The comments from Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht in his interview with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times caused a bit of a firestorm in the team’s fan base on Monday. Coming off a 9-7 season in 2016 the expectation for the team, the fan base and the media that regularly cover the Bucs was to improve to double-digit wins and make the playoffs.

When Licht told the Tampa Bay Times that he “cringed” at expectations the reaction from fans was one of disbelief. Did the team’s general manager not expect to make the playoffs despite adding more talent to a 9-7 squad with the additions of wide receiver DeSean Jackson, defensive tackle Chris Baker, the re-signing of defensive end Will Gholston and a draft class that featured tight end O.J. Howard, safety Justin Evans and wide receiver Chris Godwin?

“The whole year, just the expectations were — not set by us — it was just something I cringed at,” Licht told the Tampa Bay Times. “Of course, you want positive things written about us, but when the expectations are we’ve got these weapons and now we’re going to score 50 points a game, it’s just not that easy.”

Bucs GM Jason Licht and WR DeSean Jackson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Licht told PewterReport.com at the East-West Shrine Game practices that his ‘cringed’ comment was not about the expectations of the team’s expected record – such as a 10-6 finish. Rather, it was about the expectations regarding the team’s offense, which added weapons like Jackson, Howard and Godwin last offseason.

“Our expectations were progress and I said that from the beginning,” said Licht, implying at least a 10-6 record and a playoff berth. “The expectations were progress. And obviously we didn’t. The record doesn’t show that we made progress. We failed to meet those expectations. When I was talking about ‘cringing’ I was talking about making these moves to get a high-powered offense. When I said ‘cringed’ I was mostly talking about immediately, coming out of the gates swinging, everything gelling immediately when I knew it was going to take time.”

So his ‘cringed’ comment had nothing to do with the team’s expectations to make the playoffs.

“No,” Licht said.

Rather it was about quarterback Jameis Winston instantly gelling with new targets in Jackson, Howard and Godwin and lighting up the Bucs’ scoreboard.

“Yeah, making an impact immediately [on offense] – coming out of the gate,” Licht said. “Now at the end, 5-11 is not what we want, obviously. Disappointed? Yeah. I used the word ‘brutal’ (in the Tampa Bay Times story). It’s not what anybody wanted.

“Expectations are always to be one of the best teams – always to be knocking on the door and winning championships. You never go into a season saying, ‘Hey at 8-8 we’re going to be happy.’ We have to understand that doesn’t happen instantly. But our expectations are not to be 5-11. It’s a pass-fail league.”