TAMPA, FL – Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said Friday that after watching Tom Brady In his view, over the past six weeks, the 43-year-old quarterback’s hand is stronger than last year. He also said that Brady has set a new standard for the organization since he signed as a free agent in March.
“It amazes me that he doesn’t look older. In fact, his hand looks stronger than what we saw last year on tape, ”said Licht, who was with Brady and the New England Patriots in 2002 as an assistant. director of player personnel, and from 2009 to 2011. – HR Director.
“His work ethic is incredible. We keep saying that word, but it just sets standards so high that you’ll find out if guys can handle them or if they’re not quite ready. And I think everyone on this team wants to reach that standard. You have a few young guys studying here on the go, but I think that’s what I think we said when we signed it: whenever he graduates – say five years from now – this standard will remain with this team. “
According to Licht, Bucs live up to the expectations that surround them. They don’t call themselves champions or admit that they haven’t even played the game, but they feel much better prepared to handle the game under the microscope, which they did in 2017 and 2018, going 5-11 in the countdown. years ago after starring in the HBO film “Hard Knocks”.
“I think as these guys who are on our team get older, they get a little more experienced, and you add players who have a lot of experience and rings in the playoffs and Super Bowl, I think the level of confidence will grow, ”Licht said. “When you have a mature dressing room – we have a very diverse dressing room, we have Tom Brady and [Rob Gronkowski] and [Jason Pierre-Paul] and [Lavonte David]who have been in the league for quite some time.
“But we also have a lot of young players who also play big roles for us. But I think it’s just a level of confidence. And expectations from a younger team, sometimes you want to moderate them a little. I think the expectations of this group are welcome … because everyone wants to meet the expectations. “
Coach Bruce Arians also noticed an increase in this level of confidence. At the end of last season, he told his team that the difference between the Bucs and the Saints was that “in September they knew they were going to win the division. We thought we could, but we weren’t sure and it was too late by October. “
It’s now a full 180, aided not only by the arrival of Brady, but also by the departure from the young Bucks defense at the end of the season.
“I think our guys have shown such confidence,” Arians said on Friday. “They’ve had it since the end of last season, especially on the defensive, as they finished last season. Offensively, it’s just a matter of being on the same page and confidence – all the confidence in the world – because everyone believes in each other. And they put in an effort, so we have to have a lot of swagger when we can go to the field. “
Landing Brady not only boosted self-confidence, but also created a powerful ripple effect, allowing the Bucs to land other high-profile players like Gronkowski. LeShawn McCoy and Leonard Fournett… In the past, the Bucks had to spend too much money on a free agency to lure big names into Tampa Bay. But Licht believes that indigenous, homegrown players like David Devin White, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, O. Jay Howard, Cameron Braith, Donovan Smith and Ali marpet included this too.
“I think a lot of players saw our team, saw how close we are, despite last year’s record for many games, and wanted to get involved,” Licht said. “And if Tom Brady chooses the Tampa Bay pirates, they’ll probably think to themselves,“ Why not me? ” Yes, [Brady] took part in this. But I don’t think he will completely trust if you ask him himself. But you have to take advantage of this when you have a GOAT. “
