The Communication Gap
January 30th, 2022
Fans matter.
Once upon a time, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht released a written statement via team media relations channels after a friend of DeSean Jackson — not the then-Bucs wide receiver — crashed a truck near International Plaza and two bullets and about $100.00 worth of marijuana were found in the abandoned vehicle.
“We are aware of a one-car accident involving a vehicle registered to DeSean Jackson on the night of Dec. 24,” Licht said. “Our understanding is that DeSean has been in contact with authorities and is cooperating with the investigation.”
Apparently, the folks at One Buc Palace thought that was big news requiring a response from the GM in order to soothe the public.
That Licht communication surprised Joe at the time, considering how the Bucs were very quiet about a month earlier when a fresh sex offender allegation was leveled against then-quarterback Jameis Winston. The public comment on Jackson’s friend’s car accident seemed slightly more odd six months later when an anonymous and vague official team statement accompanied the news of Jameis officially being labeled an NFL sex offender.
Joe had all that in mind yesterday when official partners of the NFL — ESPN, CBS and NFL Network — reported that Tom Brady is retiring.
You know Brady, the greatest quarterback in the history of the Bucs franchise.
Bucs fans literally were crying or nervous all afternoon, or preparing for a sleepless night, with some canceling plans and figuring out how to explain the news to distressed young children.
And where were the Bucs with a word of calm or clarification as the news broke and the speculation ran wild?
Was the Brady news from ESPN, CBS and NFL Network not more important than DeSean Jackson’s friend’s car accident?
Every year the Bucs invest huge money into getting fans to love, follow and obsess about the team year-round. Team Glazer spends millions to try and get you to live the Bucs life and care deeply about every facet of the team. So Joe thinks it’s weak as hell that the Bucs haven’t formally addressed the Brady news (non-news?).
Fans matter.
When teams take fans for granted, that’s when organizations start to fall apart.
January 30th, 2022 at 5:20 am
The Glazers have always been just meh with the community that has helped them to become multi-billionaires. Personally, I don’t care as long as they spend the money to keep us competitive. I fully expect d-bag behavior from them and if they do some good along the way, it’s a pleasant surprise.
January 30th, 2022 at 6:17 am
I would imagine, if they are in the dark about any decision that Tom has made or did not make, that they are waiting to hear from him and don’t want to badger him about things. But you would think that they know what’s going on.
I see your point Joe, but I really don’t care if they say anything or not about this right now. If the news comes out from them today or tomorrow, fine with me.
The Glazers brought us two titles. I’m not going to hold a lot against them.
January 30th, 2022 at 7:12 am
This is the same organization that took Jon Gruden out of the ring of honor for crude emails when there was virtually no pressure to do so and had nothing to do with his time with the Bucs. They did this only a few years after they were frothing at the mouth to bring him back.
They ruined our jerseys for no reason. The clock uniforms were the ugliest uniforms in all of sports, and yet a whole host of highly educated professionals signed off on those abominations. Because they surround themselves with yes-men corporate hacks who are more concerned about their own careers than a quality product.
They can’t use their influence to get the creamsicles back because apparently only Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft are allowed to wield power among owners.
And if not for the ineptitude of the 49ers, we never would’ve landed the GOAT. Instead, we would’ve been hired yet another head coach and general manager after their brilliant decision to sign Teddy Bridgewater.
So am I surprised they can’t put out a simple statement to calm the seas? No. Because that’s what happens when you’re born with a silver spoon and you inherit your wealth. You don’t know how to run an organization.
January 30th, 2022 at 7:44 am
westernbuc,
Couldn’t agree more with you about the uniforms. How in the world were those EVER approved? That’s one thing I’ll fault them for.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:08 am
Maybe, just maybe we should not blame the owners so fast. Perhaps it’s not in Tom’s best interest for the facts to be uttered just yet. For all we know the announcement came out a little too fast and that Brady needed to be part of the roster for an additional week or so to secure a substantial amount of money. Now it would not be the owners place to communicate that. It would be Tom Brady’s place to do that. Let’s not point the finger at anyone just yet including the owners. The fact is let’s just wait and let this thing unfold in real life. Go Bucs!
January 30th, 2022 at 8:24 am
Apparently, the only thing the owners, Licht or BA could say is “We haven’t heard from Tom”
And frankly, Neither have we.
It’s up to Tom Brady to confirm or deny this….even though it got out via leak….it’s time for Tom to make a statement.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:34 am
Maybe Licht is vacationing with Brady on the Bahamian island will spotty cell service.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:45 am
I think they are handling it exactly the right way. The organization has always said that they would give Brady the consideration of making their own decision. So what else should they say? Nothing but that they are waiting Brady’s decision and know nothing else. Anyone that wuld think they should do anything else might do so because of personal feelings. But from a business perspective, they are doing the right thing. This is the GM and Brady’s initial announcement…and maybe BA’s. Give Brady some consideration. Why should the Glazers say anything? Besides, most fans only care about winning.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:00 am
We’ve all gotten used to the media’s penchant for being first, not right in all things. (The Joe’s do a great job of facts first) Yesterday’s announcement was so rushed and so un Brady you can just picture him in Costa Rica with the steam coming out of his ears. Still it is the NFL, the Glazers shouldn’t feel too ambushed, but it’s true, PR is NOT their strong suit. Chris Thomas called them the TeeTots LOL….. Go Bucs!! Go TB12!!!
January 30th, 2022 at 9:53 am
Say something when there’s something to say.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:10 am
“Those closest to Brady say that while he knows he can absolutely still play at a championship level, the desire to spend more time with his wife and three children has weighed on him to possibly end an outstanding career after 22 seasons.”
Spend a few weeks locked up with the family, looking for lost shoes, dealing with late homework assignments, honey-do’s…..retirement won’t see QUITE so attractive
January 30th, 2022 at 10:13 am
So what would this “announcement” say exactly?
Hello Buc fans. We know there is rumors swirling that our savior TB12 is retiring. We felt it necessary to release a statement in order to calm things down and communicate with our fan base. TB12 may be retiring but he may not retire.
We hope this has cleared everything up. Please go buy season tickets and hope for the best.
Yours truly – the little troll brothers.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:17 am
I dunno.
Brady is under contract until he files retirement notices with the league.
If he has not filed that paperwork, there is nothing for the team to say.
Neither the Bucs nor Brady owe anyone an explanation regarding rumors.
Fact is if this was anyone but the GOAT, nobody would care.
Not much player-wise can happen anyway until the beginning of the league year on March 16, or really during the legal FA tampering period of March 14-16.
Time to chill, and let Brady clear his head and unsore his body. Let the dude take his time and not do anything rash.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:19 am
@TBBF: I thought Brady has communicated with Licht, to say he’s made no decision and is not close to one.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:32 am
Brady isn’t playing on bucs, even if he isn’t retiring. BA made pretty clear that they are in rebuild mode, starting with coaching staff. They just don’t want to anounce before the season tickets renovation.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:44 am
He’s prob wanting to play, trying to get gronk on board so he can present it to Giselle to win her over. That takes a few days. Bucs brass is honoring that and living in a prayer-bon jovi
January 30th, 2022 at 11:50 am
I agree with both Marine Buc and Cobraboy on this issue. The past 24 hours has been a media circus and nothing good can come out of the Bucs making an official statement.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:38 pm
A faint flicker of hope in my mind. Brady plays chess while most everyone else plays checkers. That’s so stale it’s a cliche. Which also means it’s fact.
First thought, Gisele after Super Bowl LV – what else do you have to prove
Next thought, Gisele throughout this season – it’s time for you to be at home, nagging nag nag nag
Tom leaks the retirement story to attempt to leverage the outcry and reactions into finishing the goal he set a decade ago…to play until he’s 45.
January 30th, 2022 at 3:18 pm
It’s kinda tricky..
Contract issues, family issues, but my theory is this..
Gotta wait til tmorow.. why?
If SF and jimmyG lose the game. The option of San Fran trading for brady amps up 10000 percent.
Brady is open to a final chapter of winning a SB in SF his hometown. IMO
For the bucs. Getting jimmyG is a good result.
For the49ers. Brady 1 year to coach up Lance and give them a great chance .. for the dream SB.
Great story .
January 30th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
My take: Brady is retiring but he wanted to control the retirement narrative. He should have anticipated that there would be lots of leaks from his inner-circle.
This isn’t about a bunch of nosy neighbors gossiping. In the NFL people (press, agents, front-office workers, etc. ) trade or leak things in order to build-up the favor bank. This way someone in the press might return the favor later, by giving you off-the-books info that might help further your own career. Once Brady said he was retiring in private, his future value was worth less to those around him, at least those who are more tightly aligned to football than to his other business interests.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:50 pm
Joe…When teams take fans for granted, that’s when organizations start to fall apart.
Just a little over the top Joe. No one owes me anything as a fan, I have no sense of entitlement with the Bucs.
I have been a fan since their inception, ok, but that does not give me any entitlement, it is only a game for most of us. My pay checks do not come from the Glazers. I am not directly affected by any Brady announcement as far any kind of life’s responsibilities.
Yes it has been a great ride with Brady, but whatever, But Tom owes me nothing, and the Bucs owe me nothing.
As for season ticket holders, the timing of the announcement will not change who is playing QB for the Bucs, unless it goes on for 30+ days. Then it would affect next years QB.
I expect we will know soon enough what Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr is going to do. Until then life is moving on.
The media created a frenzy in their pursuit of the Brady retirement story, that is not the fault of the Glazers.
Tom could have just come out already and said something, this on Tom, not the Glazers
GO BUCS!!!!!