With Tom Brady and his retirement a reality now, the Tampa Bay Bucs are left without a QB after another successful season. But Shaq Barrett has an encouraging message for Tampa fans.
Advertisement
After much media speculation and rumours, Tom Brady took to social media to thank the world and announce his retirement personally.
“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention,” he wrote in part.
“I feel like the luckiest person in the world.” – @TomBrady #ThankYouTom pic.twitter.com/rcFjiToWtf
— NFL (@NFL) February 1, 2022
With Brady out of the picture, the Tampa Bay Bucs have Kyle Trask next in line, whom they drafted in the 2nd round last year. So a look into a trade for a top tier QB might not be out of order. But regardless of the situation, Shaq Barrett is confident for 2023.
Shaq Barrett believes Tampa Bay will be a contender even without Tom Brady
Barrett is out at the NFL Pro Bowl after his 2nd selection in 3 years, and was asked about the teams future for next season after Brady’s retirement.
“We most definitely are still going to be contenders,” said outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, who is preparing for his second Pro Bowl outing in three years. “We’ve still got a lot of guys on the team who are hungry to have a taste of being in the playoffs, to have a taste of winning a Super Bowl.”
“And I know the front office guys, they loved having a taste of the success that we had. So if anything, it’s a replication. Whoever it takes, we’re going to get those guys, and then the guys are going to make it happen, whatever we have to do. The offense has got to pick it up, the defense has got to pick it up, the special teams – whatever it is, we’re going to make it happen.”
Shaq also added that initially, he hoped that the news of Brady’s retirement was false.
“I didn’t try to convince him [to return],” said Barrett. “I told him, ‘I know you’re going to do what’s best for you and your family but if you do want to come back we would love to have you back.’
“Trying to find somebody to replace Tom Brady is impossible. There’s no other Tom Bradys out there. So we’re going to try to find the next best player and help them be the best person they can be, and then rally around him and try to build a contender again.”
