“Fortunate” Bucs
March 29th, 2024
Gratitude.
Once upon a time, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht said he desired to build the kind of organization and sustained success former Bucs GM Rich McKay had from the mid-1990s until he departed in 2003.
Licht now has 10 years in the books, so Joe felt compelled to ask Team Glazer to reflect on that reality this week.
Licht has four playoff appearances in those 10 seasons plus a strong roster now. McKay got to the postseason five times. Each has a Super Bowl appearance and a ring.
“Jason, time flies, but Jason does a great job and we’re lucky to have Jason in all aspects of what he does,” Joel Glazer said of his GM. “The last several years, whether it’s drafting or free agency or cap management, Jason and his staff do a wonderful job. Great working relationship and he’s got a great organization that he’s built. And that stability, I think, is key in this sport. It’s the constant change that causes all sorts of problems. To have that stability and everything Jason brings to the table, I think we’re fortunate to have him.”
Licht quipped earlier this week about how he’d like to smack himself for some mistakes he made early in his tenure. (Swaggy?) Team Glazer probably wants to have a group hug for not making Licht walk the plank as the Bucs struggled in 2017 and 2018.
Most owners wouldn’t have been as patient, Joe believes.
The end result is the Bucs have a hell of a front office. Three consecutive division titles after a Super Bowl win has nothing to do with luck.
March 29th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Licht magically got better when Spytek arrived. Jason, w/o spytek, has one of the worst records I’ve ever seen as a ring of honor GM.
March 29th, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Bubby,
We haven’t had Spytek for years! What are you talking about??? Yeah I guess making the playoffs the last few years has been terrible.
Go play in traffic.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Thank you Glazer family for being patient. You have finally achieved stability with your franchise. There were moments last season when I wanted Coach Bowles fired but you stayed the course, thankfully. You had your learning curve but now have a franchise on the cusp of a long run of success. Perhaps having a defense oriented head coach is the way to go in terms of stability. With the league so offense focused good OC’s won’t stick around very long. A good defense may not win super bowls but it can possibly carry a team through periods of down offense. As a longtime (old) Bucs fan, stability and a long period of .500 and/or better seasons is a good thing. Not winning super bowls and not consistently making the playoffs isn’t the desired outcome but it sure beats losing.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:41 pm
With all respect, the constant Licht slurping is getting old. It feels like you have an agenda. Every other article is about how absolutely fantastic/god-like/can do no wrong Licht is. Truth of the matter, he has a .460% win percentage and is currently fielding a team that most unbiased observers see as a middling, average squad.
We have a ton of holes, no pass rush, the league’s worst run game and a journeyman QB making $30M+. You constantly speak of how young and talented this team is, but every ‘star’ on this team except Wirfs is making $10m+. We are not exactly benefiting from a group of cheap superstars.
I do think Licht is an above average GM, but this constant praise of him is getting
exhausting.
March 29th, 2024 at 2:24 pm
I 2nd that sentiment Hearty Dikerson!!!!
March 29th, 2024 at 3:06 pm
If you were a fan of this franchise prior to the turn of the century, you would know and understand that continuity and success were pipe dreams. This is a bit of a golden age for the franchise. Enjoy it while you can.
March 29th, 2024 at 3:14 pm
I agree. We’re lucky to have him. He’s gotten significantly better as he’s gone along. The early years were brutal, but that’s to be expected to some degree. He’s figured it out and now he’s one of the best Drafters in the game.
The slaps should be for Schiano and Lovie as well as that whole ridiculous FA period w the Bengals players and bad QBs
March 29th, 2024 at 3:18 pm
I’ve been a fan before 2000. But I think you highlight the problem. This site gauges the quality of this team by comparing it to past Buc eras. How about comparing this Bucs team to other NFL teams? By doing so, as most unbiased observers do, we see Licht is a good GM but not God-tier, and this current squad is slightly above average.
March 29th, 2024 at 3:29 pm
Hearty
We all have our opinions but I don’t agree with yours. You must be new because you clearly haven’t suffered enough to appreciate.
I’m sure in your little room everything is tidy BUT when you’re running an entire circus… IT’S NOT THAT EASY!
But you keep acting like you could easily do a better job. Because it seems your running an entire Mega organization at this very moment, and dealing with All Aspects of such a simple thing as such a small organization with at least 500 to 1000 “local” employees and aspects of running such a business that are felt and delt with, World Wide.
No problem for you though, right dickerson. Heck, I’m sure it’s a snap for someone who has such a clean bedroom.
Clearly you’re running a mega business now of course. RIGHT!
Or was it tougher to get and keep the regular job that you currently are such a large success at?
March 29th, 2024 at 3:42 pm
“Licht quipped earlier this week about how he’d like to smack himself for some mistakes he made early in his tenure.” Moving up for Roberto Aguayo. Hands down – smack one’s self worthy.
March 29th, 2024 at 3:50 pm
Licht > McKay, and Licht is not a member of The Lucky Sperm Club like McKay.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:00 pm
I’m a fan of licht, he drafts well.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:26 pm
Fighting schiano- you must be as dumb as the real Greg schiano. Spytek is our asst. GM.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:28 pm
A great Question I would have liked to ask them myself Joe. Thanks.
Stability is key to any successful business. What again did the wagon makers of old have to do after their Stability of everyone needing wagons, went Kaput?
I am and have been a fan of General Manager Licht, since he drafted Mike Evans over Johnny Manzel. New GM at the time, fresh from AZ. One of his best Draft choices.
GO!!!!! BUCS!!!!!
March 29th, 2024 at 4:29 pm
At the end of the day, how many HOFers did McKay “draft” vs Jason? Lichts saving grace is he bought TB a SB ring with Free agency. There really is NO comparison! McKay is MILES better than Jason. Even with the SB rings being equal.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:37 pm
Okay Im going to walk back a little about my choice of words. I’m not being critical of Jason but the fact is McKay is clearly better at this point. I regret using the word “miles”. Let’s say “kilometers” instead.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:47 pm
McKay drafted Lynch, Sapp, Brooks, Barber … four HOF
Licht drafted Evans, Wirfs… two so far but also Vea, Winfield, and the window is still open for a player to step up from any past draft or any draft Licht is GM. Winfield is better than Lynch was after four years… not even up for debate.
March 29th, 2024 at 6:06 pm
Spytek is still with the Bucs. Maybe the guy those 2 are fighting about up there is Jon Robinson .
March 29th, 2024 at 6:07 pm
Hearty
I agree with Obvious that everybody here is entitled to their opinions. I’m just curious why you feel the need to be so negative. There is ZERO balance in your post and some actual inaccuracies.
“Every other article is about how absolutely fantastic/god-like/can do no wrong Licht is.”
Hyperbole is not your friend when you wish to make a point. And frequently as in this case it can make you look foolish.
“Every other article” has been about the draft and Joe’s desperation for an edge rusher…I think all of us here agree with Joe that another edge rusher along with at least one more stud OL is a need.
Meanwhile Joe is constantly throwing some mild shade at Licht for not grabbing a solid rusher while yes he does also give credit where credit is due.
That’s called balanced…objective…whatever. I realize it’s a “sports” blog and so hyperbole and BS are de riguer.
But if your honest Hearty, again you’re obviously entitled to it, but your opinion is biased by whatever caused you to have so much negativity build up.
AGAIN Show me the money!!! Show me the reality…in this case the TITLES!
Sorry but as Joe correctly points out a SB and 3 Division titles is REALITY…not an opinion! Any sentient person who doesn’t think the Buc’s front office/coaches did a great job this past season needs to be reading more objective posters like D.R. He actually uses facts and stats to make his points instead of the clever nicknames and insults. There are plenty here…I can think of a half dozen right off the top of my head and even guys I disagree with like the RodMuncher at least backs up his points with stats or facts or relevant observations.
March 29th, 2024 at 6:23 pm
When Jason actually has the chance to hire his next head coach, look out.
March 29th, 2024 at 7:14 pm
GM Jason is doing a great job…
Three division titles and a Super Bowl in the last 4 years. Complain all you want about whatever you want…lol
Last year we were about 80 million over the cap and we had 13 rookies make the final roster…keep complaining…lol
I’ll take our GM over 99% of the remaining 31.
March 29th, 2024 at 9:36 pm
💯 on stability……….something the Cleveland Browns know nothing about…….John Dorsey came in and handed Jimmah and D Haslam their franchise QB in Baker and then Myles Garrett next. His reward? Fired. Then the overrated as hell Andrew Berry was brought in and he couldn’t stand the thought of winning with John’s guys. That’s how you Bucs fans got so fortunate to end up with Mayfield #Clowns
March 29th, 2024 at 11:44 pm
Agreed PNW Buc
March 30th, 2024 at 6:04 am
Ditto, agree with PNW Buc.
March 30th, 2024 at 7:34 pm
Licht has done incredible things. I am not sure I have seen anyone who is as good at playing CAP hopscotch. As much as Bucco Bruce Arians irritated me, he was one heck of a good coach. He took good players and taught them what it was like to win and how to get there. Jason Licht is a very good GM.
March 31st, 2024 at 3:32 pm
Ummm Brandon it IS up for debate. Licht does NOT have the resume or success McKay had. Not even close. But the ONE thing you are right about. He has time
Vita is NO HOFer. Not even close. He misses too much time. So I don’t know what you mean there, Vea is basically Booger McFarland. They cancel each other out easily. And I didn’t even mention Mike Alstott or Warrick Dunn. See what I’m getting at? Not even close. Oh yea just for fun, McKay drafted our greatest kicker ever, Automatica Grammatica. Well Jason…ahem… wait for it… traded up for Roberto Aguayo… depending on who you listen too is a top 10 worse draft day trades in the HISTORY of football let alone the Bucs. McKay doesn’t have that in his resume with the Bucs. But like I always said, Todd got us a championship and Mike Evans etc. So I’m grateful He just ISNT McKay at this point.