Sounds Like Shaq Barrett Is Considering Multiple Options
March 15th, 2025
Is Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett injured or recovering from something?
Buccaneers outside linebackers coach Larry Foote seemed to imply that yesterday when Joe asked him whether he’s talking ball with Shaq like he is with Chris Braswell.
Foote said the following of Shaq: “He’s around … he’s getting some treatment. I know that’s funny when the year ends, you can’t be back in the building. [He] don’t live that far from me so he’s just rehabbing. And uh, hopefully… I don’t know the future with him. He could be back here or somewhere else so, but we’ll always be in contact.”
Shaq, 32, is a free agent. After retiring in July, walking away from a fat contract with Miami, Shaq wanted to play again and the Dolphins cut him.
That let the Bucs swoop in and add Shaq to their roster in late December. It was a desperation move for a Bucs team looking at any angle to find edge rusher help.
Obviously, Foote’s comments are open to interpretation. But Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht said at the NFL Scouting Combine that he’d love to have Shaq back on the team.
The holdup, Joe suspects, is Shaq wants more than the very low salary plus incentives that the Bucs are offering. Or, whatever Shaq is “rehabbing” is more than routine veteran maintenance.
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March 15th, 2025 at 7:59 pm
We will ALWAYS have room for Shaq, i know its clichè but we may be the only team that is a legit family.. Even if he’s our 4th or 5th edge, he has value 100%
March 15th, 2025 at 8:22 pm
Being him back. He was still better than Tryon in the short amount of time he was playing. Things opened up more for Yaya when Barrett came back because teams had to worry more about him over Tryon.
March 15th, 2025 at 8:32 pm
Make it incentive-based because he was nothing two years ago, and even worse last year for Miami. If he doesn’t accept that, then he’s being pretty unrealistic. He retired for pete sake, even he knew he was done.
March 15th, 2025 at 8:40 pm
Unless he’s got some sort of serious medical or personal issue going on, we should bring Shaq back.
I see him as more of a rotational player at this point, although I’m sure he’d rather start.
Either way, if he’s able to, and wants to tske the field we should do everything we can to get him out there come September.
March 15th, 2025 at 8:45 pm
Look at the roster at OLB. Who are you cutting to bring in Shaq? I mean, he wouldn’t start over Diaby or Reddick. They wanna get Braswell reps because they think he’s ascending, and I believe them. Nelson just signed up again. He’s a quality 4th OLB. Shaq isn’t gonna get paid 10 million. And why would we displace youthful rising players with a guy on the downside? I mean, I love Shaq and it would be great to have him, for the right price.
March 15th, 2025 at 9:01 pm
I have great respect and appreciation for everything Shaq Barrett has contributed to this organization and wish him nothing but the best moving forward.
That said, CB Chidobe Awuzie is now available. He’s a proven veteran with starting experience and the versatility to contribute in multiple coverages. Not a headline move, but a smart, cost-effective addition that can bolster the secondary with reliability and scheme flexibility.
March 15th, 2025 at 9:10 pm
We all know we ain’t gonna play any where else. This is all about the money. We will take all the pass rushers we can get . incentive laden-get it over with. Go Bucs!
March 15th, 2025 at 9:17 pm
It’s likely tough mentally to go from the 4 year 72 million dollar deal to close to vet minimum. I can’t imagine him playing elsewhere after giving up in Miami before it even started. He’s more of a sentimental figure now…I don’t see a revival to his pre-Achilles injury days.
March 15th, 2025 at 9:17 pm
I’m sure Bowles had a trust factor in favor of veterans down the stretch. Probably he showed up in practice.
March 15th, 2025 at 9:32 pm
Good luck Shaq…
Our OLB room is full.
Go find your “bag” elsewhere.
March 15th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Near vet min or he can move on. Love the dude, but he might be the worst guy at the position on he roster at this point in time.
March 15th, 2025 at 10:18 pm
I think Shaq B will bounce back big. He still has some tread left and will most likely be a good value for who gets him. His sack numbers haven’t matched his impact lately but he’s good at rushing and run defense.
March 15th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
I’d like to see Shaq back. He’s a Buc.
March 15th, 2025 at 11:17 pm
For all of you saying bring Shaq back…he still has tread on his tires…he played well when he returned…
What are you basing this on besides hope? He played a grand total of 17 snaps for us last season. He had 1 tackle.
The guy is washed, he’s made tens of millions from the Bucs. The team doesn’t owe him a roster spot for sentimentality. Time to move on and give that last OLB spot to new blood with potential.
March 15th, 2025 at 11:17 pm
Pass.
March 15th, 2025 at 11:59 pm
Bring Shaq back as an assistant Coach to help Larry Foote and start a new post playing career. Let him rehab and stay in shape and if one of our core 4 goes down bring him back as a player.
March 16th, 2025 at 12:21 am
He’s getting like $16 mil this year whether he plays or NOT
March 16th, 2025 at 1:20 am
I think Foote was doing the old misdirect on ya. Key words… treatment, Rehabbing, In the building, back here or…
I think he was trying to keep from telling you , Mind your business… The draft is coming and I aint telling you Jack!
He has an acheles injury. I had one and they don’t just go away. They require alot and I mean alot of rehab. Just keeping that thing stretched out is a major challenge. I never got 100% movement back. Of course I never had One Buc to rehab in.
Go Bucs!
March 16th, 2025 at 2:16 am
Bring back Suh and JPP too!
March 16th, 2025 at 4:37 am
Reading between the lines does send some doubts, however it’s always been felt that the Bucs are Shaq’s home. Hate to see him leave.
Agree with many other comments and what Todd Bowls said, “Bring Shaq back as an assistant Coach to help Larry Foote and start a new post playing career.”
March 16th, 2025 at 6:30 am
Please bring him back!
March 16th, 2025 at 6:46 am
How about promoting Foote to D.C., and make Shaq the OLB coach? Bowles should’ve given Foote the opportunity a long time ago to call plays, and be the actual DC. Like Arians did for Leftwich, give them the chance to move upward. Lefty was offered the Jags job. Unlike Arians Bowles has no succession plans for his defensive assistants. I’m sure that’s why KC Rogers left. Shaqs playing days are behind him. Someone at One Buc should offer him a coaching job.
March 16th, 2025 at 6:50 am
i’d prolly prefer shaq over watts and ramirez at this point…
but then again i haven’t really seen enough of them to know where they’re at…
dennis surprised everyone big time early last year…so maybe they really are ahead of shaq…
but if shaq has some game left in him, i think we’d all love to see him here……everyone love the shaqster
March 16th, 2025 at 10:11 am
Even before he got old and injured and was playing well he had horrible conditioning for a professional athlete. He was fat. That’s doesn’t translate to playing in your 30s. Good luck shaq
March 16th, 2025 at 10:25 am
Practice squad
March 16th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Shaqs options are playing here or retire-I would like to see him retire.
March 16th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
I’ve said it before. Shaq is just about done. He’s OK at the minimum and as a backup. His get off is gone after that injury. He will flash here and there but no consistency.
March 16th, 2025 at 7:16 pm
He’s over 30…your always rehabbing something.