“Tom, you hear this clown?”
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has some detractors in Bucs fandom.
They showed up in the recent Licht confidence poll.
Joe, however, is with the majority and is firmly in the pro-Licht camp.
Not firmly in Licht’s corner is ESPN analyst and former Bucs defensive tackle Booger McFarland. He basically said Licht is on the same hot seat on which Todd Bowles resides.
“I think the entire team has a lot to prove. Not just Todd, Jason, like that’s a building that has a lot to prove,” Booger told WDAE radio this week. “I think the Glazers gave them a vote of confidence by bringing Todd and Jason back. I think now, based on that vote of confidence, it should be a pretty pissed off building. That building has a lot to prove from general manager all the way down.”
Booger went on to say Licht won’t get to serve the needs of a new head coach.
After saying he does not think Bowles is on a hot seat next year, Booger clarified to say he thinks Bowles needs to win to survive but it’s not on point to single out only Bowles’ job security.
“I think when you look, if the NFL has not taught us one thing, it’s taught us over and over that it is a results business,” Booger said. “And I think that the Buccaneers can’t come out and go 8-9 next year. And that goes for Todd and Jason. Not just Todd Bowles because this is Jason’s team. Jason put this team together. They signed extensions that correlated with each other.
“I think both Todd and Jason are under pressure right now. … I don’t think Jason is going to get to hire another coach.”
Patience of the Glazer family makes it not surprising that Bowles kept his job, Booger said, adding that he thinks it was the right call. “I think Todd deserved to come back. He made the requisite changes and lets see if they can figure out the holes in this roster.”
“… “I think Jason has to do a job identifying some edge rushers. I think it’s been the most glaring weakness the last two or three years. And I don’t care what kind of defense you call; you can go back an get Buddy Ryan from the old 46 [defense]. If you don’t have guys that can rush the passer, it doesn’t matter what defense you call, it doesn’t matter who’s calling the defense. I think that’s the biggest glaring weakness in this team.”