The biggest reason the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl was their defense. Obviously, credit the genius, leadership and game of the greatest winner in the history of football, Mr. Tom Brady. But look at what Tampa’s defense has done throughout the season in an attack-centered league. This, of course, culminated in a shockingly effective effort on Super Bowl Sunday, when the Bucs held Patrick Mahomes and the Chefs for just three field goals. And the key to that effort was Tampa’s ability to terrorize Kansas City’s injury-ridden offensive line with a quick four-man pass. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles usually loves blitz, but he knew that his D-line could dominate on its own. And Barrett is the straw that stirs the drink.
I agreed with the Jason Licht Barrett franchise last season. After a 19.5-bag campaign in 2019, the Bucs GM wanted to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. It was not. No, Barrett did not double the bag total, but he stopped offenses when it mattered most. Now, the man deserves to be paid, a sentiment he rightly expressed on my SiriusXM radio show a few weeks ago.
“I feel like it’s time to break the bank now, and I definitely want to do that to be able to set up my family better and definitely continue to produce, so it’s not like anything is going to fall,” Barrett told me. “I still think I still have a lot in the tank. I’m still improving, actually. I’m still learning.”
Shaq continues to learn and Tampa continues to win. Make the long-term deal happen, Bucs.