bucs Afraid Of Fan “Blowback?”
April 19th, 2023
“Just win, Jason.”
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider is one of the most open team executives when it comes to talking to media. Colts GM Chris Ballard is at or near the top of that list, as well.
That doesn’t mean they’re always being truthful about personnel. It’s more about how they will sit down for extended public chats and dive deep into topics.
Schneider often does long interviews with 770 AM radio in Seattle. There’s a ton to learn from GMs, so Joe tries to listen.
This week, Schneider was asked about what some NFL teams value more than the Seahawks in the draft evaluation process, and vice versa.
Schneider started his answer with a different line of thinking.
“You know, some teams won’t necessarily take a player because they’re afraid of, you know, blowback from the fan base,” Schneider said, drawing on his 30 years in NFL front offices.
“I’m like, ‘Man, I’m not sure we could do that.’ You know, we don’t do that because we just believe in what we’re doing and we just keep moving forward.”
It was an interesting answer that got Joe thinking about the Bucs. Are they one of those teams worried about fan “blowback” when it comes to signing or drafting a player?” Joe isn’t seeing the evidence.
Serial sleaze Jerramy Stevens actually got a second contract from the Bucs before alleged marijuana peddling ended his Bucs career in 2010. Jameis Winston was a high-profile alleged sex offender when he was drafted by the Bucs in 2015 and two years later he lived up to his billing by accepting a guilty plea to a new charge in the court of the NFL. That didn’t fluster the Bucs. They kept him on the roster. Jameis left after the 2019 season and in came Antonio Brown.
So the Bucs certainly don’t appear worried about “blowback.” And that’s often a good thing when it comes to building a roster.
Joe isn’t saying the Bucs should hire criminals or bad dudes, but they also shouldn’t be paranoid or hypersenstive entering the NFL Draft.
Team Glazer has taken pride over the years in giving players second chances, which makes their complete excommunication of Chucky such an enigma.
April 19th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
This is why….if Carter is there at 19….man im pulling that trigger. I know some here dont want him but that kid has natural moves and natural talent like Wirfs. Yes, I know, it will be a risk….but man would he help our D line! We took a chance with Sapp!
But he wont be there, he’s going top 10, probably wont last past 5-7.
April 19th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
In football people’s eyes (that previous phrase is critical), his on-field transgressions (taking plays off) are far worse than his off-field nonsense. In fact, the charge of taking plays off is an unforgivable sacrilege.
A dude running afoul of the law, so long as he isn’t doing jail time, a team can and just may overlook that.
#RealTalk
April 19th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
“their complete excommunication of Chucky”
What a wuss move.
He said something very mean about us in a private email to another guy we don’t like ten years ago….. let’s remove him from Buccaneer history… SMH
April 19th, 2023 at 12:26 pm
Chucky was removed from the ring of honor for what he said about Joel Glazer and I guess he didn’t like it.
April 19th, 2023 at 12:37 pm
I mean if I was worth $1B I’d probably be a narcissist too and kick Chucky out. Not like anyone can stop him. It’s his show, don’t talk behind a man’s back, especially when he has fudge-you money.
April 19th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Chucky is a relic in today’s society and he got what he deserved. I imagine some of ya’ll wanted him back when he was planning to come back to coaching, spoke out against some billionaires and got his a** 86’d out the NFL lol ***k that guy
April 19th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Only blowback I see if they draft another edge rusher and he blows chunks like the last two. Thats a position they are apparently weak when drafting. They probably go the free agent route on that position and draft one on day three.
April 19th, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Typical Drool. Doesn’t listen to Warren Sapp’s take on Gruden, just does the “y’all” thing like Osqueeler and is happy the second best coach in Bucs history has been canceled. Not surprising for someone who can’t tell the difference between a team like the Chiefs or the Niners and a team like the Panthers or Steelers.
April 19th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Pretty sure the Bucs organization could careless what fans think. That was evident when they drafted a damn kicker in the second round and I almost broke my TV from being so pissed.
April 19th, 2023 at 12:57 pm
OBVIOUSLY they’re not afraid of “fan blow-back” after all, Todd Bowels is still the head coach…
April 19th, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Ol licht drafted VH3 due to him thinking UF fans would show up at the park. Real UF fans knew that VH3 got torched by the NFL WRs in the SEC; bad pick to appease the fans. Bucs picked Jameis to appease a portion of the fanbase & even if you look back at that first round from 2015, Jameis was the correct pick, that was a horrible 1st round of players
April 19th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
Success is the greatest cologne. Team Glazer just wants to win.
April 19th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
If chucky were in a position to make the team more $, he’d be forgiven. The players were the best available options so that’s why they got a pass.
April 19th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Licht has drafted two kickers and a punter, I don’t think he cares what anyone thinks.
April 19th, 2023 at 1:17 pm
Lol they don’t care what fans think all they care about is making money winning and relevance in that order if they can do that the fans will be there.
April 19th, 2023 at 1:18 pm
I didnt know that Joe….didn’t research him much other than a few highlights since he was so hyped and i knew he was out of reach…hmmm, thats on me.
April 19th, 2023 at 1:32 pm
You think Licht cares about pubic opinion? Hes got stones for nuts the way he drafts kickers LOL
April 19th, 2023 at 1:34 pm
Pickgrin
Agree
The Gboyz ain’t got no rhythm and it shows in their moves
2 desperation SB rentals
They have the current HC as HC …
On and on… forward and backwards
Gonna be a miserable year
April 19th, 2023 at 1:40 pm
You can tell what type of pizzcakes drool boy is
April 19th, 2023 at 1:42 pm
Not to be a copy cat but we drafted Roberto….they could care less what we think nowadays
Maybe back when they kept taking UF WR that sucked like Anthony and Green
Light likely learned enough from VH3 to never let that come into his analysis again 😄
April 19th, 2023 at 1:51 pm
[You of all people should know accusing folks of being locked up for felonies they weren’t even charged with is a good way to get bounced. Joe is responsible for every word typed on this site. You’re better than this. — Joe]
April 19th, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Laremy Tunsil’s gas mask approves this message!
April 19th, 2023 at 2:13 pm
I wonder what the Uber driver that sued Winston for millions of dollars thinks about this question…
Obviously – winning is all that matters.
April 19th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Sapp falling in the Bucs lap in ‘95 changed the trajectory of Bucs history. There was a ton of bad “news” coming out about him at that time. As it relates to Carter…he won’t last until 19…or even got out out the Top Ten in my opinion…even though he screwed up royally in the off-season with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
April 19th, 2023 at 2:32 pm
I wonder what Jameis feels about Jalen’s contract
April 19th, 2023 at 2:39 pm
Todd Bowles or Chucky …. hum… When is Mr. Bowles still head coach of our team??
April 19th, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Licht marches to his own tune & it’s not just character issues…….Kickers, Punters, Small School Olinemen…..players like SMB…….MJ Stewart………he does his own thing…..and he’s done pretty well.
April 19th, 2023 at 2:58 pm
Licht has bamboozled the Gboyz ,
The Jason Principle
5 Years of Jameis
April 19th, 2023 at 4:22 pm
Those of us who have gone through YEARS with no field goals nor extra points to speak of would not disparage Licht from taking kickers in early rounds.
I remember a home game. We needed an extra point (it might have been a short FG but I think it was a point). He was waving his arms, pacing the bench. I am sure he was asking “Has ANYONE kicked an extra point? In high school?” because then some hefty linebacker-looking guy came out to kick. Of course, he missed it. I will never forget that, though I don’t remember specifics.
April 19th, 2023 at 4:23 pm
That was coach McKay. Sorry I left that out.
April 19th, 2023 at 4:25 pm
DALVIN COOK
Tampa didn’t draft Dalvin Cook because he had Florida gang affiliations. Probably a good thing to get him out of the state. He’s had a great career.
April 19th, 2023 at 4:40 pm
Dooley Says
“Chucky is a relic in today’s society and he got what he deserved. I imagine some of ya’ll wanted him back when he was planning to come back to coaching…”
1) I do believe that we, as a society and as individuals we need to evolve with the times…Chucky did not do that.
2) Chucky had a unique relationship with his players…he spoke in the same language as most of them. In the locker room, it went over well, publicly not so much.
3) I don’t feel people should be judged for things they said before the culture change. It was more acceptable back then, even if it was wrong. People change (normally).
4) He should not have been removed from the Ring of Honor. Period. It was our first superbowl. Removing him feels like a slight to the whole SB team that year.
5) I’m from a generation that spoke very differently and had very different views. I’m in media now and so I have been evolving the past few years…that doesn’t mean I agree with everything, but I have evolved to respect people and their right to make the choices they make…even though the choice themselves may disgust me at times.
April 19th, 2023 at 4:49 pm
SB~LV Says
“Licht has bamboozled the Gboyz ,
The Jason Principle
5 Years of Jameis”
First, Jason did not want to draft Jameis. He had to accept it because the Glazers wanted to give Smith his way.
And they didn’t trust Licht to run the team on his own for the first few years. When they finally DID let him fully have the lead, he hired Bruce Arians, and the next year he won over Brady…which resulted in a Superbowl.
No one fell into his lap either…he did the work to get them. A complete culture change.
So why are we stuck with Bowles then? My theory?
I think Arians wanted Bowles as his DC so badly that Lict and the Glazers had to promise him the head coaching role once Arians retired. I believe he would have been gone last year (Bowles), if not for the injuries excuse…and really, as much as I hate to admit it…it’s an acceptable excuse.
Plus, Licht and the Glazers knew about the cap issues. They know they can get a better coach next year if they need to…and that it would have been harder this year with the cap issues.
So…give Bowles another year. Get the cap under control. If Bowles cannot prove himself, well, then…he cannot claim he didn’t get a fair chance. The Glazers won’t fire a coach during the season, so he’ll have the entire year to prove himself.
And he probably won’t…and we’ll be out from under all the issues by then.
April 19th, 2023 at 4:50 pm
Meanwhile, Licht can draft for the lines and improve the roster this year and next. By next year, we should be competing again.
The one wild card is the QB position. While I doubt Mayfield will work out, Trask is a complete unknown. And if they draft another QB…well, it will get extremely interesting.
April 19th, 2023 at 4:55 pm
“A dude running afoul of the law, so long as he isn’t doing jail time, a team can and just may overlook that.
#RealTalk”
Joe, this reminds me of Clay Travis’s quote that really rings true, I’m paraphrasing here, but: “If your talent outweighs your distractions, you’ll have a job in your sport”
April 19th, 2023 at 5:07 pm
Cricket Baker, it was probably George Yarno. I think he was a guard.
April 19th, 2023 at 6:20 pm
Once upon a time sticks and stones could break my bones but names would never hurt me.
Not anymore, for it sure seems to me what one says Carry far more importance than what one does!
Chucky could surely second that.
Wtf happened to our most treasured amendment freedom of speech?
April 19th, 2023 at 8:31 pm
He literally drafted Jameis Winston. They’re not scared of blowback.
April 19th, 2023 at 9:49 pm
Don’t forget Kellen Wislow….
Although he was only known as a primadonna when the Bucs signed him. It was after that that he went of the deep end. He had to be a heck of a locker room presence lol
April 19th, 2023 at 9:55 pm
If we went with Mariota people would’ve been more outraged lol FSU homers on here are relentless
I don’t think Licht cares much about how the fans will react (good) but I do think the Glazers care (fair but shortsighted) and I think the coaching hires have exhibited this
April 19th, 2023 at 11:28 pm
Bonzai, very well said and written. Normally I don’t read that many words but you took your positions and backed them up with solid points. I agree with most everything you wrote. Well done.
Others who blabber just for the sake of blabbering to show how much smarter they are than everyone else, who paste in all kinds of data that a trained monkey can find on the internet — take a lesson from Bonzai. And instead of saying “the Bucs could go 4-13 or 11-6,” take a position. Hedging is really boring.
April 20th, 2023 at 4:07 am
Fan blowback in Tampa ?
Joe you forgot Bowles and Lefty on your list.
Oops… sorry they aren’t in the crazy or criminal category…just inept.