“It’s Trickled Down To A Lot Of Players”
April 3rd, 2026
Called out.
So a year ago the Bucs were crowing about how the culture of the Tampa Bay locker room is the best its been in well over a decade.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht and Lavonte David didn’t hesitate to say it was the best group they’d been around: team-first dudes that love the grind and don’t freak out under adversity.
Newcomers to the Bucs roster also remarked about a professional and focused group.
But now three Super Bowl pieces are gone, legends and team captains Mike Evans and Lavonte David, along with cornerback Jamel Dean. Veterans Rachaad White and Logan Hall also left the building. So Joe asked Licht this week if it’s now “a wait-and-see” situation when it comes to evaluting the locker room.
Licht was very swift in shooting that down.
“No. I still feel very good about it,” Licht said. “The legacy [Evans and David] left behind, I think it’s trickled down to a lot of players. And now it’s time for some younger guys to step up that we think have the ability step up and be leaders. I still feel very strongly about the locker room.”
Joe then asked Licht to name one young guy he thinks is the next firm leader on the team. Licht replied that Joe was putting him on the spot. Joe replied that was why Joe was in Phoenix at the NFL owners meetings.
I would say Tykee is one of the toughest young players I’ve been around and I’m looking forward to him taking another step,” Licht said.
Interesting about Smith, Joe has been told (not by Licht), that Smith is not a tactful locker room guy like David was. He’s got a mean-streets-of-Philly approach, as in he’ll bark at teammates and demand they get in line with colorful language.
Joe suspects the Bucs could use more of that.
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:24 am
Tykee needs to cross-train at MLB.
So he can play MLB for our Dime package
Our MLB’s have gotten scorched for 3 years straight.
Perhaps we need to replace linebackers with moneybackers on 3rs down.
I am tired so seeing slow linebackers on 3rd down.
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:27 am
Well, Zyon is bored.
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:27 am
shocked he didnt name another SB champion: Vita
Vita and Wirfs should be the “new” leaders in the locker room with them actually winning the SB…
kinda an indictment on winfield too imo
GO BUCS!!!!
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:27 am
This is why all this crap about culture and locker room is all a crock!
We all watched this defense tank and give up. If that’s a good locker room, imagine what a bad locker room is? Just friggin’ bust your a@@ and play good ball!
If dudes have to hug someone, go find a girlfriend.
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:37 am
I know Joel Glazer came out this week and talked about why Bowles was not canned, but it was all fluff and nonsense!!!
Nothing was solved and nothing was gained either SMH
The Glazers Fear the Beard aka Rooney Rule and they will never admit to it, much less do anything about it
Keep Bowles as HC, but hire a new Defensive Coordinator!!!!
Otherwise 2026 will be a repeat of 2025!!! Double SMH
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:45 am
Maybe I’m crazy but it seems pretty obvious that the culture sucked last year because everything fell apart half way through the season.
The question for Licht should be “How did you misread team culture so badly last year and what have you changed to make sure the team doesn’t turn basket case at the bye week again this year?”
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:46 am
Yeah, watching that defense play and then watching how other teams defense play was disturbing! I’m not even talking about results. No energy or hustle, no passion, no physicality. It looked guys were playing to not get hurt. It was such a stark contrast and so plain to see. It makes it hard to root for your team.
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:46 am
How come Winfield is never mentioned? You would think he would be the leader of the secondary, demanding accountability, but I have never once heard his name mentioned as a leader.
On offense it clearly should be Baker, Godwin, and Wirfs
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:54 am
Lefty R is exactly right: Jim Schwartz is still unemployed. Bring him in, change to a 4-3, and draft all defense. Tell Todd he’s getting a promotion to Real Head Coach. Maybe Bowles and Schwartz would even develop some sort of synergy.
813bucboi is right, as well. Vita should be seen as a leader, as well as Wirfs.
Vita is underrated among the fandom, imo. He’s played at a Pro Bowl level since he was drafted. The best run-stuffing nose tackle in the league, arguably, plus he gets 5 sacks a year, which is pretty good for a tackle. I would say he’s played at a similar level as LVD and Evans. All three have been pretty much the best in the league at what they are, but they are all underrated due to obvious reasons. LVD and Vea don’t get double-digit sacks and Evans isn’t as high volume as some other receivers.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:02 am
“Joe replied that was why Joe was in Phoenix at the NFLs owners meetings”. Asking the tough questions to feed the true fans thirst for meaning after a topsy turbulent season. Also, Joe. I couldn’t help but notice who else is in that fine desert city asking tough questions. Another of my favorite reporters, Kay Adams. Dadgummit Joe. Get that silly grin off your face. Anyone knows there are multiple reasons why you’re in Phoenix. And there’s not a one of us who would blame you for it. Please tell her hi from the rest of us. Thanks Joe. Dang, I can’t get this stupid grin off my face.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:04 am
That’s what CJ Allen was at Georgia
A leader in the locker room
A 3 year starter at MIKE, calling the defense
A leader of the defense, a team captain
And Georgia had high quality players on their defense
Several of them were 1st round draft picks
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:16 am
Even if Bud Licht were to pull off the greatest draft ever (he won’t). Pillsbury Bowles Boy will ruin them.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:16 am
does anyone believe a word the Glazers say ?
does anyone believe a word Licht says ?
does anyone believe a word Bowles says ?
the Glazers Licht and Bowles are holding this team back –
Kool-Aid drinkers will disagree
team roster is pretty much set especially the starters –
it will be up to the players and the players alone to determine how this season plays out – maybe some of them will step up – maybe not
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:16 am
“”The question for Licht should be “How did you misread team culture so badly last year and what have you changed to make sure the team doesn’t turn basket case at the bye week again this year?””
Excellent question! The real answer to that is the only thing I want to hear out of the professional gaslighter’s mouth at this point. Licht has morphed into a small lot used car salesman. The list of preposterous statements he’s made the last couple years is many but my favorite is his rationale on why Evans left the Buccaneers. Between he and Bowles it’s no wonder we’re in the mess that were in.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:27 am
“”How come Winfield is never mentioned? You would think he would be the leader of the secondary, demanding accountability, but I have never once heard his name mentioned as a leader.””
Good question David. Maybe it’s from the fact that after he got paid an unGodly amount of money he then proceeded to have the 2 worst seasons of his career.
Interesting that you rarely see players on Bowles led defenses that improve from year to year. If anything it seems you see regression from players. On a good note at least we have our Ring of Honor GM assuring us we’re still that 6-2 team from last year. Just forget everything after the bye. That was a fluke hardly worth mentioning.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:36 am
Joe’s question wasn’t even that tough. You can see how thin skinned Licht is by how he snapped back. Joe probably can’t even ask a provocative question without getting shut out completely. JL only pretends to be a nice guy. Good work Joe.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:46 am
“He’s got a mean-streets-of-Philly approach, as in he’ll bark at teammates and demand they get in line with colorful language.”
Bro plays safety, it’s literally his job and if guys aren’t doing theirs they need to hear about it. No coincidence Lavonte David invited Tykee to his presser and said the same exact thing Licht said about being next up.
I like Tykee, I like the way he plays and fwiw we don’t win week 1 @ATL when he made that PBU late in that game with Atlanta trying to score.