Bucs OLB Haason Reddick.
When new Bucs edge rusher (thank you, God!) Haason Reddick took a couple of brisk steps toward the podium at the media studio inside One Buc Palace this morning, he greeted reporters and wore a smile.
In Reddick’s mind, he wanted to put the past behind him. Specfically, Reddick didn’t want to discuss being traded from the Eagles to the Jets last year, his subsequent hold out, and a nightmare of a season that didn’t begin until October.
“Very bizarre,” is how Reddick described his 2024 season with a chuckle. That was a line he repeated a couple of times this morning. That was about the extent that he allowed reporters any insight into why the Jets turned out to be a nightmare for him.
The Bucs didn’t bring Reddick in to be an afterthought like he was in the New Jersey Swamplands last fall. Rather, the Bucs brought him to town because he had 50.5 sacks the previous four seasons for the Eagles.
A couple of times Reddick said he wanted to keep the past in the past and was just focused on the future.
Joe hopes Reddick doesn’t put the past behind him. After two years in Arizona, Reddick was labeled a bust because Cardinals coaches thought he could be the next Derrick Brooks instead of a scary pass rusher.
In his fourth year in the league, Arizona had a change of heart, moved him back to outside linebacker and allowed Reddick to release the hounds. Reddick responded with 12.5 sacks when he moved back to outside linebacker.
And thus began a string of four straight seasons with double-digit sacks, broken up only by last year’s debacle.
Joe also hopes Reddick doesn’t forget how he walked on at Temple. Coming from a disadvantaged home, he overcame a lot of obstacles to eventually winning a scholarship at the Philadelphia institution.
But, Reddick worked his way back up to obtain a scholarship. Joe sure hopes Reddick doesn’t put that past behind him. Because that work ethic is why Reddick will getting paid this year if he lives up to his past history.
Joe really hopes Reddick remembers the work ethic at this level of football that got him to where he is today: A very rich young man.
If Reddick wants to forget the Jets, no problem. Just also remember the good of the past and how that helped mold him into the player he is today.
Don’t forget all of the past Mr. Reddick. Just the Jets stuff.