Mea Culpa On Connor Barth
October 15th, 2015
Gets emotional with his kicker.
There is a lot to like about Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
First, of course, is his draft acumen that appears to be bursting out in his second season as front office head honcho.
Then, of course, is his taste in music. (Joe heard whispers Licht enjoys cranking Rage Against The Machine while watching college tape.)
But the best thing about Licht may be his honesty. When he makes a mistake, he quickly fesses up to it and cuts his losses and moves on. Licht has talked about this being the best approach he learned while working alongside Bill Belicheat.
Yesterday, Licht jumped on “The Blitz” to talk football with co-hosts Rich Gannon and Bruce Murray, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio. There, Licht publicly admitted he messed up releasing kicker Connor Barth, when Gannon asked Licht about the new/old Bucs kicker.
In fact, Licht said he was so happy to have Barth back, he got all huggy with the kicker.
“Well (laughs), I’ve had to let him go twice,” Licht said of Barth. “And I gave him the biggest hug I think he’s every gotten in his life after the game last week (laughs).
“Connor, one of the things is, he’s always been a steady kicker. But his kickoff leg has always been inconsistent, to put it mildly. But then he comes in here last week and kicks five out of eight out of the back of the end zone. I think one went into the stands. I asked him where that came from and he said he had been working on it. So, he changed up his technique a little bit but I think he realized that was his best chance to stick around for a long time,
“We couldn’t be happier to have Connor Barth back. He’s such a Steady Eddie. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have let him go.”
That’s pretty cool of Licht to admit. Good thing he was able to get Barth back. In that respect, Licht lucked out.
Seeing how Licht’s drafts are working out, Joe is actually looking forward to next year’s draft. Unlike this past year, next spring is a total guess what Licht and the Bucs may do.
October 15th, 2015 at 5:19 am
“Rage in the Machine”?…that’s a new one
October 15th, 2015 at 5:24 am
Time for the Glazers to start thinking about fessing up to their mistakes and cutting losses.
“Steady Eddie”??? Who the hell says that?
October 15th, 2015 at 6:06 am
@Joe … “Just a good thing he was able to get Barth back. In that respect, Licht lucked out.”
That’s an understatement Joe. And that after he traded Tim Wright to Patriots for Logan Mankins and his $7 mil salary, and then again to Lions for Brindza.
Of course, releasing Revis so he could sign with the Pats so he could sign Collins and Johnson more than compensates for that. Oh wait …
October 15th, 2015 at 6:11 am
Steady Eddie is widely used by people who are capable of thinking beyond a few minutes days weeks months and years… In order for one to be a Steady Eddie they would have to be patient persistent and practice. Showing improvement over the course of time… I know its a crazy new concept right!!!??? Ummm concept it a…. Awe never mind go back to playing your video game virtual machine that simulates your fantasy… Perhaps you will come up with a new idea one how to better contribute to society… Wait, who does that?!?!
October 15th, 2015 at 6:40 am
Steady Eddie? Nope not a common saying. I’ll go out on a limb to say no-one under 40 has said it.
I’ve taken several things from this article.
We are VERY lucky Barth was available.
Barth was working the hell outta that leg during his free time.
Joe isn’t much for Googling a crappy 90s band’s name.
This team can actually compete with competent kicking and field position. Now let’s get our defense right and stop getting penalized.
We had 8 kickoffs last game EIGHT! That means we had 7 scores. How often do we do that? Good times are coming!
October 15th, 2015 at 6:50 am
Now if we can only get Lovie to admit that Jennings and Jenkins suck and belong nowhere near the secondary we might have a chance to win a couple more games.
October 15th, 2015 at 7:10 am
Mr. Jason Licht has certainly paid his dues working his way up the front office staff for nearly 18 years with various teams. Looking at his drafts and his learning to “cut his losses” is certainly earning my respect.
October 15th, 2015 at 7:13 am
I’m under 40 and have never said Steady Eddie, but that is now a part of my daily vocabulary. I’ll use so much, one could say I’ll be a Steady Eddie about it!
October 15th, 2015 at 7:25 am
I guess Joe gives Licht a pass on the fact that picks 5, 6, and 7 failed to even make the team. C’mon this guy has made a series of blunders combined with a few things that have worked out.
October 15th, 2015 at 7:35 am
We have 7 rookies on the team right now. How many rookies do you expect to make a team each year? We have 4 rookies starting and making huge contributions to this team. I’d say that is more than just a successful draft. It was one of the best the bucs have ever had.
October 15th, 2015 at 7:45 am
I suspect that next year’s draft will include a CB/S or both.
October 15th, 2015 at 7:46 am
@Espo and DallasBuc Rage Against the Machine has received two Grammy Awards, and they have sold over 16 million records worldwide. Not bad for a crappy band. But I digress. The fact is that Licht is learning from his mistakes, and he seems to be righting the ship in the personnel department. Cutting your losses and moving on is the best way to go. Thank God they didn’t hold onto Ghost Johnson anymore. Now the Revis move…that one still leaves a nasty taste in my mouth, and an expensive Revis jersey in my closet.
October 15th, 2015 at 7:47 am
Steady Eddie, Fast Freddie, Debbie Downer…..these are all hidden in most Hip Hop songs….
October 15th, 2015 at 7:53 am
Three more great drafts and Lovie will be able to go 8-8!
Fantastic news!
October 15th, 2015 at 8:00 am
I do appreciate it when coaches and GM’s can candidly admit to making a mistake and own up to it. I appreciate it even more if they aren’t making those mistakes in the first place, but at least half of the L&L team doesn’t deflect blame for bad decisions.
October 15th, 2015 at 8:11 am
Glad he listens to Rage. I can hear him telling Lovie “F… You I won’t do what you tell me!” And that can only be good for the team!
October 15th, 2015 at 8:44 am
BucU- do you regularly require jokes to be explained?
October 15th, 2015 at 8:47 am
BucU- to be fair it looks like the Joes corrected it at some point so I guess it wouldn’t make sense now.
October 15th, 2015 at 8:56 am
JAB83- the use of “Steady Eddie” is the mark of a thinking man? Let me guess, you are are part of this Steady Eddie thinking man’s club?
People say the funniest sht!
October 15th, 2015 at 9:46 am
@Dallas
Yes he does, but I think he was mostly butt hurt I insulted a band he likes. Sorry but I can’t personally stand Rage. I know a lot of people loved them.
October 15th, 2015 at 9:49 am
DallasBuc will have us fire our GM because he says “Steady Eddie” and set our franchise back another 5 years. Geez
October 15th, 2015 at 9:52 am
Trubucfan22- WOAH on best draft ever! That honor still goes to 1995 for bringing us Brooks and Sapp, however future generations may look back to 2015 and say…
October 15th, 2015 at 10:00 am
bucstop- I believe that there is evening literacy tutoring for adults at local high schools in the Bay Area as it is clear you are not able to synthesize all of the letters and words into cogent comprehension.
I’m pulling for you buddy!
October 15th, 2015 at 10:04 am
bucstop thinks firing a lousy rookie GM is what will set us back for 5 years!…not all the poor talent evaluation, decision making and LOSSES. It’s the firing of poor leadership that is going to set us back!!!
People really do say funny sht.
October 15th, 2015 at 10:15 am
Steady Eddie, Never heard it before. It must be a northern expression. Or something the Beav in Leave it to Beaver might say about Eddie Haskell.
October 15th, 2015 at 3:09 pm
I’m not sure it is “his” draft acumen…I think its Jon Robinson’s acumen. Look at draft 1 vs draft 2.