Shaq Barrett Released
February 27th, 2024
Gone.
This makes Joe want to puke, but business is business and the NFL is a business. The Bucs this morning released Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett.
That’s the word from Indianapolis from none other than NFL Network uber insider Ian Rapoport.
The nine-year NFL veteran came to the Bucs in 2019 with the Bucco Bruce Arians regime and immediately blew up with 19.5 sacks, a Bucs franchise record.
While Shaq never matched that feat again, he was dominant in the stretch run when the Bucs won the Super Bowl in 2020. Shaq mercilessly hounded choke artist Aaron Rodgers in the NFC Championship and Pat Mahomes in the Super Bowl as the Bucs won their second Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Shaq’s career sadly took a bad turn in 2022 when he blew out an Achilles. He tried to return the following season in 2023 but he was a shell of his former self with just one sack in the Bucs’ final seven regular season games.
So Joe figures it is a safe bet that this week in Indianapolis Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will be shopping for a pass rusher.
February 27th, 2024 at 7:45 am
Sad, but gotta make room for Winfield and Evans
February 27th, 2024 at 7:52 am
Best case he comes back with a prove it contract and balls out again… not sure all things considered how coveted he will be if he wants a lot of cash
February 27th, 2024 at 7:54 am
It is a business and hope shaq comes back for a shorter number and stays in the community
February 27th, 2024 at 7:57 am
I wish him nothing but the best.
February 27th, 2024 at 7:59 am
Thanks for everything Shaq, you helped the Bucs greatly in your prime.
In the past, the Bucs usually “cut as they went”, release someone when there was a corresponding move…This may be done now to give Shaq more time to find a new home, though.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:09 am
He’s still better than JTS
February 27th, 2024 at 8:10 am
It’s a business and have to pay for Evan’s and Mayfield. Thanks Shaq, wish you the best. If he can’t find another team, maybe the Bucs can sign him back at a lower salary.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:13 am
This probably won’t be the only cut we will be seeing. Anything to save some money cause we need to get Winfield and Evans under contract along with Baker and the kicker.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:14 am
Davis is next. Can’t make 15 million a year and not get any pics.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:15 am
Joe in Michigan, I think that’s exactly why they did this now. Give him a chance to sniff the market. Maybe come back on a much smaller deal if there isn’t much interest.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:20 am
Hope he has a good recovery from that injury. He is a good guy.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:20 am
Thanks for everything Shaq.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:21 am
Didn’t think it would happen this fast. Thanks Shaq. No SB without you. Wish you and your family the best!
February 27th, 2024 at 8:22 am
I hope that once we sign the big 5 that Shaq can come back to the Bucs after testing the market. I still have some hope that another season removed from his Achilles injury makes a difference in his play.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:24 am
Mr. Barrett
Thank you for all your efforts and contributions and for making these last 4 CHAMPIONSHIP years phenomenal for us. You have been the epitome of what it means to lock-in, believe in yourself, and to battle thru adversity. May you get all you deserve and desire man. I’m selfishly holding out hope that you can return and make it 5. With another win in the REAL CHAMPIONSHIP next year. Nevertheless true Buc fans will still root for you. Once a Buc ALWAYS a Buc.
BucFanInDMV
February 27th, 2024 at 8:26 am
Love what Shaq did for the Bucs, but he couldn’t play anymore.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:30 am
Sad.. the tough part of the game
February 27th, 2024 at 8:34 am
Thx for everything Shaq, You will always been remembered like a true beast…A great teammate and a great Buc.
Wish you the very best!!!!!
February 27th, 2024 at 8:36 am
Thanks for all you did Shaq, you’re a class act and I have nothing but respect to you and your family. This is the nature of the business.
Best of luck Shaq to you and your family.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:38 am
Shouldn’t have changed his number from 58 to 7. He lost all his mojo. He will always be a Champion though for the rest of time. Thanks my brother. You are a true pro. Make them regret this move
February 27th, 2024 at 8:43 am
The move was made now due to about 15 million guarantee in March. Wish him and his family the best.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:48 am
No shaq, no super bowl, period. We love you Shaq. All the best to you.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:59 am
It’s the right move.
Thanks for the memories, Shaq. I hope he finds both personal and professional success.
February 27th, 2024 at 9:10 am
Looks like the Bucs will save @ $5M in 2024 by cutting Shaq –
“In 2024 they will take on a salary cap charge of $9,267,000 and defer $8,134,000 to 2025. Barrett was due to have a salary cap charge of $14,190,882 if he remained on the roster in 2024 so once the calendar turns to June 2nd, they will net $4,923,882 in savings. For 2025, they will incur a dead cap hit of $17,401,000.”
February 27th, 2024 at 9:11 am
wow you never like this as the first big offseason move…
but what can ya do…
shaq definitely put in work as a buccaneer……props and respect to the shaq-meister
February 27th, 2024 at 9:11 am
How much relief does that give us on the salary cap?
February 27th, 2024 at 9:19 am
Appreciate everything he brought to the team. Unfortunately, once he got the big contract his production was half of what it was before. Now the Bucs have another big dead cap hit this year and next.
February 27th, 2024 at 9:22 am
There’s no $ being saved. Not this year anyways.
Overall yes – the Bucs are saving $4.9M total by doing this (which was the difference in keeping vs cutting Shaq) – but instead of counting $14.19 against the cap in 2024, Barrett’s cap hit with his release is now $26.668M.
Ouch!
Well, at least the Bucs just took a step towards clearing some of that massive debt off the books with this move as Shaq would have cost an additional $17M in 2025 on top of the $14.19M against the cap it would have cost this year to keep him.
So – bottom line – we just LOST $12.5M in cap space for this year – but are free and clear from Shaq’s contract now.
Guess its pretty clear that the Bucs will be drafting an Edge rusher in the 1st or 2nd round in a couple months…..
February 27th, 2024 at 9:25 am
You don’t give a guy like Shaq Barrett a prove it contract. He’s 31, will be 32 middle of season. Let’s say he gets 10 sacks. Ok, neat. Are you to give (reward) a 33yr old a big contract? And chances are he would have squeezed out one last good yr at that point just to get one more pay day. The very reason why the NFL is successful is because the actual business people have control, not the players like in the NBA. Sentimental moves aren’t made unless its good business.
February 27th, 2024 at 9:25 am
Sad day, like releasing Brooks, Lynch, or Sapp.
I am sure he saw this coming, and some team will give him a chance.
Thanks, Barrett, for some great memories!
February 27th, 2024 at 9:25 am
turn the page…now there is one left to turn the page on
February 27th, 2024 at 9:30 am
Thanks Shaq for all you did for the team and the great memories, best of luck and good health in whatever you choose to do next!
February 27th, 2024 at 9:33 am
theres a chance shaq, white and lavonte are all gone…
soon we might be chasing after grant stuaard to resign 🙂
February 27th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Thank you Shaq!
Good luck in the Future. It was a pleasure watching you stalk QBs!
February 27th, 2024 at 9:39 am
He was less effective once JPP was gone. This is the right move and in hindsight letting JPP go was at the right time as well as he hasn’t been able to produce since leaving us.
This tells me we are drafting Edge first round. It has to be the play cuz we have absolutely nobody proven to rush the passer. But, it’s better to rip the bandaid off and address it in the draft and FA hopefully.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:09 am
Never was the same after that horrible injury. Not his fault. He was a GREAT Buccaneer and an even better man.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:29 am
PR is reporting the opposite of what I said above.
But what they are saying makes no sense and the #s they quoted don’t add up at all….
They are saying this will be designated as a post June 1st release (in February?? – didn’t know that was possible) and that Shaq will only count $9.267 against the cap (saving $4.9M) in 2024. An additional $8.134M will defer and count against the cap in 2025.
Then at the end of ‘splaining the $, PR says ” For 2025, they will incur a dead cap hit of $17,401,000.”
OK….. $17.4M PLUS the $8.134M adds up to $25.5 M Dead cap hit in 2025… – not $17.4M like you just said….
Call me confused
February 27th, 2024 at 10:36 am
Absolute beast in the super bowl. Wish him and his family the best.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:37 am
Thank you, Shaq!
Blessings to you and your family!!!
February 27th, 2024 at 11:15 am
Bitter sweet day. I’m glad to have Shaq in Bucs history. A Super Bowl winner and the first defensive lineman to get over ten sacks in god knows how long. Sack Barrett thank you for you hard work and sacrifice for this organization. It was an honor to watch every week. Go play out the rest of your career and enjoy every second of it. Hope to get this man in the ROH one day.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:26 am
Good now we ought to go get Brian Burns!
February 27th, 2024 at 11:26 am
I Love Shaq, great for the Bucs in our epic run and a great person. Many blessings to you and your family.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:26 am
If he has fully recovered, some team will get a bargain.
Choose wisely Shaq.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:43 am
Let all of us Buc Fans salute Shaq Barrett. He gave us his all and had some good years with us. Some injuries are just a mother…..If he still plays, hope he catches on with a good team. S-A-L-U-T-E!!!
February 27th, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Good luck Shaq 🙂
February 27th, 2024 at 12:47 pm
Someone committed on the fact Davis doesn’t get interceptions. I don’t know if it’s still true, but at one time getting a lot of interceptions meant you were the weak link in the secondary so the receiver you covered got the most targets. The game films probably will be the deciding factor on him.
February 27th, 2024 at 1:14 pm
Thank you Shaq. Wish you all the best.
February 27th, 2024 at 1:21 pm
Joe, it sounds like us fans need some clarity on how this effects the 2024 and 2025 cap…
February 27th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
We shouldn’t have released Lynch or Sapp. We should’ve kept Shaq for another year. I hate this move. Not many in that locker room are going to be okay with it. They’re going to vastly overpay Baker and we can enjoy 5-12 to 10-7 potential for the duration of his contract 🤬😭
On a positive note, I think with Baker and Bowles goes Jason Licht. Which is probably overdue. Brady saved Licht’s career. Not many GMs survive as many first round bust as he has. Heck, this guy drafted Aguayo in the 2nd lol. Should’ve got him axed.
February 27th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Hopefully we can re-sign him as a backup edge rusher for backup $. Glad he got paid while he could.
February 27th, 2024 at 1:37 pm
Thank you, Shaq. Good health to you and yours!
February 27th, 2024 at 2:15 pm
They could resign him for less
February 27th, 2024 at 2:15 pm
Big Red Says:
February 27th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
We shouldn’t have released Lynch or Sapp. We should’ve kept Shaq for another year. I hate this move.
———
Lynch and Sapp were both Hall of Famers, and still producing. Shaq is not a HOFer and was not producing.
Nothing against Shaq, he was good when he was good, but as he himself said, he was always a marginal athlete, and injury plus age means once he lost half a step, he was done.
February 27th, 2024 at 2:20 pm
Pickgrin – I believe your last set of numbers there is correct, with the Bucs taking a massive cap hit next year. Spotrac says the total due to Shaq is around the $26m number, and it would only make sense for the Bucs to have a post-June 1st destination.
February 27th, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Followed you since your CSU days Shaq and was really pulling for you back when you hit FA.
Wish nothing but the best for you and you family.
^^mtn^^
since ’76
February 27th, 2024 at 3:39 pm
Could be wrong, but think Shaq was due some cash (~12m?) if he wasn’t cut. So it may have been more about that than moving cap.
^^mtn^^
since ’76
February 27th, 2024 at 5:43 pm
Correct, I think next month he was to get some type of bonus maybe. He won’t receive it now since he was cut.
I wish Shaq the best in his future.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
Didn’t phrase that very well, in other words, he already received all of his guaranteed money
^^mtn^^
since ’76