Jason Licht And The R-Word
March 2nd, 2022
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
It is a safe bet that unless forced to say it, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will never talk about a rebuild, even if his team might be in a rebuild.
Speaking to Tampa Bay area media yesterday at the NFL winter festival also known as the combine held at the Indiana Convention Center (nee: Hoosier Dome), Licht was asked about using the R-word, “rebuild.”
“I just don’t like that word,” Licht said.
It seems it is not just a personal gripe for Licht, it also may be strategic. Licht noted just after he said the above quote that the team is preparing for free agency. The word “rebuild” has a bad connotation. So how can Licht sell the Bucs to potential free agents if he is using the word “rebuild,” which implies a team is hitting the reset button and making a Super Bowl run isn’t likely in the immediate future?
“Going into free agency, we have a lot of good players and we would like to being some of them back,” Licht said. Licht also noted that the Bucs have six Pro Bowlers currently under contract. So that’s a good core.
“Bruce and I feel pretty good about where we are compared to two years ago,” Licht said. “So I don’t see it as a rebuild.”
Licht is right. The Bucs have a strong core of players under contract. They should be able to retain two maybe three of their current free agent starters. All of them valuable players in their own right.
You can see Licht’s response to the “rebuild” question from Joe’s good friend Rock Riley and his video below.
#GoBucs GM Jason Licht says DON’T call this a rebuild. #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/kMGQZbe1Fn
— rock riley (@realrockriley) March 2, 2022
March 2nd, 2022 at 10:29 am
Because their bosses are trying to sell season tickets still…
Everyone with a brain knows this is a rebuild situation.
March 2nd, 2022 at 10:30 am
No one ever comments on this but I will. Ever notice when he answers a question with a half truth or the question bothers him he closes his eyes. Been watching him for years. Always happens . Season of lies
March 2nd, 2022 at 10:32 am
Look at our current offense… Trask at QB, one RB, one legit WR, one mediocre TE and two offensive lineman.
This offense doesn’t need a “rebuild”?
LOL…
OK.
March 2nd, 2022 at 10:42 am
Come on, As GM Licht should have had a plan the moment Tom Brady signed his contract. For the day that we all know would come, Tom Brady’s Retirement day. As Buccaneer Fans we are blessed to have had 2 seasons of Fantastic football performed by the GOAT, who took our team to the Super Bowl and Dominated in that game. Took the Bucs to the conference championship game. Time was up in Brady’s tenure here. Move on with our heads held high.
Moving on from the GOAT in anything is never easy. I hope our GM has been thinking about this time, since Tom Brady signed his Buccaneer contract.
Go!!!! Bucs!!!
March 2nd, 2022 at 10:43 am
As long as he can continue drafting well enough to have a solid D and solid o line we’re good IMO – altho of course QB is the difference between a competitive potential playoff team vs a contender. The draft is huge for retaining that affordable core. Teams that end up in a full rebuild are usually teams that crap the bed in the draft or misallocate resources / draft picks.
March 2nd, 2022 at 10:44 am
Jason might be on the street after this “rebuild”
March 2nd, 2022 at 10:46 am
Lol, If Trask is the next Dan Marino or Mahome boy, then ok, it is a reload, But most likely the Bucs will be in a rebuld. Now of course by some off chance they get a QB in a trade, then ok it is a half rebuild lol. Because they are not paying the Loot it would take to sign a top tier QB.
GO BUCS!!!!
March 2nd, 2022 at 11:16 am
Rebuild now and see if our rookie QB has any bright spots. If it falls apart you can get another QB.
The better the team structure the more QBs that will want to sign here, next season.
March 2nd, 2022 at 12:55 pm
Maybe its not a full blown rebuild but sounded a little nervous about the situation.
March 2nd, 2022 at 2:00 pm
I can’t help but think of lil’ Buckaroo Jerry Glanville and his “NFL…stands for Not For Long”…quote. That’s how it feels after the loss to the Rams until now. Rebuild, reload, retread…pick your own buzz word. Bucs are taking some steps back in 2022. Look at the Broncos since their SB win in 2015. Manning retired ( although he was pretty shot ) and they haven’t found a QB or had another winning season since.
March 2nd, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Just sign one guard you still have at least 3 still on the roster next man up. Sign Jensen and Cappa or Stennie.
March 2nd, 2022 at 2:50 pm
Marine Buc … Yes the offense needs a rebuild (but let’s not call it that). However, our defense needs a rebuild just as badly. We’ve lost JPP, Suh, Gholston, Whitehead & Davis as starters/key rotational players (almost half of what we put out there), PLUS a number of backups who saw significant playing time this past season. Players like McLendon, Adams & Minter (plus several others like Sherman, O’Connor, Riley & Robinson who did fill roster spots last year; spots that now need to be refilled).
That’s 12 roster spots right there (half our defensive roster) that need to be filled. And not with rookies; you don’t replace talent like JPP & Suh with rookies. Meaning that you don’t replace them on the cheap either.
But have no fear, it’s NOT a rebuild. We’re just retooling (the half empty factory).
March 2nd, 2022 at 4:04 pm
Is not a rebuild, is a fairly talented team needing a good QB, that’s it
March 3rd, 2022 at 5:05 pm
We’re not in a rebuild. We have a bunch of your guys who are ready to step forward. We lose a QB and everyone calls it a rebuild? Get real.
All they have to do is solve the QB issue and we are on our way again. Hopefully, that is a lesson Licht learned.
March 3rd, 2022 at 5:07 pm
1-4 players is NOT a rebuild. A rebuild happens when you need to replace a lot more than that.
March 4th, 2022 at 8:45 am
We need a rebuild but don’t say it out loud.