Media Fear Of Jason Licht
March 22nd, 2026
GM Jason Licht
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht does not live in Joe’s head, but he is feared by other media types.
Licht has a history of keeping receipts, calling out media types who have taken shots at the Bucs. Heck, he’s even publicly mocked Cameron Jordan when he played for the slimy Saints.
Joe likes when Licht dives into the media/fan culture. More of that would be fun. Sports is supposed to be about entertainment.
When Licht hunted down Sports Illustrated national columnist and podcast Connor Orr for a public finger-pointing two years ago, media types took notice. Joe heard the buzz in various circles, and NFL Daily host Gregg Rosenthal went there during his recent assessment of the Bucs’ 2026 free agency moves.
Rosenthal is known well for his work on NFL.com and has had Licht on his show. Before handing Licht a grade of “D” for the Bucs’ signings and losses of the past two weeks, he felt compelled to pause and talk about how Licht called out Orr years ago and how that still moves Rosenthal to this day.
“He’s still in the “D” range here,” Rosenthal said of Licht’s free agency moves. “If they want to clip this and bring it back to me after all these moves work out well — Al-Quadin Muhammed actually ups his sack total — then I’ll be happy to take it.”
Muhammed, of course, is the Bucs’ free agent edge rusher signing. He had a surprising 11-sack season last year for Detroit as a part-time player.
Rosenthal wasn’t overly impressed by that signing and he referred to the Bucs adding defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson as “just a workman-like, rotational defensive lineman.” He also implied Robinson is overpaid at $10 million per year.
Overall, Rosenthal said there’s little to “hang your hat on” with the Bucs’ offseason, and Rosenthal also is skeptical the Bucs really wanted to keep Mike Evans. He added that the Bucs’ collapse did not get enough national attention because media was distracted by the imploded Ravens and Bengals.
Listeners to the Ira Kaufman Podcast heard the divide at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters when it comes to free agency. One Joe gave the Bucs a “D” and the other Joe felt good about a “C” grade, which was in line with fan poll results here.
.@jasonrlicht standing on business 🫡 pic.twitter.com/lqDkzNU9gm
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) March 1, 2024
March 22nd, 2026 at 9:36 am
So far all moves lean towards deciding to rank 2026 season….
Maybe the owners see a college QB they really covet…
Would be interesting to know if it was Licht or owners idiotic choice to retain IBS another season… Great Hc for a tank season!
March 22nd, 2026 at 9:43 am
Never start a feud with media , it is just childish-but he will only be GM one more year.
March 22nd, 2026 at 9:49 am
Is there a site that tracks the hit rates of GM draft picks? For all Jason’s detractors, I’d wager he’s in the top 25%
March 22nd, 2026 at 9:49 am
I would give Jason Licht a B for his signings
But, l think he should place more emphasis on the Offensive Line
He thinks, as well as the fanbase, that the line will be healthy and fine
I’m not so sure, I’m skeptical of this training staff
We have a history of misdiagnosing our O-Linemen injuries
And it goes back to Carl Nicks and Dalvin Joseph
This is why I think he need to upgrade our reserve offensive line
Right now he’s playing a risky game, with the unit we have
We don’t know the severity of Mauch, Brederson, Wirfs, Goedeke injuries
We only go by what we’re told
And to be honest, l don’t believe Licht and Bowles knows
Will they ready to play a 17-20 game season, l doubt it
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:03 am
Thats why the local media was positive on Bowles last season before the losing streak got out of control . during early and middle part of losing streak they were still fluffing up bowles and the posters on here bought in. No more access to bucs players for reporting the truth scares off local media. After it became painfully obvious to the most blind fans the local media got the pass on reporting the obvious truth about Bowles and the team.
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:04 am
He’s paid to make those type of comments and I love that he acknowledged that he could be wrong. So too could many of the fans that post on this site. I sure hope so just like I hope that Lee is wrong about his grade.
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:20 am
The draft should carry more weight than free agent signings. So much goes into where the player actually wants to play where as the drafted players have no choice but to embrace the team that picks them. There is the argument of why wouldn’t they want to play here, but that’s a different story.
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:25 am
I agree with Lakeland.
I give JL a B so far this off-season…
Unlike some of you tards – I see the exodus of ME13 as a net positive not a negative… Sorry to hurt your little fee-fees..
The Bucs have improved at every position of need except CB and IOL.
Ask again after the draft and round #2 of FA to get the final off-season grade.
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:33 am
Something tells me there is more to the Mike Evans story to include what was mentioned in this article above on if the Bucs really wanted to keep him. Curious to see if LVD plays another down for Tampa Bay though I think LVD may have one good season left, especially if his knee issue is all cleared up now.
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:36 am
Kipper, Rosenthal, Russini, Florio….. all of them have bad takes consistently
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:41 am
JL is a good GM and I have been a fan since the 80s. If you lived through the Culverhouse years you would truly understand how bad a franchise can be.
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:47 am
Confido75,
Culverhouse didn’t believe in having a GM.
He said they wasn’t needed, and a waste of money
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:49 am
The organization is stagnant. Bring in fresh blood. A complete rebuild from the owners down to the waterboy.
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:51 am
Well, Old Thin Skinned, 2nd round K drafting, Braswell Bragging, Zyon overpaying, got-played by Arians for Bowles and by Evans who faked wanting to stay GM Todd Licht can clip this one too:
I ain’t going to another game until you and Bowes are gone. Be there for season opener in 2027.
Worst job since Dominik.
The owners are in. Halcyon dream of they think this crew of losers is going to be better than the quitters of 2025.
March 22nd, 2026 at 11:00 am
Is the plan to tank for Eli in 2027?
It’s seems to be working.
March 22nd, 2026 at 11:00 am
Fear Jason Licht….and since I don’t live in Tampa…. I always thought (at one time) it was pronounced Licked instead of Light……
Anyway….
What the Ownership fears and maybe to an extent the Media, but I doubt it
Ownership fears the ‘Beard’ aka The Rooney Rule!!! That is the real cause of fear around here!!!! Not the game, certainly not the Buccaneer Defense… allegedly Bowles’ specialty
And that is why we are stuck with Todd Bowles as HC and DC because of that blasted Rooney Rule!!!
PS Jason Licht is Fat and out of shape, no one truly fears him! Unless you are Golden Corral and run a Sunday Special on the All You Can Eat Buffet!!!
Half Price Sundays! A bit over the top, don’t you think? And you obviously haven’t seen Licht lately. –Joe
….. The Local Tampa Bay Area Golden Corral fears a visit by Todd!
March 22nd, 2026 at 11:09 am
I totally agree with the critic. D at best.
Marine boy, you and Lakeland make a fine pair. both remind me of Ndog.
March 22nd, 2026 at 11:18 am
I think the local media fears Licht. Mostly because they probably fear they would lose access if they were too critical. Where is Big Dog when you need him….😢
March 22nd, 2026 at 11:19 am
@ButtsfaninOregon
WAAAAAAAA!
ME13 is gone… Season over…
WAAAAAAAAAAAA!
You are one of the “tards” I am mentioning…
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
We let an old, over-paid receiver go…
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
How will we ever recover from this catastrophe?
WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
March 22nd, 2026 at 11:34 am
We could have a solid draft and add more FAs but believe we will still end up at 8-9. Then I would hope for a regime change. If we win the division at 8-9 and lose in round 1 of the playoffs, please pull the plug Glazers. 500 ball blows. Something you have to rip and replace to make a real impact.
March 22nd, 2026 at 11:38 am
F-
How about a Z.
Lost Mike, retained Mr 3rd and 28.
Biggest atrocity since losing Doug Williams to the USFL.
March 22nd, 2026 at 11:43 am
“Bright Licht don’t live in my head!”
Um…every JL puff piece begins with “Ring of Honor”…so…nothing to fear there!
His skin is getting thinner like his pre-Arians reign of terror. If Baker is re-signed/extended before the season…we’ll know we’re stuck with JL no matter what.
March 22nd, 2026 at 11:48 am
I’m not sure why people think the owners are scared to fire Bowels because of him being Black. Our beloved Bucs have had more Black coaches than any team in the league except maybe the raiders that I can remember. That alone says they have no problem firing anyone. Heck it’s probably bought them some credibility that if they did fire Bowels it couldn’t be looked at in that way.
Tony Dungy
Raheem
Todd Bowles
What other franchise has had that many?
March 22nd, 2026 at 12:12 pm
A bit over the top, don’t you think? And you obviously haven’t seen Licht lately. –Joe
Sorry Joe…. I went off the rails a bit. ….it won’t happen again and I reviewed a You Tub Interview with Jason L and he looks pretty good, he has been working on it!!!!
March 22nd, 2026 at 12:29 pm
Mike Evans parting gift to Bucs fan was to rip Bowles and Mayfield in a public way to hasten their demise and thus speed up freeing us from this purgatory of mediocrity.
Of course Bowles and Baker can diffuse this bomb with a winning season, but how likely is that without Evans?
Not very likely.
March 22nd, 2026 at 12:48 pm
@ will J
I agree.
But you forgot Lovie Smith.
Add him to your list of black Bucs coaches who were fired… lol.
March 22nd, 2026 at 12:55 pm
Lots of ppl applauding these moves but a month ago if anyone said Mohammad was the pass rusher they signed over many other proven options and Otton was paid handsomely with evans leaving, everyone would have given it an F. Yes they added some attitude and some depth, none of these guys are impact players, media outlets covering the Bucs have lowered their bars because of the teams desparation but no way should we be satisfied
March 22nd, 2026 at 1:45 pm
Did Mark Dominik secretly transport inside JL’s mind? This club is being run like Mr. 28-52 was back in charge.
March 22nd, 2026 at 2:20 pm
At the time I thought the Connor Orr exchange was a lot of fun. Still do. Pre-season predictions are fun because they have no effect or reality, except for idiots who make bets based on them. They’re a writing exercise where someone can practice his critical vocabulary from the laudatory heights to the deprecating depths. If you’re doing a league-wide evaluation for a national audience, you have to pick winners and losers. and you try to generate love and hate by rating popular and unpopular teams and fandoms. It’s entertainment. A predictor who picks every team to go 8-8 will not generate much interest although the season’s average will come to that. That year, the Bucs had just lost Brady, so it was easy to put them on the losing side of the ledger. And nobody calls the Bucs America’s Team, so the writer won’t get much backwash.
March 22nd, 2026 at 2:37 pm
The secondary was terrible last season. I don’t know how the draft will improve that in the short term unless they take a CB at 15. At this point if I’m the Bucs I might consider trading 15 if I can pick up a 2nd round pick. Trade with the Bears at 25 then you get 3 picks in the first two rounds.
You can then pick up edge late in the 1st and double up in the 2nd round with picks for the secondary.
1st #25 Keldric Faulk (Edge) High-ceiling power rusher to replace aging vets.
2nd #46 Malik Muhammad (CB) Fluid, man-coverage specialist.
2nd #57 Genesis Smith (S) Range-y playmaker to help in the post.
Something like the above.
March 22nd, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Will J
Exactly. What the Glazers really need to be criticized for is letting Lovie Smith pick Jason Licht as GM.
He’s terrible.
March 22nd, 2026 at 2:44 pm
smh Should the Bucs give back the Lombardi Trophy from the team Licht built?
Give Joe a “terrible” GM who can build a Super Bowl team any day.
March 22nd, 2026 at 2:49 pm
That Superbowl was all Tom Brady
Name another QB on this planet who could hit that TD to Scotty Miller.
You can’t. Savage throw. Rip your heart out type of play.
On defense they had Suh and JPP up front. When they left so did the defense.
March 22nd, 2026 at 3:05 pm
Sometimes you catch lightning in a bottle. Tom Brady fell into their laps. It was like winning the lottery.
Then when Mayfield arrived they tried to bill it as an upgrade. Ridiculous.
Mayfield has played better than I thought he would, but still he has exploitable weaknesses.
He’s best when the ball comes out quick with him putting mustard on it.
It has to be done with scheme though. Grizz tried to line him up like the 93 Cowboys and do pre-snap reads, looking defenders off and try to throw guys open. That got figured out fast. Mayfield isn’t that kind of QB. He’s Shawn King with a better fastball.
With Baker it’s got to be all 3 step drops and play action.
This is why we wanted KT. He’s the kind of QB that do all the Tom Brady things – nobody is as good as TB12 but in that style.
BM is not a drop back passer. He’s a high twitch athlete with deceptively strong arm.
Bucs need to run the ball and focus on the short passing game with PA mixed in.
Will they? We’ll see.
March 22nd, 2026 at 3:21 pm
Mostly Peaceful…. Brady doesn’t come to Tampa if he doesn’t think there is a Super Bowl caliber roster in place.
This shouldn’t be hard to figure out.
Bucs won in Brady’s 1st season, some of you act like Brady came in, played GM for awhile and won in year 3 or something.
March 22nd, 2026 at 3:25 pm
And I don’t know if you watched Brady’s last season but Baker was a clear upgrade from that.
Brady has admitted he was distracted, missed camp time, was scared to death to take a hit or at least seemed that way. The offense was terrible! I put a lot of that on Byron but certainly not all of it, Brady could have stuffed Byron in a locker at any time and didn’t.
March 22nd, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Brady came in…and Year 1 he recruited Gronkowski ( 2 TDs in Super Bowl ), Antonio BrownEye ( 1 Td ) and Fournette ( 1 TD…many yards ). That was all of the non-kicking scoring. Licht did pound a Bud Light ( or 3 ) during the boat parade…so credit to him for that.
March 22nd, 2026 at 4:11 pm
Offensive line was trash Brady’s last year. He was playing chuck and duck the whole time. He didn’t sign on for that. Pissed Bowles cost him another superbowl too. Once Hall destroyed Jensens Knee it was all over for the offense. Brady said hasta la vista.
March 22nd, 2026 at 4:11 pm
It’s disgusting to have to read such nonsense
Ring of Honor General Manager
Publicly patronizing Moe’s
Shameful and should be ashamed
March 22nd, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Glazers suck. Todd sucks. We are circling the Bowl
March 22nd, 2026 at 4:31 pm
Putting Jason Licht in the ROH would be the ultimate embarrassment. Your silly schtick makes it impossible to take you seriously
March 22nd, 2026 at 4:41 pm
So you want Bucco Bruce Arians ripped out of the Ring of Honor?
March 22nd, 2026 at 4:55 pm
^^^
Actually someone maybe you posted the number of players in the ROH and non players in the ROH and the proportion seemed top heavy with non players.
The ROH is meaningless until James Wilder is up there!
March 22nd, 2026 at 5:10 pm
There’s a 0 percent chance Jason Licht loses his job after this year.
March 22nd, 2026 at 5:10 pm
That’s the whole point, Josè. Arians was the catalyst…a leader of men who helped the Steelers win a SB ( before a jealous Tomlin tried to retire/fire him ), won Coach of the Year in Indy as an interim guy by keeping that team together and saved his best for last with Tampa. Of course it was Licht who pleaded with him to come to town…so credit to him for that. Without Arians…Licht looks a bit lost and has reverted to his mean…a sub .500 GM.
March 22nd, 2026 at 5:45 pm
access “journalism” at its finest.
March 22nd, 2026 at 5:52 pm
I have plenty of doubts about Muhammed, but I’m hoping he proves me wrong.
I suspect we’ll seen at lest on more free agent edge rusher, and I hope we draft a good one.
I don’t really care if Bowles can develop one…if he does badly this year Bowles is gone. And he could surprise us.
And anyone who thinks JL is not one of the best GMs in the NFL doesn’t know football.
March 22nd, 2026 at 6:22 pm
Nothing the media says even actually matters. It’s a results-based business. You win or lose. The media is there regardless of how well they do. Keep it moving.
March 22nd, 2026 at 6:24 pm
Writing fan fiction about fairies and dwarfs make you know football? Weird. Same weirdo who declared Evans, R. White and Dean would be re-signed. Go figure…
March 22nd, 2026 at 10:43 pm
Too hard on Licht. Receiving corp was banged up for at least half the year with McMillan coming back somewhere around week 10. Godwin and Evans injuries didn’t help. Then there were times when 60% of the starting Oline was injured. Big needs remain DLine help, CB, LB, and a swing O lineman preferably a vet who can play both T and G. 2026 will be better than most expect with Mayfield and Co. saving TB job for one more year.
March 22nd, 2026 at 11:34 pm
licht wasn’t signing fournette, gronk, antonio brown without brady . those were the guys that scored tds in the super bowl. not sure if licht even played a role in getting brady. spytek and brady were friends. when licht said the bucs were drafting from a position of luxury after winning the super bowl that was the beginning of the end for the bucs. that lazy mindset drafted jts and trask that draft
March 23rd, 2026 at 6:57 am
“”smh Should the Bucs give back the Lombardi Trophy from the team Licht built?”
You mean the team that Brady built.
March 23rd, 2026 at 7:41 am
All organizations success or problems start at the top. Why is Licht spending much less than needed, especially on coaches? I suspect the Glazers have given the Bucs a low budget this year due to thier heavy investments in a Indian cricket team. Thus they could not fire Bowles this year because that would mean buying out his contract as well as paying for a new HC. Therefore Bowles is simply a placeholder until his contract runs out. This also affects any FA signings. What it does not affect is the draft so all hope for this season lies there.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:56 am
@ Gipper Says: “Too hard on Licht.”
That’s a total Loser Take. 13-YEARS. He is what he is and that is 93-104.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Spytek and Brady were TEAMMATES at University of Michigan. Interesting. Did SPytek bring Brady here? They hooked up again in Vegas. They seem to have a very good relationship. Wow. That would blow the lid off the Licht brought in Brady crap. Why did Brady follow Spytek to Vegas? Joe’s?
Think of it as the “teammates” line didn’t mean they actually were friends or stayed in touch. Spytek was a freshman linebacker who didn’t play and Brady was the fifth-year senior starting QB. –Joe
-David