Chris Simms “Shocked” Haason Reddick MIA
May 29th, 2025
Former Bucs QB reacts.
It appears former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms would have one simple question if he got a chance to talk to Bucs outside linebacker Haason Reddick.
And that question is, “Dude, didn’t you learn anything from last year?”
Simms, appearing on “PFT Live” with his co-host the creator, curator and overall guru of Pro Football Talk, the great Mike Florio, discussed Reddick’s Tuesday no-show at Bucs underwear football practice.
As Bucs coach Todd Bowles likes to point out, those practices are voluntary. And Reddick was hardly the lone veteran player enjoying a supposedly lengthy Memorial Day Weekend. Other not at practice Tuesday morning included Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Vita Vea. Still, Reddick is new to the Bucs, so you’d think the guy would want to be there to learn the defense.
Bowles seemed frustrated Reddick was not around. Perhaps Bowles had flashbacks to when Sir Smoke-A-Lot, edge rusher Randy Gregory, signed with the Bucs last offseason, and then totally blew off the team.
Simms pointed out Reddick held out with the Jets last year after he tried to squeeze the Eagles for more money and the traded him to the sad sack Jets.
The difference here is, allegedly, Reddick wants to be in Tampa, reunited with his position coach Larry Foote from his Arizona days.
Simms thinks Reddick ought to be on the practice fields.
“I don’t understand why Hassan Reddick wouldn’t go [to OTAs],” Simms said. “Hopefully he shows up.
“Listen, I know he’s a veteran player. He’s been around the league a little bit. It’s not imperative, but when you come off a year where you didn’t really play a whole lot, you held out from the Jets, I don’t think you took the right approach there.
“Yeah, I was surprised to hear he wasn’t in Tampa. And Tampa obviously, you know, made a nice little investment for a guy that, yes, did sit out [last] year and screwed over the New York Jets in a lot of ways.”
To keep his clean slate, put the Jets debacle behind him and demonstrate he’s not a malingerer, Simms reckons Reddick should want to have pride work with his new teammates.
“I would think Hassan Reddick would want to get on the field and just get the reps going,” Simms said. “I was shocked to hear that he wasn’t there.”
Joe tries to keep in mind OTAs are not mandatory. But as Florio pointed out, the Bucs could have had a workout bonus written into Reddick’s contract but there is no such bonus. So Florio seems to think the Bucs either don’t care if he’s there or they greased Reddick’s wheels to stay on vacation.
Joe doesn’t see a major issue if Reddick skips time and shows up for mandatory minicamp in June. But maybe it’s a minor issue.
Of course, Reddick could also shut everyone up and get 12 sacks this fall. That would be nice.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:48 am
I agree with Sims. As a fan, this rubs me the wrong way, too.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:50 am
I have confidence in Joe here, with Joe saying over the last year that Reddick is the key to the Bucs pass rush producing sacks. Hopefully the Philly Reddick, not the Jets Reddick, will show this year.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:52 am
These excuses for Reddick won’t fly very soon.
It was a huge gamble to bring him on board.
One would think that he’d be eager to show up and mesh with teammates and coaches.
Showing up is a major part of the game. So far he’s not even a real member of the team.
That has to be earned.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:53 am
I agree. So does Bowles: “I’m sure we’ll see him someday soon.” Not a D. White situation.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:55 am
Much ado about nothing.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:00 am
whatever he needs to do to still be useful in the playoffs
May 29th, 2025 at 11:02 am
Who cares? The guy knows how to play.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:04 am
It amazes me how 99% of the population, not even athletes, ENJOY working out. I wouldnt want to live if I couldnt do heavy ass squats, pendalay rows, whatever. I’d give anything to be in that sweet Buccaneers weight room with prepped food made by chefs – that is absolute heaven for me. Laying at the pool or at the beach drinking a pina colada is boring as hell after a day. Standing around at a bar is BORING. I just cant wrap my head around why Reddick doesnt wanna get down there and assert himself as an alpha in the weight room and on the field, just simply out of ego alone. Idk everyone is different I guess. Baker Mayfield is all about BALL, he doesnt need to be there either. But he is, because he ENJOYS it. Thats a leader
May 29th, 2025 at 11:11 am
If he gets double digit sacks next season and is an amazing teammate the monster on the field, nobody will remember this.
If he underwhelms, people will point back to this and say they saw it coming.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:18 am
“Sir Smoke-A-Lot.” Hilarious.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:30 am
The real issue here is communication. Hopefully Reddick reached out to his coaches, they said, “yes, it’s voluntary,” and he informed them he had a good reason for not appearing and would be present on (insert date).
IF he didn’t communicate his intentions to anyone, that’s not a good look, or as I like to call it, a lack of respect.
When you are employed, people like to know if you will show up or not.
We’ll see.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:34 am
He will be here when he needs to. He has plenty of time to get reps when his main job is see QB, tackle QB.
32 year old body doesn’t need reps in May, need to play the long game and play your best ball in Dec-Jan.
If he misses mandatory camp… then we can gripe.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:41 am
I’m good. As long as we don’t see a Twitter video of him passing drugs to women on a boat.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:45 am
simms is right and joe is so WRONG. veterans on a team who’s job is secure don’t need to show up for ota’s. the bucs gave him a nice contract, not just to help the team this year, but give him a chance to show he’s still and elite player. he’s taking a page out of the aaron rodgers’ book. “i’m aaron rodgers and i don’t need ota’s”. when you join another team, no matter who you are or what you’ve done, you show up to all workouts. it lets teammates know that you are just 1 piece of the puzzle. no better or no worse than anyone else. you bond with your teammates, garner respect, galvanize the defense. it’s a bad look for potential future suitors. mayfield is a diff. cat. he understands that the bucs gave him a 2nd chance. he’s doing everything that the org. expects of him and more.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Yes he is a veteran, vets typically don’t need voluntary OTA’s.
He is not, however, a vet for this team. They don’t know him at all.
He has to prove himself to this team one way or another. It is much easier to prove yourself now by showing up when you don’t have to than it is later. The longer he waits to start working with the team the more other people will gel and gain confisence/trust in their teammates and coaches.
May 29th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Randy Gregory II ? Sounds fishy, he does not sound like he is all in….. Wonder ifthis will be another signing mistake?
May 29th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
I don’t think he needs schematic reps.
Let’s face it this dude will rush the passer on 3rd and long.
He will rush the passer 95% of the time and that is individual readiness.
Who knows he could be very serious about his craft right now.
May 29th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
He’s a vet looking for one more big pay day, guessing he’s purposely minimizing his opportunities for injuries until required to participate. When required I would bet he’ll be there.
May 29th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
It’s starting to sound like Reddick didn’t even have the courtesy to let the coaching staff know he wasn’t going to show up for OTAs. That’s a terrible look, in my opinion.
May 29th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
You said it perfect at the end joe. Everyone would shut up if he gets 10+ sacks. I agree with simms voluntarily or not he should be out there getting the reps in and learning the defense cause we all know Bowles will drop him into coverage lol
May 29th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
Ditto Alvin -Reddick and especially his agent should want to clean up his act.
May 29th, 2025 at 1:24 pm
Dude better show up hungry.
Worried he’s just trying to pick up another 14 mil for his retirement.
May 29th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
Can camp get here soon enough? I get that the “optics” may look bad but in the end I agree with Buddha…”Much ado about nothing.”
Riddick did not sign a long term guaranteed contract. Guys on “prove it” deals do not worry me. Riddick either produces when it counts, NOT OTAs, or he’ll be millions of dollars poorer. If the doesn’t get double digit sacks its’ going to be hard for him to cash a big paycheck in ’26. He’s already got some age on him and this is actually his last chance to cash in.
Either he succeeds for the Bucs this year or you can write him off. A larger problem will exist when he does succeed. How will the Bucs squeeze another HUGE salary under the cap if Reddick gets 10+ sacks.
If Yaya and especially Braswell come through this year Reddick’s value to the Bucs at least will be diminished. The team for a change is not in a precarious position, it’s Reddick who has to mind his p’s and q’s.
May 29th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
Believe me!! he will be pumped and ready for training camp. Let’s chill and enjoy the lead up to another Super Bowl Ring, Go Bucs!!!
May 29th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
Everything you read for the next two months is going to be overblown tenfold. Writers gotta write, bloggers gotta blog…..
May 29th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
st pete you and buddha are dead wrong. this is much ado about everything. with the cache that he brings to this team he has to show up. doesn’t he has to participate in drills. just be there for support, maybe some tips for the younger guys, chit chat with the defensive coaches, get a sense of how they do things. this is the ultimate team sport. let your teammates know you are the ultimate team player. that’s what their culture is all about.
May 29th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Cool perspective, gofortheface30
Thanks for sharing
May 29th, 2025 at 2:29 pm
Wants money for nothing. maybe he should go sell refrigerators.
May 29th, 2025 at 2:29 pm
Yawn. Chrissy needs someone to be upset about I guess. Before long he’ll comment again on how mean Jon Gruden was to him.
May 29th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
It is not a big deal as long as there is communication and he shows up ready to go when expected.
That said, coming off the year he had and the questions people had about him, it is not a good look. A lot is riding on him with the defense.
May 29th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
HISTORY LESSON ON BUCS FREE AGENTS AND OTAs
>TB12 did NOT attend OTA
>Suh did NOT attend OTA
>JPP did NOT attend OTA
May 29th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
Dude NEEDS to be here! A bad look for him!
May 29th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
If Reddick skips a mandatory workout, then it’s an issue.
Until then, not an issue.
May 29th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Meh…
Much ado about nothing.
He is a mercenary on a one year deal.
Just show up when it’s go time, get 12 sacks and pressure the QB.
May 29th, 2025 at 3:35 pm
He’s not a Buccaneer. He’s a hired gun who will either flash or flop. Either way, he will be gone at the end of the season. He obviously is not interested in bonding with the team, and believes he knows enough already. It’s a matter of respect, and I’m not seeing it, in his past or in our future.
Maybe I’m wrong. I hope so, but this is not a great first impression.
May 29th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
I think Reddick has to prove that last year was a burp in his career not a last gasp. Maybe he was a no-show with the Jets because he has nothing left to show and all the brouhaha with management was just a smoke screen. When he did appear, he didn’t show a 12-sack guy. You can pretend you care, but you can’t
pretend you’re there.
May 29th, 2025 at 4:05 pm
As long as he wasn’t seen on a boat holding pink powder with a few babes.
May 29th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
So Ima vet right ? I’m over here in the Bahamas enjoying a year before ballin out. Don’t harsh my mellow peeps. Ill be there for ya. Just not right now. Fist bump to the heart peace and love.
If I was Reddick
May 29th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
Reddick doesn’t need another big contract. Before signing with the Bucs he had made 52 million in career earnings—66 million if the Bucs pay him this year.
He could live comfortably on the interest from half of that for the rest of his life.
I know MD’s and a couple of PHD’s who make nearly two million a year and are considered very wealthy.
Sometimes we lose sight of just how much professional athletes make.
Unless he is a complete fool, Reddick should be set for several lifetimes.
May 29th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Well, so much for making a good first impression
May 29th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
Did we make a mistake? It will be interesting to see what DE that changed teams will be the best pick up… mack, bosa, hason, fowler,ect all signed 1 yr deals.
May 29th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
As long as he shows up for actual training camp
May 29th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
He doesn’t “love” football. Not a Buccaneer Man!
May 29th, 2025 at 7:04 pm
I imagine he’s preparing in a way that he already had planned or has 📅 things in advance… training camp will be where he defines his role and playing time.
It’s his career to drfine..missing a volunteer work out isn’t that big especially if you offered a discount to your service…
Let’s not become riled up to much yet and see how this plays out before we get to hard on the guy..lets welcome him here with a hope that he preforms well for the team and brings something do the dline we been missing since jpp n suh
May 29th, 2025 at 7:32 pm
Not a great way to start. But his prescence is not mandatory yet.The gamble either pays off or it doesn’t. We shall see.
May 29th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
@SlyPirate
Thanks for the history lesson! Always nice to bring some perspective to the discussion.
May 29th, 2025 at 7:50 pm
Team building. A concept foreign to people like Reddick I guess. Winning football games isn’t just about workouts and training, it’s the other stuff too. Learning about your colleagues, trusting your brothers.
This is not only a bad look, it’s bad for morale, it’s bad for building trust, and it holds the team back. Selfish.
May 30th, 2025 at 12:04 am
JMO…With the way his year went last season with the Jets and then signing very early in free agent season with OUR BUCS that he would be there proving his worth and learning as well as his hunger and desire to show he can still dominate. Also set an example to younger players !! Hope it works out and he becomes a team guy. As we all know and have seen moral character is a major priority with or front office. So with that I believe all shall be good ! GO BUCS !!!!
May 30th, 2025 at 12:37 am
It’s early. Calm down.
May 30th, 2025 at 6:16 am
Judging only by the sheer number of posts. How many of his “teammates” are in agreement with Simms. Surprised that he is not there? The other Vet no shows are all guys that have earned it, know where their locker is, and that Bowles would rather they stay home.
I played a ton of sports in my younger days and particularly loved football.
If they had a practice without me I would have been really Ticked Off. Yes even the rookie OTA! Just saying. Real ballers would not stand for it! I imagine my man Ryan Jensen would dearly love to be out there with his buddies!
Go Bucs!
May 30th, 2025 at 9:11 am
This may sound crazy, but i tend to look at the eyes of a player in his posted pictures. I see the same look in Reddick’s eyes as i do in Deshaun Watson’s. Yes, that sounds goofy. Still, i have a bad feeling about this. I truly hope i am wrong.
May 30th, 2025 at 9:37 am
Purple beard, first you were getting the spidey tingleys or whatever it was about Reddicks whereabouts. Now you’re seeing Deshaun Watsons ghost in his eyes. That makes me think you’re slowly losing it and Reddick will have a dozen or more sacks.
May 30th, 2025 at 10:20 am
It rubs me the wrong way, but he’s an NFL mercenary. There’s a reason this is a one year deal. Reddick needs to show up in shape when he does show up, and then just show up on 3rd down when it matters most.
Hopefully Licht learned his lesson with Leonard Fournette. Some of these guys don’t really care about being close with teammates or the wins and losses of the team. They care about stacking their bank account, which is fine, so long as the front office understands the situation.
I think Licht understands the situation based on this years draft.
May 30th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Kenton, as i said, i hope im wrong. Only time will tell
May 30th, 2025 at 5:57 pm
Anyone hoping defense will be substantially improved this year because of Reddick signing ought to consider he quit on his NY teammates and his employer.