Bucs “Don’t Care” About Haason Reddick Absence
June 7th, 2025
Newcomer Bucs edge rusher Haason Reddick.
So how do Bucs officials really feel about expensive free agent edge rusher preferring to skip voluntary spring practices in favor of training on his own, presumably out of the Florida heat?
Joe can’t be 100 percent sure. Why? Because no matter what the team might say about Reddick’s absence being meaningless, Joe is sure the team would be trumpeting Reddick’s dedication and focus if he were on the fields of One Buc Palace grinding with Calijah Kancey and fellow edge rusher YaYa Diaby — and mentoring rookie edge rusher David Walker.
That written, one man is certain the Bucs absolutely think Reddick passing on training with teammates is a non-issue.
That’s Prickly Pete Prisco of CBS Sports.
Prisco patrolled the fields on One Buc Palace on Tuesday and talked to Baker Mayfield and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
“They don’t care if he’s there. I mean, in talking to people in the organization, they don’t care one bit,” Prisco said of Reddick to his CBS Sports HQ audience. “They know he’s working out. He’s been around a little bit, he just hasn’t taken part in the OTA days.”
Prisco went on to rant about the importance of Reddick to the defense and how Diaby struggled adjusting to steady double teams last season.
Whatever Prisco did see and hear during his trip to Tampa didn’t deflate his Bucs-loving balloon. “I think they’re going to go 12-5 and win the division again.”
Ira Kaufman Talks Revived Belichick-Bucs Chatter, Offensive Line Greatness, Baker Mayfield’s New Comments, And Much More
June 7th, 2025 at 8:10 pm
I am sure they are being truthful. He’s an old vet so who cares, as long as he shows up for the mandatory camps, it’s a non story.
I like that some media members like Prisco, Baldy, Shipley are constantly trumpeting for our Bucs. I assume it’s because they actually get down there and watch these guys from camp through playoffs, unlike all the others who have their heads up the NFC East’s rear.
11-6 / 12-5 … it’s coming.
June 7th, 2025 at 8:27 pm
Pete Prisco … “I think they’re going to go 12-5 and win the division again.”
Now THAT’S the kind of bottom line I wish every media pundit closed his evaluation of the Bucs with. Now if Prickly Pete would just add ‘And oh ya, win the 2025 Super Bowl’ that’d be the icing on the cake.
June 7th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
I’d be slightly concerned had he not been around the facility since he signed. He has so I’m not. Reports are also saying he’s in contact with his position coach (Larry Foote) The two go back to their days in Arizona, and their connection runs deep.
“He’s pissed off, and we like that,” Bucs assistant Larry Foote says of new OLB Haason Reddick and his motivation to show he’s still an elite NFL pass rusher.
— Greg Auman
I get that it’s kinda a slow nfl news time right now but this story has been done for awhile now.
June 7th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
@Defense Rules
Totally agree 12-5 is a great estimate and I hope we hit it. As you know, the media is usually very down about the Bucs. Still laughing about that 2 win season some thought we would have had with Baker’s first year. As a side note, I appreciate your wealth of knowledge and insights into the Bucs and football. Thanks for being on here!
June 7th, 2025 at 9:28 pm
I’m one who isn’t “counting” on him to be a double digit sack guy. I’d love it and consider it a bonus but I’m banking on Yaya, Braswell, Walker to make some noise….along with Vita and Cancey.
12-5 is the highest w/l I’ve heard from the national talking heads. I’ve heard people giving Todd, Baker, JL props on some other outlets like nfl live and the insiders too.
June 7th, 2025 at 10:04 pm
The last time a Buc’s player had this much riding on his season’s production? Entire career hanging in the balance after a couple of very unsuccessful stops prior to the Bucs. A guy who once exhibited talent but now has questions about his judgement.
Let’s hope Reddick erases all questions in those areas with a solid double digit sack year. Let’s hope he quiets the doubters just like Baker did his first season. And then lets hope Jason finds a way to resign him and he and Baker head to some SB appearances!
June 7th, 2025 at 10:17 pm
You would think he would want to be here getting acclimated to the steam room that is Tampa.
Non locals need to work up to Florida July’s and August’s. He may regret it.
June 7th, 2025 at 10:44 pm
From my perspective he has been there as much as M1K3 Evans has been there.
June 7th, 2025 at 10:48 pm
Hasson’s pre Bucs history isn’t much like Baker’s. His issue was that he played OLB at Temple and AZ tried to move the top 10 pick to ILB. Once they moved him back to OLB he got 12.5 sacks, 5 in one (NYG) game and didn’t look back. 50+ sacks in 4 years. Last year he was told he would be getting a muti year new contract and the Jets decided they weren’t going to give it to him so he held out. The Jets organization is a mess. Reddick has been consistently productive prior to ‘24 holdout. I agree with you that he has a lot riding on having a really good year.
Says it all 👇
“He’s pissed off, and we like that,” Bucs assistant Larry Foote says of new OLB Haason Reddick and his motivation to show he’s still an elite NFL pass rusher.
— Greg Auman
June 7th, 2025 at 10:59 pm
Would be kind of funny if Reddick ends up with seven or eight sacks along with Bras & Walker in the same range…
but Kancey & Diaby hits double digits.
Could live with that out come easily.
June 7th, 2025 at 11:11 pm
M1K3 Evans should legally change his first name to that.
June 7th, 2025 at 11:30 pm
Hope this signing doesn’t backfire on them.
June 7th, 2025 at 11:34 pm
Test
June 7th, 2025 at 11:46 pm
It’s a little stupid, but most football players are stupid, and most football players will not have a great season. So maybe mediocrity on defense is simply the norm with Todd Bowles?
June 8th, 2025 at 12:01 am
@KABucs
I agree; I had rather see the whole unit thrive and remain somewhat affordable than have one player excel and become too expensive to keep.
June 8th, 2025 at 12:40 am
Of course they’d prefer him there. It’s a team sport.
At this point either they make diplomatic comments like that, or cut him.
Until or unless they cut him, or he appears to join his team, the commentary will be in similar tone. What else can they say?
Go Bucs!
June 8th, 2025 at 12:40 am
Delusional Intelligence Says:
June 7th, 2025 at 10:44 pm
From my perspective, Evans has earned the respect with this team, whereas Reddick has not. I’m not necessarily worried about Reddick, but his presence at OTAs would help him integrate into the team. If his commitment to training on his own is for real and he’s ready to rock for mandatory camp and TC, I’m not really concerned.
June 8th, 2025 at 4:39 am
It’s called voluntary for a reason.
June 8th, 2025 at 5:09 am
Reddick will be there next week. I don’t blame him for not being there yet. It’s not mandatory and why get hurt. He only has a year contract to prove himself. Believing he will. Rooting for him, Ya Ya, and the rest of our team.
June 8th, 2025 at 5:46 am
toopanca … ‘I had rather see the whole unit thrive and remain somewhat affordable than have one player excel and become too expensive to keep.’
Fascinating perspective Toopanca, and one that in a poll of JBFers I bet that most would agree with. There are only certain positions that any NFL team can afford to pay huge dollars to. QB is obviously the lead dog in that department on most teams, but there are several others that draw in the big bucks: WR, DE/OLB, CB, LT & DT probably make in the most I’d guess.
Bucs currently have 8 players whose average salary is over $10 mil per year (4 on offense & 4 on defense):
1 – Baker Mayfield: $33.3 mil
2 – Tristan Wirfs: $28.1 mil
3 – Chris Godwin: $22.0 mil
4 – Antoine Winfield: $21.0 mil
5 – Mike Evans: $20.5 mil
6 – Vita Vea: $17.8 mil
7 – Haason Reddick: $14.0 mil
8 – Jamel Dean: $13.0 mil
After that there’s a significant dropoff in annual salaries (next in line looks to be Lavonte David with a $9.0 mil annual salary, then Ben Bredeson at $7.3 mil, followed by Anthony Nelson at $5.0 mil per year). I would think that the reason for that is because the Bucs are a relatively young team, with only about 20-21 NOT on their 1st contract.
Interestingly though, the Top-8 on the Bucs make a total of $169.7 mil annually (actual salaries, not CAP hits). NFL CAP this year is $279.2 mil, so our Top-8 make 60.8% of that. From the remaining $110 mil Bucs have to pay the salaries of the remaining 45 on the active roster, plus the Practice Squad, plus Dead CAP for players on Injured Reserve, Void contract years, etc (this year our Dead CAP is ‘down’ to ‘only’ $33.6 mil).
Must be incredibly hard to build a TEAM that wins consistently, year after year, when operating under the modern-day NFL salary CAP constraints. That makes what the Bucs are accomplishing all the more impressive to me. And not just for Jason Licht & our Front Office, but also for Todd Bowles & our coaching staff that has to develop all of these ‘youngsters’ to keep us on the winning track.
June 8th, 2025 at 6:02 am
Defense Rules – As always, well done.
June 8th, 2025 at 6:22 am
I have no doubt he’ll show up, but this is about optics and commitment. New system for him, new teammates. I get that he’s a veteran, and we have several not at the early practices, but I think it goes a long way “long-term” if this guy showed up on day 1 ready to declare himself a Buc. If this guy has a modest season with occasional disruption combined with 8 sacks, he’s not going to get that final big contract he’s been hoping for, he’ll simply turn into a year-to-year gun for hire, like Clowney. All bets are off though if he lights it up on the field like he did prior to his Jets stint.
June 8th, 2025 at 7:12 am
Getting adjusted t the Florida heat should be a priority.
If he’s working with a personal trainer in Florida, no problem.
If he’s in some Northern state- he’s gonna miss a lot of snaps due to the August September heat. It’ll wear him out, and he’ll be adapting and recovering the rest of the year.
Florida heat is no joke
June 8th, 2025 at 7:22 am
Can’t blame him for not wanting to train in the Florida heat, smart man. I wish the Bucs would use the Glazer shed more. Training in the Florida heat does more damage to the body, than preparing you for it. Any team can survive playing one hot game. Just look at the loss to Denver last season. Coming from a cold climate they looked more like the Florida team when they punked us at home. You can point to some games where it seemed like an advantage, but there were just as many where we looked like the more worn out team. Look at the schedule too. Our first two games are on the road in DOMES! Wouldn’t it be smarter to practice indoors after the cuts are made to prepare the team for inside instead of outside?
June 8th, 2025 at 7:37 am
So Prisco is more qualified to speak on this than the legions of fans and Joe?
Nah! Not when we have a steady stream of hacks who seem to have no clue who is even on the roster. Next!
Go Bucs!
June 8th, 2025 at 7:55 am
I’d b e super happy if the Bucs went 11-6. 12-5? That means something a bit more. Here are the tough games …
Falcons
Falcons
Bills
Texans
Eagles
Lions
Rams
(and you may or may not include the 49ers and Seahawks)
Only 5 losses from that group, and you have a team that could play with anybody in the post season.
June 8th, 2025 at 8:05 am
I’m extremely glad to have heard about Reddick working out at least some here in Florida from stanglasssman and DR and the Joes. I don’t know how much, I’m sure it’s been on Reddick’s mind. When you consider his unique mindset you can see that he views this as an opportunity to earn one last obscene long term deal. I can live with that. Why risk injury unnecessarily. Next offseason nobody is going to watch tales of our OTAs.
DR: the way a few big name players hog so much money that there’s none left for anyone else has always stuck in my craw.
June 8th, 2025 at 8:15 am
If the defense improved even a little we should win 11. The first place schedule doesn’t make it any easier. Now mind you, part of me wouldn’t mind a few more games against the Titans and Browns, but it’s way more of a thrill to beat the Bills or Chiefs.
June 8th, 2025 at 8:43 am
DefenseRules – appreciate the analysis.
June 8th, 2025 at 8:55 am
I expected Reddick to show up for OTA’s, disappointed he didn’t. It’s about the team. He’s new. Demonstrate leadership and camaraderie. Establish yourself as a Buccaneer. Show last season was an aberration. Or is it just about you.
June 8th, 2025 at 9:48 am
He’s a vet and it is voluntary.
June 8th, 2025 at 10:01 am
Truth is… he has to earn his starts and snaps.
Good luck to him… his competition won’t respect him unless he produces.
Hope he dominates and gets tons of sacks and pressures… but I also could care lesee if he bombs and other young more deserving talent takes his snaps.
June 8th, 2025 at 10:22 am
Tbh with everything in life going on right now for so many adults this is the least of my worries and concerns. This guy can play football it’s a sport I’m not stressing this as one of my biggest concerns whatsoever not for our sport, not for our state, not for anything.
This guy comes into regular season and he’s putting on a show. Experience is supposed to show up. Kancey and him on that right side yeah I’m pretty convinced. Yaya and Logan Hall on the other side. Yep I’m content for sure.
June 8th, 2025 at 10:42 am
DR… your posts are always lucid and well organized. With Spytek gone there may be an opening!
June 8th, 2025 at 10:58 am
Nice job DR. Now consider how much worse that gets next year when Baker and Goedeke eat up another 40 million. You will also have McCollum, Otten, and a couple others belly up to the bar for more cash. Bucs FO has a tough job coming up to keep this team together. Some key guys will need to be moved or released to keep the cap under control and not mortgage the future again.
June 8th, 2025 at 10:58 am
So what about Reddick not being there. Maybe when they Bucs signed him they already wrote it off as couple week bender buying rounds for all every night. We have a lot to check out and and David Walker sounds pretty good, plus what if Jose Ramirez jumped up his game ? Let’s Go Bucs!!!! Trust in the money THEY spend for OUR entertainment they’ve been on this kick of bringing in a few guys each year since Tom was here to sit and bs on the sidelines haha.
June 8th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
BadBucs … ‘Now consider how much worse that gets next year when Baker and Goedeke eat up another 40 million. You will also have McCollum, Otten, and a couple others belly up to the bar for more cash.’
I used to get concerned about things like that for our Bucs, but then realized managing our salary CAP is far more challenging than most of us could ever fathom. I’m sure that there’s a LOT of ‘stuff’ that goes on behind the scenes that influence our CAP numbers more than we could ever imagine.
The NFL salary CAP increased by $23.8 mil this year (that really helped). Right now the Bucs have signed all of our rookies and we currently have $29.8 mil of CAP space (Top-51 numbers). We’re also ‘eating’ $33.6 mil of Dead CAP money this year (mostly for Jenson & Shaq … looks to me like both of those disappear next year).
So for 2026 the salary CAP will almost surely go up once again, PLUS much (if not most) of our Dead CAP will disappear, PLUS we’ll almost surely have some CAP space to carry forward from this year. That all could amount to (probably) someplace in the neighborhood of $60-$80 mil MORE CAP space for the Bucs. Maybe even more than that.
We’ll need every penny of that more than likely though for reasons that you mentioned; new contracts for Mayfield, Evans, Goedeke, Otton, McCollum, LVD, Gaines, Logan Hall, White, Tucker and a host of others on 1-year deals this year. Some will be re-signed, but several will be replaced by 2026 draft picks and probably several FAs.
But our Front Office has shown that as long as the ‘big bucks’ players don’t get too greedy, they can gobble together a winning roster. They’ve built a solid roster IMO because almost all of our key players HAVEN’T GOTTEN GREEDY.
June 8th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
BadBucs … ‘Now consider how much worse that gets next year when Baker and Goedeke eat up another 40 million. You will also have McCollum, Otten, and a couple others belly up to the bar for more cash.’
I used to get concerned about things like that for our Bucs, but then realized managing our salary CAP is far more challenging than most of us could ever fathom. I’m sure that there’s a LOT of ‘stuff’ that goes on behind the scenes that influence our CAP numbers more than we could ever imagine.
The NFL salary CAP increased by $23.8 mil this year (that really helped). Right now the Bucs have signed all of our rookies and we currently have $29.8 mil of CAP space (Top-51 numbers). We’re also ‘eating’ $33.6 mil of Dead CAP money this year (mostly for Jenson & Shaq … looks to me like both of those disappear next year).
So for 2026 the salary CAP will almost surely go up once again, PLUS much (if not most) of our Dead CAP will disappear, PLUS we’ll almost surely have some CAP space to carry forward from this year. That all could amount to (probably) someplace in the neighborhood of $60-$80 mil MORE CAP space for the Bucs. Maybe even more than that.
We’ll need every penny of that more than likely though for reasons that you mentioned; new contracts for Mayfield, Evans, Goedeke, Otton, McCollum, LVD, Gaines, Logan Hall, White, Tucker and a host of others on 1-year deals this year. Some will be re-signed, but several will be replaced by 2026 draft picks and probably several FAs.
Pity the poor Cleveland Browns who signed DeShaun Watson to a 5-year contract for $230 mil ($46 mil per year average). According to their salary CAP numbers (Spotrac), Browns are taking a $40 mil CAP hit for him this year, then a $80.7 mil CAP hit for him next year (his last year under contract), and then they still have over $50 mil of CAP hits after that to contend with. And for his first 3 years (2022-2024) in Cleveland, he gave them 19 games TOTAL, compiling a 9-10 record while he was in there.
June 8th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Our Front Office BTW has shown that as long as our key players don’t get too greedy, they can cobble together a winning roster. They’ve built a solid roster IMO because almost all of our key players HAVEN’T GOTTEN GREEDY.
June 8th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
Evans’ salary shows how humble he is . His stellar performances over time would make you think he would be paid more.
June 8th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
If it was like the US today, the top 2 players would be getting 75% of all the cap money. They would be hand picking their own GM who only does their bidding. To distract and divide the disgruntled (98%) players they’d be pointing fingers at the practice quad players telling everyone they are the real problem & the reason it’s not a better, healthier distribution.
June 8th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
Defense Rules,
No pity for the Browns. They inflated QB’s salaries with the insane Watson trade and signing. Browns still looking for a QB. They had a great one in Baker Mayfield who they threw out the window because he tried to play a season with a serious injury. If anyone still doubts the ineptness of Browns, would Tampa trade Baker today for Watson and any other two QB’s on Browns roster?