“He’s Proven It”
March 10th, 2021
Bucs days numbered?
While a closet Bucs fan admitted on NFL Network this morning the door is not yet shut on Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett returning to the Super Bowl champions, he also noted it may take an emotional plea from Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht for Shaq to be wearing a Bucs-red jersey in 2021.
One of the NFL’s elite pass rushers, the most important position on defense, is on the verge of walking out the door of One Buc Palace (the second time in nine years, per Peter Schrager, co-host of “Good Morning Football.” And for Licht and the Bucs to keep Shaq, Schrager said Licht may have to tug on Shaq’s heart and hope his agent, oily Drew Rosenhaus, takes less cash to re-sign with the Bucs before the free agent dinner bell rings on March 17.
“They don’t show up often [in free agency], elite pass rushers,” Schrager said. “[Shaq is] one of them. He’s proven it.”
Schrager added Shaq “still might” play for Tampa Bay but right now the skies are dark and gloomy.
Gee, a strong pass rusher doesn’t hit free agency often. Imagine that?
Last year Shaq was sixth in the NFL in quarterback pressures, which includes sacks and knockdowns, tied with Leonard Williams who was just franchised by the Giants.
“If the Bucs can somehow, someway, lock up an extension with Shaq Barrett before he hits free agency, it’s a master class in how you keep a team together and I want to know exactly how they do it,” Schrager said. “And you have to, prey on the fact, ‘We were the first ones to give you a big contract after Denver let you walk out of there. We were the ones that made you a Super Bowl champion and we love you.'”
Schrager continued that Shaq will be highly sought-after if he hits free agency, and Schrager is convinced if Shaq hits free agency, it’s unlikely he’ll be back with the Bucs because he will get paid.
You can watch the chatter on Shaq in the NFL Network video below beginning at the 3:53 mark. Meanwhile, pardon Joe while he steps away from his computer at JoeBucsFan world headquarters in order to puke.
A lot of big names are free agents right now, but who’s the most fascinating?
The #GMFB crew weighs in… pic.twitter.com/xYjWxNskkE
— GMFB (@gmfb) March 10, 2021
March 10th, 2021 at 5:28 pm
Joe, I want him back….. but I trust these guys and quite few good pass rushers will hit the market come the beginning of free agency. Floyd, Dunlap and Miller to name three.
March 10th, 2021 at 5:30 pm
If we sign him we pretty much lose all of our remaining free agents.
March 10th, 2021 at 5:33 pm
Hey. He’s got to feed his family. 😉
March 10th, 2021 at 5:35 pm
If you look at that list that Joe linked above, you will notice Floyd and Dunlap are nowhere near Shaq. Miller was somewhat close last year. Do we know Miller is healthy?
People can holler and throw anything they want at Joe. There is no sane justification for letting a guy like Shaq at his position at his age with his production go. That’s all there is to it.
March 10th, 2021 at 5:35 pm
This is the time where Licht, Bowles, and Arians really earn their money. The right decision and we are knocking on the door to another championship. The wrong one, and we see a sad outcome to next season, well below our hopes and expectations.
March 10th, 2021 at 5:47 pm
He is not elite. one great season when out the blue when teams did not expect it is not elite. Simeon Rice was Elite.
March 10th, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Joe loves him almost as much as JW……..
This will turn out the same……we let him walk and someone else comes in and gets more sacks and we get even better!
March 10th, 2021 at 5:52 pm
Joe’s first story if Shaq doesn’t get signed outta be a doozy. Hope he makes it back with a smaller contract this year and load him up for next year when the cap should really jump up. I just don’t see how you pay him Mack money or close to Mack money and let everyone else walk. Fun time of year!
March 10th, 2021 at 5:55 pm
Maybe we’re waiting for some contracts to get re-worked before a deal is made with Shaq? He did say he loves it in Tampa and loves the way Bowles lets him play.
March 10th, 2021 at 5:59 pm
Perfect scheme for him to play in.
I wonder if he goes to the lions with joe in Michigan , will shaq have this amazing stats that drives joe crazy ?
March 10th, 2021 at 6:06 pm
There are several guys making 20 mil or above for dlineman
Only 2 are worth the price.
2 best dline in nfl are khalil mack and aaron donald. No way you can disagree
Aaron donald makes around 22 mil a year (impressive for dtackle)
Khalil mack makes around 23 mil a year.
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Love shaq but he is not in that range. Imo. Not 20-22 range
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Look at these crazy deals cause you know shaq can get 20-22 from jets or some other loser team.
-Joey bosa makes 27 mil a year. No doubt a great player but not for that money. He only played in 12 games last year and had 7.5 sacks
-myles garrett makes 25 mil a year. Again no doubt a great player but cmon man. He had 12 sacks last year.
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So it comes down to shaq and bucs selling him. Shaq more towards 17-18 range realistically. Again 20 and above is rarified air for mack and donald at this time imo until cap goes up and up again. Now some team will offer shaq more. If shaq wants to go to jets then his choice And he will win 5 games a year until he retires. Here he can chase some rings for a few.
March 10th, 2021 at 6:16 pm
Again, the Bucs have at least $150m available next year, before the cap goes up (before David’s deal). That number will likely be much higher than that with the new TV deal, maybe $170m. They have even more than that in 2023.
The Bucs can structure deals however they want, they just need to use guarantees and/or signing bonuses, etc. They could sign him for very low money up front, with guaranteed money on the backend.
Yes, you’d be blowing up future years – but who cares? If the team stinks in 2024 because they have to rebuild and they’re in “cap hell” – but we’ve had a run from 2020 to 2023 where we’re a top franchise and got at least 1 SB, then who cares? If you care, you’re a dope and not a real Bucs fan – since if you’re a real Bucs fan you know how rarely these windows come along.
So make the most of it, do some creative accounting / “bad” deals to get us by until Brady retires. Then blow it all up. Everyone should be A-OK with that.
March 10th, 2021 at 6:21 pm
Dang Joe you act like he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread and if we don’t give him 20 million a year are defense is done ? He would rather chase money than rings and since joining the Bucs he’s made 24 million, but I’d rather have a team player ready to roll it back than a Diva !! Thanks for the 2 years and being part of the Super Bowl run, but time to move on to option 2 !! Still cant believe Tommy and the boys won the freaking super bowl 🙂 So Great !! I don’t want to to see our team be like Saints aka “ Cap Hell “ !! Go Bucs and Hello Justin Houston
March 10th, 2021 at 6:22 pm
Well, I for one will not puke if we do not sign him. I’d like to sign him. Obviously a good player. Sometimes even a very good player. 20 million per year good? I have my doubts. I think the Bucs have their doubts too. So they’re negotiating as they should. I am sure they have a contingency plan if he doesn’t sign. But one man does not make this defense that’s for sure. We got just as many sacks from our middle linebacker. Think about that for a second.
March 10th, 2021 at 6:22 pm
Oh, one note – the only way it does work, is if Shaq wants all his money up front, right now. He’s not giving up any actual dollars, just the structure of how he’s paid. So if he’s not willing to play ball that way, and he demands a huge upfront payment, that’s pretty much the only way the Bucs wouldn’t be able to get a deal done.
Rosenhaus however is a piece of garbage, he’s the guy that ruined the career of Errict Rhett by having him complain about his deal and eventually hold out. The Bucs responded to that by drafting Warrick Dunn.
So anyways, if a deal doesn’t get done, I’m guessing it’s not the Bucs that were the issue, I highly doubt they’re trying to lowball him.
March 10th, 2021 at 6:23 pm
Shouldn’t have tagged Godwin, should have let him go and used that money on Shaq. I like Godwin but whom would you rather have?
March 10th, 2021 at 6:24 pm
As much as I like Shaq, if it means Bucs will lose him but be able to sign Suh, Gronk, Succop and Shaq’s replacement, then that’s the better move.
March 10th, 2021 at 6:25 pm
What has paying Mack 23 mil a year gotten the Bears?
March 10th, 2021 at 6:26 pm
Yeah leave it to joe beaver. No justification for “letting a guy go”? Lol. Sure pay him 30 mil and cut the rest of the d line. They sucked when shaq led the league in sacks and won it all with 8. If the PLAYER CHOOSES another team to chase money then Bowles will find a way to get the qb off his spot. The most important player on a d isnt the de. It’s whoever’s sacking the qb. This isnt Mike Smiths town anymore. They’ll be comin from all angles. Now hurry up and leave shaq so we can see brady hoist it again and joe stfu. My goodness. Down joes shaq boner down.
March 10th, 2021 at 6:33 pm
I’m all for shaq @ $10m yr x4.
March 10th, 2021 at 6:46 pm
It is disingenuous to assert that Shaq would be leaving “for no good reason”…….
This situation is totally different than Michael Bennett’s. Bennett was easily affordable….
If Shaq can’t be worked out so that most of his money is in future years, his contract would gut our salary cap, making it virtually impossible to sign the necessary components of the team…along with the rookie draft class.
I believe we made our decision between Shaq & Godwin & it was Godwin…..I don’t agree with it….but that’s the way it is. I think Godwin would have been easier to replace…..but I’m certainly happy he’s a Buc for another year.
March 10th, 2021 at 6:50 pm
Got to feed his family. Clearly, his family might stave on $17 million per year or $68 million over 4 years. Hey, at $20 million a year his family can eat. He doesn’t want his family on food stamps… Just saying you can’t expect the guy to scrape by on $17 million…that’s like POOR!
March 10th, 2021 at 6:55 pm
I think the Bucs will offer $17 million per year. His family can probably eat…at least a little and not skip too many meals, If will probably get $20 from a loser team…his choice.
March 10th, 2021 at 7:04 pm
I totally agree with Rod Munch. Blow the cap up in future years, who cares. Go all in for a 3pete, never been done in the history of NFL. Brady will retire after that and then you go full rebuild.
March 10th, 2021 at 7:08 pm
VITA VEA makes any pass rusher better.
With Vea healthy again, I think other players can fill in for Shaq. Shaq certainly didn’t look “dominant” when Vea was out last season.
March 10th, 2021 at 7:12 pm
I agree Joe.
It’s insane if they let him walk. I get they can only spend so much but all these people on this site who think it’s so easy to get someone just as good… I don’t know what the hell they’ve been watching the last decade since Rice left.
Getting an elite pass rusher is like getting a franchise quarterback, it is extremely difficult.
March 10th, 2021 at 7:17 pm
If they can structure LD’s deal to count only 3.5 mil this year they can structure Shaq’s accordingly.
March 10th, 2021 at 7:52 pm
Shaq got stuffed at the line all year long without Vea. JP was a force all year. Shaq jumped offsides and gave up key first downs multiple times. I think he didn’t show up all out until the playoffs. I like him but if he won’t give back a little this year and get more the next then let him go. Find the best rookie available and also pick up a free agent with decent stats and let him go. Future big bucs if he produces next season or bye bye. This team thrived without individual big egos. Pay him based on this years stats and and promise big raise next year if he balls out more like his first year. Truth is he had a great first year and so so second.
March 10th, 2021 at 8:05 pm
I gotta question anyone who worries about cap hell. Why? Because this franchise for almost their entire existence has been in record hell. Wins vs losses, this franchise has been living in hell longer than any team in professional sports history. Only the devil himself is a longer resident in the netherworld.
The biggest problem with these fans is their complete blindness to actual results, league history and structure. There is no dynasties in the nfl, especially in the nfc.
Please name one dynasty in the nfc since the cowboys and niners. Afc it’s been done but not the nfc.
The league is structured to prevent dynasties and its worked. Teams who understand that there is a 5 year period max to draft, acquire free agents and challenge for a championship are the team’s actually in competition
March 10th, 2021 at 8:06 pm
Hes proven it with a contract dangling in front of him.
March 10th, 2021 at 8:23 pm
Last, Tampa bay’s history should be of no comfort to a single fan that as an organization they can be a top level team who is a contender year in year out. Who is so insanely stupid as to have faith in the bucs long term? Apparently, there’s a group of fans with acute amnesia .
Win now while we have the greatest qb in the game and the team around him to win championships. 2002-2020 is a period of futility that I’m not fond of and couldn’t careless how great our teams cap numbers where over that time.
There’s no Lombardi trophy presentation to crown the team who wins the Cap number battle. If there was, who the f would care excep for some wannabe accountants/ cap gurus and keyboard experts, and a few actual ones. When that day happens….. they sport is dead and buried.
Win now….. there’s no guarantees …except for the players we have right now!
Even then injuries can take a stacked roster and turn it into an xfl exhibition squad in no time flat. Add selecting a QB is something of a bucs speciality then it puts high draft picks into the proper perspective.
March 10th, 2021 at 9:02 pm
Maybe he’s asking for $25m a yr…we just dont know…we may have to let him test the market…but we have to have a plan B in place…I hope it works out…but we have a talented team with lots of players to pay. We cant pay everyone 20+ mill
Go Bucs!
March 10th, 2021 at 9:03 pm
Exactly TBBF…we all knew it was between Godwin or Shaq. No surprise there.
Should have tagged Shaq and let Godwin go.
March 10th, 2021 at 9:14 pm
I don’t think we should have tagged Godwin. We should have let him go test the market, and used that money on Shaq. I like Chris Godwin, but whom would you rather have?
Chris Godwin did not win the Super Bowl for us, like Shaq did.
Shaq is really in the drivers seat right now, as far as money demands go, especially since JJ Watt is now off the market.
March 10th, 2021 at 9:31 pm
Ardnagy, your dislike of Shaq Barrett makes no sense. Keep it up and you’ll be right up there with the anti GMC trolls.
March 10th, 2021 at 10:15 pm
Miller, Dunlap are bums and bandaid solutions. We will be back in the same position again trying to lure a pass rusher or two next year if JPP doesn’t get extended, he is also near the end of a great career. At some point you will have to overpay. Why not with a proven commodity you are familiar with. If Barrett walks it’s a shame and I bet come next january we will be regretting it. I only see Dupree as a viable alternative and he will command top dollar you might as well pay shaq..Floyd has his issues as well. Let’s learn lessons from Bennett walking.
March 10th, 2021 at 10:28 pm
Yes we get it you’re gonna puke. Wait and see what happens. Last year you freaked out we were letting go of mr . 5000 yards. The Bucs have a plan so let them focus on that. Years ago we freaked when they drafted all those defensive backs but look at that they won a super bowl. Just relax. They are professionals, we are not.
March 10th, 2021 at 11:07 pm
Vea and Suh together will help tons of ends get through to the QB ! Lol
March 10th, 2021 at 11:18 pm
Joe, at what point is Shaq pricing himself out to a team that doesn’t have unlimited cap space. 20 million a year? Ummm, too much. I would not pay Shaq 20+ mill a year. IDGAF how important pass rushers are. I hope an extension is reached but not at the sacrifice of all of our remaining free agents. Gimme Suh, Succop and Gronk over Shaq if it comes down to it….and it might.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:03 am
Can’t sign one player at the expense of others, would love to see him stay but he’s not the only reason Bucs won the Superbowl, although it was great watching him ball, would lose to many other free agents for one guy, idk ,such a hard decision, glad I don’t have to make it, market value for him is 20mil/year,, wether people think he’s worth it or not,
March 11th, 2021 at 6:40 am
Michael Bennett was signed later in free agency to a one year $5m contract. He was viewed as posable damaged goods. They are not the same.
March 11th, 2021 at 8:02 am
Salaries are coming down. One player cannot take it all. It’s that simple.
March 11th, 2021 at 10:01 am
Pass rush is scheme related. Kalil mack , von Miller are possible freaks but.. I dont like overpaying for that position. That said , make reasonable offer , the team needs to adopt the brady method of taking below market for team benefit.
March 11th, 2021 at 11:53 am
Listen, I want him back as much as the next guy, but not at a price that will prevent the team from rounding out the roster.
To me, Shaq is good but not great. He did good things while Vita Vea was out, but he was arguably a better player when Vea was in the lineup. Having Vea active creates more matchup problems for the opposing offensive line when they have to account for Vea, Suh, Gholston, Stevie Mc, etc., and the linebackers. Let’s face it, with our entire front 7 healthy, the opposing offense doesn’t have the ability to consistently stop the pressure.
That, to me, means we could substitute Shaq with someone that doesn’t have the same stats as Shaq has had since coming here.
March 11th, 2021 at 10:25 pm
If we lose a young, fantastic pass rusher,
To sign our number 3 WR,
It will go down as an all time Buc Blunder.
Right up there with drafting Bo Jackson, Charles McCrae, Booker Reece, etc.
This game is simple. You have to have great Qb- that you can protect
And
You have to opposing QB unable to run their offense.
Watch the Green Bay playoff game.
Watch the Super Bowl. On a critical play in our Red Zone- Shaq chased Mahomes Backward 30 yards.
Breez, Rodgers, and Mahomes were all frustrated during the Playoffs.
And it damn sure wasnt because of Godwin.
March 11th, 2021 at 11:35 pm
Get us Shaq, Fournette, and our kicker. Gronk is a lock…
And we will be Super Bowl favorites for the next few years… so nice to live on the other side for once..