Glazers looking out for No. 1, very involved in Bucs’ pick 
Ed, Bryan and Joel Glazer, standing with coach Lovie Smith, have handled coaching hirings and firings. They also get involved when a big decision needs to be made that could affect the Bucs’ future. TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO By Ira Kaufman | Tribune Staff Published: April 18, 2015 TAMPA — They’re involved. Very involved. Don’t think for a moment that they’re not.Although nobody has ever confused them with ultra-meddlesome NFL owners like Dallas’ Jerry Jones, the Glazers have a tradition of assuming a powerful role in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ football operations at key moments.Like right now.Owning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft is both an opportunity and a burden. With polarizing Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston sitting at the top of most draft boards, Tampa Bay’s decision-makers know they can’t afford to make a mistake that could set a $1.1 billion franchise back for years.At such a critical juncture, general manager Jason Licht and head coach Lovie Smith aren’t surprised ownership has taken a keen interest.“We went in early in this process and told the Glazers that we want you involved,’’ said Licht. “We give them constant updates; we tell them where we’re at. This is their team and everybody in this business — unless you’re an owner — has a boss. They’re our boss. How could they not be involved?’’In two decades of ownership, the Glazer family has exercised its authority at select times.Remember the agreement with Bill Parcells to succeed Tony Dungy as coach in 2002? That was the handiwork of the Glazers.When Parcells changed his mind, co-chairmen Joel and Bryan Glazer traveled to California and ultimately negotiated a trade with Oakland to bring Jon Gruden to Tampa.The Glazers chose Raheem Morris as Gruden’s replacement, and when the Bucs dropped their final 10 games in 2011, it was ownership — not former GM Mark Dominik — who hired Greg Schiano, followed by Smith two years later.“All you have to do is sit in the suite with them for one game and you’ll realize how much they want to win, but I never thought they were meddlesome,’’ said former Bucs GM Rich McKay, now the Atlanta Falcons’ president and CEO. “Challenging? Inquisitive? Yes, they are. Malcolm empowered his sons to run the business, but when there were big decisions to be made, he didn’t hesitate to weigh in.’’Following Malcolm Glazer’s death last May, his sons, Bryan, Joel and fellow co-chairman Ed Glazer, sit at the top of the organization’s power structure.They have each gotten to know the nation’s top two quarterback prospects, Winston and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota of Oregon. In addition, the Glazers are kept abreast of Tampa Bay’s “unprecedented’’ due diligence on Winston, according to Licht.“We met with both quarterbacks and we were impressed with both,’’ said Joel Glazer. “They both have done a lot in their college career, a lot in their academic career. They both presented very well and they are both eager young men, eager to be in the National Football League and perform at a high level. They both made a very good impression.’’In their 39-year history, the Bucs have never signed one of their quarterbacks to a second contract.When they look around at the rest of the NFC South, the Glazers see three division rivals with stability under center. Drafting a quarterback to build around remains a priority for a franchise that has gone seven seasons without a playoff appearance.“We know this is not your ordinary, everyday pick,’’ Licht said. “This is the No. 1 pick. We have to decide if these are franchise quarterbacks, and if they are, it’s tough to pass on that. Very tough. You’ve got to let your owner voice his opinion. You can’t force-feed anything, but you have to make your case ... convince them that what you’re doing is the right thing to do. You also have to listen to their questions because these are smart guys.’’In looking out for No. 1, the Glazers have asked a barrage of questions concerning the mistakes Winston made in Tallahassee, both on and off the field. During that give-and-take process, Licht and Smith gained a sense of ownership’s preference regarding the top pick.Tampa Bay’s braintrust also consulted closely with the Glazers before the Bucs released high-priced free agents Michael Johnson and Anthony Collins after only one season.“You have to have support from your ownership — and we do,’’ Smith said. “Sometimes, you can make a mistake that doesn’t work out and you can compound it by feeling you have to stay the course.’’A mistake in free agency is regrettable. An error in judgment with the first pick in the draft can be disastrous.“We keep our owners informed on everything we like to do, including this No. 1 pick,’’ Smith said. “There is constant communication and dialogue going on.’’Given the enormity of this decision, those discussions could continue right up until April 30, also known as Judgment Day.“The Glazers give you the resources to win, they support your decisions and they never stop asking questions,’’ said McKay. “I never had a fear they would second-guess what we were doing, but they always wanted to know the logic behind it.’’Since the end of the 2008 season, the Bucs are 30-66 and the Glazers have fired three coaches and two general managers, prompting some fans to suggest Tampa Bay’s owners are content to merely count their considerable profits.“I don’t believe there’s an owner in the league who doesn’t want to win,’’ said former Bucs defensive back Ronde Barber, now an NFL analyst for Fox Sports. “That’s a far-fetched and silly notion. I know how the Glazers react to a loss ... they take it personally.’’Licht, who worked seven years for New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, said the Glazers share the same approach.“Like Mr. Kraft, the Glazers give us anything we need,’’ Licht said. “Lovie and I often say to each other how lucky we are to work for a team where the owners never tell us who to draft, who to sign and never give us directives on who to cut. Yes, they ask questions, but I don’t think there’s a GM in this league that can do whatever he wants.’’If Smith and Licht entertained any notions about keeping that No. 1 pick and using it on a defensive end or a left tackle, that scenario was likely discarded rather quickly.“Exceptional quarterback play can cover up a lot of other situations,’’ said Joel Glazer. “Obviously, it’s a quarterback-driven league. It’s been that way for years upon years and if you can solve that problem at that position, it goes a long way toward helping your franchise.’’ [email protected](813) 259-7833Twitter: @IKaufmanTBO
