Shaq Barrett Opens Door For Bucs: “Tampa Has A Special Place In My Heart”
August 29th, 2024
Breaking news?
Joe can’t claim to be as giddy as Kay Adams was with this news. But Joe sure did enjoy watching Adams bounce up and down in her chair.
Former Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett hopped on Adams’ show, “Up and Adams,” this morning seen weekday mornings on FanDuelTV.
Maybe Adams was trying to make up for giving Bucs fans the finger and not stopping in at Bucs training camp this summer? She sure found time to visit every other NFC South training camp.
Shaq retired this summer after he signed a deal with the Dolphins. He said he wants to spend more time with his family. Who could blame him after the ordeal he and his wife went through?
But Shaq admitted to Adams there is a small, small, small chance he could come out of retirement. Adams sensed breaking news but at first, Shaq refused to tip his hand.
Then Adams mouthed “Tampa” and asked if he has played for this specific team before. Shaq began laughing and said, “Yeah,” then tried to backtrack. He said it might be for a team at a location where he currently owns a home. (Shaq owns homes in Colorado and Tampa).
Adams asked Shaq if the team is a Super Bowl contender. Shaq said that did not matter.
Adams then said, “That leaves Denver or Tampa. You’re not going to Denver. You’re going to Tampa? You’re returning to Tampa!”
Shaq laughed and said, beaming, “Yeah, that narrowed the list down a lot. But I’m not returning anywhere. I’m happily retired. But if something was going to happen, yeah.
“I won’t do it for any other scenario or any other team. I have a lot of history down there. All that stuff with my daughter and how they came through for my family. … I’d take pay cuts for Tampa. I’d do anything for Tampa for the way they showed up for my family. … It meant so much to me.
“Tampa has a special place in my heart.”
Shaq prefaced his comments saying he didn’t expect the Bucs to call. But if there were injuries and the team needed him and thought he could help out, Shaq said he’d give it serious consideration.”
This all isn’t really that big of a surprise to Joe — Joe wrote about this very scenario. Maybe all Shaq needed was extra time to recover from the blown Achilles he suffered midway through the 2022 season.
There's only ONE team/scenario 2x SB Champ Shaq Barrett would be willing to UN-retire for and the choice is pretty obvious 😏🏴☠️@heykayadams @Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/dKHQ8mdwQY
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) August 29, 2024
August 29th, 2024 at 3:07 pm
I wish him the best in whatever he (and Tampa Bay) decides. And great to hear the Bucs did him a solid.
August 29th, 2024 at 3:10 pm
Man….. that would be special!
August 29th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
Did he retire in Miami or did Miami release him? If he retired while under contract with them, then they own his rights.
August 29th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
Honestly you can’t have to many pass rushers especially with injuries. If he was willing to come back really cheap I would take him up on it if I was the Bucs
August 29th, 2024 at 3:13 pm
Miami owns him.
August 29th, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Hope it happens. Like him.
August 29th, 2024 at 3:17 pm
That’s the kind of message a team wants to get out there.
August 29th, 2024 at 3:18 pm
Retired.
August 29th, 2024 at 3:26 pm
He was more effective than jts last year
August 29th, 2024 at 3:29 pm
I mean there’s a reason we let the guy walk. I’ll always be grateful for what he brought to us for a few seasons, but the gas has just run out of the tank. I’d rather see what the younger guys have…MAYYYYBE if we get a few games in and it’s obvious that the young’s bucks just don’t have the juice, then maybe sign him to a league minimum deal. Otherwise I’m out.
August 29th, 2024 at 3:30 pm
You know we are vibing right as a Team when high quality players that are respected in the league want to come back. Let’s keep that going!
August 29th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Not in the second half of the season.
Since the Tennessee game (mid-November), Shaq had a grand total of a half-sack. JTS had three.
August 29th, 2024 at 3:49 pm
We could SURE use a solid vet in there if for nothing else to guide this extremely young group. And Shaq is one of the very best technique wise. It would definitely improve our chances of developing these guys on a fast track.
That’s just my opinion but I’m not sure how I could be wrong.
August 29th, 2024 at 3:57 pm
He has a special place in my heart, too.
August 29th, 2024 at 4:00 pm
A one legged Shaq is better than the headless chicken mens’ cosmetics executive. Great energy. Sign him. Cut chicken headless.
August 29th, 2024 at 4:05 pm
I’d love for him to come on as a pass rushing specialist coach or something, then we don’t have to give Miami anything for his rights. It feels weird having so many young edge rushers, his presence in any capacity would be welcomed, I would imagine.
August 29th, 2024 at 4:18 pm
Ramirez and Braswell are massive questions.
YaYa Seems like the real deal but we really don’t know.
Nelson is good as a rotational player.
JTS Is only here because of the rookie contract.
If they can get Shaq on a veteran minimum to be part of the rotation of pass rusher, and let him help the young guys, I think it would be a fantastic move
August 29th, 2024 at 4:20 pm
To the best of my recollection, when Shaq was cut, one of the Joes surmised that a scenario such as this was a possibility. Joe seemed to suggest that in a fantasy world the Bucs could keep a favorite (and needed) player at a very deep discount if the cards fell in our favor and that it was not at all unreasonable to think that they might do just that. Hmmmm…. If it happens, will it be the result of a master stroke of genius, or just coincidence ? Coincidences are not exceptions to probability, but rather manifestations of it.
August 29th, 2024 at 4:20 pm
@Obvious Agree
August 29th, 2024 at 4:46 pm
Would Shaq be the #6 OLB and either Ramirez or Watts to the practice squad ?
It seems obvious at this point that Bowles will rely on creativity with the blitz packages (much better secondary) and HOPE that YaYa and Kancey deliver as expected. Shaq would be an excellent mentor for Braswell.
August 29th, 2024 at 4:49 pm
With Shaq back in the fold perhaps we could get a 4th rounder for JTS and also gain a roster spot.
August 29th, 2024 at 5:08 pm
It would be special to have Shaq back, in any capacity. Kay Adams is beautiful!
August 29th, 2024 at 5:34 pm
Bring Shaq back
August 29th, 2024 at 5:38 pm
JTS to Miami for the rights to Shaq + a 5th…
August 29th, 2024 at 5:39 pm
I may have failed to mention that Kay causes blood to flow and certain anatomical regions to “warm”.
Me likee Kay.
August 29th, 2024 at 5:46 pm
Wow, this melted my heart. It would be awesome to have Shaq as part of the Bucs again. It was disappointing when he was let go. Licht said it was one of the hardest calls he ever had to do.
Agree with Leopold and others. It would be great to have him in some capacity as a specialist whereas he would still have a lot of time to spend with his family ❤️❤️
August 29th, 2024 at 6:02 pm
I’m with Leopold Sotch. Bring him in to coach up the young guys. Same thing with Jenson. These guys played at a high level in the NFL. I have no doubt they have knowledge to pass on to the next generation.
August 29th, 2024 at 6:03 pm
I’d rather have Sack Barrett than 4 Candy Gregory’s ! And like Joe said , he’s another year removed from his injury. He was still in the back field all last year , he just didn’t get the sacks that he used to get. Probably because of his injury. It took Godwin more than a year to get back to his old self . I’d love to have Shaq back
August 29th, 2024 at 6:20 pm
That be smart about this. All Shaq would have to do is unretire to force the Dolphins hand. The Dolphins would then release him. Shaq is a veteran and would not have to clear waivers and could sign with any team / Bucs.
People need to stop hammering JTS. Did he live up to his first round pick? No, but he is better than Randy Gregory. If JTS was a third or 4th round selection he would of been a great pick.
August 29th, 2024 at 6:59 pm
Would be our 2nd best rusher ?
August 29th, 2024 at 7:18 pm
Forget shaq. Kay is the most beautiful woman alive.
August 29th, 2024 at 7:47 pm
If he signed a deal with the Dolphins, they’d have to release him first — which I think they’d do without an issue.
But look at the Bucs depth chart, of course they should sign him if he’s available and is on the cheap. No one is claiming Markees Watts if he was demoted to the PS, so there’s your roster spot. Or, the other way around, if Shaq wants to play, you put him on the PS and make sure he’s healthy and ready to go, then bring him up.
Keep in mind, Shaq basically won that Chicago game early in the year – and everyone was talking about how much better he looked than the previous season. So while he’s not going to be a guy you count on for 17 games, you might get like 6 good games out of him – and if you can do that, then accept the 6 good games and be thankful.
August 29th, 2024 at 9:35 pm
Trade JTS for his rights if needed, they may take it because the alternative is nothing.
CITRUS – no team is giving a 4th rounder for JTS, MAYBE a 6th, probably a 7th
August 30th, 2024 at 1:26 am
If JBF could get Kay and Ira together for a video podcast, sell the stream and donate the rights to JBF’s favorite charity…….might break records.
August 30th, 2024 at 1:28 am
Hey, it’s better than pretending I know how to do a football take better than JBF. James Crunston.
August 30th, 2024 at 1:29 am
She’s a high-end chick. Would likely demand a few thousand dollars for an appearance. She’s not dumb.
August 30th, 2024 at 1:53 am
Pretty cool to hear how much love he has for the team
August 30th, 2024 at 3:42 am
It takes two years to recover completely from an achilles tear. If you recover at all. That was common knowledge most of my life.
That means Shaq could be back to full speed this year. I hope they give him a look. But I hope they hold a private workout- that way Shaq isnt embarrassed if the Bucs dont think hes bounced back enough.
Shaq just has to be better than JTS. Thats a pretty low bar to leap over. The bar is pretty much just jaying on the ground.
No man should have to bury his Child. Rehabbing an achilles during the grieving is just too much for anyone.
Worth seeing if hes recovered. A Shaq/YaYa pass rush might be interesting!
August 30th, 2024 at 4:13 am
Beautifully said, Capt. Tim.
Losing a child is something you never get over. You go about your day-to-day tasks while the pain is always there. You have regrets, would of/could of, and so much more that run through your mind every single day. You can find some goodness, some outlets through areas you would never think of like this wonderful blog including all the commenters. Laugh out loud moments help so much.
Understandably, Shaq needed some time for himself and for his family. They also have a wonderful foundation to work on too. I agree, let him have a private work-out or even give him some type of other job in the interval within the Bucs. He knows everyone loves him here and he and his family will have all of us wrapping our arms around them in support.
August 30th, 2024 at 9:53 am
I’ll let you guys know what I think when I stop crying on Tuesday…. Jeeeez. Too much. Makes me want to leave this mountain town and run home immediately.
August 30th, 2024 at 2:06 pm
19 sacks, Super Bowl winner, and now this … Ring of Honor?
August 30th, 2024 at 9:28 pm
If he comes out of retirement he is a Miami Dolphin