Shaq Barrett jokes the Bucs need to ‘help me buy a house in Tampa’

Bucs linebacker Shaq Barrett had to be evacuated from his Colorado home due to a nearby fire, but was able to still crack a funny joke.

Bucs fans can breathe a sigh of relief as linebacker Shaq Barrett, who led the NFL in sacks last season with 19.5, said on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday that he will indeed sign his franchise tag and play out the 2020 season if he and the Bucs can’t come to terms on a new long-term deal by the July 15 deadline.

Bruce Arians, himself, said during last season that Barrett wasn’t going anywhere, and the hope is that both sides can find enough common ground to hammer out the details on a contract that will keep Barrett in a Bucs jersey for years to come.

And Barrett seems to be hoping that long-term deal comes sooner rather than later after he was evacuated from his Colorado home today due to a fire. Fortunately, it seems everyone got out all right, and Barrett was able to crack a little joke about needing the Bucs’ help to buy a house in Tampa.

Take a look.

[lawrence-related id=35788,35790,35780,35772]

Report: Jason Pierre-Paul returning to Buccaneers on two-year deal

JPP played only 10 games in 2019 after suffering a fractured neck last offseason, but in those games, he totaled 8.5 sacks.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed the franchise tag on star linebacker Shaq Barrett today, keeping the 2019 NFL sack leader in the bay for at least another year, and, hopefully, longer.

But, that’s not the only big news of the day for the Bucs defense. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team has agreed on a new two-year deal with pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul. JPP played only 10 games in 2019 after suffering a fractured neck last offseason, but in those games, he totaled 8.5 sacks and helped draw some of the pressure off of Barrett. Bringing Pierre-Paul back along with Barrett ensures the Bucs’ defense will have two of their biggest stars playing for Todd Bowles for the foreseeable future.

Is it too soon for Bucs fans to start thinking playoffs? Of course not!

[lawrence-related id=29048,29044,29026,29012]