A Window Into Devin White… And Baker Mayfield, Too
December 21st, 2023
Devin White.
When Joe spoke with Devin White exclusively on Sunday after the Bucs beat the Packers, he seemed slightly bummed he didn’t play.
While he was interacting with a couple of his teammates in a jovial way, he seemed sad. That was Joe’ impression, nothing more.
But when Joe got White to talk about J.J. Russell and K.J. Britt playing linebacker in his absence while his foot mends, White lit up and was very upbeat.
Is White possibly a better teammate than some want to paint him?
Look, Joe’s not naïve. Joe knows full well the Bucs media relations staff expected White was going to get cornered yesterday by the local pen and mic club, unless he wanted to duck out of the locker room. So the Bucs made sure White was available to speak. May as well get ahead of things and make sure your message gets out before White gets ambushed and slips up and says something that he later regrets, or the team regrets.
As the creator, curator and overall guru of Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio often correctly says, “Silence invites speculation.”
Joe is aware that having three days to prepare for yesterday’s event, White’s responses were likely rehearsed. That’s the way sports is. It is why Team Glazer (and other NFL owners each) spends many hundreds of thousands of dollars on a media relations staff.
So Joe doesn’t know if what White said yesterday was prepared or if the following came straight from his heart. Given what White told Joe briefly on Sunday, Joe guesses the following comment is sincere.
White told local reporters there is no reason for them to focus so much effort on ReportGate. Rather than spend time with him, White said everybody should be focused on Baker Mayfield, who was named NFC Player of the Week.
“Baker went crazy last week and we’re talking about Devin White?” White said. “I don’t think I should be mentioned about a game in which I didn’t play, didn’t contribute besides being the biggest cheerleader that I could be in Green Bay.”
Whatever the reason White said that, sincere or staged, props to him doing it.
Of course, the Fourth Estate cannot ignore what went down (or didn’t go down) between Bowles and White. But Joe gives White credit for saying folks should be giving Mayfield his just due.
December 21st, 2023 at 7:49 am
This would be like Antonio Brown asking why he’s in the spotlight after the Bucs beat the Jets. When a player quits on his team (in White’s case, it’s to a lesser extent than Brown) he’ll be in the spotlight.
December 21st, 2023 at 7:50 am
I hope he takes time to mend his foot, as we need the production out of our linebackers like what Britt and Russell demonstrated. White had 13 games to bolster his resume and we lost 7 games and most of the games we did win, our offense just barely scored enough points to win. I’m not laying it all on DW, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him taking another week off. Let’s see if Britt and Russell are legit. We already know DW is fast and he has a uniform, let him sit and we can always call his number should we need to.
December 21st, 2023 at 7:59 am
Back up LB and situational blitzer … other than that, nothing. He won’t be re-signed and Britt is actually better at this point.
December 21st, 2023 at 8:08 am
I will be happy when this horse is finally dead, it has been beaten enough….
December 21st, 2023 at 8:18 am
That is the most grammatically correct statement I’ve ever heard from him. Absolutely-100% scripted. No doubt.
December 21st, 2023 at 8:24 am
Mike C , I agree with you 100%
December 21st, 2023 at 8:31 am
Humility is the first step. Way to go Devin!
December 21st, 2023 at 8:31 am
Thanks for the Super Bowl run, but your play since then has not merited a second contract, nor playing time. Couple the nonsense and drama, no thanks!
Pay Evans and Lavonte, true leaders and ballers. Rather pay the guys on the wrong side of 30 with the right type of attitude and effort. No brainer.
Peace out, Devin!
December 21st, 2023 at 8:31 am
Devin you should really just take the rest of the season to heal up man. Your cheerleading produced much better results than your play. The team needs you to put your helmet down and pick the pom poms up!
LOL
December 21st, 2023 at 8:34 am
Here is the Devin White Gate in a nutshell. Correct me if I am wrong once a player is listed as out that’s it he can’t even he gets better and could play. In White cases Bowles said he would be a game time decision. He could’ve played if Britt showed up Sunday morning with a bad back. White told Bowles he wasn’t 100%. Then Sunday morning the other LB were healthy so Bowles decided to make him inactive.
December 21st, 2023 at 8:39 am
The real question should be is Britt better than White? The eye test would say yes but what do the stats say?
December 21st, 2023 at 8:44 am
The only thing that matters for this dude. is to play his a** off, when his number is called, that will be good for the Bucs (the only thing that matters to me) and for him.
So I guess that is called a win win situation, and after that…..ADIOS
December 21st, 2023 at 9:13 am
White has set a bad example since last summer wanting a trade. All he’s been this year is a bad player and an unwanted distraction. Team is 3-0 without him. Enough said. No need for him to be around the team. Focus on Jax and NO.
December 21st, 2023 at 9:22 am
Be humble, be a good teammate and you will get your just rewards either here or elsewhere. Don’t think – just do it!
December 21st, 2023 at 9:49 am
Wouldn’t mind seeing white in as an olb to rush the passer. Need to find a way to get pressure some how.
December 21st, 2023 at 10:19 am
That’s the way sports is. It is why Team Glazer (and other NFL owners each) spends many hundreds of thousands of dollars on a media relations staff.
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This is why player and coach interviews are a waste of time. Outside of questions after a game or practice.
December 21st, 2023 at 10:34 am
This is a distraction that this team does not need right now.
December 21st, 2023 at 10:40 am
Bucs need to focus on Jax, Aints, and Panthers. Do NOT underestimate any of them! Carolina only lost by a field goal the fist game. That is what’s important, not Devin White.
December 21st, 2023 at 10:41 am
*first*
December 21st, 2023 at 10:59 am
Its nice that D White can be such an off field distraction more than once this season, and then tell us that everything is fine and what we are seeing is all just a misunderstanding.
December 21st, 2023 at 11:04 am
White knows there’s millions of dollars in a potential contract on the line, likely his agent told him to wise up and stop being an idiot. No team would pay him if they knew he was a cancer.
December 21st, 2023 at 11:13 am
White must’ve changed his mind after he saw the bucs decimate the Packers. He probably thought to himself, “hell, maybe we will go to the superbowl.” Imagine your team going to the superbowl and instead of contributing you threw a fit. People who make it deep into the playoffs get BIG contracts.
December 21st, 2023 at 11:15 am
White knows he’s in a contract year and needs to play well to get paid as much as possible. I believe that injuries have had a huge impact on his ability to play well.
Given that Britt and Russell have played well I’d rather have White sit and get as healthy as possible for a possible playoff game. When he’s healthy and motivated he can put serious pressure on opposing QB’s and we’re going to need that to have any chance to win a playoff game.
December 21st, 2023 at 12:27 pm
The following is pure speculation:
Pro sports teams operate on a fine line. There is an employer employee relationship. There is a contractual relationship. There is a team camaraderie relationship. There is a player coach relationship. The head coach is the kingpin.
Player contracts are negotiated based on the perceived value of the player. The players value is largely determined by his (or her) statistics. Statistics can be easily manipulated by playing time and player usage.
Pro sports is BIG business and asset value is important. Assets are often traded.
Players have agents representing them and negotiate contracts using the players statics.
The human element is involved in every aspect.
I think (speculation) #45 crapped in his bed after listening to the hype his unscrupulous agent fed him. Things got out of control and injuries came into play.
The kingpin wanted to protect the personal relationship with the player/employee whom he designated a team captain. The kingpin was now in a difficult and delicate dance with the team as a whole. He had to keep everyone happy and maintain loyalties while protecting team morale.
Then we get to the business side with the GM and ownership. You don’t need my speculation on that.
Oh my, I completely forgot about RULES.
Way to go NFL. The game has been soiled by BIG BUSINESS.
Most of the players are genuinely good guys and Devin White is most likely a very nice man. Look what happens to the human condition when $$$ is introduced and trusts are violated.
December 21st, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Now he sees we are going to the Super Bowl.
December 21st, 2023 at 1:54 pm
Agreed!
December 21st, 2023 at 3:31 pm
Mayfield lacks athleticism but has heart. White has all the athleticism in the world but lacks heart. Don’t know about y’all but i know who I’d want on my side
December 21st, 2023 at 4:56 pm
Not sure where u came up with baker lacks athleticism getting sandwiched between 2 lineman twisted like a pretzel & get up to do the same thing I wud call pretty athletic
December 21st, 2023 at 6:15 pm
I get the feeling White is gonna have a huge game, with at least one splash sack fumble or pick to really confuse the base