Jason Licht: Free Agents Wanted To Play For Bucs
March 30th, 2021
Wanted.
Though this really shouldn’t surprise Bucs fans, still, Joe was very interested to hear Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht all but say he had to fight off free agents yearning to come to Tampa this fall.
On face value, this would be a duh! statement. Who wouldn’t want to play for the Super Bowl champions and chase a ring? But it was cool to hear the Bucs’ shot-caller all but say he told free agents, “Thank you, no.”
On “Airing it Out” with co-hosts Bill Lekas and Charlie Weis, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Lekas asked Licht if free agents were contacting him for work rather that the normal general manager calling a player’s agent on a recruiting pitch.
Why? Because Lekas thought that would be a result of Licht extending the contract of park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady’s contract.
Licht didn’t deny this but said the Bucs stuck to their offseason plans, which did not include bringing in many if any free agents.
“I think there is definitely that factor there when you have a player like Tom and a coach like Bruce [Arians] and a team like we have,” Licht said. “I think players do want to come here. Now, it does come down to dollars and cents. It’s always about dollars and cents. The big factor is dollars and cents.
“This year we decided to focus on bringing our guys back once again. Hopefully, that pays off. I think it will.”
Of course players want to play for a winner, and they want to play for Brady (just look at Playoff Lenny, Shady McCoy and furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing Antonio Brown). Joe is convinced if they didn’t know Brady was coming last spring, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh never would have returned to the Bucs in 2020.
But players want to play for Arians, too. He runs a fun, interesting offense and he has a well-earned reputation for treating players right. And Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has fostered a reputation for putting players in the best positions to make plays, win games and make money for their next contract. Bowles, too, is respected.
And throw in the beautiful Florida weather, and why wouldn’t other free agents wanted in?
The problem for those players was Licht had no interest in fixing something that wasn’t broken.
How cool is it that Licht on the free agent market is now the dude that chicks circle over like hawks when they see his new jewelry? Licht, and the Bucs, are now turning down proven players.
What a far, far cry from the Lost Decade.
March 30th, 2021 at 7:22 am
After the 53 man cutdown this year, there will be few older but serviceable players who can come in cheap and play as backups. This will most likely be Licht’s game plan.
March 30th, 2021 at 7:27 am
BF is often overlooked in the SB win, he should be recognized. The FA want to win scenario has been the Patriots way for years. This is how they could balance the lower draft picks. Now it’s Tampa’s turn, enjoy the ride Buc’s, it’s one you don’t want to get off.
March 30th, 2021 at 8:27 am
BF?
March 30th, 2021 at 8:36 am
I’m at my job right now, trying to figure out who BF is. ?
March 30th, 2021 at 8:48 am
@joe
Why is it BL receives very little or no recognition?
March 30th, 2021 at 8:54 am
Sorry BL, even I forgot about him.
March 30th, 2021 at 9:25 am
folks havent given BL his credit all year….lol…
BL worked magic all year…as did Bowles…
BL is our next HC…book it!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
March 30th, 2021 at 9:28 am
I can remember just a few months back we where the laughing stock of the NFL, turn the page and everyone want to come to Tampa to play.
March 30th, 2021 at 9:37 am
So Jason, it’s about dollars and cents then? Got it.
March 30th, 2021 at 10:18 am
BL?
March 30th, 2021 at 10:21 am
Think they mean Byron Leftwich, Joe
March 30th, 2021 at 10:22 am
Because it’s easy to spend other peoples money. Credit should go to the owner for opening up the checkbook. The cap is crap and the bucs off-season is the proof. If you want to keep a team together it can be done.
March 30th, 2021 at 10:22 am
It is truly amazing what a dramatic turnaround this team has made in such a short time. We’ve gone from being the downtrodden, laughing stock of the NFL to one of the most admired teams in the league. Sure, Brady was largely responsible for last year’s success, but so too were Arians, Licht, Boyles, Leftwich and the entire coaching staff. Can’t wait to see what this team is capable of in 21.
March 30th, 2021 at 11:01 am
Hey Joe grow up!
March 30th, 2021 at 11:27 am
“the dude that chicks circle over like hawks when they see his new jewelry?” One of tge more awkward sentences you’ve ever written, Joe. Bravo? 😉
March 30th, 2021 at 11:36 am
BA – Bruce Arians
BL – Byron Leftwich
BF – Breakfast (Reread the posts. Totally works.)
March 30th, 2021 at 12:06 pm
@Joe —
One other point you don’t mention is how Licht developed and earned a reputation with agents and free agent players. Think back to Vincent Jackson, who surely underearned his contract the last year-and-a-half. Yet the Bucs kept him and paid him. Other players don’t care about Swaggy Baker or the like but they recognize and respect a GM who has their back. And it really didn’t cost the Bucs anything — their reputation was below dirt and prospects were coming for a payday. Still, it created goodwill that he can point to and use now that Tampa Bay is a destination.
March 30th, 2021 at 12:20 pm
Hey Joe, have you noticed that Coach Arians is not getting all the praise he should have. Everybody is being praised for our big achievement but I dont see enough for Bucco Bruce. He deserves a whole lot. Let’s please let him know how much we appreciate what he has done for us.
March 30th, 2021 at 12:33 pm
It’s all about Brrrady!
March 30th, 2021 at 3:00 pm
Buc 1987, heck yeah bro! I hope Tommy has at least 2 more badass years left in him because the team around him is studly
March 30th, 2021 at 8:02 pm
Good times.