Last season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense suffered from the NFL’s worst rushing offense. They have since turned that around and pose a dynamic backfield capable of producing big numbers, evidenced in their Week 6 win over the New Orleans Saints.
The Dallas Cowboys have since taken that spot, currently dead last in the league in rushing yards, yards per game and yards per carry. Amid those unsightly results, Cowboys fan and Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has called for a solution.
On his most recent episode of “The Big Podcast” with Shaq, he hosted free agent and former Bucs running back Leonard Fournette. When discussing a potential return to the league for the veteran, Shaq called his team to action.
“Jerry Jones. Jerry Jones. It’s me, your boy, Shaq. Look at him [Fournette], looking good, six pack …. he’s ready to go.” he said. “Alright, Jerry Jones? Stop messing around.”
“Facts, [I’m] still 29,” Fournette added.
For the Cowboys, specifically, it is hard to imagine Fournette playing a role on “America’s Team.” Dallas has two veteran running backs at their disposal, Ezekiel Elliott on the 53-man roster and Dalvin Cook on the practice squad.
Barring significant injury or losses at the position, Fournette has no place on that depth chart. At age 29 could there be a return elsewhere for him?
Likely not. The Buffalo Bills signed him to their practice squad last season but never found much use for him. Tampa Bay does not need any external help in the backfield, sitting nicely with the three-headed monster of Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker.
While he may not make a return to the league anytime soon, his short legacy and Super Bowl LV contributions will not be forgotten by the Bucs’ faithful.
