Miami Dolphins finally release unretired Shaq Barrett
The Miami Dolphins releasing Shaq Barrett a month after the pass rusher requested to either return, or be released from the team.
Barrett, a free agent signee this offseason who retired the week before training camp started, will now be subjected to waivers. All of the 31 other teams could claim him and his $9 million salary by 4 p.m. Friday.
If he’s not claimed on Friday, Barrett, a former Pro Bowler who has 59 career sacks from the nine season he spent in Denver and Tampa Bay, will be allowed to sign with whatever team shows interest. Barrett supposedly hopes to play for a team that has qualified for the postseason.
“We appreciate the Dolphins giving Shaq this opportunity to continue his career in the NFL,” Barrett’s agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN. “Hopefully he will pass through waivers and become a free agent so he can play again this season. He is in great shape and would be ready to play immediately.”
A month ago Barrett applied to the NFL for reinstatement from retirement (a procedural move). The Dolphins didn’t re-instate, essentially forcing him to remain retired, unable to collect a salary or play for another team.
This is a reversal of that decision, and one that potentially allows the Dolphins to escape the cap ramifications that come from his signing last spring.
“The timing I don’t think was necessarily ideal.” coach Mike McDaniel said when asked about the decision after the 30-17 loss at Green Bay.
McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier discussed the issue last month and decided against his return even though edge rusher has been a position of need all season, and remains a problem area, a reason why the Dolphins have only produced 31 sacks this season.
The Dolphins recently decided against activating Bradley Chubb, who is 11 months into rehabbing the season-ending right knee injury he suffered last New Years Eve. The team simply didn’t feel Chubb’s return was in the best interest of the player, or the team.
Miami did re-instate Cameron Goode last week, allowing the third-year edge rusher to return from the patella tendon injury he suffered on New Years Eve.
Miami heads into Sunday’s road game against the Cleveland Browns with rookies Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara, Goode, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Quinton Bell as the only edge rushers on the 53-man roster.
This story was originally published December 26, 2024 at 11:07 AM.
