Ugly Idea That Cannot Be Ignored
February 20th, 2024
Cut watch.
If this happened, it might make Joe barf. But for the good of the Bucs, it cannot be dismissed.
That would be to release Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett.
What that guy and his family endured (and continue to endure) is unimaginable. That’s why saying goodbye to Shaq makes Joe nauseous. Hopefully, after his career, the Bucs could throw him a bone and hire him as a scout or a consultant.
But, as Joe always mentions, we live in reality and reality is the Bucs are back again panhandling for sacks from an edge rush. Between Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, YaYa Diaby and Shaq the Bucs had 17 sacks. That is not getting the job done.
During locker room clean-out day the morning after the Bucs lost to the Lions to end the season, Shaq matter-of-factly said he knows he may be on thin ice for lack of production in 2023.
It was easily his worst season since signing with the Bucs in 2019.
Matt Okada of NFL.com typed up an article on the biggest potential targets for a salary cap cut. On this list, Okada included Shaq.
Both the contract situation and the play valuation are complex with the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher. He carries a $14.2 million cap hit in 2024 before the first of four void years in his contract brings a $29.4 million cap hit in 2025. But even cutting Barrett post-June 1 only saves Tampa Bay $4.9 million against the cap this season, as the rest is dead money tied up in a prorated bonus. That said, the 2019 NFL sack leader has had fewer than five sacks in consecutive seasons (missing nine games in 2022) and turns 32 in November. It may be time to move on, even if the savings aren’t too big.
Well, here is where Raheem Morris’ famous saying applies. I will tolerate you until I can replace you.
Unless the Bucs plan on drafting an edge rusher in the first round or go the free agent route (don’t ask Joe where the cash comes from), just where will the edge rush come? Unless the Bucs think JTS finally sees the light?
Maybe Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht puts the squeeze on Shaq to re-do his contract, but as of today, the Bucs almost can’t afford to get rid of Shaq for multiple reasons, including but not limited to no edge rush.
(Yes, Joe knows Diaby showed flashes. His production also diminished after he became a starter.)
February 20th, 2024 at 9:19 am
If bucs could save a bunch of money I say cut him. But because they can’t, Maybe another year removed from Achilles surgery Shaq will actually improve, best we can hope for. And I still preferred Shaq on the field more often than not last year.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:20 am
Joe … ‘Maybe Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht puts the squeeze on Shaq to re-do his contract’.
Exactly Joe. Shaq signed a deal in 2021 for $17 mil a year for 4 years ($68 mil total). That included an $18.8 mil signing bonus & $34.3 mil guaranteed (basically 2 years). Shaq’s already got all his guaranteed money. He did 2 contract restructurings (Mar 2022 & Sep 2023) that added those VOID YEARS.
Releasing Shaq now saves relatively little money. But restructuring his contract once again could free up additional CAP space this year. I’d prefer to see it be for a lower amount, but with a number of incentives for sacks, QB Hits & TFLs (kind of a way of saying ‘Make an impact, you’ll remain a Buc AND make more money’). However, we still need to either draft a DE/OLB in Rnd 1 or 2, or add one in free agency.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:32 am
@ DR
I agree as long as the incentives are NLTBEs they won’t count against the cap until 2025.
If the incentives are LTBEs they will count against the cap in 2024.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:33 am
The problem is Shaq is not worth the actual dollars they would pay him (even if you take the salary cap issue away), which means he will get cut on June 2nd.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:33 am
NLTBE = Not Likely To Be Reached
LTBE = Likely To Be Reached
February 20th, 2024 at 9:34 am
To bad JL has had such a hard time with picking D-lineman. If only he could hit on mid-round D-line picks like he does on his O-line picks!
February 20th, 2024 at 9:37 am
If Shaq does not renegotiate his contract, then I think you got to cut him. It’s business – nothing personal.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:39 am
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:42 am
The biggest question is could he be replaced with a more productive player?
I like Barrett, but every dog has his day, and his was yesterday.
I respect how his family has grieved, and he suffered with the Achilles.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:45 am
This can-kicking ish needs to be slowed way down. It was cute when they got the whole band back together after the Super Bowl season, but now it’s become their only way to negotiate and build the roster and is too much of a crutch for them to lean on. It needs to be a last resort, not the first move every time.
If we can’t afford to bring in new players that can actually produce, then nonproducing players need to go. Jason Licht needs to set emotions aside on most of these decisions. For everything good that Licht does, he’s a pretty piss poor self scouter sometimes.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:56 am
Shaq is still the best pass rusher on the team. I did not see as much of a drop off in his play as his being used too much in coverage and in sealing the edge.
Those things took him away from what he does best, rush the passer.
Yes, some of the tricks he originally used are too common now to be effective; he would find other ways if he did more pass rushing, but the team was still better when he was on the field.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:06 am
@ gotbbucs
“If we can’t afford to bring in new players that can actually produce, then nonproducing players need to go”
I agree – BUT – if we cut players like Davis, Dean, Shaq, JTS, Nelson, Hall, Hainsey – who will we replace them with?
We already have @ 24 players to sign and only a handful of draft picks and limited cap space.
Plus – we currently don’t have a starting QB either.
Unfortunately we are stuck with these mediocre over-priced players for another season or two.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:15 am
this smells like a restructure to a very incentive laden contract, which hopefully pushes out some of the pain into later years and gives Shaq the opportunity to maybe make $10M all in with hitting some milestones.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:17 am
Why keep bringing up a restructure of Shaq’s deal???
I explained this at length the other day – but the short version is – There’s nothing left to restructure!
The only difference between keeping Shaq or cutting/trading him is $4.9M. The other $27Mish against the cap that is owed (due to all the previous restructures to gain cap space) has already been spent and paid.
You can’t do diddly with $4.9M when it comes to acquiring a new productive Edge rusher in today’s NFL market…. Unless you get DAMN lucky like the Bucs did with Barrett when they originally signed him to a 1 year $4M deal and he proceeded to blow up with 19 sacks that year.
How often does a $4M player lead the NFL in sacks? Um – NEVER. Well once I guess….
On the off chance that Barrett plays better in year 2 post-Achilles surgery – it only makes sense to bring him back for 1 last year at the $4.9M figure which – again – is the difference between keeping him or getting rid of him.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:24 am
We need to cut Shaq Barret, JTS sorry weak soft as, Logan Hall, Anthony Nelson, and Russell Gage to free up $38 million in cap space and reinvest than money into adding elite pass rushers to our team
February 20th, 2024 at 10:43 am
No need to throw Shaq a bone….he’s made plenty and understands it’s just business.
But…..I’d keep him and restructure him…..maybe, just maybe he’ll be more productive this year.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:49 am
@ Pick
You are correct.
Shaq’s base salary for 2024 is only $1.2M – the rest has already been restructured into guaranteed money.
So I don’t understand why people keep recommending that we restructure his contract.
There is nothing left to restructure.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:53 am
Its common knowledge, except apparently here, that Achilles injuries take two years to recover. Yes, you are able to walk, run etc after 1 year. But you wont get your explosiveness back until year 2.
But sometimes, not ever.
Achilles injuries are bad for athletes.
I would hold on to Shaq as long as possible, and keep testing his explosiveness before I let him go.
We cant afford to lose what is possibly our best pass rusher, because he wasnt up to speed last year.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:54 am
Possible DL assistant coach?
February 20th, 2024 at 10:55 am
Maybe they can cut Shaq and resign him to a team friendly contract. As far as Diaby, let’s give him another season. He may have just hit the rookie wall and can re-establish himself as a good pass rusher.
February 20th, 2024 at 11:10 am
Make sure he’s taken care of though, after everything he’s been through and still came back to play this year.
February 20th, 2024 at 11:51 am
Cutting Shaq makes little sense as the benefit just isn’t there for the team
Math is hard for anyone thinking Shaq is a cap casualty
February 20th, 2024 at 12:03 pm
In 2019 when Barrett had almost 20 sacks the team had 47 total and were 8th. Pittsburgh led the league with 54.
In 2023 Bucs were 10th and had 48 sacks and BALT had 60 but the rest of the league was pretty much the same as 2019.
As a team Sacks were consistent.
Although Barrett had fewer sacks his presence and the attention that he required opened up opportunities for others to get sacks. Quicker passes and lack of push up the middle cut down number of sacks from the D Line.
If Safeties and Linebackers are getting the majority of the sacks and team has to Blitz to get pressure it’s a lot more than just the Edge.
Even at his age there are plenty of teams needing depth and would take him in a second. Could be the best thing for him and his family to put some distance between them and that tragedy. As long as it is not NC, GA, or LA. Getting cut by the Bucs is small potatoes to having to burying his child. Good Luck to him wherever he ends up.
February 20th, 2024 at 12:51 pm
Stupid contract one year wonder. JPP made him look good.
February 20th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
If he stays around some way I think he get up to eight sacks. Another year to get better in mind and health. Hope we take care of him.
February 20th, 2024 at 1:13 pm
Barf is an underrated word.
February 20th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
@Pickrin and CO.
They don’t mean “Restructure” current money.
They mean a NEW deal where he agrees to take less.
There is not a market for Shaq anywhere else.
If they cut him he will make his money but probably retire soon because of tje achilles injury.
They are hoping that he can still produce 1 year removed from the injury which turns into 3 more years or so. Make the NEW DEAL incentive laden so he COULD still make more for production.
It all depends on whether Shaq WANTS to keep playing or not.
Nobody would blame him for taking the money and retiring.
February 20th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Oh Well
February 20th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Pickgrin … Maybe I took Joe’s proposal that ‘Jason Licht puts the squeeze on Shaq to re-do his contract’ differently than you did. I took that to mean that Shaq would have to accept making a lot less (re-do his contract) this year OR be released. And making less but structuring in incentives is fine with me.
Right now Shaq counts $14.2 mil against our 2024 salary CAP, and that’s way too much for what will almost surely be a rotational player. Shaq got 652 def snaps last season (58%), down from 767 (67%) in 2021 & 822 (77%) in 2020. His def snaps are going down & down, and I can’t see other teams lining up to pay him the big bucks to start for them. And his Dead CAP ($26.7 mil this year) is a real drag at this point.
Still, he & Nelson are our most experienced DE/OLBs, and the youngsters NEED field leadership. At this point, I’d rather keep Shaq than Nelson (who’s costing us $5.4 mil in salary CAP for minimal production). Nonetheless, we may have to ‘tolerate’ one (maybe even both) until we can replace them.
February 20th, 2024 at 1:37 pm
@ D Cone
“Could be the best thing for him and his family to put some distance between them and that tragedy”
As someone who lost my son 15 years ago I can tell you….it doesn’t matter where you are who you’re with or what you’re doing….it never goes away
February 20th, 2024 at 2:49 pm
I’m no cap expert, but would cutting him save us from the dead cap next year?
Or would doing a new contract do so? (Without pushing it back more)
There is a lot of dead money due next year, all over the team.
February 20th, 2024 at 2:53 pm
Everyone’s heart goes out to him as a human being facing such unbearable tragedy.
But it’s not like he played for free. He made more money in two games than most Americans make in their entire lifetime. They don’t have to hire him as a scout, he’ll be just fine.
February 20th, 2024 at 3:15 pm
BillyBucco Says:
@Pickrin and CO.
They don’t mean “Restructure” current money.
They mean a NEW deal where he agrees to take less.
Defense Rules Says:
February 20th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Pickgrin … Maybe I took Joe’s proposal that ‘Jason Licht puts the squeeze on Shaq to re-do his contract’ differently than you did. I took that to mean that Shaq would have to accept making a lot less (re-do his contract) this year OR be released. And making less but structuring in incentives is fine with me.
——————————————————————————
OMG – I guess math really IS hard… LOL
I’m not sure how else to put it. But I will try….
THERE IS NO WAY to redo, restructure, redistribute, rescind or renegotiate Shaq Barrett’s contract.
No way to “do a new deal”
No way for Shaq to “agree” or “accept” less money.
If Shaq Barrett plays for the Bucs this year – his earnings – as in the weekly paycheck after each game he receives will be $115,293.
That’s $1.21M in base salary (vet min) + $750k based on $44,117 in per game active bonuses = a Grand total of $1.959M if he’s “active” for 17 games.
Shaq is playing to get paid the minimum this year basically.
He HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID almost all of the $ that the Bucs owe against the salary cap.
The Bucs used Shaq and his contract like an ATM to gain $22 MILLION in cap space over the last 2 years.
And Shaq was happy to be “used” that way because he got lump sum “bonus” checks of $14.5M in 2022 and $13.085M in 2023….
Now its time to pay the piper.
If the Bucs cut him or trade him – they owe $26.668M against the cap in 2024.
If the Bucs keep Barrett in 2024 – they owe $14.19M against the cap in 2024 and $17.4M in dead cap in 2025.
That’s a (cap) difference of $4.9M total to keep Shaq vs releasing or trading him. And again – to be clear – that’s cap $ not earnings to Shaq.
Shaq is playing to be paid slightly more than the minimum the NFL allows for a vet of his tenure to be paid.
Shaq already got all of his $ basically.
And the Bucs now have to pay the bills….
February 20th, 2024 at 4:02 pm
Gotti-Dog-05-20-84 Says:
February 20th, 2024 at 1:37 pm
@ D Cone
“Could be the best thing for him and his family to put some distance between them and that tragedy”
As someone who lost my son 15 years ago I can tell you….it doesn’t matter where you are who you’re with or what you’re doing….it never goes away
My Parents buried two sons also and certainly agree with you. Although I always hoped that something could have helped. Sorry for your loss.
February 20th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
Pickgrin … Yes, math is REALLY HARD (especially when it comes to contracts like Shaq’s). I hadn’t been looking at the details of the ‘Transactions’ (the 2022 & 2023 restructurings) but now I get it. Shaq’s actually 1 lucky guy because he made almost $4 mil extra because of those restructurings, AND ended up in a position where it’s not really worth cutting him loose. I guess that’s the danger of giving any player a huge multi-year contract based on one excellent year like Shaq had in 2019.
And oh ya, the CAP hits are all over the place as a consequence of kicking the can down the street with those restructurings. I still think 2025 will be our most difficult year due to all the VOID years, although 2026 might give it a run for its money IF we do a bunch more restructurings this year.
February 20th, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Shaq isnt about what we’ve paid him, what we are gonna pay him, etc.
Its about- can he be our best pass rusher again?
If yes- then you keep him.
If hes done, then we let him go.
I hope he continues his recovery, and is back next year.
If anyone disagrees- then we cut JTS as a compromise.
If everyone agrees, we Cut that useless waste of space to celebrate!
Win win
Lack of pass rush was what killed our defense. We should think long and hard before cutting a guy who could be our best.
And we have to cut bait with all this dead weight, and sign some pass rushers.
And tell Licht to knock of trying to draft d-linemen. It aint his strength
February 20th, 2024 at 9:34 pm
The Best the Bucs can do, Is ask him to take a pay cut. Say 6 to 8 mill. Shaq will still make 8 mill a yeat but would save 8 mill off the cap.