Report: Licht’s 2018 Contract Picked Up
December 18th, 2017
“Don’t worry Jason, you are covered.”
No matter what Team Glazer decides to do this offseason, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will be under contract with the Bucs through the 2018 season.
That’s the word from Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Stroud reports that Team Glazer exercised a one-year option on Licht’s contract this past offseason.
Now of course, given Team Glazer’s recent history, having someone under contract and having the same person employed are two different things. At the very least, Licht will be collecting cash from Team Glazer through 2018.
December 18th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
That is good news!
December 18th, 2017 at 4:33 pm
Woopdie woo
December 18th, 2017 at 4:34 pm
Sability…IMO one more year for HC/DC
December 18th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
Haha. They won’t can a guy they just signed will they? It’s not the SOB just gave him a game ball!!
December 18th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
We need to keep Licht because he has completed his OJT (on job training) and is now prepared to be a good GM. At least we know he won’t make the kickier mistake again.
December 18th, 2017 at 4:36 pm
This means nothing. If we hire Gruden and he wants another GM, Licht goes bye-bye.
December 18th, 2017 at 4:39 pm
well I think that seals dirks fate….sounds like licht will get another crack at picking an HC….the best way to save his job is to convince the glazers to fire dirk and smitty….never good when you have a 5 and 6 game losing streak in the same season….SEE YA DIRK!!!…PODS will be waiting for you 01/01/2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
December 18th, 2017 at 4:40 pm
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_eRRab36XLI
December 18th, 2017 at 4:41 pm
Going with the Doug Martin method of rewarding (below) mediocrity I see. LOLICHT!
December 18th, 2017 at 4:45 pm
You would seriously consider changing GM’s with a high draft pick in hand right now? Nope but you can change head coaches lol that’s like saying basically ok Lovie and Koetter are in us we’ll let you pick the coach this time
December 18th, 2017 at 4:47 pm
Tbbf,
The Glazers pressed the aguayo pick. Now, per article, JL biggest mistake is on the Glazers.
December 18th, 2017 at 4:48 pm
I hope he stays. If you people dont think the coaches have influence over the draft picks and free agents youre crazy. He is picking guys for what they do. Too bad the coaches have no clue what to do with them. Pick a corner 11th overall. Hargreaves is pretty good at bump and run. Was the best or 2nd best coming out. But smith is gona make him play 15 yards away from the receiver. Great effing idea. It doesnt matter who licht picks if the coaches dont put them in position to succeed. I wasnt for the hargreaves pick then but he is gona be good once an aggressive coordinator comes in. Lattimore from the saints, 11th overall also. Definite defensive rookie of the year because of talent and coaching. Theyre playing aggressive. If lattimore was here playing 15 yards off he would look just like hargreaves. This coaching staff sucks. Fire them all. Lets start practicing tackle football again in camp and go from worst to first!!
December 18th, 2017 at 4:49 pm
If that true and he hires either of the NE coordinators imma punch somebody in the face. NE def is straight trash and no one will respect Daniels. I’d rather hire Mike Vrabel.
I still say Keep Koetter and hire Gruden as OC with a gentleman’s agreement. Maybe bring Rex in as DC.
We needs some big balls out here. To match the big sticks. Ya herd?
December 18th, 2017 at 4:53 pm
Then again you could do
Gruden as hc
Arians as OC and Rex as DC.
December 18th, 2017 at 4:53 pm
Kudos toTeam Glazers, smart move!
December 18th, 2017 at 5:00 pm
Altered…hope you plan to buy a few dozen season tickets for next year, because if Koetter and Smith come back next year, it will look like the old Big Sombrero days of the mid 80’s, otherwise.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:02 pm
Rapoport went on this morning to say his various league sources, including people he just talked to at the December NFL owners meetings, believe coaching is the issue in Tampa, not the general manager.
“I think very, very few people think that Jason Licht is the problem there. Obviously, it’s not perfect,” Rapoport said.
“When people look at it around the league, they believe it’s more of a coaching issue than a personnel issue, and that there’s more than enough talent there to thrive.
^^BINGO^^
im not surprised that he’s retained for one more year….its obvious its coaching not the players….anyone thinks dirk will be retained is fooling themselves or trolling…..GO BUCS!!!!
December 18th, 2017 at 5:03 pm
Jason, do the right thing man, hire jon gruden and rex ryan as d coordinator
December 18th, 2017 at 5:08 pm
One more draft to prove himself. Makes sense I guess since Winston can still also prove he can be a franchise QB. That would look better for Licht. Doesn’t have very much to hang his hat on at the moment. Hope we finally take the BEST AVAILABLE player in the first round and that Jason can get some talent on this team next year. I bet the Glazers don’t change a thing. Then again, what if we lose the final 3 games? I am just numb at this point. A 5 game losing streak and possibly a 6 game losing streak both in the same year, inexcusable. We should be fighting for a Wildcard spot right now, at least 8-5. Too many positions to blame (kicker or TE, defense, and QB) for the 4 close games (NE, BUF, GB, and DET). Maybe next year! It’s a Bucs life!
December 18th, 2017 at 5:08 pm
To announce this right before the Gruden game tonight, is interesting. The Glaziers are uniquely unpredictable
December 18th, 2017 at 5:13 pm
Keep both. Ask Dirk to bring in OC, should’ve happened last off-season. Need more creative play calling.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:13 pm
Smart business move by the Glazers.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:13 pm
WOW. Thats the worst news I have read all day. Enjoy being terrible again Bucs fans. Team Glazer has dropped the ball if this report is true.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:19 pm
Light has been an excellent GM so far in drafting. One of, if not the best in the NFL at drafting players over his three years. Free agency has been mixed. Grimes and D Jax are great, Sweezy and Swaggy have… not. But overall he has done an excellent job and I’m glad he is our GM. NOW, let’s look at that director of pro scouting… he has been trash, or not listened to.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:19 pm
Forget what other reporters say, My dad told me gruden is a lock
My dad talks to ira Kaufman and he knows the personality and how gruden ticks
Gruden respects the coaching fraternity and he likes koetter. If there was not great interest and truth, gruden would have made a statement he was not interested in the tampa job to stop the rumours and put koetter in this tough spot he is right now….but he hasnt because gruden is taking his job
Son of Kobe Faker
December 18th, 2017 at 5:23 pm
I hope Jason Licht can build a solid relationship and work well with Jim Harbaugh.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Guess we have no choice but to give this ass one more off season…. but if he doesn’t address DL and OL this off season we ain’t got to watch! Go JAGS!
December 18th, 2017 at 5:25 pm
Years and years more of failure guaranteed.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:29 pm
“Have neither of the 2Not Joes seen Licht beer and Koetter in the same room together in the last month?”
Son of Kobe Faker
“That licht ale beer tastes like pis$” Dirk Koetter
December 18th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
OMG enough of the Gruden talk.
He isn’t coming back and Glazers are not going to bring him back.
Gruden will want control of personnel decisions and Licht will not be giving that up.
Gruden couldn’t develop young players and that is what we are needing to keep building.
They are recognizing him tonight and will be done with it.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
Slam dunk!! This was totally the right choice.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
All of us season ticket holders should tell the Glazers to Licht our butt when they want us to renew for another year.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:39 pm
The only question I would like to have answered is if they asked Gruden if he thought they should keep Licht?
December 18th, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Dirk to bring in an OC? What…to run Koetters system? To call the plays for Koetter? Are you kidding me? And if he changes the system, you might as well get a new HC.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:41 pm
WOW ! his mistakes in free agency , wasting draft picks and sitting on his hands doing nothing …surprised
December 18th, 2017 at 5:41 pm
1. Lmao DB55.
2. There is no way Licht is fired lol. The glazers wouldn’t extend him in December just to fire him a month later. The report claims the extension was in the offseason. Could have been in March. That’s a lifetime in the NFL. –Joe
3. This may mean certain FAs / draft picks were not as much on Licht as they were prior coaches/the owners… Let’s explore that:
Lovie Smith – had 100% personnel control. He was quoted as saying the O-line needed changing; and most NFL people projected him to move Revis due to Revis not being a fit for his scheme as a man corner. What did we do in FA?
-dumped good O-lineman
-signed bad O-lineman
-dumped Revis
-signed “Lovie” guys to play zone
Those were some of the biggest “Licht blunders”. Now we know Lovie didn’t have much in terms of offensive skill player input; other than knowing Lovie wanted to run the ball. What was the worst draft pick of the Lovie era? After ASJ (that’s on Licht) it was wasting a 3rd rounder on Charles Sims instead of what could have been a legit starting solid offensive lineman in my opinion. No Buc fan wanted that sh1t. Charles Sims = Lovie’s Matt Forte wish.
After Lovie – the worst moves by Light were the 2016 draft – in which he selected a small CB (Mike Smith loves small CBs and zone off coverage); and a kicker (supposedly this was pushed by the owners) using premium picks. I still think VHIII can be at worst a very good nickle CB; and that Ryan Smith has a shot at being a solid outside CB.
Retaining Doug Martin? Who was the guy who pounded the table the most to keep Koetter – in terms of public quotes from the front office? It was Dirk Koetter.
All that said – Licht’s had tons of errors beyond that; and some of his great picks were also likely influenced by coaches; but it seems it’s easy to show where the dumbest decisions were driven from – and it was typically coaches or the owners if that’s true regarding Aguayo.
This is probably why we need a front office person with a vision for the build of the team. Because either Licht has no vision or is not being given enough power. Or he had just as much to do with all these decisions as the coaches and my theory is just wrong.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:42 pm
Licht needs to be fired. Too many bad picks, Baker, Hargreaves, Sweezy, Spence….re-signing Martin. No more on the job training. Kwon, JW and Mike Evans have regressed despite the coaching. And lets not even discuss both lines and the DBs. Get a GM who can actually identify the needs of this team and weed out the loafers and find the next HC!
December 18th, 2017 at 5:43 pm
pounded the table most to keep Martin*
December 18th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
Many big name coaches will want complete control, so WHY did the Glazers make this move NOW 🙁
SMH
December 18th, 2017 at 5:47 pm
Neither the coach or the gm on hardknocks acted passive and no one I would like to follow
December 18th, 2017 at 5:49 pm
I don’t think any coach should have “complete control”. Even Lombardi didn’t. How much of the player issues were all Lichts doing and how many because Koetter assured him that the O line was fine, and that he talked to Smith who said that we could generate a pass rush with the guys we had, and that Hargraves would develop into a fine corner. I’m sure the input from the coach/ coaches were part of his decision. Roberto? I just don’t get that in any universe.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:51 pm
That’s great news! He’s not perfect but has done more than enough to put good talent on the team.
December 18th, 2017 at 5:52 pm
If the Glazers bring back the Same GM and same coaching staff next year, Bucs will finish up in last place again. Bet on it
December 18th, 2017 at 5:59 pm
LC
Which part funny? All of it?
December 18th, 2017 at 6:01 pm
If my memory serves me correct …in the beginning Licht was GM but Lovie had last word….correct ?
December 18th, 2017 at 6:02 pm
NFC South Standings
New Orleans 10-4
Carolina 10-4
Atlanta Falcons 8-5
Tampa Bay 4-9
This is the standings as of 12-18-2017
This is what Bucs fans can look forward to
A piss-poor franchise
December 18th, 2017 at 6:05 pm
A bottom feeding team with mediocre talent. The rest of the NFC South has some of the top talent in the NFL. The Bucs has nothing but has-been players and bums.
December 18th, 2017 at 6:13 pm
“The report claims the extension was in the offseason. Could have been in March. That’s a lifetime in the NFL. –Joe”
Oh damn I missed that. Why is this news now then? Seems really weird…
December 18th, 2017 at 6:14 pm
@DB55
Mainly the Will Ferrel clip lol it was great comedic timing
December 18th, 2017 at 6:18 pm
Bucs have an OC – Monken. Make him the play caller so Koetter focuses on overall HC duties. Let go of Warehop (sp?), and all defensive coaches except Dufner. Maybe he’s the new DC. Licht is a really good GM – talent level vastly better than before. Issue is coaches aren’t making players better.
December 18th, 2017 at 6:20 pm
I agree I am funny af. You should see me trying to have sex.
December 18th, 2017 at 6:22 pm
Funny to me how you can say Licht doing a good job. Even if Koetter sucks it was Licht that hired him. Trying to win in the nfl with the DL talent bucs have is like trying to win a baseball game without a 2nd baseman or shortstop. Licht has had 4 years to put a team together and has failed miserably. I guess he’s drafted a few decent players but no all pros so please stop saying hes drafted well. Just another miserable mistake by the glazers.
December 18th, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Our season went down the drain because we dont have good coaching…when you have all this talent you suppose to maximize it and thats a coaches job….you think if we had a belichick or a big name coach this season would have spiraled out of control??? #KeepLicht#FireDirk
December 18th, 2017 at 6:35 pm
So, Licht wasn’t in total control after all if the Glazers are giving him a pass for hiring Dirk Koetter. The Glazers got a little nervous thinking Koetter may bolt, and told Licht to hire Koetter. I guess they’ll give him the option to keep Dirk or fire Koetter from the sounds of this news.
December 18th, 2017 at 6:44 pm
The Broncos interviewed Raheem Morris to be their head coach. He probably would have been another Mike Tomlin in Denver so the Glazers moved quickly to keep him after firing Gruden. Likewise, Koetter interviewed with the 49ers and the Glazers thought he would be the second coming of Bill Walsh.
December 18th, 2017 at 6:50 pm
Licht had dinner with Gruden at his home in Avila recently. Licht has sold out Koetter and convinced Team Glazer that Dirk is the problem. Before Dirk has even had his end of season meeting with Team Glazer where Dirk was sure to continue bashing Licht. Which i’m told Klueless Koetter has been doing weekly. LICHT at this point is the better of 2 evils. So Team Glazer’s hand was forced to make this decision on keeping him.
December 18th, 2017 at 6:52 pm
Hopeless Bucs. 4-12 baby 4-12.
December 18th, 2017 at 7:19 pm
Why does everyone think Licht hired Dirk… Pretty sure Lovie was fired because the Glaziers want Dirk. They interviewed other candidates because Koetter was interviewing in San Fran. I think the Glaziers picked Lovie, than picked Lovies successor. Licht just walked the line for the team.
Licht is from different backgrounds than the guys hired. Pretty sure In his time he has been across better coaching talent in the Belicheck, Reid, Arians programs.
December 18th, 2017 at 7:20 pm
Hey DB55,so Gruden as HC and Bruce Arians as OC? R u joking? Do u just see what might be available and hope it sticks. Bruce Arians next job will be a HC and it could be here in Tampa. He is a winner , he would be the OC here. Geez give me a break
December 18th, 2017 at 7:22 pm
Arians would NEVER take the OC job here. I would rather have him as HC over Gruden. Remember what he did in INdy? He is an established head coach, Dirk Kietter on the other hand is an OC
December 18th, 2017 at 7:24 pm
So the Question is, does Licht keep Koetter? Does Jon Gruden come back I don’t see that happening!!
So who will be the next coach of the tampabay buccaneers?
December 18th, 2017 at 7:30 pm
The nfl gifted the 2021 super bowl to the Glasers
They demand a playoff caliber team heading toward 2021
The nfl approves and welcome gruden back into the nfl.
With gruden, yucs will get 1 mnf and 1 sunday night game.
Gruden means money for the glazers and the nfl
7 mill per year 5 year contract. Licht gm but with less power
December 18th, 2017 at 7:32 pm
Jason Licht & the Glazer Boys ARE the problem.
Bucs’ record starting in 2014: 21-40 (soon to be 21-43?).
Playoff performances: 0.
NFC South Last Place Finishes: 3.
Head Coaches: 2.
Defensive Coordinators: 3.
General Managers: 1.
Ownership: 1.
Continuity at the top … none below.
December 18th, 2017 at 7:37 pm
Im not defending Koetter. I think hes not HC material but how the hell can you defend licht? If Licht is simply taking personnel decisions from Glazers then god help us.
December 18th, 2017 at 8:05 pm
Easy BFFL….because half of our starting roster is from Licht draft choices.
The free agency has been poor, I’m hopeful if we can get a good HC that can have better input(see Dirks stance on signing Doug) Licht will start making more solid free agent signings
December 18th, 2017 at 8:05 pm
One year deals don’t really mean anything in the NFL – if the Glazers do clean house he’ll be out of a job.
I doubt the Bucs actually pull the trigger yet again on another new coach, and I’m not sure who they’d actually get in place of Dirk, but I stand by the idea of making Mike Smith the real HC and moving Dirk back to the booth and having him as the OC where he can actually provide you with something. Any change of regimes will yet again result in another rebuilding process and will just waste another 2 years of Winston and Evans.
December 18th, 2017 at 8:10 pm
Rod I don’t think we need to rebuild. Just look at how the Rams got turned around.
Not all coaching changes require rebuilding. Do you really think they would hire somebody whose plan would be to tear down the offense and start from scratch? I’m pretty sure they can and will find a HC who will have a plan on turning the team around quickly using the young talent we currently have.
December 18th, 2017 at 8:24 pm
OMG. We are doomed. Only the revolving door of Cleveland has produced a worse GM.
December 18th, 2017 at 8:26 pm
Coach,get ready to be back stabbed by this G.M. to save his sorry ass.
December 18th, 2017 at 8:30 pm
I think it’s obvious the Glazers plan to give Koetter one more year. If they want to replace him next year, then Licht’s contract will expire as well.
This is great news!
December 18th, 2017 at 8:36 pm
Bonzai, you just might be right there. The bad news however is that Licht will still be here. Four years to establish YOUR VISION of what the Bucs should be is plenty long enough.
And Rod, that’s an interesting perspective that 1 year deals mean nothing. My gut feel is that the Glazer Boys simply don’t know what they want to do to fix this mess at this point.
December 18th, 2017 at 9:35 pm
Well,Joe, that won’t help Barber get more carries.
December 18th, 2017 at 11:47 pm
DK should be brought back imo for a 3rd year but Mike Smith should be let go. Our D is a laughable comedy of errors. Our guys are still playing and haven’t quit so that tells me DK still has the lockerroom which is crucial.
We need help on both lines and a top RB and help in the secondary. We will have money to spend to help our D and draft to fix the rest.
This season has been embarrassing on so ma u levels but our guys haven’t quit playing. We need to get a real OC so DK can focus on being a HC and a DC to match with the talent we have there.
December 18th, 2017 at 11:51 pm
JimmyJack – The Rams had an excellent defense already, I think it’s much easier to turn around a team with a good defense than a team who is starting Ryan Smith and Chris Conte.
Also Goff under Fisher was a disaster, totally lost, didn’t look like an NFL player -and as we know QB is the most important position in football. Winston can certainly improve, but he’s already a good QB, even going up a level won’t make up for the defense.
Also the Rams are in the worst division in football – the Bucs are in the best division in football, that makes a huge difference as well.
Anything is possible, the Bucs certainly have the core pieces in place all over the place, but they have no depth, which means a massive amount of player turnover while learning a new scheme. Seems unlikely they’d have a Rams type of turnaround, not unless Brees, Ryan and Newton all retire.
December 18th, 2017 at 11:57 pm
The most pathetic ownership in the NFL right now. At this point I’m seriously considering switching my allegiance from the team that I’ve been following since 1976 (as a teen in Polk County). I lived through the Culverhouse era and never thought I would see a repeat of incompetence but the Glazer heirs are really doing a marvelous job of screwing things up.
December 19th, 2017 at 7:35 am
Another bad decision! Wonderful another year wasted! Maybe he will draft another TE.