Bucs general manager Jason Licht joined the Pewter Report podcast on Thursday and spoke on a number of subjects regarding the team’s big Super Bowl win, the parade and also the Bucs’ pending free agents.
Licht told Scott Reynolds and Jon Ledyard the team has a few days to let things settle down, but noted the team wants defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and outside linebacker Shaq Barrett back in red and pewter next season. He also said both have expressed interest in coming back.
“I think he’s said it, that’d he’d love to come back here,” Licht said of Suh. “I know that there’s mutual respect for each other and I’ve told him that we’d like to have him back. We’re just kind of letting the dust settle here for a couple days, we’ve got some time here. You never hit utopia I guess unless you win the Super Bowl, but a lot of things we want to try to do, I’m hoping we can do, we’ll have to see how it all shakes out, but he’s definitely one that we want back.”
Where as Suh could possibly retire this year as opposed to returning, Barrett said earlier on Thursday that he wants to come back but also break the bank at the same time.
“I probably won’t touch on that,” Licht said. “I’m proud of Shaq. I understand that this is a business and there’s no hard feelings over this. It’s just part of doing business, we’ll see what happens. We’d love to have Shaq back, that’s for sure.”
You can watch and listen to the whole podcast with Licht here.
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About the Author: Matt Matera
So, Shaq says he wants to break the bank. With the cap being a bit lower and several of our own free agents to address, I don’t believe Shaq will be back.
That’s what I’ve been saying since I saw the report on him saying that. If he is willing to see $14-$16 million as breaking his bank enough then that should be ok, but I hope to God that they don’t mess this whole thing up and try to give him $18-$20 million and lose Godwin and David just to keep someone so greedy around. If his price isn’t right I really hope they let him walk. We saw how pedestrian he was without Vea. I’m willing to bet we can find someone who will shine just as bright or bright… Read more »
David will stay regardless, hes been thru some really bad bucs teams and i don’t think he will walk over money especially now that he has a team around him.
Barrett will walk. All of the mock drafts ive seen have the Bucs taking an edge rusher at 32. Vea and whoever else- hopefully Suh- will make the pass rushers look like studs. Vea is a force in the middle.
Well if his asking price gets too high, I know one player that’s already made his money, and would probably come here on the cheap for a chance at a ring. JJ Watt just got released. We could probably get him on a 2 year deal. I know it’s risky with his injury history. But he wouldn’t need to be the entire DLine like he was in Houston. Just need a consistent pass rusher who can rack up 60+ hurries, and maybe 8-10 sacks. The beautiful thing about having Brady is, plenty of good vets out there that would come… Read more »
David, Godwin, Gronk are the priority… I’ll be surprised if we resign Shaq tbh I think we let him walk and he signs with someone else who over pays him. Probably the Jags. And we are better off. Find a stud in the Draft maybe… Allthough I have no clue about the talent in this years draft class as far as edge rushers.
Don’t forget Suh. He still demands double teams. Makes others job easier by drawing all that attention. Plays with nastiness too.
let Barrett go and trade for JJ Watt. get a better player and could save $5-$7 million on the cap when Watt renegotiates his deal.
If you said TJ Watt I would be on board. JJ, no thanks, not with Shaq’s snap count. Dude can’t stay on the field
Please get your facts straight first:
2020 season Grades and snap counts from PFF.
Shaq 70.7 and snap cont 822. JJ Watt 85.5 and snap count 1013
And JJ Watt will be Cheaper than Shaq by $5 million per year.
Hey Shaq! Great season- now it’s time to be a team player- end of the day- you’re a millionaire regardless- this is the one thing I absolutely hate- Greed! I have 12 million in the bank- I want 30 million
JJ Watt now a free agent. 50/50 he is coming to Tampa
Yup and at half the price as Shaq. Watt’s made his money. Dude just wants to win. If he can stay healthy, he’s a better overall player than Shaq
Shaq is just posturing as anyone in a negotiation should. I thought he took the Franchise tag pretty well as many players hate it and feel like they were wronged. I think he’s more of a team player than he’s getting credit for. He’ll give us some discount. But players have to strike when their value is high. Because one bad year and you’re done.