Shaq Barrett Wants Another Year
February 27th, 2025
So Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett returned to Tampa Bay two months ago under desperate circumstances.
The Bucs were desperate for a spark at edge rush and Shaq decided to unretire.
He was welcomed back with open arms and made a few bucks over the final few weeks of the season. That doesn’t mean Shaq produced. He got 17 total snaps over the last two games (including playoffs) and didn’t show much.
Still, his impact was felt inside One Buc Palace, Bucs GM Jason Licht said yesterday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“Ahh, it was great. He was great with the young players,” Licht said of Shaq. “It was like having another coach. Shaq is one of the best, one of the best all-time.”
With energy in his voice, Licht added that Shaq could return next season. He’ll turn 33 in November.
“We’ll never close the door on Shaq,” Licht said. “We’ll see where that goes. We never close the door on Shaq.”
Joe asked Licht if Shaq wants back in, and Licht quickly replied that Shaq indeed wants to wear pewter and red in 2025,
Joe’s fine with a Shaq return, if he’s very inexpensive. Yes, Shaq represents an upgrade from guys like Markees Watts and José Ramirez, and YaYa Diaby is very quick to credit Shaq for how much he mentored him successfully in 2023.
February 27th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
why not. can’t hurt. cheap is the magic word though
February 27th, 2025 at 1:40 pm
Geez, I’d welcome back Shaq but it’s crazy to think just how bad our pass rush has gotten. It’s one of the most important positions on the field and likely cost us from having a lot more success last year.
February 27th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
Have been pleading for it since he went to Miami and retired. Yes please if even as a coach or depth. On a minimum contract of course
February 27th, 2025 at 2:01 pm
At least to camp. Now if he makes the roster, that does take away from a guy who could actually develop. He’s on the very back end of his career and it’s hard to justify a spot for a guy who isn’t a starter. So, see what he’s got left in camp and go from there. If he can’t cut it, offer him a job as an assistant OLB coach.
February 27th, 2025 at 2:10 pm
Why not bring him to camp? If he’s cheap, if you can cut him with no cap hit if he’s washed up, why wouldn’t you want him around, in particular when you figure the Bucs will have some new young guys in the building.
February 27th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Only at League Minimum for a veteran player
February 27th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
I think he needed time like Godwin did what about a year now that he has had it I can see at least 6-8 sacks out of shaq or it would free up other on the line but like y’all said if he still has it in him to make the team
February 27th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
No Thanks-Sign HOF’er Khalil Mack-LFG.
February 27th, 2025 at 2:17 pm
jpp is probably available too bucs fans. geezus.
retreading coaches and players from yesteryear…..
February 27th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
@Joe
You mean former Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett….I guess…
He used to be great, no doubt about that, but not now….. If that’s the case let’s bring back , Suh JPP, Ronald Jones, Scotty Miller, Le Sean Mc Coy…Even OJ Howard….
Let’s move on form the past, please
February 27th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
He’s younger than LVD anyway.
February 27th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Might as well add Simeon Rice to the mix.
February 27th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
Hopefully we enter the season with an edge room consisting of Diaby, Shaq, Braswell, top 2 round rookie, and FA player (Mack/Ojulari/Browning).
I think that’s what we will end up looking at and won’t cost us a ton of dough. I’d be happy enough with that if we also add 2-3 ILBs, Charvarius Ward and a rookie CB.
Stay healthy and D would be cooking I think.
February 27th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
If he wants to be here so badly, start training him as a coach!
February 27th, 2025 at 3:31 pm
#7 Shaq Barrett there is nothing more than a depth piece
#58 Was a stud, But those days are long gone
I guess it makes sense to bring them back for very cheap but if he doesn’t perform just release him.
February 27th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Hes not going to be a starter. Its not hard to understand. He would replace the lowest tier rushers on the team. He would not be the answer for pass rush, just a depth/coaching piece for a Superbowl Run.
February 27th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
IF the Bucs are gonna keep 5 OLBs, I don’t have any issue with Shaq being the #5. If he doesn’t show anything during the week’s practice, then don’t dress him on game day.
In any event, I can’t see him getting a whole bunch of snaps during the season assuming that we sign a veteran edge (someone like Harold Landry?). Landry’s averaged almost 900 def snaps per season over his 6 seasons with the Titans. Diaby & Braswell are both young studs and got 785 & 329 def snaps respectively in 17 games each last season. And if we re-sign Nelson, he gave us another 573 snaps in his 17 games. All 4 of those guys are solid.
February 27th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Just saw a report that Mile Garrett remains firm that he does not want to be in Cleveland. #GoGetHim
February 27th, 2025 at 4:12 pm
To any simpleton saying no to this – he’ll probably do it for the vet minimum. That is a steal, a gold mine. For all the intangible reasons, not to mention, he’s gonna be way better than the male cosmetics salesman masquerading in the #9 jersey just by showing up in a jersey and pads.
Do it!
February 27th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
I trust Licht, Bowles & coaches to make this decision….I think
February 27th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
3 words:
Veteran League Minimum
February 27th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Don’t they have him signed to the practice squad? I would have them with the team and see how he does through training camp and then making an evaluation and decision after that.
February 27th, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Shaq looks washed from a player perspective but I do see the value of having him around One Bucs Place to teach the younger players….Maybe Bowles should hire Shaq as a Pass Rush Specialist Coach and let him mentor OLB / DE groups full time without taking a roster spot from someone that has the juice needed to be a legit contributor on the 53 man roster.
February 27th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
You bring him to camp, see if he has anything left or not – and in the meantime he can help coach up the young guys as everything I’ve ever heard about him is that he’s a great locker room guy.
Considering the complete lack of depth on the defense, there is no reason not to bring him back unless he wants more money than the Bucs are willing to pay. As for his deal, likely it would be around the vet minimum with a bunch of incentives if he makes the team and turns out to play well. I doubt he’d expect more than that – and the bonuses would cover if he found a second wind.
Literally a win-win.
February 27th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
Shaq’s experience would be invaluable in helping the young guys. Get him cheap and see if he washes out in camp. Like they say, we don’t know what we don’t know. He may turn out to be the shot in the arm for this franchise. If not, then no harm, no foul.
February 27th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
Jon Gruden is back in the Ring of Honor 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
February 27th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Love Shaq. But I question what he has left in the tank. I’d prefer him over JTS though. And at the vet league minimum. Get us a true vet leader other than Vita on that D line. One is needed desperately.
February 27th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
Unable to develop the future they resort to grasping for the past. Shaq was a great Buccaneer but his best years are behind him. He is likely done. As much as a feel- good type of move this might be it most certainly does not bode well for the future. A new coach would never have made this move. A new coach would be headstrong in developing for the future.
February 27th, 2025 at 6:40 pm
Vet minimum
February 27th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
gruden back in BUCS ROH?
After what he called Bryan Glazer?
Huh?
Bizarre world right now…we’re apparently Russian allies now too.
February 27th, 2025 at 7:02 pm
He’s knowledgeable and like a coach on the field. He only helps the other edge rushers.
For as cheap as he is right now, might as well… Unless they can find a rotation of edge rushers that are better and that has proven to be extremely difficult.
February 27th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
When somebody has video of you being pi$$ed on by two hookers-you do what they say.
February 27th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
I love you Shaq and appreciate everything you have done for us Buc fans…
BUT.
I wouldn’t give you more than the league minimum – plus incentives for % of defensive snaps, QB pressures and sacks.
If that doesn’t work for you – Good luck and adios!
February 27th, 2025 at 8:01 pm
Gruden back in ring of honor !!
February 27th, 2025 at 8:15 pm
He’s more than a year removed from a major injury and must feel pretty good about his chances. What if he adds 7 plus sacks this year????
February 27th, 2025 at 9:34 pm
About time for Gruden. Perhaps some news out of the wrongful defamation lawsuit ……
February 27th, 2025 at 10:03 pm
He’s not too old to potentially commit to a ridiculously intense training offseason and recapture some of his past glory. Not likely, but potentially.
February 27th, 2025 at 10:15 pm
Shaq is only 53 years old.. one of the greatest centers ever. 7’1” tall and 350 lbs. We could move Barton to guard or even tackle?
February 27th, 2025 at 10:22 pm
So many of u know it alls say edge rush most imp. part of the game.cud of fooled me just look at eagles they kicked chiefs butte with zero edge rush,& did it all season long
February 27th, 2025 at 10:47 pm
The money is negligible, but rather not waste a roster spot. Bring him back as a coach
February 27th, 2025 at 11:08 pm
I like Shaq as our #4, behind Braswell
February 27th, 2025 at 11:32 pm
Kind of weird that they announce John Gruden back in the ring of honor and this site pretty much went off-line ever since
February 28th, 2025 at 2:22 am
Of course the Bucs want him back! Should have been playing all of JTS’s snaps anyway. As in the whole season.
Go Bucs!