Classy Move By Bucs
February 24th, 2026
“Jason, let’s take care of ‘Shep.'”
Joe wouldn’t blame Bucs receiver Sterling Shepard one bit if he was outraged how the season ended.
Sure, the Bucs missed the playoffs. That’s a reason to be outraged alone. But the way the season played out cost Shepard six figures of revenue.
Until it didn’t.
Shepard was inactive for the final four games. As a result, he missed out on bonus money. A good chunk of bonus money.
Despite the Bucs having their top four receivers healthy, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan, you can see how Shepard may have felt he got robbed.
Apparently, per Greg Auman of FOX Sports, Team Glazer and Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht also saw how someone could put two-and-two together and come to the same conclusion.
So the Bucs, even though they didn’t have to, made sure they showed Shepard the money.
gregauman: Cool move by the Bucs — receiver Sterling Shepard was inactive the last four games as other WRs got healthy, and finished one catch and 29 yards short of $125,000 incentives as a result. Team paid out both, and an additional $250k for $500k as a separate bonus.
Again, the Bucs easily could have stuck to their guns and told Shepard to go read the fine print of his contract. They didn’t. (Joe would expect notorious tightwad Bengals owner Mike Brown to do something like that.)
Trust Joe, word spreads quickly to NFL players about gestures like this by the Bucs. It could someday be the difference between a player signing with the Bucs or playing elsewhere.
February 24th, 2026 at 1:51 am
Hate tip to the Glazers for quietly taking care of Sterling Shepard’s incentives even when they didn’t have to.
February 24th, 2026 at 2:22 am
I love my Bucs too man, but you did mean Hat Tip, because it was, right?
February 24th, 2026 at 3:35 am
CalBuc
Lol, Hat Tip
February 24th, 2026 at 4:31 am
Speaking of Shep. I’m afraid he’s gonna have a hard time making this team this year and man I hate that. Sometimes it’s a cold and cruel world. Whether he can make the team or not he will be all right, it’s just the years go by fast and it’s not every day you find someone who loves playing the game as much as he does. He loves his teammates and they love him which says it all when it’s all said and done.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:51 am
Classy to pay Shepperd. Foolish to retain Bowles who game day becomes a spectator instead of a coach adjusting things on the fly. Have a feeling the defense will struggle again with the excuse that it takes time to teach such a complicated defense to a new group of defenders.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:53 am
That was classy. Best organization in the league. Glazers once again proving they are not cheap, yet someone over the next year will claim they are.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:57 am
Right thing to do. As a bonus it might help getting a team friendly deal from Baker. Mayfield also seems like someone who understands he shouldn’t take more than 45 million a year if he wants a team that can win the Super Bowl.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:58 am
Anyone else think he needs to go so team can get younger?
Why pay out the extra money?
February 24th, 2026 at 7:00 am
Now show him the door.
February 24th, 2026 at 7:10 am
They learned their lesson with Antonio Brown on paying performance bonuses
February 24th, 2026 at 7:30 am
Negativity to be expected from WBL. Last season only Egbuka had more yards receiving from the wide receiver position. So Shep had more receiving yards than Evans or Godwin or Tez. I’m thinking WBL’s negativity is spiked with a good dose of idiocy.
February 24th, 2026 at 8:09 am
Class
February 24th, 2026 at 9:15 am
Not a fan of the Glazers, but give credit where credit is due. Definitely a classy move.
February 24th, 2026 at 10:00 am
@Kenton
Shepard is expendable, as proven by the WR room getting healthier this past season and Sheps’ role/snaps diminished down the stretch. Got paid for his incentives, which is the front office didn’t have to do and probably will keep him on call this offseason IF we need him.
Shepard doesn’t do anything, a young and faster Kameron Johnson can’t do and maybe, just maybe Z-Rob can actually get Johnson involved in the pass game. Johnson at least serves purpose on special teams, does Shepard?
February 24th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Shep had a very good year, stopped the boneheaded plays, and energized the team, BUT he’s down the depth chart and may not be around this coming year.
February 24th, 2026 at 11:02 am
“You’re never wrong to do the right thing.” – Mark Twain
February 24th, 2026 at 11:31 am
Shep will retire happily back to his family. Total class move by Glazer’s and Licht.
He came in when the team needed a veteran – contributed well on the field, and maybe MORE off the field.
And yeah, players recognize these kinds of moves.
February 24th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
That’s the best news I’ve read since Todd Bowles being retained.
February 24th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
CLASSY MOVE BUCS!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
February 24th, 2026 at 1:22 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai
You’re right.
Best franchise in the league. Perhaps in the country.
I am very proud to be a born and raised Bucs fan.
I was born in 1983. The same year the Bucs drafted Bo Jackson.
But Bo refused to play because Hue Culverhouse lied to him and destroyed his college baseball career.
Fun facts: I would eventually graduate from Auburn in 2006.
And the first college football game I attended at Auburn was as a young boy for “Bo Jackson jersey retirement day”
And who was Auburns QB? Patrick Nix! The father of Bo Nix and Tez Johnson!
FYI- Bo Nix is named after Bo Jackson.
My final point? Why didn’t Bo Jackson play for the Bucs?
Because the Bucs owner at the time was à crook!
So God bless the Glazers for treating players with dignity.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Hugh Culverhouse sure a hell wouldn’t have paid him. Every time I hear a fan complain about the Glazers it tells me they weren’t around to see what a real tight wad was like.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:51 pm
“Thanks for the shout out, Stan! I saved money by keeping Todd!” – Hugh
February 25th, 2026 at 12:32 am
Absolutely, the BUCS have got alot of CLASS for sure!!