Assessing Shaq’s Motivation
March 9th, 2021
Shaq Barrett
It’s fun to think every Buccaneer wants to stay in Tampa to play for the NFL’s “it” team and to attach his wagon to Tom Brady.
But that’s not reality, and Joe fears Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett might be a guy that would feel no pain walking away from the Bucs.
First, Shaq has two Super Bowl rings, one from the Broncos and one with the reigning champs. Not everyone is Brady and hungry for a fist-full of rings.
Also, Shaq is not from Florida or the southeast, and he’s a very charitable guy with a house full of kids, involved in philanthropy with his wife of nine years. So Joe sees undrafted Shaq as a man who clawed his way up the NFL mountain, after a challenging road in college, and as a guy who won’t want to pass up, say, a net of $5 million over a few years just to stay with the Bucs.
Joe hates typing that. But nearly every year, a Super Bowl win satisfies some players and turns their focus to finances.
Who could blame them?
With the franchise tag deadline looming this afternoon, Joe hopes the Bucs don’t screw up keeping Shaq at One Buc Palace. It would be awfully annoying to see Shaq in a Bengals, Jets or Titans uniform.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:18 am
I agree Joe ! I think the only way Shaq stays is with a second 120% tag !
Bucs don’t have the cash to keep him, unless they signed him to some crazy 6 year deal, perhaps they could spread out the cost long enough , but that’s wasting money in later years when we won’t need him cuz Brady will be gone, and he won’t be performing to the same level.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:18 am
You have to Tag Shaq, if he walks, the Bucs would get 2 first-round draft picks. No one will give 2 first-round draft picks for Godwin. So the Bucs need smart to protect themselves. GO BUCS!!!!
March 9th, 2021 at 10:27 am
Do these players factor in taxes, cost of living, home values and such when considering who to sign with? Not to mention desirability of the area to reside in. Oh and then the gravy of playing on a Championship team with Tom Brady.
Leaving that for a marginal pay increase to me is not well thought out but what do I know?
March 9th, 2021 at 10:29 am
Exclusive franchise or Transition tag.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:30 am
Aside from his bank account it would be awful for Shaq himself to see himself in any of those uniforms, Titans perhaps withstanding. If it’s all about money he’s gone. Simple as that.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:31 am
Tag him Dano!!!
March 9th, 2021 at 10:31 am
I have confidence in licht and coaches and staff. Bucs have a value on every single guy on the team and know exactly what to offer and who to tag
Look at the cowboys
They just signed dak to 41 mil a year. I mean are you kidding me. If one guy gets that 40 range money its mahommes. Dak is a good qb. I do not consider him elite or worth that deal.
And they have elliott at 15 mil a year for a running back.
2 players will count 56 mil against cap which is not far from a 1/3 of cap That is not how to do it.
You have to have a limit on a players worth
If that player is too vital to team game plan then you tag how ever long you can until he goes to another team and becomes that teams potential cap problem.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:35 am
Isn’t this the same guy who last year said he hates to move? Where’s that now?
March 9th, 2021 at 10:41 am
quality guy, wish him well.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:44 am
Today is the Tag Deadline, and I will not be one bit surprised if he is not Tagged.
We are deep at receivers, but not deep at pass rushers, so go figure.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:45 am
Oh he’s getting tagged.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:47 am
I don’t know about Shaq’s motivations but if it becomes all about breaking the bank then you have to wonder, if that doesn’t lead to a lack of commitment to play at the same high level he was playing at before the big payday. We’ve seen that in the past where a player signs a fat contract and then coasts through the season feasting on the guaranteed money and not living up to the hype.Money can change players attitudes to the rigors of playing up to their abilities and past performance.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:53 am
Sad to say, but Joe, kind of tired of your Shaq man crush. We can get by without him. I don’t know why you don’t think we can get someone to replace his 8 sacks and QB hits. Our defense is setup in a way that I’m sure someone else who’s at least average would thrive in. Remember him and JPP disappeared for weeks and with the help of Vea they reemerged from their hiatus? Well, that’s all I need to see to know that someone else can fill that void that’s at least an average player.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:59 am
If it’s me, I definitely tag him
March 9th, 2021 at 10:59 am
Did you watch the NFC title game? Or even the Super Bowl?
Name someone who can match Shaq that is available off the street for a bargain price. More importantly, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO RISK IT??? You have a guy (Shaq) on the roster that is proven to work in this defense with these teammates. WHY TURN YOUR BACK ON HIM??? Lawd, Joe does not understand this mentality whatsoever!
Sure, the Bucs can get by without him. This just in: The Bucs’ goal this year is not to just “get by.” It’s to win a Super Bowl again! (Why do people think the most important position on defense is so replaceable? If it was, these dudes wouldn’t get paid so much. WAKE UP PEOPLE!)
The Bucs sure did “get by” the last time they let a proven quality pass rusher walk out the door, didn’t they?
March 9th, 2021 at 11:09 am
Joe this time will be different if we let a one year wonder pass rusher walk…
We have licht !
March 9th, 2021 at 11:12 am
We all saw that the pass rush made the difference for the Bucs to win the Super Bowl. At the same time, a lack of pass rush is why Buffalo and the Packers were watching the Super Bowl instead of playing in it. Brady had a clean jersey in the NFC Championship game, and the Super Bowl. Also the Vaunted #1 ranked Ram defense got seal clubbed by the same Packers because the Rams had no pass rush. Very simple, no pass rush then no Super Bowl. There is no other way to beat KC. GO BUCS!!!!!
March 9th, 2021 at 11:13 am
Shaq 31.5 sacks last 2 years GO BUCS!!!
March 9th, 2021 at 11:14 am
Yes we saw the pass rush. Suh more sacks than one year wonder.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:15 am
For way less $$$$
March 9th, 2021 at 11:23 am
Barrett is average in Anthony Nelson mode when JJP is not around. So Bucs tread carefully….oh you need Suh in there as well
March 9th, 2021 at 11:25 am
I hope Shaq goes to the Falcons, Saints, or Stinking Panthers.
Now dash my hopes.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:25 am
The 2 years with the Bucs is Shaq’s first 2 years as a full time starter. He is not 1-year wonder, he is the most dominant pass rusher in the game right currently. 31.5 is the number last 2 years. That is a fact. Why down play the person just to make a point? I have watched way to much losing over the last 44 years as a fan of the Bucs. I just want the team to win. I do not care about arguing over things. All that matters is if they win or not. And a feared pass rush is one of the most important things when it comes to winning. And without a pass rush, the Bucs would not have won the Super Bowl. GO BUCS!!!!
March 9th, 2021 at 11:40 am
Let’s face it, Vea, Suh, JPP, White & LVD were big contributors to his success. Bucs should tag him only because he could set a precedent for the other FA’s to start shopping hard. The offense is only going to get better, Bucs may not need the strongest def front. Close is still good.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:47 am
Good offense makes a good defense
March 9th, 2021 at 11:48 am
People gonna go with the guy that said “break the bank”? If you can believe it, other than Cuba Gooding Jr, those are the players more often than not that don’t come back and push it to the limit (but I dunno Shaq like that). All this FO, coaching, talent, the GOAT, we don’t need him. We have a ton of talent and Brady didn’t win his first six because he had an $80M LB that fits well at the moment. And I stress AT THE MOMENT.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:17 pm
It looks like Shaq or LVD.
I would imagine LVD would want to retire a Buc.
I would imagine Shaq would want to stay with the team that gave him the opportunity to start and be the player he has become.
But that’s probably a fan’s wishful thinking.
Most likely they are going to lose one of them.
They would be worse defensively to lose Shaq.
The good news – there are a lot of DEs and LBs in this draft in the first couple rounds
March 9th, 2021 at 12:46 pm
Joe, what no one has mentioned is the Bucs dont have to outbid other teams. Because of the absence of state income taxes, teams will have to bid higher to match the money Shaq gets to keep
March 9th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
Joe heard a former NFL suit (Andrew Brandt) interviewed a week or two ago and was asked about that. He said he could never remember a no-state income tax ever being a major obstacle (his team was in a state with state income tax). Occasionally an agent would try to use that as leverage but at the end of the day the player wanted to get paid and get playing time and to win. If the player had to pay a state income tax to reach his goals, that never stood in the way of signing.
March 9th, 2021 at 1:04 pm
Joe, but in Shaq’s case, wouldn’t a team have to outbid the Bucs to maximize his income?
March 9th, 2021 at 2:28 pm
Shaq is not worth the money. His play is highly elevated by Vea, Suh, and JPP. Bucs can find another one.
March 9th, 2021 at 4:26 pm
for sure ComaDoof
March 9th, 2021 at 4:43 pm
I dont buy play elevated, the line works together. If anything they are all good players that elevate each other. Shaq should still get paid bc when the line was healthy, he put up 19.5 sacks. Still managed 8 without Vea this year. Bottom line is pass rush is so important, pass rushers will get paid, but at least this line has proven it will help win a championship so there shouldnt be any argument. This time last year if shaq didn’t get tagged , if you knew the Bucs would get a superbowl if they signed shaq to a big deal do you think they would blink?
March 9th, 2021 at 5:04 pm
I don’t see anyone taking about the humanity of tagging shaq again. The Bucs are good people and don’t want to screw over a player for the sake of the team. They won’t tag Shaq out of respect for him. And that is good business because free agents will want to play for a respectable franchise and the Shaq will always be grateful for that choice
March 9th, 2021 at 5:13 pm
He’ll be a happier and better player knowing he is financially secure. As a fan, makes sense to tag him, but not as a good person. We tend to forget about these things. This is real life, not Madden!
March 10th, 2021 at 1:31 pm
Shaq is a great guy, a great player… And also replaceable… With Vea out the lineup he disappears… Everyone was saying all year long what happened to Shaq?? And remember joebuc doesn’t think pressures matter in the NFL… So why clammer over an 8 sack season and a TOTALLY OBVIOUS come back when Vea reentered the line up!! …. Shaq is a awesome guy and I hope he gets paid what he deserves… I just hope Tampa doesn’t sacrifice Suh for him!! Being number one against the run makes teams one dimensional!! Green Bay and the Chiefs didn’t even try to run on them and they lined up on formations that BEGGED for the run!! A lot of that has to do with White also, but most of that is Suh!! And Vea …. Barrett at LOLB is replaceable!!