New Buc Haason Reddick ready for the new beginning after the 'strange' year with jets

Tampa -like every elite pass -rusher knows, no matter who or what stands in the way, you have to go forward.

So if you ask Haason Reddick about his influence or after the disappointing season after he was traded on the jets by the Eagles last year, he will not stay on this topic for very long.

“Very bizarre,” said Reddick about his 2024 season. “Strange.”

“It's just a fresh start. I know that everyone is worried about last year, but last year is last year, ”he said Friday. “I'm here now. Other way of thinking. Other room. First ready to put the past behind me and continue to go forward, and what better place is there better than here? “

What had happened after Reddick had been treated to the jets – from organized team activities, Minicamp, training camp and the first seven games, while he asked for a new contract that never came, led him to Tampa Bay.

It led him back to some well-known faces, such as the outside linackers coach Larry Foote, who trained him as a rookie election in Arizona in 2017. It led him to Buc's head coach Todd Bowles, another New Jersey type who played in Temple like Reddick.

Reddick's one-year contract of $ 14 million can be below the market value for a player who was one of the best pass-rushers of the NFL from 2020 to 23 with 50.5 sacks. But both Reddick and the Bucs agreed that he could bring this an element that the Bucs may lack to make a deeper run in the playoffs and reach a super bowl.

“Only the fit,” said Reddick. “After talking to Fotey after talking to coach Bowles, I just plan to use me here. It was very fascinating, something I really needed. Outside of this I was the feeling that this was a team that was a few short pieces away. I had the feeling that I could bring my knowledge, bring my skills to the boys who are already here. You have great pieces. You have Vita (VEA), you have the young guy yaya (Diabay). So just know that I could come here and help. I thought it would be fun. “

Foote stood in the back of the interview room on Friday and wore a permanent grin.

When Reddick arrived in Arizona as a beginner, he was an insider linacker. In fact, Reddick speaks about his career as if he had two of them: three years with Inside Linebacker, five years at Outside Linebacker.

But his journey started long before he dreamed of playing in the NFL or becoming one of the most dreaded pass -rushers of the league.

It started with the fact that a great athlete went on a temple and knew that his family could not afford to keep him there, unless he was good enough to earn a scholarship there after his first year.

“As we will call this as a comeback season because he went through last year,” said Foote. “But he was a walk in the temple. And “I don't want to screw it up.” I don't know if it was his grandmother or mother, but they couldn't pay every four years. You earn your scholarship better for a year or you won't be there. I think he was hurt. Never played outside of LineBacker, so they moved him around.

“You see the kind of attitude and way of thinking he has for the game, so I will not surprise myself when he destroys the league next year.”

Reddick made it clear that Footen is a big reason why he selected the Bucs in the free agency to restart his career.

“The connection. How he helped me grow as a young player in Arizona, ”said Reddick about Foote. “The time and attention he took. He understood my situation, right? A child who comes to the league after he had never played a linebacker. Someone who did it as he did in his career understood that.

“And as I said, his efforts, his approach, everything he gave me. Much of this stuff stopped me and allowed me to continue to grow as a player. To connect with him again, I may teach him a few things this time. “

The biggest need for the BUCs was to get a player from the edge and to generate pressure and sacks on the quarterback.

After Diaby had led the BUCs with 7.5 sacks as a rookie, Diaby took one step backwards and only ended the last season with 4.5, with the result of the setting to all double teams and chip blocking of tight ends and running backs.

Joe Tryon Shoyinka, the BUCS's first round in 2021, never really got out and just signed a one-year contract with the Browns. Reddick should be much easier with the four down lines instead of having the flash.

“To be honest, I think that it makes it easier for everyone to work,” said Reddick. “As a D-line, it must be a unit that works together. Vita is a force in the middle. Nobody can confuse that. Great strength, a pocket press and only an all -round physical talent. But with what I can bring? You won't be able to double me every time. It is one of these things in which everything should open and when it is your time? You just have to do the piece. “

The Bucs believe that Reddick will be hungry to prove that he can return to the top of the mountain as a dominant pass -rusher. He could also have another big payment day. Myles Garrett will earn an average of 40 million US dollars in Cleveland. The Maxx Crosby of the Raiders will earn 35.5 million US dollars. The 49 Nick Bosa receives 34 million US dollars a year.

How anxious is Reddick to prove that he belongs to this company?

“Very scared. I have the feeling that some people might have fallen asleep, ”he said. “But if at all, Moreso for me. I am only happy to be in a great place and back to be able to play football and enjoy it as I made most of my career. “

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