Another former Denver Broncos player unretires to join contender

For the second time this week, a former Denver Broncos player has come out of retirement in hopes of helping a contending team reach the Super Bowl. 

Earlier this week, former Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who retired this offseason to coach high school football, was signed by the Detroit Lions as added insurance at the backup quarterback position for the Detroit Lions. Now, after a strange saga with the Miami Dolphins, Shaquil Barrett is off the retired list and on the 53-man roster of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Barrett signed with the Dolphins this offseason as a free agent, but never played a down for the team. He instead retired in July before having a change of heart later in the season. He made it clear that the only team he wanted to come back for was Tampa Bay. 

Shaq Barrett back in NFL with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

At first, it seemed the Dolphins would play hardball with Barrett and just hold onto his rights until the season ended. But the team chose to waive him on Thursday. After he cleared waivers, he was free to sign with any team. Had a team claimed him off waivers, he would not have been able to play this season. 

Barrett began his career with the Broncos, going undrafted out of Colorado State in 2014. He spent five years with the Broncos but he was behind the likes of Von Miller, Bradley Chubb and Shane Ray on the depth chart and it didn't seem like a starting spot would ever materialize for him despite racking up 14 sacks in the four seasons he did see playing time. 

The Buccaneers signed him following the 2018 season and that year, he led the NFL with 19.5 sacks and finished fourth in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting. He now returns to Tampa with the Bucs leading the NFC South division with two games remaining in the regular season. 

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