Shaq Wants “To Start Building My Life In Tampa”

February 13th, 2020

Talks football future.

This should make Bucs fans so happy, they will want to stop in at a Big Storm Brewing taproom on the way home tonight for a cold Wavemaker® Amber Ale.

Jenna Laine of ESPN caught up with Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett today. And in the most candid he has been about his contract situation since the 2019 season has ended, Shaq said he wants to stay with the Bucs for a long, long time.

JennaLaineESPN: Shaq Barrett has been optimistic about remaining in Tampa. “I don’t know if it’s gonna get done before [March] but I love that confidence that [coach Bruce Arians] gave me. I’m just ready to get it done and ready to start building my life in Tampa and be there for the long haul.”

Of course it takes two to tango but man, it is comforting to learn (again) how much Shaq likes it here, and it sure seems he has no desire to uproot his Florida football home.

Certainly, the Bucs could do a long-term deal. That may be dicey given Shaq’s thin resume before last season. But Joe is confident the team could have out-clauses in the contract to protect the organization, just in case.

Joe wonders if the same Bucco Bruce Arians charm will work on Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul?

33 Responses to “Shaq Wants “To Start Building My Life In Tampa””

  1. mark2001 Says:

    You don’t franchise a guy like that.

  2. Buccernutter Says:

    Bruce Arians effect…

    Free agents want to be in Tampa.

  3. 813bucboi Says:

    mark

    i agree….

    sign shaq to a 4year deal with a 5th year option…..

    you commit to a player like shaq(or JPP) and he’ll run thru a brick wall for you every signal play…..

    JPP and SHAQ need to be re-signed at the same time in the same room…..

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  4. Tom S. Says:

    Since Joe appears to have jumped all-in on the “give a one year wonder a long term deal” camp, how many sacks are you predicting Shaq has next year?

    What do you think the odds of him having less than 10 sacks are?

  5. 813bucboi Says:

    1year wonder?….lol…..

    hard to get on the field when you’re an UDFA and have 2 1st rounders that the team drafted playing in front of you…..lol….

    theres always politics involved…..teams are going to give a 1st round pick multiple chances to prove the GM made the right pick….

    we’re seeing that now with JW….lol….

    BTW: SHAQ will get 14-16 sacks next year(as long as JPP returns)…..book it….

    GO BUCS!!!!!!

  6. Frank Menendez Says:

    @ Joe,

    How steaming is Drew Rosenhaus at his client for continuously putting out these sounds bites.

  7. Sorryjackchuckiesback Says:

    I agree with bucboi …. What Shaq did is not a blimp on the radar type thing.. Especially with how bad the team around him was! He elevated them! …. I believe he’s the real deal! He is fast and has a ton of different hand and speed moves! And can power through if he chooses also! The guy earned his contract with skill and A HUGE heart!! That dude wants to win and that’s the guys you want on your team for a long time it’s infectious for years…. He’s a nicer Sapp!! Pay the man!!! The way to learn this game is to sit behind a star for a little while first so you don’t make mistakes when you finally get your chance… All the great QBs for for the most part.. Aaron Rodgers, mahommes even Brady sat for a little while before starting!! You get to build confidence and a desire to prove yourself again!! NFL players have been starters all their life and don’t like being in someone’s shadow it gives them a reason to work hard… Shaq is the real deal man!! … So is Jamel Dean … if he can stay healthy he’ll be a top 5 corner!! I’ve never seen someone with such a smooth ability that he has!!… But anyway, pay Shaq!!!!

  8. The Coroner Says:

    5 years. $90 million. $60 million guaranteed.
    We’ll see how much the Bucs really like him.

  9. Ship Thief Says:

    I don’t really see the point in calling him a one year wonder. Says who?
    I mean, gimme a break! Burrow is also a one year wonder at this point! Chase Young as well!
    Shaq has proven he can get it done IN OUR SYSTEM.

    Pay the man.

  10. Mikadeemss Says:

    Real deal. Saying all the right things. Type of football player we need. Dude was solid other than just pass rush. GO BUCS!!

  11. Bird Says:

    “One year wonder “
    😂

    Classic comment from someone who makes excuse after excuse for someone who has been here 5 years and cant seem to get out of his own way

    Not many players in the history of the NFL have sniffed 20 sacks
    You dont let these guys walk
    And he wasnt given a fair chance in denver. He was behind 2 top (high 1st round) draft picks. Those guys arent supposed to sit on bench . So shaq didnt get snaps. I do remember broncos fans and players not happy to see him go

    And hallelujah that a talent like shaq wants to plant his butt and tampa to raise a family / have security and give back to a city that gave him his big chance
    Again …funny to see same #3 worshippers rip shaq cause he was honest about jameis play.

    I May be calling for a purchase a shaq jersey if/when they sign him.

  12. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    If we can’t sign a guy like this….who can we sign?……He’s got the attitude we need going forward…..great guy, great player….

  13. LordCornelius Says:

    He’s not a fluke. His per snap production in Denver was always great. Elway just was a stubborn GM that wanted Shane Ray / other DE’s to be succesful because he drafted them higher.

  14. Pelsbuc61 Says:

    I hope BA is telling the truth when he says he’s concentrating on re signing the defense and doesn’t care who’s at QB. This defense can win games if JW doesn’t continue to put them down 2 scores early almost every game.Bucs need Shaq, JPP and Suh in the locker room.

  15. ModHairKen Says:

    Pay the man fairly. Don’t abuse his trust in speaking positively about staying in Tampa. Embrace it. Use it during free agency.

  16. Bucsfanman Says:

    Well, that’s one heck of a “fluke”!!! 9 sacks, 10, maybe! 19.5?!! Show me a player that had a fluke 19 sack season!
    Is there a possibility that 19 was not the “norm” for Shaq? OK, sure. Would you settle for 10-12? Heck, even 7-9 sacks is an upgrade for this defense.
    Sign him. He earned it!

  17. Pryda...Sec147 Says:

    You have to tag him prove it another year sign jameis

  18. Jonny Says:

    Franchise tag is meant for players like Shaq Barrett. You re-sign Winston or let him go based on 5 years body of work as a starting QB.

  19. mark2001 Says:

    Jonny…. The guy says he will take a discount to play here..wants to build a life here..and you kick him in the teeth with a franchise tag. Wow…unbelievable.

    And Jameis hasn’t played well enough to prove he is a starting Franchise QB. Not yet. He is exactly the kind of guy you want to franchise,..unless you decide to move on.

  20. BrianBucs Says:

    I watched Shaq quite a few times with the Broncos and never could understand why they couldn’t figure out how to get him on the field more. And I was extremely happy when the Bucs signed him.
    Pay the man and keep him here.
    You never can have enough difference makers on defense

  21. Tc Says:

    He is as risky as Jameis. A throw of the dice

  22. Defense Rules Says:

    Franchise-tagging Shaq could mean that we’ll have to go through this whole dance again next year, at a much higher pricetag. His body of work this season is no fluke. It’s a product IMO of his skillset being a great fit for this 3-4 hybrid defense. As long as the OTHER pieces are in-place, there’s no reason that Shaq won’t continue to prosper.

    Bucs need to give Shaq the stability & security that he obviously wants. Do a long-term deal with him (hopefully 4-5 years based on his age). Based on a deal of that length, I’d guesstimate that $16 mil or so per year would be considered a Win-Win for BOTH sides.

  23. lowercaseg Says:

    pay him

  24. gotbbucs Says:

    He was given an opportunity that he hadn’t had yet as a pro, fit the system perfectly, and blew the doors off.
    The things he was doing weren’t a fluke. He was setting up linemen with multiple moves and counter moves. That was a legit All Pro season.

  25. Ship Thief Says:

    He did this in OUR SYSTEM.

    His first year here.

    Can’t wait for next year!

  26. Joe Says:

    Frank:

    Am sure he’s not happy. 🙂

  27. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    By the long haul, he means not getting franchised. It doesn’t have to be a 6 year deal.

  28. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Tom S. Says
    “Since Joe appears to have jumped all-in on the “give a one year wonder a long term deal” camp, how many sacks are you predicting Shaq has next year?”

    I would say that depends on Suh, JPP,Nassib, or whoever is brought in to replace them.

  29. jerseybuc Says:

    until the offers start rolling in…..

  30. Jean Lafitte Says:

    I think Shaq is legit and this wasn’t a one off. After all he’s pretty adamant about putting down roots in Tampa. That tells me he’s committed. I hope they don’t play around and franchise him. Lock him down for years to come. We need these anchors on our team to build around. Also retire JPP and Suh as Bucs. Give them 3-4 yr contracts. These guys are the leadership and the building blocks of this team.

  31. Hodad Says:

    Licht hasn’t been the most successful GM, so no no way is he going to let one of his better finds leave. As Arain’s said, he ain’t going nowhere. Shaq was on a prove it deal, and he was “ballin”.

  32. Mike Johnson Says:

    The Bucs would be absolutely stupid to let Barrett walk to another team. Pay the man Glazers!

  33. SOEbuc Says:

    JPP and Barrett are what make each other have double digits in sacks. Drop Suh and draft Kinlaw in the first. Let JPP teach him some tricks. Don’t know what’s going to happen with Nassib but I think Gholston had a good year from what I saw. If Kinlaw shows up and we have Vea/Kinlaw/JPP/Shaq… That sounds like an impossible defensive line to hold down for any team.