“I’d Put My Money On Von Miller”
February 21st, 2021
“Did you say Von Miller, Jason?”
Not every astute NFL observer is sold on Shaq Barrett being a must-have for the Buccaneers in 2021.
In 22 days, the free agency dinner bell rings again and the clock is ticking on the Bucs’ multitude of decisions.
Joe refers to them as The Big 8.
High on the list, very high, is playoff hero and a stud edge rusher Shaq Barrett. His eight-sack season morphed into a four-sack finish in the playoffs on the heels of his legendary 19 1/2-sack campaign in 2019.
But the Bucs can’t pay everyone, and retired quarterback and current CBS and SiriusXM NFL Radio analyst Brady Quinn believes Shaq is expendable if the market breaks right for the Bucs.
Quinn thinks the Bucs would be better served by Von Miller coming off a season lost to ankle surgery.
“If you and I were going to bet right now on Von Miller at 32 this year having more production/more sacks if when healthy with Tampa, as compared to Shaq Barrett, if he leaves, I’d put my money on Von Miller,” Quinn told his radio audience.
An eight-time Pro Bowler, Miller counts for more than $22 million against the Broncos’ 2021 salary cap and there’s a ton of speculation in Denver that he’ll be released.
Quinn sees Miller as a guy who might be willing to play for $10 million in Tampa on a one-year deal to chase another Super Bowl ring and raise his profile for 2022 free agency. Shaq, however, might want nearly double that money — cash that could be used to retain other members of The Big 8.
Joe has little interest in letting Shaq walk. But Joe wonders what Todd Bowles would choose if general manager Jason Licht said to him, “Todd, you can have Shaq but no Ndamukong Suh, or you can have Suh and Von Miller. You pick.”
February 21st, 2021 at 12:19 am
That would be pretty interesting. If Von Miller returns healthy, he’s got a couple years left. I prefer Shaq on a four year deal but it’s definitely a consideration dro we bring on the $$
JOE- What is the deal with Yannick Ngakoue?
He wanted out of Jacksonville, I get that, everyone did. They traded him to Minnesota and then a couple months later Minnesota traded him to Baltimore. Now Baltimore might let him walk.
He’s only going to be 26 soon and has put up 8-12 sacks 5 years in a row.
Is it just salary cap issues or is it him?
I am just imagining he is cheaper than Shaq and could be another alternative. Could be a better one than Von Miller because they might be able to sign him to a long-term deal since he is so young
February 21st, 2021 at 12:20 am
Isn’t Miller under criminal investigation right now which will lead to his leaving Denver JOE?
February 21st, 2021 at 12:21 am
Miller and Suh + keeping an additional FA vs Shaq with no Suh, and No additional FA. Hate to see him leave but give me Miller and Suh and and that additional FA that may be a David, or Godwin
February 21st, 2021 at 12:37 am
NO!
Hasson Reddick
problem solved!
youre welcome
February 21st, 2021 at 12:38 am
Haason, (sorry spelling)
February 21st, 2021 at 12:38 am
Haason Reddick
February 21st, 2021 at 1:20 am
Who cares what joe thinks … give me von Miller any day over one year wonder shaq.
February 21st, 2021 at 1:28 am
keep Shaq, pay him, team friendly contract, he is solid, Miller is injury prone draft edge till we get a good one
February 21st, 2021 at 1:36 am
Shaq has publicly said he attributes his 19.5 sack year to V Miller’s coaching. Apparently Von Miller held a rushing the QB camp. Pick up Von, draft two DEs, and let VM coach em up.
February 21st, 2021 at 2:37 am
One year ^^^ wonder what a joke
… Absurd & borderline Asinine…
February 21st, 2021 at 4:07 am
Big name ageing FA’s is not a well you can go to indefinitely, we’ve had some luck this year but I’m not onboard with Von Miller.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:17 am
Has more been written on the coincidence of Shaq’s performance in the NFCCG and SB and Vea’s return for those two games? Vita played far less than half the snaps in those games. Not taking away from Vita, just noting the numbers. –Joe
It seems like Vea has helped Shaq in receiving a hell of a lot more money next month. Not to mention injuries to Green Bay and especially KC’s offensive lines.
I’m not saying Shaq hasn’t earned it, but it seems to have been a bit of a perfect storm for him in the playoffs in boosting his earnings potential.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:35 am
Let Shaq break the bank elsewhere. I believe that is his priority. For the other guys I get the impression the brotherhood and another Lombardi trophy might allow for a contract compromise. Build on Godwin and David. They are foundation players IMO.
February 21st, 2021 at 7:22 am
2020 salary CAP was $198 mil, and with that we had to feed the Top-51 of our roster, PLUS eat whatever Dead CAP we were carrying, PLUS have enough to pay for injury replacements. That means that the ‘average salary’ for the players on any roster would be just very slightly less than $4 mil.
It appears though that a strange thing happens to each roster each year: very few, if any, players make $4 mil. There’s a group of key starters well above that; there’s a much larger group well below that … some starters (usually on their rookie contract) & some key rotational guys (working on prove-it deals oftentimes) but mostly depth players. Understandably, if a TEAM is successful, all the players want to be financially rewarded for that. Hmmm, go figure.
Salary CAP isn’t rocket science; it’s simply a balance sheet. Go over and you get penalized, so it’s in the team’s best interests not to screw it up. The easiest way to screw it up seems to be to allocate too much of the salary CAP to too many Big-$$$-Contracts for starters, oftentimes followed by restructuring those contracts in follow-on years leading too much Dead CAP.
Bucs are sitting in ‘The Twilight Zone’ right now IMO. We’ve got a number of high $$$ FAs (like Brady, Jensen, JPP, Suh, Shaq) on our roster making more than the $4 mil average, and they’ve been critical to our success. At the same time though, we’ve got a number of ‘home-grown draft picks’ (like Donovan, Marpet, LVD, ME13) who’ve developed into excellent players & are now getting paid Big-$$$. And waiting in the wings for their big payday are other superb players (like Godwin, RoJo, Vea, Davis) who are just as responsible for our success. ‘Building through the draft’ isn’t a pipedream; it’s critical for any TEAM that expects to be continually successful.
Signing too many Big-$$$ players on one side of the ball is the kiss of death IMO. I think it’s about BALANCE between the offense & defense in today’s NFL. Kansas City didn’t succeed until they ‘grew a defense’. Bucs didn’t succeed until we also ‘grew a defense’. Far as I can see, it’s more about having a quality COACHING STAFF today than it’s ever been (offense, defense AND S/Ts). It’s also about having quality TEAM LEADERS in all the various position groups who can play at a high level AND help others develop.
Far too many words I know to say one simple thing … We FINALLY climbed the mountain thanks to management & coaches creating a very BALANCED TEAM. Don’t screw it up.
February 21st, 2021 at 7:25 am
Joe!!
What would prevent a player, like Shaq, from signing a $5M contract and then getting paid like $15M behind closed doors or, off the books? Do you think that some teams do this?
February 21st, 2021 at 7:38 am
“What would prevent a player, like Shaq, from signing a $5M contract and then getting paid like $15M behind closed doors or, off the books? Do you think that some teams do this?”
For one, if caught, the team would face serious financial and draft penalties. Two, if Shaq signs a $5 million deal, the NFLPA would lose it’s mind and don’t think that that is not a factor. There is TREMENDOUS pressure on players NOT to take extremely team friendly deals as that affects the compensation structure of the other guys at that position looking to get paid. I’m not saying I agree with that, but it is a reality.
February 21st, 2021 at 7:46 am
Lololol told you. I can promise all of you that this is going to pick up more steam in the coming weeks
February 21st, 2021 at 7:54 am
DR: Terrific points as usual. Looking at the draft, the Bucs are in a really good position in a number of ways.
First, they are not drafting for an immediate starter, they are drafting for depth (as most good teams do). Secondly, first round picks can have a fifth year option that picks in rounds 2-7 do not. This is an EXTREMELY attractive factor sitting at #32… the last pick of the night and of the round. Example: if a QB falls and a team really wants that QB, they would be willing to overpay in draft compensation to get back into the first round and get their QB using the 5th year option.
This works out in the Bucs favor, because they may get more to trade out of #32 to get the depth they need is Edge and DT. Most draft publications (for what they are worth) only have 2 or 3 Edge or DT’s with first round grades: Rousseau from Miami, who sat out 2020 and his 2019 tape, IMO, is very average; Barrmore from Alabama who is a beast; and maybe Patrick Jones II from Pitt.
The point of all this rambling is that the Bucs can trade out of #32, pick up additional DL/Edge guys in round 2 and 3 and have the luxury (hopefully) of coaching them up to play more significantly in 2022.
February 21st, 2021 at 8:23 am
Might be DE, might be DT, might be WR or RB – we will plug in a vet or high draft pick rookie at the one or two spots we cannot retain thru FA
Von Miller may be on the backside of his career, but so was JPP right!
February 21st, 2021 at 8:31 am
Let’s don’t kid ourselves,
Without Wirfs, Gronk, and a healthy Vea in the playoffs – Bucs don’t win the SB.
It’s about the Trenches first and if Bucs don’t re- sign Barrett, Suh and Gronk , they won’t be as good – period.
February 21st, 2021 at 8:52 am
The REASON the Bucs are against the cap with a bunch of their own players earning bigger contracts is that the former QB was on his rookie deal.
Now the team is like a “regular” NFL team with the QB carrying a high % of salary.
February 21st, 2021 at 8:55 am
I guess we as fans have to find out the end goal. Is the team looking at the future or the now 2021. It would be awesome to go for a other SB but at what cost. JPP, Suh, Brady, Gronk, AB are all aging players that played a HUGE roll in the success of this years team. Brady has made a point of developing a protection process to prevent him from taking the big hit to avoid injury. Let’s say he does get injured, the odds of getting him back are lower than a younger QB. I say priority 1 get proactive rather than reactive in this department becuase if he goes down all this creative signing mean nothing. Build for the now but make sure to protect the future.
February 21st, 2021 at 9:21 am
Rob … I admit that I never thought of drafting LAST in any round as a good thing DURING the draft (winning the SB obviously is awesome), but you changed my mind. If some ‘slipped’ in Rnd 1 who some other team really wanted, you’re right … that could be a bonanza for us in terms of draft picks. Maybe the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t always the train coming in the opposite direction?
Insofar as DE/OLBs go though, rookies (other than a couple of VERY high picks) rarely contribute significantly as starters IMO. I guess it’s one of those positions that just take time to develop (like CBs?). Our best bet this year is to sign AT LEAST 1 & preferably 2 DE/OLBs in free agency. HOPEFULLY Shaq is one of them, but that’s as much up to him as it is the Bucs.
Cobraboy … You almost had me thinking Jameis did a us favor for a second, but then I remembered that in his 5th year he was paid $21 mil (only $4 mil less than Tom Brady) AND Jameis wanted $30 mil to re-sign. So much for the ‘favors’. You’re right though; we’re just like any other ‘regular’ team now in terms of salary CAP.
February 21st, 2021 at 9:49 am
Take Von Miller gor 1 year. Especially if he is as good at coaching up
a defensive line, as people say he is + he will save you money that can go towards keeping another player.
February 21st, 2021 at 9:52 am
Vonn Miller is a big question mark, Shaq is not. No sense in fixing something that is not broke, Franchise Shaq, keep the D front 7 intact. Really pretty simple, and by the way they just stopped Brees, and Rodgers and Mahomes on the way to being World Champions. All the years without a pass rush and now it is like people have forgotten what it is like. Just ask the Rams, who got to watch the Bucs win in Green Bay the next week because the Rams had no pass rush. GO BUCS!!!!
February 21st, 2021 at 9:56 am
Suh and David going down in salary will allow for something to happen for Barrett and a long term contract. Shaq Barrett will get his contract extension along with Suh and David resigning for a discount. The offense may have some challenges. Gronk will return for lower money i feel along with Antonio Brown. Playoff Lenny and Godwin though there will have to be a choice made.
February 21st, 2021 at 9:59 am
Shaq did not flash in Denver like Von Miller did, or they would never have let him go.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:08 am
Give Brady a new back loaded deal…cap problem solved.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:24 am
Of course the pastey one thats scared of the sun would want yannick he cried all summer long about it
February 21st, 2021 at 11:21 am
Really Brady Quinn? What the Bucs need to do for their d line is get older well damn. Don’t quit your job dude you are milking it
February 21st, 2021 at 11:33 am
Miller is 4 years older than Shaq and supposedly has legal issues, so I’d probably pass on him. Now, if Shaq really is looking for 20+ million per year and Von will play for 10, I’d choose him in a heartbeat if the legal issues turn out to be nothing but bs.
February 21st, 2021 at 11:39 am
Your not getting Von🤣🤣 he is a Bronco 4 life!!
February 21st, 2021 at 11:40 am
RobbFlaSports@ Says:
February 21st, 2021 at 2:37 am
One year ^^^ wonder what a joke
… Absurd & borderline Asinine…
…………
Amen Robb
Then again most of his takes that I actually read are Absurd.
February 21st, 2021 at 12:54 pm
Why you can’t give the long term deal he wants. What happens when Vea, White, Wirfs need to get paid within the next four years? All more young and valuable along with Godwin if someone needs to get paid.
February 21st, 2021 at 2:41 pm
Let Shaq go back to Denver. Bucs can draft edge @#32 on the cheap.
February 21st, 2021 at 2:44 pm
First of all anybody who doubts von Miller is insane!!! Have you not seen with this man has done his whole career!!! She’s single handedly won a super bowl.. I guarantee you Shaq Barrett will tell you von Miller was the number one reason he is who he is today!! Von taught shaq everything he knows… I don’t know how many of you guys followed Von Miller but he was in the best shape of his life before he got injured… Until all the people in the comments saying that he’s injury prone… He’s missed one season his whole career!! He tore his ACL in 2013… Other than that he went about 7 years injury free… So injury proned how?? Devon Miller’s an upgrade over shackberry everyday of the week… And if you’re getting him for less money why not do it?? The only other player to have as many sacks as von since 2011 is JJ Watt!! Von Miller is a Hall of Fame player & still has a good three or four years left in him… Big facts
February 21st, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Is Shaq our #1 priority without question!! But he has two rings and has been paid pennies in NFL terms and as he should break the bank. Von on a 10 year deal with incentive bonuses would work be better than Shaq at 18 million
February 21st, 2021 at 4:19 pm
Give Barrett a team-friendly offer, and ask him to come back after shopping around for two weeks. I think the lower team cap is going to dampen the free agent market this season, plus Shaq has to make that decision was to whether that extra bump in pay is worth walking away from a good situation. Licht can always bump his offer to stay competitive, but he should not make himself the high bidder.
Two weeks should be plenty of time for Licht to check on other available free agents who could be used as fallbacks.
Von Miller? I think Denver and Miller will find some middle ground with an extension.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:40 pm
What a great and awful predicament to be in. JL will really have to earn his pay this off-season. Football is won in the trenches so we need to keep the lines intact and draft to add depth. People on this site need to stop talking about cutting Donovan. In with you joe, you don’t move an allpro from the right side to the left and hope to draft someone as good, it just doesn’t happen. But Shaq and Su back has to happen at the expense of CG. I hope not, I hope the bucs bring them all back but they will have to start giving signing bonuses and back loaded contracts to be able to do that.
February 21st, 2021 at 7:00 pm
For all of our sanity, the Bucs need to resign Shaq. Does anyone remember how many years we saw Joe complain about letting Michael Bennett get away?
Shaq is better.
February 21st, 2021 at 7:03 pm
Treat Shaq right. give him the money
February 21st, 2021 at 9:16 pm
Miller was always good until his injury,the problem was peyton retired and the team went south fast….he would probably be motivated to play in tampa
February 21st, 2021 at 9:45 pm
Elite edge rushers are extremely hard to find and to say no problem we can just draft one is unfortunately silly. Shaq was undrafted and how long were we looking for a double digit sack total? We have been spoiled and to piss it away is not smart!
February 21st, 2021 at 9:56 pm
Nah… Von will retire a Bronco!
February 22nd, 2021 at 5:50 am
Greg: You just contradicted yourself…The Bucs can’t draft an edge rusher, but Shaq was undrafted…Okay, you’re not making sense.
February 22nd, 2021 at 7:14 am
Even if we resign Shaq, I’d like to see the Bucs take an edge rusher in the first 2 rounds. Todd Bowles would have a say in who is chosen, and he’s done a good job fitting Bucs draft picks into his system.