Licht’s Long Love Of Winston

May 4th, 2015

jason licht 0504

Yes, Bucs general manager Jason Licht has long been on the Jameis Winston bandwagon. For good reason.

The way the guy played in college was legendary — the way he rallied his Seminoles from what seemed to be sure losses (yes, some graves Winston dug himself) week after week after week, including the 2013 national championship game.

Throw in the fact he didn’t play in a spread offense, and it was a no-brainer that the quarterback-starved Bucs would pick him No. 1 overall, except to the many blind haters.

As TPA-publicist, Bucs-uniform-frowningAllie-LaForce-smittenBig-Ten-Network-hatingpedestrian-bumpingolive oil-lappingpopcorn-munchingcoffee-slurpingfried-chicken-eatingoatmeal-lovingcircle-jerkingbeer-chuggingcricket-watchingscone-loathingcollege football-naïvebaseball-box-score-readingNPR-listeningfilthy-hotel-stayingfight-instigatingbarista-training Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame noted, Licht was zeroed in on Winston during draft day 2014.

You can trace the chase of Winston to Draft Day 2014, as crazy as it sounds. On the scouting trail, Licht became enamored with Winston, knowing he might leave FSU for the 2015 draft, after his second season as the starter. Licht’s brother-in-law asked him via a draft-day text last year whether he preferred Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater in the first round.

“Winston,” was Licht’s reply.

However, it goes back farther, before Licht was actually employed by the Bucs.

Licht was the vice president of player personnel with the Cardinals. There, with a quarterback guru for a head coach and a creaky starting quarterback with limited miles left in the tank, Carson Palmer, the Cardinals were searching for their quarterback of the future. And guess who Licht was after then? You guessed it, Winston.

Friday, when Licht held an impromptu presser after Winston’s introductory press conference, Joe asked Licht if Winston was in his cross-hairs with the Cardinals.

“We knew that he was going to be a special player, yeah,” Licht said of scouting Winston while working for the Cardinals. “We went and watched him play when I was in Arizona and watched him on tape and talked a lot about him, too. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be a general manager of a team that would have a chance to draft him.”

That’s how much of a done deal this was with Winston coming to the Bucs. It was all but decided not just months ago, but damned near over a year ago. All along, the top draft pick of the Bucs this year was Winston’s to lose.

Instead, he won the Bucs over.

50 Responses to “Licht’s Long Love Of Winston”

  1. tmaxcon Says:

    I am sorry Joe, I thought all the expert posters here and fans of mariota said it was a close race and that the mariota debate would go right before the pick. wow I am not a told you so guy but it does not sound like mariota was even a consideration nor should he should have been. He will be a good qb but was not what the bucs needed. the bucs got exactly what they needed at qb.

  2. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Let’s take this opportunity to thank/trash McCown….just one more time….

  3. tval Says:

    The first time i ever heard licht speak was when i realized tampa had the pick, it was in regards to jameis and he honestly looked like the cat that ate the canary. 🙂 He could hardly mask his elation. I love what jameis’s uncle said….Smith(lovie) recently made a surreptitious trip to Alabama, to the area where Winston grew up, the Hueytown/Bessemer area south of Birmingham. He went to meet Winston’s parents. They talked heart-to-heart. They toured the area, and met Winston’s extended family and his coaches and his friends. Smith met an uncle of Winston’s who asked him: “You like the NBA?” Smith said he did.

    “You remember the Michael Jordan draft?”

    Smith did. That’s the year, 1984, that Portland took the ill-fated Sam Bowie second overall, and Chicago took Jordan third.

    “Don’t pick the wrong guy,” the uncle said.
    Smith recently made a surreptitious trip to Alabama, to the area where Winston grew up, the Hueytown/Bessemer area south of Birmingham. He went to meet Winston’s parents. They talked heart-to-heart. They toured the area, and met Winston’s extended family and his coaches and his friends. Smith met an uncle of Winston’s who asked him: “You like the NBA?” Smith said he did.

    “You remember the Michael Jordan draft?”

    Smith did. That’s the year, 1984, that Portland took the ill-fated Sam Bowie second overall, and Chicago took Jordan third.

    “Don’t pick the wrong guy,” the uncle said.

  4. Lord Cornelius Says:

    “I am sorry Joe, I thought all the expert posters here and fans of mariota said it was a close race and that the mariota debate would go right before the pick.”

    I doubt they want to come back and admit how wrong they were. Even crazy Robert at least admitted that Winston would likley be the pick

  5. the real Bucobruce Says:

    Tampaaaaaaaaaaaaa,12-4 Super bowl bound.

  6. Idontwannahearitanymore Says:

    Yeah, where is Robert9 now? Miami?

  7. jacko101 Says:

    The more I read the more I feel we tanked on purpose, beyond what we did in the last game.

  8. ben Says:

    M.M. has much better stats,, much more athletic , much faster on his feet . much better man … How many teams wanted Winston over M.M.??? I don’t think the bucs got the best qb but the best man to sell tkts.

  9. Tiny Tim Says:

    Yea I read Peter King’s article this morning. As I read it, I could not help but think, I had been thinking the same as Licht for over two years. I find it really funny how the Mariota supporters use to say how he played a better game in the Rose bowl, yet directly after the rose bowl when Licht ask lovie who was his guy…………….Lovie response was “Jase, you know who it is.” Lovie did not even have to say his name. Classic!!!!

  10. Tiny Tim Says:

    ben Says:

    May 4th, 2015 at 1:56 pm

    M.M. has much better stats,, much more athletic , much faster on his feet . much better man … How many teams wanted Winston over M.M.??? I don’t think the bucs got the best qb but the best man to sell tkts

    —————————–

    I’ll take the bait. No one was trading up for Andrew Luck because they knew indy was taking him because all the team knew Luck was by far the best qb and it would be idiotic for Indy not to take him. Therefore all the other teams tried to trade for RG3. The same thing happen this year with Winston. Everyone knew the bucs would be idiots not to take Winston. Please stop asking that stupid question. You can’t be that clueless.

  11. Tiny Tim Says:

    This has to be the most telling story from vetting process……

    “Play after play, for 45 minutes they went through it. Winston remembered it all. Koetter has been coaching college and pro football since 1985. He is not a gee-whiz coach. Licht was blown away by Koetter’s impression after that couple of hours with Winston. “I’m going to compare every guy I test like that the rest of my career to Jameis,” Koetter told Licht.”

    The above statement by koetter just falls in line with scouts that were saying Winston’s football IQ was on par with Peyton Manning. Another telling story is the bucs current locker room wanted Winston as their QB. They did not want Glennon and they didn’t want Mariota. So mariota supporters……………GET OVER IT!!!!! It was never a close race.

  12. Gator - Bucs Says:

    The Real Malloy Says:
    May 4th, 2015 at 11:37 am
    Gator Buc

    “I am a grown man sir, I can assure you the only thing that can make me cry is the loss of a loved one. In this free society that we live in that I fought for we are allowed to speak our minds. I did so in a very rational and calm manner. Grow a set…lol. Sir I have probably stopped more hearts than you you have ever gotten pieces of tail. You are welcome by the way. Smh”

    ok, first off, again…stop crying.

    secondly, “youve stopped more hearts than you have ever gotten pieces of tail”?

    thats something to be proud of….very christian of you. you’re that guy at the bar that talks about all the stuff he did in the military and how many people he killed, and then someone calls you out for being full of it and you cry once again and leave…
    ……………..
    wOW A guy saying something about religion and he gets persecuted, told to grow a pair, and told to stop crying??!!!??
    Yeah I left. I have a business to run. I can’t sit around all day on a comment section
    As I said some of you people are Nuts. I fought for the right to say whatever the F I want whenever I want. Jeesh I made one little statement about being offended and you guys attack me.
    And Malloy I fail to see how having to kill people in service of your country makes you any less of a Christian. I’m no damn bible thumping holy roller or anything like that. Just a man who believes and Christ and says what he thinks.
    And I fail to see wha

  13. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    The debate continues…and roars on…..needlessly!!!

  14. Buc1987 Says:

    I was shocked when they called off Winston’s name…

  15. Patrick in VA Says:

    @Gator Buc – Just as you have your right to voice that you are offended, shouldn’t those who disagree have the right to voice their distaste with what they perceive to be offensive? We live in a society where everyone is sitting by eagerly waiting to be offended by everything that they can find. I, for one, am offended that people choose to try to censor someone else’s attempt at humor because it isn’t to their personal taste. Along with your right to voice your opinion you also have the right to close the page or change the channel if the content is not to your liking. If enough people turn it off, the content will change. Trying to get everyone else to conform to your tastes is trying to step on everyone else’s right to consume their information the way that they choose to. I’m sure there are sites that will fall in line with your tastes and, if not, you have plenty of opportunity in this free country of ours to create a corner of the interwebs of your own where the information is laid out in a manner that is on your own terms.

  16. Buc1987 Says:

    According to Peter King this was what the Bucs draft board looked like…

    1. Jameis Winston.
    2. Leonard Williams.
    3. Dante Flower.
    4. Marcus Mariota.
    5. Todd Gurley.

  17. WS99 Says:

    87

    Lmao I was shocked too, that they didn’t fck it up.

  18. Luther Says:

    I had every intention of ordering a Winston jersey before the draft. I didn’t do it simply because I thought the Bucs might get some stupid offer and possibly trade out. I’m glad I waited anyway so I got the correct jersey number. Would have sucked to have a #5 jersey.

  19. Luther Says:

    @87 did you get your jersey from Erik?

  20. MM-ARMY Says:

    MM supporters are still here…. this article and comments are laughable. Predictable.

    We (MM team) don’t hate JW rather we thought MM was and still is the better QB…with that said we are BUCS fans and will root for the BUCS players including JW. Just because someone does not agree with your viewpoint does not automatically make them a hater….and the way you keep writing it…it gives credence to the thought that maybe the only hater on here is you JBF.

    One last thing, to be writing anything a week after the draft saying we were right and MM supporters were wrong..is stupid and an easy trap to fall in. Most NFLers know it takes 3 years to eval a draft. You do realize MM was picked 2nd this year?? In 2-3 years…we will see more clearly who was right and who was wrong on this issue. We will even get a peek at it game 1. Until then, in the immortal words of torts, shut your yap!!

  21. Buc1987 Says:

    Luther Says:
    May 4th, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    “@87 did you get your jersey from Erik?”

    I e-mailed him and still no reply back…

    Oh well karma is a beotch. I told my wife what goes around comes around. Erik will be on his way to the stadium someday to see the Bucs in a playoff game and suddenly realize he lost his tickets.

    Yes karma is coming Erik…

  22. Buc1987 Says:

    MM-ARMY…what we’ll see in 3 years is MM with a busted knee RGIII style.

  23. Tiny Tim Says:

    MM-ARMY Says:

    May 4th, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    MM supporters are still here…. this article and comments are laughable. Predictable.

    We (MM team) don’t hate JW rather we thought MM was and still is the better QB…with that said we are BUCS fans and will root for the BUCS players including JW. Just because someone does not agree with your viewpoint does not automatically make them a hater….and the way you keep writing it…it gives credence to the thought that maybe the only hater on here is you JBF.

    One last thing, to be writing anything a week after the draft saying we were right and MM supporters were wrong..is stupid and an easy trap to fall in. Most NFLers know it takes 3 years to eval a draft. You do realize MM was picked 2nd this year?? In 2-3 years…we will see more clearly who was right and who was wrong on this issue. We will even get a peek at it game 1. Until then, in the immortal words of torts, shut your yap!!

    —————————–

    You “may” not hate Winston but a lot of the Mariota supporters do because many said if the bucs draft Winston, they are no longer fans etc. And I think you missed the point of the article and comments from Jameis supporters on this thread. The point has nothing to do with who will be the better qb. That will be determined much later down the road. The point is, the choice of who would go #1 to the bucs was never in doubt even though we spent 5 months debating on JBF and other sites. Again, it speaks volumes when the players inside of the locker room wants a certain player. And no, it was not Mariota.

  24. WS99 Says:

    We’ll see week 1

  25. Lord Cornelius Says:

    I honestly hope Mariota and Winston have success. My best friend is a titans fan so I hope we are seeing eachother in super bowls

  26. Idontwannahearitanymore Says:

    Damn, I can’t believe the fans couldn’t make the choice for the Team. Isn’t this the Pro Bowl? A popularity contest? Or is the choice made based by the professionals who run the Team?

  27. Love and Warrick Dunn Says:

    “Buc1987 Says:
    May 4th, 2015 at 3:03 pm
    Luther Says:
    May 4th, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    “@87 did you get your jersey from Erik?”

    I e-mailed him and still no reply back…

    Oh well karma is a beotch. ”

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clean-Athletics/403607129788329

  28. cmurda Says:

    The only surprise of the 1st round was Marcus Mariota having his name read Marcus Marioto. Kill yourself Goodell.

  29. WS99 Says:

    So I was watching nfln post-draft coverage and someone (I think Jeremiah) mentioned that at the senior bowl practice Bryce Petty messed up a play and turned to his team and said “sorry guys we didn’t do that at Baylor”. Jeremiahs point was that qbs out of the spread offense need much more time to learn the pro-game. He said every spread qb will have the same problem.

  30. Buc1987 Says:

    Love and Warrick Dunn…I’m giving it a couple of days to see if I get a reply. I e-mailed him from his own site under “contacts”.

    We’ll see it’s been 2 days so far, today is day 3.

  31. Love and Warrick Dunn Says:

    @87

    ok, keep us posted.

  32. MM-ARMY Says:

    Tiny Tim-
    Thanks for the response. I do not hate JW at all. I think he is a good football player and QB. He still needs to answer whether or not he is a good person and man but he needs time to prove this to the bucs. Those spewing all that hater talk about not being a fan if JW was selected…well they are not the real fans anyway. Good riddance… Hell to be a Buc fan nowadays…you have to have balls of steel since we have been irrelevant since 2007.

    The players do not decide or have influence on who is drafted with the exception of the HOF types, which we have not seen around here since Brooks left. I hope JW is a HOF someday..it would make us all proud. BUT until then hold off on the images of he is Jesus and he is the second coming of Montana. The odds are really against this kid but I do believe in him until he shows otherwise.

    Dont kid yourself on the point of the article/comments…just another chance for JBF to rub it in and say I was right….and I quote “Throw in the fact he didn’t play in a spread offense, and it was a no-brainer that the quarterback-starved Bucs would pick him No. 1 overall, except to the many blind haters.” JBF has been waiting a long time to say I was right since he was so dead wrong on Manziel last year…so maybe its just withdrawal effect. I am sure his beer tastes better now and less bitter.

    All good. #3!!

  33. Stanglassman Says:

    I respect the MM guys who have said they have a better understanding of Jameis now and the pick makes sense to them now. I also noticed there are the ones who are just slowly walking back their MM support and that’s okay too. But let’s not ever forget that the majority of Jameis supporters never made it personal like the way the MM guys did so often. Most JW guys said things like, Marcus is a good guy and great college QB that may develop into a good maybe very good NFL QB but we think Jameis is just a once in a generation guy. I know this is generalizing all the points made and there are always exceptions but you would be hard pressed to find many personal attacks on Marcus from the Jameis guys. It’s kinda like when you get in a augment with someone your close to and they make it personal you can make up but you never really forget what they said.

  34. Stanglassman Says:

    Did everyone watch the Elite 11 video with Dilfer and Jameis when he was in high school? I highly recommend it to anyone who missed it.

  35. Buc1987 Says:

    I did TOO much research on Winston and concluded a long time ago that he was going to be the pick. That’s why I loved playing along with MM supporters. I knew all along he was going to be the pick, so it did help to pass the time away by battling the opposition. It started with Mr. Patrick in January I believe. It went on for weeks until Mr. Patrick disappeared. Then it was just random posters like Erik the clean athletic guy, mikeh, Supersam etc. I don’t count Robert because his takes are always a little screwy to begin with and why bother with a guy that mentions the Dolphins every chance he gets.

    It wasn’t a stressful 4 months. I, like Hawaiian Buc love to argue and debate. I kind of miss it actually. Now it’s just so quiet and I’m bored as hell. It’s like someone yelled fire in a theater and everyone left the building.

  36. Buc1987 Says:

    Stanglassman…nope but I read that grrreat article about it 3 months ago. The one I kept pulling excerpts from for the past 3 months.

    Another analogy. Grenades were flying left and right daily on JBF for 3 months straight. Then all of a sudden….silence.

  37. Buc1987 Says:

    Hell that meth Mike guy called me every name in the book for even suggesting that the pick was going to be Jameis. Idiot, retard, dumbass, you name it, but I pressed on all the while knowing he was the pick.

    I used to get a kick out of the random fans that would come in here and blurt out some nonsense that anyone that even thinks the Bucs will make this kid the face of the franchise was an idiot. The drive by shooter fans…

    All I could do was laugh and shake my head. Knowing Winston was going to be the pick.

  38. Tiny Tim Says:

    MM-ARMY Says:

    May 4th, 2015 at 3:40 pm

    Tiny Tim-

    The players do not decide or have influence on who is drafted with the exception of the HOF types, which we have not seen around here since Brooks left. I hope JW is a HOF someday..it would make us all proud. BUT until then hold off on the images of he is Jesus and he is the second coming of Montana. The odds are really against this kid but I do believe in him until he shows otherwise.

    ———————————-
    I did not say the players influenced Jason and Lovie’s decision on who to draft. Obviously Jason and lovie had their own ideas. I can assure you though that the fact the locker room was in sync with the thought process of both Lovie and Jason says a lot and it did make the decision for them easier. And Joe’s picture of Jesus/Jameis has nothing to do with me. It is Joe’s blog. I just feel as though Winston is a superior talent that will succeed. The coach from Stanford during the draft said he had never recruited/seen an athlete with as many trophies as Jameis had in his house. This guy has been the absolute best at everything all his life. I do not expect that to change now.

  39. JMan Says:

    Winston will either be what the Bucs need ….. Or deserve

  40. Eric Says:

    Can’t wait for reports about Jameis and the rookie mini camp.

    And then go to the training camp and see the kid throw the rock.

    I encourage the haters to attend, you will see what everyone is talking about.

  41. TouchDownTampaBay Says:

    @stanglassman – the hatred for JW was over the top. Some caller called in on 620last Friday saying that he was a life long Bucs fan and would no longer be a Bucs fan. He said that Winston’s “FHITP” comment was what did it for him and he couldn’t root for him because he doesn’t respect Winston. So this moron who probably posts on here WAS. Lifelong Buc fan. That means that he was a Buc fan when Jeremy Stevens was on the field catching passes and scoring TDs. He had no problem with with that complete scumbag wearing pewter and red but can’t deal with JW using an internet phrase that was well known by most college students.

  42. TouchDownTampaBay Says:

    He said he doesn’t respect women.

  43. (AUDIO) Licht: Winston decision came well before the draft » The Bay Cave Says:

    […] If not through reading it right here on TheBayCave.com then Peter King’s latest on MMQB or on JoeBucsFan.com. Regardless, there was a consensus at some point and general manager Jason Licht revealed when that […]

  44. grafikdetail Says:

    @TouchDownTampaBay don’t forget Michael Pittman either… they’re not taking a stance against anything… using an excuse because they just don’t like the guy… ESPN chick going all gung ho on Mayweather but supports wrestling stars w/ domestic violence history & dated a hockey player w/ a domestic violence event

  45. rayjay1122 Says:

    Buc1987 Says:
    May 4th, 2015 at 3:03 pm
    Luther Says:
    May 4th, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    “@87 did you get your jersey from Erik?”

    I e-mailed him and still no reply back…

    Oh well karma is a beotch. I told my wife what goes around comes around. Erik will be on his way to the stadium someday to see the Bucs in a playoff game and suddenly realize he lost his tickets.

    Yes karma is coming Erik…

    ———————————————–

    Tony Soprano says that if someone reneges then they should get their knee caps broken. Just Saying!

  46. Fire Goodell Says:

    This sounds like Licht and Lovie got the Glazers to sign off on a plan to tank last season.

  47. Buc1987 Says:

    Fire Goodell….ha ha ha yah think?

    I’ve been saying that since mid season last year…

    Something was up, the team simply didn’t just go backwards from Schiano to Lovie.

  48. The original "Kevin" Says:

    Jack0101…..it started at the latest week 5. It was clear as day to me…I turned to my old man and said “Im not even mad anymore, if they were trying Id be mad but its obvious the coaching is blowing these games intentionally. ”

    They were not a 2 and 14 team last season they were just coached to be one. Take all of the improvements with players and the oc….this team may just dominate the south this season. Even if Glennon were to start which its clearly obvious now that he wont…they would still have a shot at it. This is going to be an exciting team to watch. I will be pretty pissed if they dont get a MNF game next season.

  49. Buc1987 Says:

    It’s good to see that there were other fans out there that thought it was a tank job early on. I never suggested the players were tanking it. I did suggest the coaches were though. Of course I can’t prove that, but there was clear signs that it was possibly happening. Then again you’ve got the Falcons and Ravens beat down to consider. I mean was that a tank job too or just an outright beat down?

    I’m looking forward to a bounce back season. I’m much more optimistic than I was for next season than I was in December. Primarily because I think it was a tank job and I think they were tanking for Winston. I know that sucks for the fans that bought season tickets or went to the games. I only went to the season opener. The team never looked prepared to play football right out the gate.

    I think last season was just an evaluation of players by the coaches. I really do. So I can’t wait for this next season to get here just to see if I’m right.

  50. Pickgrin Says:

    After the season was over – I thought in looking back that the tank job started sometime in November. After McCown had lost a couple games after coming back – when we were sitting at 2-9 or so. I also think that there was only 1 player who had knowledge of the plan and that 1 player also “helped” execute the plan with a timely fumble or errant throw now and then when appropriate.

    Of course none of this will ever come out – but Thanks anyway Josh. You have no idea how appreciated your “effort” last year was for the Buccaneers franchise.
    Good Luck and hope you do well in Cleveland.