Will The Tom Brady Effect Secure Shaq?
March 12th, 2021
When Tom Brady was signed in Tampa, Bucs officials told fans their new quarterback would transform every aspect of the Buccaneers organization.
The talk was so over-the-top, Joe started to believe Brady would save sea turtles on Clearwater Beach, eliminate traffic and get the Rays a new stadium.
It turned out, the Bucs honchos were correct. Brady recruited players and changed the culture, even busting out handwritten notes to employees and teaching superstars how to live better.
So now Joe thinks it’s fair to wonder aloud whether the famed Brady Effect will work its magic on pending free agent sacks king Shaq Barrett.
Does Brady have enough pull, enough juice, to secure Shaq’s return — something Bucs officials want desperately to lock down before free agency opens next week?
It’s not fair to ask Brady, but Joe suspects Brady is treating Shaq recruitment as a challenge because he’s smart enough to know you don’t let a stud pass rusher in his prime walk away. However, it was Bill Belicheat himself who traded ferocious Patriots edge rusher Chandler Jones to Bucco Bruce Arians in Arizona after the 2015 season.
Belicheat didn’t want to pay Jones. Instead, he paid linebacker Donta Hightower and cornerback Stephon Gilmore in free agency, and went on to win two more Super Bowls to close the 2016 and 2018 seasons.
The pick the Patriots got for Jones eventually turned into stud guard Joe Thuney. So perhaps Brady isn’t sweating losing Shaq at all, after first-hand that losing an expensive name isn’t a death sentence.
Still, Joe has visions of Brady secretly promising to fundraise for Shaq’s foundation, letting him borrow the Brady boat and giving him a lifetime supply of TB12 training and supplements.
Make it happen, Tommy!
March 12th, 2021 at 8:53 am
The Brady Effect plus money will keep Shaq.
I can see no downside to Shaq testing the market….he can get the Bucs best offer…..test FA & then make a decision.
He does risk a replacement being chosen at a much lower price by the Bucs during that period, so timing is important.
March 12th, 2021 at 8:57 am
Tom and Gisele have a $500+ million fortune currently and growing. Tom can do any extension needed and be just fine. So we will see what happens. But with Tom and Giseles kind of worth and Toms burning desire to win, it could be just a matter of time before Shaq is signing on the dotted line. We will all know very shorty what happens. GO BUCS!!!
March 12th, 2021 at 9:00 am
Joe
You mean the “so over the top talk “ kinda what you did for 5 years
You know the messiah treatment
Jameis winston , americas quarterback, probowler And mr excitement or entertainment whatever it was ?
Just curious if that is the same.
Please check out websters dictionary for the word hypocrisy. I bet you will find your photo there
😂
March 12th, 2021 at 9:05 am
“Shaq, my man, my brother, I personally gave money back the the Bucs so you can be stay and win Super Bowls with me”.
March 12th, 2021 at 9:07 am
Not that I endorse this, or even think its in the realm of possibility, but are there rules in place to prevent a wealthy player from paying a fellow player?
For example, say Brady wanted to cut a check to a teammate to “bolster” their NFL contract.
(again, I know this would never happen, but its an interesting thought experiment)
March 12th, 2021 at 9:07 am
the brady effect did happen – we won a super bowl!!!!!
March 12th, 2021 at 9:09 am
Why is this team so slow to get these done. The saints restructured almost every star they have…..we’ve done nothing
March 12th, 2021 at 9:17 am
Nope, he wants to get paid and has stated that repeatedly.
March 12th, 2021 at 9:26 am
I don’t think the Brady effect is going to work on Shaq, he has a ring from Denver a team that took down the Pat’s. So the koolaid may not taste as sweet for Shaq. Gonna have to pay the man.
March 12th, 2021 at 9:29 am
If I’m Barrett and want to be back with the Bucs on a fair dealio, I test the market first to see my worth. It’s that number that pegs where a “hometown discount” % begins.
March 12th, 2021 at 9:30 am
There are quite a few really good pass rusher FA’s that would cost less & still be as good as Shaq if he decides to walk. The Bucs need to get Gronk, Succup & Suh signed. To me they are just as important as Shaq.
March 12th, 2021 at 9:31 am
We are currently $3 million over the cap.
Until we make a few cuts (Gholston $6 mil, Brate $6 mil) or we see some major contract restructures we aren’t going to sign anyone…
Besides Shaq we have draft picks to sign, QB2, QB3, kicker, AB, Gronk, Suh plus another 15 or so depth players.
Is Brady going to play for free next season? That might help… lol
March 12th, 2021 at 9:37 am
Finally, an article without that ridiculous Tom Brady preamble. So much easier to read! Please, i beg you, put that nonsense away…. maybe only for special occasions?
March 12th, 2021 at 9:50 am
No, Marine Buc! If the Glazers put up the cash, they can convert $ from contract salary into signing bonuses and save that amount against the cap, minus that years amount of structured signing bonus. For instance, Mike Evans is due something like $12M in salary for 2021. He is also due maybe $4M for 2021 as his signing bonus was stretched over 5 years or so. That means restructuring Evans contract that way could save the Bucs $7M+ in cap savings for 2021, becausethey have to at least pay him the 7-yr vets minimum of roughly$1M. They could do the same for Brady, who is due $25M, no signing bonus and a vet min of roughly $2M….this would net $23M in cap savings just for 2021. Those 2 alone could net $30M in cap space, not including the large salaries of Donovan Smith and Ryan Jensen, that each have $0 in signing bonus due and extending could bring another $10M that way. All of this is contingent on the Glazers cutting some checks, but its all doable without sacrificing players that are starters or good depth unnecessarily. The over-speculating creates interest and a good story, but isn’t completely accurate or transparent.
March 12th, 2021 at 9:52 am
Imagine an alternate buc world paying a turnover machine 30 mil a year. Yea I’m happy to be part of the group that doesn’t know football smh.
March 12th, 2021 at 10:41 am
The Bucs will be a better team in 2021 with or without Shaq. A year in the system insures that. Get Gronk, Suh, and Succup signed. Let Shaq break the bank elsewhere if money is his priority.
March 12th, 2021 at 10:47 am
Who wants to make a few more runs? Who is on board? Think those rings will pay for themselves…endorsements, et al? I watched lots of guys leave New England for more money; some didn’t finish their contract. Remember: Winning is fun! Who’s wants fun?
March 12th, 2021 at 11:04 am
I think Shaq wants his money, and at his age I do not blame him. He has his rings, let him get paid….but not 20 mill. I think we could replace him in the short term for 10 and draft a replacement
March 12th, 2021 at 11:17 am
AZ are looking at Shaq. Can you imagine Jones, Shaq and Watt same defense? Wouldn’t want to be a QB.
March 12th, 2021 at 3:11 pm
Shaq fits in this defense. While there may be other FA options out there, why trade a KNOWN commodity for an unknown?
It’s a no-brainer to me. Sign Shaq.
March 12th, 2021 at 6:15 pm
Everyone has bent over backwards for Shaq. If he doesn’t come back … move on.
March 13th, 2021 at 8:55 pm
Shaq probably won’t stay and if he don’t so what they guys in FA that can play .