Licht, Lovie “Love, Love, Love” Johnny Football
April 11th, 2014
Love is alleged to be in the air at One Buc Palace over Johnny Football
After reading the piece linked below last night, Joe almost had to take a cold shower and kept reminding himself that April is the Season of Smoke.
A Houston sports radio host, who just happens to be the son of the assistant offensive line coach on the staff of Bruce Arians with the Arizona Desert Rats, where Bucs general manager Jason Licht worked last year, claims “for a fact” to know the mindset of Lovie Smith and Licht (or both) when it comes to drafting a certain quarterback.
Lance Zierlein, son of longtime NFL coach Larry Zierlein, claims there is no doubt who L&L are drafting at No. 7 next month, provided said player is available; that player is none other than Johnny Football. Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski, of WHFS-FM 98.7, dug up the podcast of Lance Zierlein, who also is a noted draft expert and a contributor to Rotoworld.com.
“Lovie Smith and Jason Licht love Johnny Manziel…love love love,” Zierlein said during his weekly podcast. “Lovie was there at his pro day, and he was there for Mike Evans as well, but I know that Lovie Smith loves Johnny Manziel. I know this for a fact.”
Zierlein, along with the other hosts on the podcast all said that they were surprised by this news, but Zierlein said he trusts his source fully.
“I’ve been told that if Manziel makes it to seven, he won’t get past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Zierlein continued. “They think that highly of him.”
Is Zierlein’s source his father, the NFL assistant?
Joe cannot tell you how much he wants to believe Zierlein but this just wreaks of smoke. Why would L&L give this information to a guy whose son has a radio show in one of the biggest cities in America?
If it’s not a smokescreen, then it may just be a plant. Again, as much as Joe wants to believe this, it’s too obvious of a trap for him.
The evening of May 8 cannot get here quick enough.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:38 am
If true, this would be better news to start the day than the Cheerleader video you provided this morning
April 11th, 2014 at 8:39 am
Joe, don’t be an idiot. Didn’t you just posted the article yesterday talking about April smoke screens
April 11th, 2014 at 8:43 am
Good news. Glennonites mad.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:44 am
sorry Joe, next time I will read before I post a comment. But anyways Joe did you see this article… http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2025078-johnny-manziel-reportedly-records-highest-wonderlic-score-of-drafts-top-qb
April 11th, 2014 at 8:48 am
in other words, does anyone want to trade up to the #7 pick for “Johnny Failure” ?
April 11th, 2014 at 8:57 am
Translation: Please someone pay an absurd amount to Houston to come up to #1 and take him.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:05 am
Good thing the wonderlic score means nothing. People with high and low scores have been busts in the NFL.
I wouldn’t reach for Man-child at 7. Let some other sucker take him. We other needs.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:06 am
All week long all we have heard is how much Josh has brought to the locker room already in terms of leadership. Bringing in JF now could destroy that because there would already be a faction and a QB controversy. Don’t get me wrong, we still will probably take a QB…BUT.. and here is my question to JOE…how come it’s FRIDAY of OTA week and we have not heard ONE WORD about Carl Nicks? He is the key to our draft. Assuming we don’t trade down ( as I have speculated) and take Evans without Carl Nicks we have NO CHOICE but to take the top OG in RD2. If they think he can play now our options are open to a 2nd rd. QB ie Garroppolo who will not divide a nes locker room. IMO
First, it’s not really OTA week. The players are there for conditioning and meetings only and, per league labor rules, can’t be on the field practicing with coaches. The Bucs have yet to say exactly what Nicks is doing in his rehab, only that they are encouraged and hopeful. Whether that means Nicks is doing pushups and riding a bike, or much more, is unclear. Joe will learn soon what’s happening. –Joe
April 11th, 2014 at 9:12 am
I do not get how some fans are so sure J Football will be a bust or great for that matter. If you can know the future with such certainty then please provide me the winning power ball numbers and I will split with you 50%…oh I guess if you could be such an expert on the future, you would be a millionaire by now. I think that taking Manziel is a gamble but to say he will be a failure before his first NFL season is a little short sighted. IMO. The draft is like gambling anyways. Take black jack for instance. I have lost on some hands I thought for sure would beat the house with and won with a 12 when I thought for sure I would lose. Only time will tell.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:18 am
So wunderlick only matters when a low score is recorded but when JF does well, it’s not a big deal. The same blind Glennon supporters would be going off for weeks if he scored low. Give credit were credit is due. Don’t hate a rising star without merit.
Johnny @ 7
April 11th, 2014 at 9:18 am
If we take Johnny Football in the 1st round we will definitely need to take a WR in the 2nd, maybe Kelvin Benjamin or the guy from Penn St. Allen Robinson. The rest of the better WR will probably be gone by the time we pick in the 2nd unless we move back into the late 1st. We need speed though and the two I mentioned are not fast.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:27 am
Joe
Any truth to rumors that Kelvin Benjamin blew off a workout. Allegedly he said he was too “tired”. I thought I had read early in the week Benjamin stock was rising.
If the bucs are lucky enough to draft Johnny football there will be ZERO controversy at all. Very simply McCown plays until JF in ready and Glennon is history. L&L have already stated their preferences to carry 2 qbs.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:29 am
Who cares about Jhonny football, How about the set of Footballs on that chick in the red!
April 11th, 2014 at 9:32 am
Wherever Manziel ends up, we’ll see who’s right.
If he succeeds, Joe should take some serious victory laps. If he fails, then get ready for the lash son cause you ain’t never livin’ that down.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:32 am
Now you’re talking BucfanNJ that’s a fine young lady. My favorite of all the nice girls that joe posts. Be careful though some feel it’s a crime to pul.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:33 am
If you’re Lovie and Licht and you know they know you’re smoke screening this info, and you know they know that you know they know, then do say it anyway because they know you know they know you know?
April 11th, 2014 at 9:33 am
Great news! Good to see this coaching staff knows their QBs and can spot a difference makers. I just think he’ll be gone by #7.
As for Kelvin Benjamin rumors… stay far away. Anyone with inner workings of the FSU football program knows the story on Benjamin. Pass.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:39 am
AWESOME. AWESOME. AWESOME. This pretty much guarantees we won’t be drafting Johnny ICan’tReadDefensesOrGoThroughMyProgressionsBall in the first!
None of the Draft ‘Gurus’ have much love for any of this years QB’s they all expect them to go high because they are QB’s not because of talent. Don’t be surprised when nobody reaches for a QB this year.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:42 am
Yeah I am ok with drafting Manziel as long as he brings that girl with him. No one ever questioned his ability to “pull.”
If Lovie really does “love” Johnny, we have to trust him. I’m not a huge JF fan, but if the Bucs draft him I still have my season tickets and I might have to grab a new #2 jersey regardless. Go Bucs!
April 11th, 2014 at 9:43 am
If this is true and the bucs do draft him, he sits for a year. It’s the perfect place for him to do that, learn the offense and improve his skill. We will see him next year or late this year.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:45 am
Also, for everyone writing “SMOKESCREEN!!!” in all caps and arguing with Joe about this article, try actually reading it. You might have missed where Joe said:
“Joe cannot tell you how much he wants to believe Zierlein but this just wreaks of smoke.”
You go Joe! And Go Bucs!
April 11th, 2014 at 9:49 am
Fasted way for a HC/GM to get fired is to draft a bust QB in the first round. JM with so many questions, Do JL/LS gamble?
April 11th, 2014 at 9:54 am
Barry another sure way to get fired would be to stick with mediocrity which unfortunately would still be an upgrade over the last 12 years of losing.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:55 am
This is shocking! I’d heard from Licht’s gardener’s barber’s cousin that the Bucs weren’t that high on John. Who knows?!
April 11th, 2014 at 9:55 am
Actually Barry this is less of a gamble for tampa because Manziel would not have to start right away. He could sit for a year and the team won’t rot for it. Mccown is a capable starter and so is Glennon. Manziel could hit the field when the coaching staff feels that he is ready. Johnny is actually a low risk high reward situation. If Johnny is a hit , it’s a big hit. If he is a bust, we draft another qb, I don’t think this team will depending on Johnny to take them to the playoffs this season. He probably will be the guy next year.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:56 am
Joe don’t deny it if you saw Johnny Manziel in person you’d probably sexually assault him, that is how much you are obsessed with him. What are you going to do for a living after everyone stops visiting here because of your obession with him ?
April 11th, 2014 at 9:56 am
@hfxbuc this quarterback class is nowhere near as bad as last year
April 11th, 2014 at 9:58 am
I’ll believe it when I see his jersey for sale.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:04 am
I think we will know how much l&l like JF come pick 2. If they love him they will trade up if possible most likely overpaying with a pick from next year since so few picks this year.
Also all this talk about busts and risk is overblown. With the new rookie contracts being more or less a fixed value it’s not like a team goes into cap hell missing on first round picks as in previous years.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:07 am
If we take a QB at seven there is no way he sits for a year. You don’t draft QBs in the top ten to be backups.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:15 am
zzzzzzZZZZZZzzzzZZZZZZzzzzzZZZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZ
*Aerosmith’s Dream On plays loudly in the background*
April 11th, 2014 at 10:16 am
Johnny Football wouldn’t be drafted to be a backup. Johnny Football would be drafted to be the savior to the buccaneers and lead us to the promised land. Female buc fans will be throwing their bras and panties on the field in celebration after every time Johnny touches the ball/scores a touchdown. We will instantly have the QB that pulls the most in the ENTIRE LEAGUE.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:18 am
Did anyone other than me even listen to the actual podcast? I didn’t think so. They raved, raved, raved about….Mike Glennon.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:18 am
Can’t wait for the draft
April 11th, 2014 at 10:23 am
Which translates to, they all suck accept Bortles and Carr.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:27 am
Jesus you people have an unhealthy infatuation with a kid.
He literally will be boo’d out of Tampa after his first losing season by the very same people clamoring for him.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:28 am
My girlfriend’s daughter who is best friends with the grand daughter of a very famous fortune teller said that fortune teller’s dog came to her in a dream and spoke with a human voice that we’re trading everything for the #1 pick to draft Lebron James as TE!! The dog had ingested a fly on a wall…or something like that…
April 11th, 2014 at 10:31 am
I think he ate a shroom…
April 11th, 2014 at 10:36 am
PRbucfan
I normally appreciate your posts please elaborate why you think he will fail.
Me personally, I want to win and could careless about individual players they come and go but I love my team. I’ll be pissed whoever loses that being said I am tired of mediocre qb play I’ve been going to games since 1980 and for once would like a qb with some ability and star power not just an average joe who will tease us with a few wins here and there. It’s been 12 long years. The IT factor does matter. It’s not about pulling it’s about winning and making those around you better. We has bucs fans have never had a qb with IT
April 11th, 2014 at 10:38 am
Best news ever!!!
April 11th, 2014 at 10:47 am
I don’t like the kid to be honest, rubs me wrong and not because of his partying ways, and personally I just think the hype and over obsession is very ridiculous.
People are acting as if drafting the kid equates to instant success or as if the kid has already won 6 superbowls and has a bust in Canton and that is the most irritating part.
If we draft him fine but calm the hell down people, excitement and mediahumping does not equate to wins. Wait till the guy does something in the league before you begin the Manziel worship.
That’s all.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:52 am
@tmax, dont forget B r a d y was a sixth rounder, Warner – oh, where did he come from? Steve Young who? Then look at the many 1st round QB’s that had “IT” but couldnt translate “IT” to the next level.
I’ll tell you who has “IT” going for him for a 3rd rounder QB, Connor Shaw!
April 11th, 2014 at 10:53 am
Jonny is a mistake of epic proportions waiting to happen.
Undisciplined, runs at the first sign of pressure, poor mechanics, small, avoids check downs in search for the bigger play…and so on. He does have good playmaking ability, but it’s just not enough.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:54 am
Gus is correct.Low risk,high reward.Grab him sit him,teach him(we got a QB guru right?)If he’s for real he starts next year with a more dynamic cast around him,improving his chances for success.It will sell tix,it will get tv time.It will bring some long awaited super star swag to the pirate ship.The kid is smart and athletic.Im sure he will be a very dynamic pro.Dont forget the coach players spend the most time with are the strength coaches and Texas A&Ms and J Footballs from collage is now our strength coach.I would think if Johny is our pick it came with inside recommendation from our staff
April 11th, 2014 at 10:55 am
Sorry -college not collage ehh
April 11th, 2014 at 11:03 am
@Joe. your starting to lose credibility
April 11th, 2014 at 11:08 am
They need…A wideout…at number 7…It would be great if the Bucs didn’t let go of Mike Williams, but that move dommed them this year unless they grab a stud. I know this draft is believed to be the “deepest” in the history of the world, however that’s all speculation and you go with the sure thing. If you give McCown $5 mil a year for some reason, then he is going to start. They can’t afford to have a second-tier receiver on the roster while their 1st round pick sits on the bench. I would have loved to have Manziel on the roster two weeks ago, but it is what it is now and they need to grab the surefire thing. Garoppolo will be there round 2
April 11th, 2014 at 11:09 am
I wonder what the Glazers think of Johnny Football? Maybe…”cha Ching”. Dreams of sold out stadiums and amazing jersey sales…etc. Or do they think, “that kid is too risky of an investment?
April 11th, 2014 at 11:14 am
Yes, draft the Lady in Red and we get a QB also!! That’s like a double pick. And she has hot friends she will be bring with her!
April 11th, 2014 at 11:15 am
I would hope they don’t equate “sold out stadiums and amazing jersey sales” to wins, cause that certainly not the case.
April 11th, 2014 at 11:34 am
Tick tick tick, time moves slowly when you await something you are excited about actually happening. I’m on the fence as to the whole Manziel coming to the Bucs thing, leaning to falling off on the sandspur infested side of blown draft picks that did’nt pan out, mostly at QB.
April 11th, 2014 at 11:41 am
If we take a QB at. 7, Manziel is the most worthy.
I still think it’s one of :
Clowney, Robinson, Mack, Watkins, Mathews, Lewan, Donald, trade back.
April 11th, 2014 at 11:45 am
Madmax- flacco Big Ben Rodgers luck rg3 Peyton Matt Ryan cam newton all early picks so stop with your nonsense. You named TWO, TWO,, TWO QBS who made it big in the 6th round and conveniently left out all the stud QB’s drafted day one. Two qbs in 40 years of the draft getting drafted outside the 1st round is a pitiful argument for not draftin a QB in the 1st. It’s stupid opinions like yours that are the reason the Bucs have NEVER had a franchise QB..outside of freeman they haven’t even tried to draft a top QB which = not having a top QB. We signed 17 free agents which showed how easy it is to sign a lineman or a corner..how many franchise qbs make it to the open market? Zero and don’t even mention cutler considering McCown played better in his time than cutler ever did. But McCown is 35 so draft teddy blake or Manziel and enjoy the playoffs next year Bucs fans.
April 11th, 2014 at 11:46 am
Just saw this on Twitter,but the #1 QB in the NFL last year in terms of percentage of yards through the air (i.e. not YAC)? Why, its Mike Glennon! 67% of his yards gained are through the air. That’s a nice stat right there, shows you Glennon isn’t a dump it off an let the receivers or do the work or a screen type QB. Means he’s throwing the ball down the field. 50/50 the Bucs draft a QB, 0% chance it happens in the first round.
April 11th, 2014 at 12:09 pm
Hope it’s a smokescreen. Or… just because they love love love him doesn’t mean they’ll definitely draft him. What about other players they love love love, that we haven’t heard about? Khalil Mack? I bet they love love love him too. Greg Robinson. I bet L&L L L L him too.
April 11th, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Joe
I listened to part of the podcast where they talked about the Bucs. The thing I find funny about the entire thing was not so much on Johnny football, but rather how they talked about how much Glennon impressed them last year behind a shoddy offensive line, 1 receiver, and no starting running back. They just can’t understand why the Bucs would be looking for another QB when they’ve got Glennon. They were naming off all the teams that should trade for Glennon and even suggested that he’s worthy of a second round pick. I understand L&L’s concern with Glennon primarily based on his lack of mobility, but at the same time I’d be ecstatic if we got a second round pick for him!
April 11th, 2014 at 12:15 pm
All of you besides Joe should learn a thing ow two about football and stop listening to ESPNTMZ. Johnny put up ridiculous numbers against SEC defenses like Alabama at the age of 18-19 which are some of the most talented defenses in football. Now lets hear the “Oh well tebow did that and look how he turned out.” Everyone besides Skip Bayless knew he was a scrub. In college the Gaytors used speed receivers on screens and short routes which is why Tebow’s numbers were so jacked up in college. Johnny can throw the deep ball and has run a pro style offense with far less weapons (outside of Mike Evans) than what Tebow had. He made a team that hadn’t been relevant in years a household name in their first year in the SEC when no one thought the could compete. Manziel killed his Pro Day. Where are the signs he is going to be a bust in that equation?
April 11th, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Drafting Johnny would add some excitement to a dull offense. I sure do hope it happens. May 8th can’t get here fast enough. Of course once it does get here I’ll probably be disappointed.
April 11th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
Do me a favorJoe. Just keep posting those pictures of Johnny with the hotties. or just post pictures of hotties
April 11th, 2014 at 12:57 pm
@ bucrightoff
Wow. Cool stat. I knew I liked MG8 for a reason.
Be careful thought. You could get banned for posts like that.
(Somewhere Joe dreams of Johnny Football while Olivia Newton John
plays softly in the background)
April 11th, 2014 at 12:58 pm
I will be sure to prepare myself to root for a guy I don’t like simply because of the awesome jersey he’s wearing.
April 11th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
mpalloy
Nice state but how many wins did it generate. Wins are everything. Everything else is an excuse. Raise your standards folks.
Of course Lovie and licht are going to say positive things about Glennon publicly it could be the difference between a 6th or 7th round pick.
April 11th, 2014 at 1:53 pm
tmaxcon Says:
April 11th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
mpalloy
Nice state but how many wins did it generate. Wins are everything. Everything else is an excuse. Raise your standards folks.
Of course Lovie and licht are going to say positive things about Glennon publicly it could be the difference between a 6th or 7th round pick.
___________________________________________________________
Wins = team accomplishment. Only Peyton, Brees, Rodgers and Brady are actually good enough to win games by themselves, and even then its not that simple. And there is absolutely no Peyton, Brees, Rodgers and Brady in this draft.
Overly simplistic analysis? Raise your standards folks…
April 11th, 2014 at 2:05 pm
Note to the NFL. Please put the draft back in April. Thanks.
April 11th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
“67% of his yards gained are through the air. ”
ok, great. so he averaged 134 yards through the air per game…and? it is a meaningless stat. look at it this way, he could have had more yards after catch, hence lower percentage, if he had a strong, accurate arm. his deep passes were ducks or jump balls. he rarely hit a receiver in stride even when the receiver was wide open.
since glue-pad glennon is so intelligent, what was his wonderlic?
April 11th, 2014 at 2:40 pm
The April meeting of the “Johnny Man-Love Club” will be meeting at Joes place this Sunday at 12 noon. The agenda:
12:00-12:05 – Sing the official Johnny Man-Love club anthem “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
12:05-1:00 Giggle like schoolgirls about how Johhny Man-Love makes us weak in the knees and gives us “Draft-wood”.
1:00-1:30 – Make Jeffrey the Giraffe jokes about Mike Glennon.
1:30-2:00 – Work on our fan novellas about what it would be like if Johnny was stranded on a desert island with us.
2:00-2:30 – Lunch/nap
2:30-3:00 – Make macaroni art dioramas of us holding Johnny’s hand and skipping through a field of wild flowers.
3:00-5:00 wait for your parents to show up and take you home in the minivan!
The meeting is open to all “Johnny Man-Loving” members who are current on their dues. Mike Glennon mobsters and yucky, cootie infested girls not welcome!
April 11th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
You had me at bras and panties flying at RayJay!! Please let Johnny fall to #7. I’ll be a season ticket holder!!
April 11th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
“Make Jeffrey the Giraffe jokes about Mike Glennon.”
it should be geoffrey giraffe jokes. also, you may use glue-pad glennon or glue shoes glennon if you want.
April 11th, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Joe’s panties flew a long time ago.
April 11th, 2014 at 3:01 pm
It makes a bit of sense to me that they’d draft J FB since:
1) They are starting over new all around
2) Which means they have the opp to builod an offense around Johnny
3) Which is the only way he’d have a chance
4) And he could ride the pine for a year to get ready.
5) And Lovie would avoid the tag that he is a defense only coach and doesn’t pay attention to the offense to really be a winning squad.
6) Hey maybe that would all work.
7) It sure would be a lot of fun for a change
8) Do it!
April 11th, 2014 at 3:04 pm
Any QB drafted in the first round will not be sitting. That is not how it works in the NFL anymore. The fans will automatically annoit a 1st round QB savior, cauing an automatic QB controversy.
Since 2009, the list of QBs who didn’t start as 1st round picks is Josh Freeman, who still started 8 games, and Tim Tebow, who is horrible. Otherwise every 1st round QB has started right away. That’s how the NFL works now. That is why there is a 0% chance the Bucs draft one in the first round. Licht would be tying himself to that QB. If that QB busts, Licht’s job also goes bust.
April 11th, 2014 at 3:20 pm
The hell with Johnny Football…..who’s that girl in that pic I keep seeing. Wow!
April 11th, 2014 at 4:10 pm
“Licht would be tying himself to that QB. If that QB busts, Licht’s job also goes bust.”
————————————————————————————–
if they draft watkins, or mack, or clowney, or robinson and they bust, licht’s job also goes bust. it doesn’t matter who is drafted. also, licht will get more than 1 or 2 years even if they draft a bust. what you said is illogical.
April 11th, 2014 at 4:22 pm
Didn’t Licht say earlier that there was a franchise QB in the draft but not any of the ones most people were thinking of. There is so much double talk and smoke going on we won’t know anything for sure til May so calm down.
April 11th, 2014 at 5:01 pm
Buccanole,
Johnny was 19 when he won the Heisman. He like Jameis was a redshirt freshmen when he won his also. They were both college football players who were in their academic sophomore (2nd year of college classes) but in their first season athletically. They are allowed to practice with the team, but do not get to play in a sanctioned game in their first year at the school.
If you were a SEC fan, you would know Johnny did not light up every SEC defense he played against. Johnny had pedestrian numbers against UF in his Heisman year in which UF’s defensive coordinator was none other than Dan Quinn the current defensive coordinator of the Superbowl champion Seattle Seahawks and head coach candidate this past off season.
You should remember his defense, it was the one that knocked your boy EJ Manuel silly that same year. You know the game the Gators won with Jeff freaking Driskel. I did refrain from using a derogatory term for the former girls school you follow.
April 11th, 2014 at 5:14 pm
Browns are keeping Mack. So they must be drafting a QB in my opinion.
April 11th, 2014 at 5:45 pm
100% chance Manziel gets drafted by the Bucs. I can see the future too. Haha
April 11th, 2014 at 6:34 pm
boy3434, theres more than 2 QB’s…dont be stupid and irrelevant!
April 11th, 2014 at 9:39 pm
May 8th is Lovie Smith’s birthday, and mine for that matter. JF would be a nice present to both of us.
April 12th, 2014 at 9:40 am
If Johnny is there Lovie will draft him.
Unfortunately, Bridgewater is sucking at his team visits like he did his pro day.
Makes it less likely.
April 12th, 2014 at 2:52 pm
Tackleblockwin Said:
“I wonder what the Glazers think of Johnny Football? Maybe…”cha Ching”. Dreams of sold out stadiums and amazing jersey sales…etc. Or do they think, “that kid is too risky of an investment?”
If JF is there at seven and L&L don’t take him, I would think they might have some explaining to do to the Glazers.
All you people that call Glennon names like giraffe, glue shoes, napoleon, baldy etc. are probably ugly. 😉