Sterling Shepard Talks Job Insecurity
March 22nd, 2025
Joe was intrigued to read that Bucs wide receiver Sterling Shepard nearly got a 100 percent raise when he re-signed last week.
Various reports, including at Spotrac.com, have him with a $2.5 million contract for 2025. Nearly every time a veteran gets more than the league minimum, it means his team is serious about keeping him. Joe suspects some of that deal is guaranteed, as well.
When Shepard met with media last week via Zoom, Joe asked him if he felt more secure in his job this season, versus joining the Bucs before training camp last summer.
Shepard, 32, said he can’t go there.
“I don’t approach this time like that. This time is made for guys to go out there and earn their job,” Shepard began. “So I don’t ever go into it with the mentality of like, ‘It’s going to be given to me.’ I go in there and try to earn the job regardless of what the situation is.
“I remember a couple of years back when I was coming off my ACL [surgery], like I knew I was only going to get half of [training] camp to show what I had at New York. And that’s the way I attacked it; every day I got to show something about the reason why I need to be here.”
Last summer, Shepard shined in training camp but was de-railed by injuries and the Bucs cut him before opening day. He sat on the practice squad for weeks but made the most of his call-up. He finished the 2024 season with 32 catches in 14 games, and 69 yards rushing on a career high 8 carries.
“Last year I got off to a late start but that’s no excuse, either,” Shepard said. “It was all mental for me. I knew I had the physical part of it down, but I needed to get the mental part of it down.
“So I spent extra time going over to Baker’s house, going to go work with Kyle Trask whenever I could to get the system down, just so I could play the way I wanted to play. It took a bit of extra work but, I mean, that’s our job. There’s not too many excuses that you can use other than, you know, I ended up breaking my rib and breaking my finger during [training camp], so that kind of hurt me. But other than that, the first solid two weeks I had, that was my mentality and I think that’s the reason why I was invited back.”
Cool shoutout there to Kyle Trask.
Shepard is a potentially valuable piece and Joe’s glad he’s back. Joe liked how Shepard came up with huge catches in high-pressure situations at Kansas City and at Carolina.
Before the Anthony Nelson heroics at Carolina, Shepard caught consecutive balls late in regulation to set up Chase McLaughlin’s game-tying, 51-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining.
March 22nd, 2025 at 4:36 pm
He knows Palmer is lurking
GO BUCS
March 22nd, 2025 at 5:07 pm
the worst was the week shephard pulled his kids into the intro then had HORRIBLE drops immediately after that.
I felt he needed to go home to his kids at halftime that game. Maybe he can get better at (checks notes) 32.
March 22nd, 2025 at 5:27 pm
He’s a 5th receiver at best. If he makes the team, it’s a disappointment. I may be crazy, but I don’t think 2 receivers on the other side of 30 and another receiver who appears to weigh 170 soaking wet is a reason to feel confident. Injuries are guaranteed with Evans and Godwin, and McMillan is just not built to be a 1a/1b option. I love all of them, but we need a legit guy as a bigger body option to McMillan. Ideally, that guy would be the heir apparent to Evans/Godwin.
March 22nd, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Palmer is a joke..hes Lucky to make it through camp
March 22nd, 2025 at 6:24 pm
Palmer is quick as a burp. Befuddles me we can’t find a few plays per game to make use of that–quick screens, etc
March 22nd, 2025 at 6:29 pm
I think it is good to have vets around that can provide solid depth and be around guys like Cam Johnson, Rak Jarrett, Jalen McMillan. I dont think Palmer will make the team. If they draft another guy, perhaps he is given a shot but Shepard still has some gas.
March 22nd, 2025 at 7:27 pm
Speaking of Trask, why hasn’t he spoken to the media since signing his new deal? Everybody else has.
March 22nd, 2025 at 9:20 pm
Hodad Says:
March 22nd, 2025 at 7:27 pm
Cuz he’s irrelevant and nobody cares.
I don’t think Anthony Nelson had a media session when he signed his new deal. Or Bryce Hall. There was no media sit down with Riley Dixon either.
March 22nd, 2025 at 9:23 pm
Catch the ball when it comes to you and stop getting stupid flags. Be the vet you aspire to be.
March 22nd, 2025 at 10:09 pm
Still think they need to give Kameron Johnson more of a chance instead.
March 23rd, 2025 at 1:12 am
I like the energy he brings. He’s a hype guy and you do need that. Kinda like when baker runs people over and gets up in their face all badazz like man it just makes you wanna run thru a wall for the guy and shep has it too.
March 23rd, 2025 at 1:16 am
Shep also plays with his hair on fire. I wish our Darden like scrubs (Jarrett, Johnson, Palmer) would take a lesson. But naa, they’re too afraid of getting hit.
Not Shep.
March 23rd, 2025 at 2:59 am
Yes, ‘shep’ has displayed for all to see over and again his hands of stone in critical parts of games. Color me, not a big fan, cause seein is believin.
March 23rd, 2025 at 3:36 am
The dudes intensity and competitive nature are definitely not in question.
He just loses his freaking mind at inopportune times because of it me thinks….reminds me of Jaymiss a bit in that regard.
Go Bucs!
March 23rd, 2025 at 4:51 am
Like his nice shout-out of Trask too. Sterling is working hard. Glad he is a Buc.
March 23rd, 2025 at 7:21 am
I forgot Palmer was still on the team. I don’t even remember his first name anymore and I don’t care enough to even ask.
March 23rd, 2025 at 7:43 am
Our new swing tackle had a presser, I’d rather hear from Trask. Only Buc QB to get a second contract! Be interesting to hear if he had any other offers? Lot of mocking Trask by Buc fans. To bad, great guy, great teammate. Most important tho, the Bucs obviously value him.
March 23rd, 2025 at 9:54 am
Regardless of how u feel about him, that was some mature statements and refreshing takes, especially for a position filled with Divas! BUCS are lucky to have a stable of guys like this….Also Baker likes and trusts him, so that’s good enough for me
March 23rd, 2025 at 9:17 pm
Sheperd also dropped am easy big first down catch in the Chiefs game. He is erratic.