No, Shaq Barrett Is Not Coming Back, Too
December 9th, 2025
Don’t get started.
There’s a reason why the Bucs won a Super Bowl in 2020.
First, the Bucs had an absolutely loaded offense. Nine of the Bucs’ 11 offensive starters were either Pro Bowlers, All-Pros or future Hall of Fame players.
Second, the defense didn’t just have one top-shelf edge rusher, it had two: Jason Pierre-Paul and Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett.
But that was five seasons ago. People grow old. Father Time is undefeated.
The Bucs last year tried to bring back the glory of that Super Bowl season by pulling Shaq out of mothballs. We all love Shaq but it was painfully clear to Joe that Shaq overextended his shelf life. He was done.
Yesterday, the Bucs once again tried to bring back past glory by signing JPP to the practice squad. JPP hasn’t had a sack in the NFL since 2022. In 2023 he had a total of three tackles playing for two teams. JPP did not play football in 2024.
And now the Bucs, desperate for an edge rusher even with Chris Braswell getting a sack (!) Sunday are not satisfied. They gave JPP a call.
Yes, that’s desperation. And it also tells Joe that Bucs coach Todd Bowles may be panicking. How else to logically explain signing a nearly 37-year old edge rusher who hasn’t had a sack in almost three years?
(If the team really, truly does believe in Braswell, then keep him on the field. You know, hot hand?)
So if the Bucs are willing to reach for JPP and hope he channels his 32-year old self, why not give Shaq another shot?
(Joe is being sarcastic with that suggestion.)
It seems over the weekend, Shaq spoke with TMZ. There, he was very clear. Shaq said his playing days are “100 percent done.”
“I’m not really chasing the NFL dream anymore, so I’m not just gonna be out there doin’ NFL workouts every day to stay ready because I’m not that hungry for it anymore,” Barrett said.
“I’m 100 percent done now. They can call me all they want, but I’m not coming out of retirement.”
Joe thinks it is cool that two Bucs greats from the past, who had major contributions in the Bucs’ last Super Bowl win, were thought so much of that the Bucs thought it was worth a Hail Mary try. But moves like this just enrage some fans and make a mockery of the franchise. There have been all sorts of opportunities for the Bucs to upgrade at edge rush before the trade deadline. The team wasn’t motivated to do so.
(No one has told Joe this, but do you really think a day didn’t go by between Week 1 until the trade deadline that the Bucs didn’t have trades pitched to them, or the Bucs didn’t reach out to other teams to check the temperature of a potential trade?)
Now, the way the team has played the past six weeks, with the playoffs in real danger of slipping away with four games left, the Bucs decided to give a retired star another shot, even though he hasn’t sacked a quarterback in three years.
Where was this sense of urgency before the trade deadline?
December 9th, 2025 at 3:55 am
To be fair, we were a Totally different team in the first half of the season.
December 9th, 2025 at 4:16 am
Same BIG mistake like signing Shaq last year ! Are you watching Glazers ? Bowles is DONE ! These horrid continual mid season slumps are a pathetic result of poor leadership ! How in the world do you bring back Bowles … for what ? This whole dam mess has played itself out like S*** since Arians mysteriously quit and Bowles was inserted ! The fans deserve better !
December 9th, 2025 at 4:45 am
Just checking in to see if they fired Bowles yet.
December 9th, 2025 at 4:45 am
Can def see Bowles telling Licht that he didn’t need any reinforcements and that he and his coaches could get the current squad to perform. Think this move is as much about locker room presence as anything, since they get zero inspiration or fire instilled by their HC.
December 9th, 2025 at 4:46 am
Love Shaq and the article. He knows where his heart and strengths are needed, with his family. Not chasing the football dream any longer. Shaq is only 33 years old and is wise beyond his years. Best wishes for him and his family.
December 9th, 2025 at 4:55 am
Just because they didn’t, doesn’t mean they didn’t try. We have no idea what conversations took place.
December 9th, 2025 at 5:15 am
Yeah I only come here now to see if bowels is kicked to the curb, until then this team is cooked
December 9th, 2025 at 5:36 am
He’s not being signed as an OLB.
He’s going to play DE and as a pass rushing DT.
Logan Hall is soft and does nothing.
I want to see JPP at DE and as a 3rd down DT.
JPP never really worked out during his career.
He has been training hard the last 2 years.
His body is healed and his heart is bigger than half our team combined!
JPP is a DE/DT. Not an edge player anymore.
Go Bucs!!
December 9th, 2025 at 5:46 am
There’s some real football being played this time of the year. The Packers, Bears game was fun to watch. Two top teams going blow for blow. Then you had the Bucs, and Saints game. Two teams going nowhere playing like crap. You could see the obvious difference. The Bucs are poorly coached, and poorly constructed. I think it’s time for both Licht, and Bowles to take a hike. Licht giving Zyon that extension when he didn’t have to shows he’s not a top shelf G.M.. Zyon’s pay grade is well above his play grade. Licht’s to in love with the players he’s drafted. You know what they say? Love is blind. Time to wash the decks of this pirate ship, and bring in a new captain, and crew.
December 9th, 2025 at 6:40 am
Sigh…….
December 9th, 2025 at 6:43 am
Again as I posted yesterday. All of this is on the Glazers for not forcing Toad into retirement last year and give Coen the HC job. Now who’s going to be available and actually want this job? Todd is just like JPP, past his expiration date
December 9th, 2025 at 7:36 am
Anyone else think that not giving 2 high draft picks for Parsons, a guy coming into his prime was not worth it?
December 9th, 2025 at 7:43 am
Shall we get Ronde back too? How about we call Barry sanders and Prime too?
December 9th, 2025 at 8:01 am
But but Reddick…..
December 9th, 2025 at 8:03 am
All that its good for the locker room is nonsense no one wants to hear a lecture from someone who used to do it and can’t do it anymore this is just sad.
December 9th, 2025 at 8:45 am
Sapp brooks rice??
December 9th, 2025 at 8:52 am
I can’t wait for the raw emotion when they roll him out in his wheelchair 😄
December 9th, 2025 at 9:43 am
OMG, these comments crack me up. Don’t be surprised, we could actually see some others come back. AB? Never say never.
December 9th, 2025 at 9:44 am
FLBOY84
i think you nailed it….
and if thats the case, bowles, winfield and LVD need to go….they are the leaders of the defense….they have a ring just like JPP…if bowles needs JPP to come in and lead the defense, then the entire team is lacking leadership….
for the past 4weeks this teams has been seen loafing and not giving max effort…that starts at the top…bowles is done…
GO BUCS!!!!
December 9th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Yes, well sad on one hand , because eveyone was screaming to get a real edge rusher, but nothing occurred. Licht gambled on Reddick and lost. Now, way to late they sign JPP, who’s days are really behind him. On the one hand, exciting!!, why because, anything at this point can’t hurt and well why not, right, what is their to lose. Yes we can all at least hope JPP has some miracle in him. On the other hand , it is truly sad and desperate. The ship is now taking on a massive amount water. However, earlier the Bucs were told hey, there is a real danger that some big holes could exist in the ship and may be in need of repair. However the warnings were considered non existent and ignored. However, once the holes opened up the Bucs gave the crew a couple of buckets and say see if this will keep the ship from sinking. Maybe somehow the little buckets will make the difference. Sadly no, the tragedy and the sinking of the ship has already begun. However, we can keep bailing , right who knows.
December 9th, 2025 at 10:34 am
SMH lame ass fans only check on a team to see if someone is fired go be Atlanta fans at least yall would fit in y’all the weirdo that go buy a jersey just to burn it if a player gets traded be fans or stay sucking lemon you sour patch kids this team has its ups a downs either be here for it like a real one or go be Cleveland brown fan they got that sanders kid now or maybe even a Pats fan I can see a lot of you with a Maye jersey bout now or pinix or cousin this team ain’t ever been just the best team all year it’s happened something like this almost every year since I’ve been a fan in 97 besides our sb years get your ish together so called fans
December 9th, 2025 at 11:07 am
Fricken joke. I think bowels is absolutely terrible but Licght needs his criticism also here. Stop hoarding picks just stop team is dying for an edge rusher you could have had one for a third round pick who knows who else they could have got but nope he’s trotting Braswell out there.
December 9th, 2025 at 11:07 am
Week 1 Reddick had 1 sack… those were better times Joe. Now we are cooked. Though, Braswell didn’t look bad, I think he needs to play a lot more snaps.
December 9th, 2025 at 11:49 am
i think we’re only a couple players away and some depth a scheme change from having a good defense, not having reddick and dean really showed not to give up in this season but maybe they’re looking ahead to next year
December 9th, 2025 at 11:50 am
But can he cover kickoffs?
December 9th, 2025 at 11:59 am
fans suck but imagine paying hundreds to sit in the rain and watch multi millionaires drop passes, i love the bucs forever. in 1975 we we’re dolphin fans bc the bucs did not exist, amazing that the worst team in sports history won two sbs buffalo would kill for that still maybe the price of so many weekends being ruined is too high, cut yourself off from being a bucs fan and your life will be better, lol… they don’t just lose they get embarrassed and they can’t do basic things 2 win teams can do they seriously look jv, it looks seriously like the other team has more players and we are only playing with 8 instead of 11, sucks being a bucs fan they don’t even compete
December 9th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
If they have truly signed JPP then this team is in full downward spiral.
C’mon. It’s the practice squad in December. This is where teams sign old dudes to see if they can get a spark. This is not the average “fully retired pass rusher.” This is one of the greatest athletes in the history of his position. He knows the defense. He might have off-field value. Maybe, just maybe, he’s got another 20 quality snaps in him. It’s certainly worth finding out given the time of year and state of the team.–Joe
If the Glaziers were not sure about Bowels/Licht era they should know by now. Sleeping through the mid-season trade deadline and then signing a fully retired pass rusher with 4 games left is pure insanity.
December 9th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
To turn the season around the Bucs need to sign Barber, Rice, Sapp and Brooks.