Jason Licht Talks Jameis Winston
March 6th, 2015
Bucs GM Jason Licht discusses hosting quarterback Jameis Winston at One Buc Palace earlier this week. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
Man, if Jameis Winston isn’t the front runner for the Bucs’ No. 1 overall pick, then the narrative the Bucs website is pushing on Winston is not just unprecedented, but way over the top.
In a video on Buccaneers.com, general manager Jason Licht discussed Winston’s way-early visit to One Buc Palace. The video is sort of short, but sweet. In it, Licht doesn’t show his hand, but boy, he sure has a big ole’ smile on his face.
“He’s lively. He’s engaging. He is incredibly smart,” Licht said of Winston’s day-long visit. “He confirmed all the things that we thought about him going into the process, but the process isn’t done.”
Licht stressed no decision has been made as to who the Bucs will draft, and he explained he has told no player who the Bucs will pick. The Bucs may not have made a final decision, but it is also clear where they are leaning.
Licht said the Bucs will continue to do background work on Winston, and others, right up until the final hours before the draft to make sure the name called on April 30 is the right gman for the job.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:10 am
Very telling video.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:15 am
gomer and jesse in da house
March 6th, 2015 at 11:17 am
Mariotta is the pick. I’ll bet my left “nut” on it.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:18 am
@Schlomie
What are you basing this off of?
March 6th, 2015 at 11:20 am
There is no way that the Bucs will be negative on either QB…..I expect very positive reactions to the Mariota visit also.
Each QB has many Buc supporters….and not only do the Bucs want to pay respect to them….they don’t want to lower the draft stock of either.
To say they are “leaning” is purely speculation….since Winston has been the only visit thus far.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:21 am
his right nut
March 6th, 2015 at 11:21 am
robert9 the pedophile in the house. i accused you of it so it’s true.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:22 am
Looking forward to Hard Knock this year! Bucs one of 9 teams eligible. Have to think that they’ll want to use it as another PR resource to pump up JW.
and @Schlomie BarMitzvahCircumcisiStein
my condolences.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:31 am
Waiting for the two psychiatrists reports after which Jamie’s fall will be mighty.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:33 am
@TBBF
I really don’t understand how you can say that they aren’t even leaning towards Winston at this point. I think it is pretty obvious. Roy Cummings even just tweeted, “If the Bucs aren’t thinking Winston at this point, then this is the move elaborate plan I’ve ever seen.” Everyone sees it, except for people that don’t want to.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:33 am
When Mariota gets here and they say the same thing are you going to say they are leaning Mariota now??
March 6th, 2015 at 11:34 am
Jason looks like he may want to hit the gym with a few of his players
March 6th, 2015 at 11:35 am
they have to build winston up like their interested if they want him to have any leverage at all should they trade the pick. mariota already has interest
March 6th, 2015 at 11:35 am
I don’t care who the Bucs pick, it would’nt matter if I did. I’m already way past ready for some football. The NFL needs to stretch the regular season to 24 games, a real endurance test. If baseball can drag on for 6 months, America’s favorite sport should do the same.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:37 am
Great big fake smile right there. Mariota will highly impress them also
March 6th, 2015 at 11:41 am
I sure does seem like the Buccaneers are preparing the fans who maybe skeptical that Jameis is the likely selection.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:42 am
It all seems stupid to me…They should be leaning to Mariota right up until draft time…Chip Kelly is ready to sell a whole bunch of bodies for his QB. Bucs could set this franchise up for big time, long term success with a huge trade. Lovie and Licht are only leaning to this guy as a short term fix to save themselves and ownership might want the FSU QB to sell more tickets. Does anyone care about the future of this franchise?!?! I’m still looking for the first Bucs Dynasty to develop, not risk the future on this con artist…UGH!
March 6th, 2015 at 11:45 am
In the video Licht said:
“It [Jameis’ visit] didn’t get out. The player and his reps knew how important it was for us to keep this under wraps.”
And then it got out under the circumstances the Bucs wanted and controlled. Don’t underestimate how important that is for an organization and what that showed the Bucs. Jameis and his reps could’ve blown up their visit beforehand knowing that it would make Jameis look good. They didn’t. The Bucs wanted them to keep it quiet and let the team and organization control the message and that’s exactly what happened.
I think it was a test of Jameis and one that he clearly passed.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:58 am
Winston does bring a certain level of attention. You cant deny the potential risk involved. However I beleive with him playing in a “pro style” makes Winston the best fit going forward.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:59 am
so, they said don’t leak it and it was not leaked. and that was some great big test?
talk about reaching….
March 6th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
I wonder if the bucs website will also make a highlight reel video of Mariota’s visit?
It just seems odd that they would want to publicize his visit and pump positive hype towards the idea of drafting him if they weren’t going to take him. I don’t remember ever seeing video of team visits like that before a guy has been picked or signed.
And as Joe said in another article; a rep with the Bucs laughed at him when he suggested any idea of a smokescreen; saying they control the draft and have no need for it.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
wow so many people say they will embrace jameis Winston if he’s drafted but every post take shots at the guy. not very many have gone on record saying they’d support either quarterback like “Tampabaybucfan” has instead they have nothing but negativity about the guy even though clearly more attention is given to one over the other…..is licht’s smile fake? because he’s sure smiling like a school girl in these videos. if you have the first overall pick there is no benefit in hyping up one player, you’d have to hype up both in order to trade out of the pick because you’d have more takers. i’m not saying he’s Andrew luck or anything, ive heard people talk about his mechanics and flaws but none have questioned his intelligence as a quarterback. mechanics can change and hey we have a quarterback that doesn’t throw many interceptions in glennon but how’s that working out?
no one remembers the draft class of Andrew luck and RG3…..they talked about BOTH just equally, only reason mariotta is being mentioned is because of chip Kelly trade down now why is it he is needed so badly for this specific offense? ill embrace mariotta but if people are waiting for his pro day that is telling to me
March 6th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
@Adown88
I didn’t say they weren’t leaning….I said it is speculation to say they were….even Roy Cummings said “if”……
They are leaning…
I believe they are leaning
Two completely different statements
March 6th, 2015 at 12:03 pm
I honestly believe that they brought Winston in to “confirm what they already believed” (Licht’s words) and get the Glazer’s approval (which it sounds like they approved) so that way they can move forward with getting free agents that fit around Winston’s style, as well as focusing on the other draft picks that they have.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Why would people wait for his pro day? We saw what he could do at the combine. Nothing else he really needs to show.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
@ bucs4lyfe
I will support Mariota 100% if we pick him. I am a huge Winston supporter and would be extremely dissapointed in the decision because I think it’d be the wrong one; but I’d still root like hell for Mariota on Sundays.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
I can promise you this ADown….if the Glazers didn’t approve during the visit there is NO WAY the team web site would have put a second video up today
March 6th, 2015 at 12:13 pm
Winston is one of the most investigated men in America.
NYT’s and BSPN have been moved heaven and earth to find anything else on him.
Looks like smooth sailing for him until the announcement on April 30th.
Id say our GM is not at all displeased with that.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Could be a big act. They said lots of great things about Manziel but still would not have taken him in the 3rd round. Just saying take caution when reading these guys. They love the deception
March 6th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
@TBBF
Obviously everything is speculation… Everything is this time of year. But the Bucs are spoon feeding us Winston, so that is why id say (and everyone else says) that the Bucs are leaning towards him. They even had to go as far as clarifying that they haven’t yet told Winston that he is the guy. Lol.
@CreamsicleBananaHammock
My point exactly.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
what if they are preparing everyone for the drafting of Winston and all this media coverage of him by the team, all the photos all the talk through the town and all the fsu fans, all gator fans and you finally start to get people adjusted to the fact that you are going to draft Winston….then on draft day after virtually no coverage of him you draft mariotta, I think that could back fire more than just deciding now your going to draft winston
March 6th, 2015 at 12:23 pm
The more they talk up Winston, the more I think Mariota will be the pick.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
@Supersam
That makes no sense.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Why make yourself susceptible to the negativity for no reason?
March 6th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
The Bucs are either using their position at the top of the draft to relax a bit and show their hand or to work on their smokescreen skills. The Mariota visit will likely have the same pop and circumstance. If they’re set on taking a QB, it doesn’t really matter how much love they publicly give to either JW or MM. It only matters if they want to field trade offers for the #1 pick.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
For trade reasons, they talk up all the top prospects to generate interest in a trade. Happens every year, there being very suspiciously open about Winston and quiet about Mariota, and in the sports world you talk up the ones you don’t really want and be coy about the ones you do really want.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:43 pm
If, after the Mariota visit the Bucs have a clearly different response….then, that would mean something….but until then….simply SOP….
Some of this could be the proverbial trial ballon on Winston….
Let’s get him in early…..express our positive interest…see how it floats etc…
I actually think they are positive on him….but it still doesn’t mean he is the choice.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
You try an cast Winston in a Posotive light for the rest of the NFL to see, and then you hope a team takes the bait and gives up a kings ransom for him, then somehow trade back up into the early picks and take Mariota.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:50 pm
@Supersam
March 6th, 2015 at 12:51 pm
@Supersam
Yeah, that scenario is much more likely then them just liking Winston and want to make sure their fans know it early…
March 6th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Supersam Says:
March 6th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
For trade reasons, they talk up all the top prospects to generate interest in a trade. Happens every year, there being very suspiciously open about Winston and quiet about Mariota, and in the sports world you talk up the ones you don’t really want and be coy about the ones you do really want.
ONLY problem with that theory is they are talking up only one prospect
March 6th, 2015 at 12:58 pm
I don’t understand how 31 other teams are too dumb to realize that kind of strategy and or bluff or whatever you want to call it when every gm in the league employs those same tactics……they are talking up mike glennon to get draft picks and if they want to move down to get mariotta im not saying it’s impossible but regardless they will probably have to use those picks to move up and get mariotta UNLESS they are trying to switch with the titans….that’s the only trade down im willing to accept, trade Winston to the titans draft mariotta and get a 2nd and 3rd round pick build your, makes much more sense than trading down to freaking 20th
March 6th, 2015 at 1:14 pm
All the reporting from OBP about Winston’s visit – and now a 2nd video from Licht talking about it again after the fact on the Bucs own official website is VERY telling IMO. When has this ever happened? It hasn’t.
March 6th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
It’s never happened because we haven’t had the first pick in the draft since the Internet was invented, you have the first pick you hold all the cards. So you can throw anything you want out to the public and the media will eat it up.
March 6th, 2015 at 1:25 pm
There are several reasons to speak positively about Winston at this stage.
1. That’s exactly how they feel, at this time.
2. It increases interest in Winston as a trade possibility….perhaps even Tenn.
3. It is a trial balloon to float to Buc fans
4. It sends a message to Mariota that he needs to bring his best
5. They make a habit of being positive about all possible picks
6. They want to fake-out Joe
7. They have life insurance on 87…hoping for suicide if Winston isn’t picked
6. All of the above…
March 6th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Haha that was great Tampabaybucfan
March 6th, 2015 at 2:05 pm
You could have stopped at #1 and been completely correct TBBF.
There will be no trade – that’s for sure. We are drafting a legitimate franchise QB prospect. A Heisman winner who is 6’4″ that played in the rose bowl as well as the Championship game. No ifs, ands or buts.
And yet even with that detailed description of our new QB – we still don’t know for sure what his name is….
March 6th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
He smitten. Licht is absolutely smitten by Jameis. He might as well have just said how much in love he is. It was written all over his face!
March 6th, 2015 at 4:14 pm
Yessir, chef! Says a thousand words..love, smitten, man-crush, just to name a few
March 6th, 2015 at 5:05 pm
“Looking forward to Hard Knock this year! Bucs one of 9 teams eligible. Have to think that they’ll want to use it as another PR resource to pump up JW.”
this!
i would finally watch…lol. also, there would be a ton of eyes around the nation on the bucs rooting for winston, some for him to succeed and some to fail, but either way, tons of eyeballs and media attention.
March 6th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
What emotion do you expect Licht to have?……He has the opportunity to draft #1 and choose between two great prospects……he is like a kid in a candy store. I truly expect him to be all ga-ga over Mariota also.
March 6th, 2015 at 6:49 pm
And congrats goes out to both MVPs, Aaron Rodgers & Marcus Mariota….looking at Aaron’s 2014 highlight reel, almost every snap he took was from SHOTGUN. And once or twice I thought he was a Duck! I love smooth quick twitch delivery, they both have it.
March 6th, 2015 at 8:31 pm
Hey Bucco Brice the Bucs will never get to the promised land without a franchise QB. They’re not trading the pick!
March 6th, 2015 at 8:59 pm
They aren’t trading the pick. They have to be guaranteed one of these two guys. I just think Winston is more likely and everyone knows it; why would Chip Kelly make preps to take Mariota if he was going one overall? He wouldn’t.
Bucs will take Winston and Eagles will make every attempt at Mariota. This is probably whats going to happen unless something weird happens. Oh and then the Bucs become my NFC team; and I get Winston vs Newton twice a year. We all win. Even lifelong Colts fans.
March 7th, 2015 at 12:08 am
Corporate America has been doing this for year’s, roll out there new toys to create hype too boost sales. It also sends a message to teams looking to trade up. Still doesn’t change the fact that the buccaneers are a 2 and 14 team.
March 7th, 2015 at 1:02 am
Most Mocks have the Bucs picking Winston #1. That is because he is the best QB in the draft. Mariota is in most Mocks going #6. That is because he is the 2nd best QB in the draft. Unless Winston does something else, or the Bucs find something else,..this is the pick. Mariota is good, and I would be happy with that pick if it happened, but he isn’t better or more NFL ready.Its always the pocket passer more NFL QB goes first, then the running/Spread QB goes after, unless Cams year. They always show flashes, but get hurt, figured out, and exposed. No thanks,…I will take this years poor mans Andrew Luck.
March 7th, 2015 at 5:27 am
JUST a question:
What kind of hand signal is that Winston is showing? Look at Joe’s photo again and let me know.
March 7th, 2015 at 10:37 am
Looks a lot like the number 5… Like… His jersey number.