The Return (Again) Of Shaq Barrett? Jason Licht Doesn’t Push Back

April 1st, 2025

Could stay with Bucs in 2025.

It seemed the way Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was talking about Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett, he wouldn’t mind bringing back Shaq once again.

Last year, in a move Joe thought smacked of desperation, the Bucs brought Shaq out of mothballs late in the season. He got into two games, only 17 snaps, with no starts.

Shaq had 12 snaps in a win over New Orleans and five snaps in the playoff loss to the Commandos. Shaq had two solo tackles, one in each game. And Licht said in February that Shaq wants another year in pewter and red.

Licht was asked about Shaq yesterday at the NFL owners meetings at the swanky Breakers in Palm Beach. Licht didn’t deny he’d like to have Shaq back but it seemed to Joe that the Bucs wouldn’t promise him playing time or starts.

“Oh, [we] love Shaq,” Licht said. “We’ll have to see how things go here.

“We want to give him fair opportunity to give him the best shot to play a little bit. We’ll have to see how that goes.

“We’ll keep monitoring that, but Shaq is always going to be a Buc.”

So yeah, it sure smells to Joe that if a another team can guarantee Shaq playing time, then the Bucs will wish Shaq good luck and maybe a job in football operations if he ever wants one.

Joe sort of wishes Shaq would be around this summer, if for no other reason than to help out Chris Braswell.

19 Responses to “The Return (Again) Of Shaq Barrett? Jason Licht Doesn’t Push Back”

  1. Lt. Dan Says:

    Bring him back as a chess piece and a mentor to the Bucs shiny new outside linebacker draft pick.

  2. First Last Says:

    I think the Bucs realize how important it is to have savvy vets on the roster to mentor rookies. Though it gets tricky when you don’t want to lose a good player on the practice squad. I think the vets in Tampa are why Baker is doing so well nowadays

  3. Greg Says:

    Rotational impact players certainly increase the odds of winning

  4. Teacherman Says:

    Yaya, Braswell, Reddick, Nelson and Shaq?

    Great!

  5. Senor Harry in Costa Rica Says:

    I do not believe he is an “impact player” any longer. I think he might be over the hill. I love Shaq. But taking up a roster spot from a younger player that has any kind of potential would be wrong in my opinion.

  6. BA’s Red Pen Says:

    Great human being, washed as a football player. Good luck in all your future endeavors Shaq.

  7. Todd Says:

    I just miss JTS.

    BWAHAHAHA!!!

  8. Bucsfan Says:

    Roster spots are like gold and Bucs cannot afford to give away any gold-No Thanks.

  9. Defense Rules Says:

    Got a hunch the Bucs won’t sign Shaq preseason, but if 1 or 2 of our OLBs goes down with injury he could very well get picked up during the season. Presuming that he stays in shape of course.

  10. pewter941 Says:

    He has to be better than Ramirez and Nelson. and maybe braswell

  11. Mr. Editor Says:

    I would love to have Shaq back! He’s a great teammate and leader. That being said, GM Licht will probably wait until after the draft to see what to do. If the Bucs get the player that they want at the OLB position, Shaq won’t be back. If not, then Shaq comes back.

  12. Chip offllll the bucs Says:

    I BRO LOVE SHAQ! If we get a good draft pick, then sign him up as a special pass rush assistant coach. He can always flip back to emergency player if someone goes down!

  13. TiredBucsFan Says:

    Get him back!

  14. 813BUCBOI Says:

    i see us resigning shaq…he wants another ring!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

  15. dbbuc711 Says:

    I would really like to have Shaq back if for nothing other than mentoring young players.

  16. BucDawg Says:

    Practice squad camp meat at best.

    He’s completely washed and we do not need a wasted roster spot.

    Time to move on to a new era.

    Bowles job is on the line and this guy has zero in the tank.

    No soup for you!

  17. ChiBuc Says:

    Larry Foote’s new mentee

  18. David Groover Says:

    Let’s be real if the Bucs draft somebody early in the draft. That would probably be the end of this talk barring injury.Shaq was good but his best balls behind him Maybe he will join Bowels as a assistant coach.

  19. Steve j. Camacho Says:

    Shaq is a player the bucs need. his past experience with the bucs helped us to get a 💍. Sometimes people think a person is to old, or a step to slow for that
    spot. I’ve been a Buccaneers fan since
    1976. I remember the first time we were
    one game from the “Super Bowl” with
    Ricky Bell as our running back . We lost
    that game in 1979, but we grew. We
    learned to look at both sides. Just remember not all money is good money.
    Please bring back Shaq he knows what
    it takes to get a ring 💍.

 

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