“Fortunately I Didn’t Get Fired”
August 23rd, 2024
“No Mr. Bidwill, I haven’t been looking for work for some time. Yes, Mr. Bidwill, I’ve got a great job and supportive owners. Didn’t you see the boat parade on TV a few years ago?”
Stunning admission from the football shot-caller of the Bucs earlier this week.
A man who someday may have his name enshrined in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor, AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, made a shocking declaration this week.
While appearing on the SiriusXM NFL Radio training camp tour stop at One Buc Palace, speaking with former NFL general manager Rick Spielman, Licht told Spielman it’s a good thing he didn’t get canned by Team Glazer.
Spielman asked Licht about his success of late with late-round draft picks (specifically, José Ramirez) and undrafted free agents (Spielman cited Christian Izien), Licht made his stunning admission.
“We also stick to the type of character that we are looking for,” Licht said about sifting through the weeds late in the draft for guys who can get on the field.
Spielman then asked Licht if that philosophy in finding hidden gems is adhered to by his personnel staff.
“It’s extremely important,” Licht said of everyone in personnel rowing in unison. “Fortunately, I didn’t get fired and we were able to stick together with this staff because the longer you work together, as you know, with your coaching staff and your personnel staff, the better relationships you have and the more trust we have in each other.
“Right now, I would say we are at an all-time high with the trust factor.”
Joe has to wonder when did Licht think he was going to get fired? Did he believe he was going to get launched when lousy Lovie Smith was run? (Remember, it was Lovie who advised Team Glazer to interview Licht.)
Was it when Licht (?) decided to pull the plug on Dirk Koetter?
Joe doesn’t think there is any question that luring Bucco Bruce Arians to Tampa Bay bought Licht time if not saved his career.
We know what happened after that.
Now? The way Licht and his staff are drafting, Licht probably has the most job security he’s ever had.
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:11 am
Put in all that effort to find high character guys to draft then you go sign Randy Gregory yea real genius. Wonder what kind of drama he would have caused if he had shown up and made the team
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:11 am
We are lucky to have Licht. Without him we would be perpetual bottom feeders. He does make mistakes but he has made some incredible finds too.
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:14 am
I think it was self-imposed pressure. It has been briefly discussed but more needs to be said about the Glazer Kids and their desire to make Tampa a Major Market with tradition.
That starts with loyalty and continuity. Us die hard Tampa Sports fans have gotten to see what that looks like across all of our major sports the last 10 years.
Cash
Cooper
Licht
Ownership
Ownership
Ownership
Birds of a Feather.
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:17 am
If the Glazer Boyz had fired Licht, it would have been back to the Culverhouse days. They would have had to own it, too. Smart move on their part.
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:18 am
I agree with Joe’s take on when Licht thought he could get run. Personally, I think Licht is referring to 2 different times in his Bucs tenure. First, when he launched Lovie as Team Glazer could have easily decided to get a new GM as well even if Licht promoted Koetter and the Bucs had that “stick carrier 9-7 year”. Since I brought up Koetter, the second time Licht probably came close to being launched was when Koetter flamed out with a big assist from his buddy Mike Smith before BA swooped in and saved Licht’s bacon as Licht had to own drafting Jameis and that whole train wreck of a 2016 draft.
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:28 am
@FortMyersDave
Nothn wrong with JW pick. He would still be here if not for the GREATEST OF ALL TIME coming to Tampa.
The more one looks at the lost decade, the more one realizes that the franchise was transitioning from one of the GREATEST OF ALL TIME teams.
Jason Licht literally saved us from Chucky and The Dom. after they rode the Glory Days over the horizon.
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:29 am
Best GM in the business. Hands down. Thank you Jason.
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:39 am
Nothing wrong with the JW pick. We needed a QB and there were 2 at the top of the list. Some here wanted Mariota and some wanted Jameis. They were both busts. Sometimes it’s not the right year to be terrible.
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:40 am
If I would have drafted Vernon Hargreaves and Roberto Aguayo I would’ve been worried about my career as well.
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:47 am
I have noticed in recent years on the official Bucs www.
when the rookies are interviewed how articulate and well spoken most are…
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:57 am
Who knew Aguayo would self destruct as he did when he was the best in college?
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:58 am
Lovie made all football decisions and acted as GM in his (thankfully) brief and disastrous Bucs tenure. Jason’s first and best decision as GM was getting the Glazers agreement to fire the catatonic buffoon. The compromise with the Glazers was to keep Dirk for JaMiss’s development. No one counted on Mike Smith deciding to check out, retire on the job and write a book. Too bad Dirk was so loyal to Smith, it cost him his job.
Clearly, Licht hiring BA was his very best decision and the rest is history.
Thank you, Jason.
August 23rd, 2024 at 10:18 am
In Licht’s defense, he did what he was supposed to do and support his coaching staff by finding players that FIT what that coach wanted to do. Lovie Smith wanted Tampa 2 players on defense… he did that… they didn’t work out because Smith’s best days running a defense were well behind him. He found players that fit Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith… and they were both complete failures as coaches. They specifically wanted Vernon Hargreaves, who’s upside was that of a nickle corner only. Licht did his job and brought in system fits for terrible systems. Now that he has more clout in the way the organization is run, he drafts great fits, not just for the system, but for the team and luckily, Bowles’ defense is versatile and can adjust the system around the personnel.
August 23rd, 2024 at 10:27 am
He said fortunately he didn’t get fired.
A coach like BA coming out of retirement and greatest quarterback of all time signing with your ball club won’t happen twice
But hey keep signing me up for 9-8 middle of the pack with those great draft picks but that’s not progress.
Can’t avoid it Licht at some point you’ll have to find the Glazers their franchise rookie quarterback. He’s probably not getting recognition because he hasn’t drafted a double digit sacker or quarterback. Might get one of the two this year
August 23rd, 2024 at 10:45 am
I think Licht almost got fired after Ira said “fire Jason Licht!”. 😂
August 23rd, 2024 at 11:11 am
No Joe, it wasn’t because of Lovie Smith’s failure or Dirk Koetter’s failure. It was because of Jay-Miss’ failure. It is unprecedented for GMs to survive a #1 overall draft BUST. I don’t think it’s ever happened and if it did, I don’t think that GM went on to earn a Super Bowl ring the following season. Coach killing Jay-Miss was the common denominator.
August 23rd, 2024 at 11:20 am
Remember, one huge reason Bruce Arians came here (aside of his history with Licht) was *because* of Jameis (those two went back years). Licht let Jameis’ contract expire and then he signed Tom Brady.
August 23rd, 2024 at 11:41 am
Brandon: I agree with you, I just wish someone in the Bucs organization at that time would’ve had the common sense to not draft a short, slow CB in the 1st Round. Hargreaves was a 4th Round guy, talent-wise.
August 23rd, 2024 at 12:23 pm
It’s pretty obvious that the Mike Smith lead defense hurt Winston more than it helped him. Never forget, the historically bad defense that supported JW historically good year that includes *30int*****
Say what you want about Mr. Crab Legs, but he was butter than any QB we have ever had not named Brady.
August 23rd, 2024 at 12:25 pm
I would take a matured JWs just like I have taken to a matured BM. Although, I prefer the locker room the way it is with Baker. Probably because he is….
August 23rd, 2024 at 12:25 pm
It was probably around the time when Ira was calling for his head
August 23rd, 2024 at 12:38 pm
Absolutely. If you have a gunslinger for a quarterback, you better have a defense. Jameis knew before he stepped outside the locker room on gamedays he had to put up 30 or the Bucs were screwed.
August 23rd, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Must call BS on Licht saying character matters for drafting, yet they signed R. Gregory, A. Brown, and others — compartmentalized thinking. Hope the Bucs can mount a pass rush this season.
August 23rd, 2024 at 12:56 pm
@Dr
You are just providing evidence for how Licht would know character matters. More specifically, what type of characters matter. Its ok to have a Warren Sapp, IF you have a Derrik Brooks and Lynch
August 23rd, 2024 at 1:01 pm
@Joe
And when BA got here. Winston, just like everyone else, knew that his INTs would go up. Winston got Done Dirt Cheap. BUT that’s what AC DC loving GMs get paid to do.
Doesn’t hurt when your opinions as a GM are, The GOAT or Door #1, 2 or who gives a crap.
August 23rd, 2024 at 1:02 pm
*Options as a GM
August 23rd, 2024 at 1:56 pm
Jameis holding out for more money helped prolong Lichts career if he would have signed a team friendly contract Brady and the superbowl would never have happened. Thank you Jameis!
August 23rd, 2024 at 2:10 pm
Funny revisionist history here on Winston. Most people who weren’t FSU homers knew Winston was destined for being a career backup by the end of his 3rd season. The fact is that he wasn’t accurate enough or disciplined enough to win with. Let me guess, all he needed was ONE MORE SEASON to figure it out. 😄 This “he had to do it all” revisionist history is bunk. There have been several QBs with bad defenses who weren’t a turnover machine. The Bucs were never going to win anything with Winston.
Remember, all 32 NFL teams saw the 30-30 season the same way most rational Bucs fans saw it. You can’t win with a QB like that. I wish it worked out for him here because he’s a heck of a personality, but he was a bust.
August 23rd, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Anyone worth a shirt who has a job measured on performance lives in fear of getting fired. It is what creates greatness.
Licht is definitely ROH and should be HOF. Yes. HOF.
Ira. You will be sipping pina coladas in Barbados by the time he is done. So you must Sherpa the next HOF media fighter person so that those like Licht who need their record being made can get the chocolate bust in Canton.
August 23rd, 2024 at 2:59 pm
Glad to have Licht here. He’s drafted well and when he hasn’t he owns it. He’s forced to keep some longer than he wants bc no one better is available or the salary cap has his hands tied. All smart moves.
August 23rd, 2024 at 3:28 pm
Has Ramirez ever played? What are we talking about?
August 23rd, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Winston pick was bad … but that was a horrible year to draft # 1 so…
August 23rd, 2024 at 8:06 pm
Licht was hovering lower than Dominik losing percentage before Big Brother Bruce Arians came outta retirement. The magical 2020 season saved Licht…he’s more or less proven his worth since. The continuity with Greenberg, Spytek & the scouting depth has been solid