Todd Bowles Has One-Liners
August 21st, 2025
“Lavonte, what do I have to do to be you? I want a day off.”
We all know the two elder statesmen of the Bucs, two guys that hopefully will have their busts in Canton someday, get vets days off.
Lavonte David, 35, and Mike Evans, 32, are two of the best players in NFL history at their respective positions, linebacker and receiver.
Partially because the Bucs need them badly, partially because they are NFL senior citizens and partially because they have the street cred, they get those veteran days, especially in training camp when the Florida sun is unforgiving.
Today after practice, Todd Bowles was asked about Vita Vea. The hulking nose tackle and Pro Bowler didn’t miss a practice this summer, Bowles was reminded.
So, Bowles was asked, is there a reason Vea doesn’t get a vet day?
Bowles, who rarely passes on a chance at a good one-liner when the opportunity arises, didn’t let this fat fastball get by him.
“Vita doesn’t need a day off,” Bowles said. “He hasn’t reached the Mike [Evans] or Lavonte [David] status yet. Those are upper-tier guys that get that kind of action.
“Other than that, everybody else practices.”
Now Joe twittered Bowles’ one-liner and several Bucs fans were angered over this, thinking Bowles was being the British version of a knob. No, he wasn’t.
All Bucs players know Bowles loves dropping sarcasm and one-liners on players. Like last week when Zyon McCollum had a pick at Pittsburgh, Bowles walked up to McCollum, grabbed his hands and said, “Eureka! They work!”
And it seems Bowles’ players enjoy his one-liners. Joe’s never heard anyone have a problem with Bowles.
Besides, Vea is one of the biggest pranksters on the team. Vea very likely had a good laugh when Bowles’ remarks got back to him.
But seriously folks…
Yes, seriously. Vea had a good camp. And Bowles made sure to praise Vea after the one-liner.
“He came in in great shape,” Bowles said of Vea. “He came in in very good shape. He worked on a lot of things.
“He worked on his feet, he’s working on his hands. You like to see him where he’s at right now. He’s just got to keep pushing forward.”
Provided Vea stays healthy, Joe is looking at a huge season from both Bucs’ starting defensive tackles, Calijah Kancey and Vea.
If Vea has the kind of season Joe thinks he may, the 30-year-old might be getting vet days next training camp.
August 21st, 2025 at 4:55 pm
Hopefully with Vea working out with Suh( his neighbor) he will dominate this season and let Reddick feast!!
August 21st, 2025 at 4:55 pm
Vea is a big man and he needs the conditioning to stay in shape.
August 21st, 2025 at 5:00 pm
“Zyon McCollum had a pick at Pittsburgh, Bowles walked up to McCollum, grabbed his hands and said, “Eureka! They work!”
Vita aura farming during the rowing celebrations was top tier 😂, he had the moves down pat. Also, shoutout to Suh who’s been like Vitas’ life/football mentor, I credit a lot of the strides Vea has made with his approach to the game to their relationship on and off the field. It’d be cool to hear Vea taking Kancey with him in the off-season to go work with Suh too.
August 21st, 2025 at 5:07 pm
Maybe I am humorless but that statement doesn’t seem like a one-liner. And it is actually true. Vea has a long way to go to be considered a possible HOFer.
August 21st, 2025 at 5:14 pm
Now Joe twittered out Bowles one liner this morning, and several fans were angered by this. Got some sensitive fans out there Joe. Thank God they don’t play in my golf group, they’d run home crying!
August 21st, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Wilt Chamberlain who never showed up for pre game practices or walk throughs said that he plays once a day, now do you want me for the game or the practice walk throughs. That is how high caliber vets are supposed to be treated.
August 21st, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Larrd Says:
Vea has a long way to go to be considered a possible HOFer.
^^^^^
The Hall of Fame doesn’t make room for Nose Tackles.
Nose Tackles – Super Bowl – NFL HOF
Haloti Ngata – Yes – No
Vince Wilfork – Yes – No
Gilbert Brown – Yes – No
William “The Fridge” Perry – Yes – No
If Haloti Ngata, the focal point of the greatest defense in NFL history, isn’t in the HOF, Vea will never be in the HOF.
August 21st, 2025 at 5:32 pm
Glad Vita only had to play one year with Batman cuz he would be all about having fun matters
August 21st, 2025 at 5:37 pm
Player response to one of Todd’s jokes …
‘Hey Coach, see that scoreboard on the wall of our beautiful, air conditioned practice field?”
“Of course, you can’t miss it.”
‘Great. Now what’s that thing on the top of the scoreboard, the one with numbers on it?’
“Easy again—a clock.”
‘Perfect, we’re moving right along. Now all you have to do is learn to read it at the end of games. They have guys who wear striped shirts who will happily stop it for you as much as three times per half. Just ask, especially when we’re trying to win close games when we are slightly behind. You see, if you let those numbers run to zero, and we are losing, we lose the game. And it’s very important to remember that these clocks run backward, not forward. You follow?’
“What’s your name again?”
‘Some call me Kyle, but I don’t expect you to remember it because you never call it during games. Why do you ask?’
“Because I’m cutting you tonight, smartass.”
‘Good!’
August 21st, 2025 at 6:51 pm
LOL JA!
August 21st, 2025 at 8:51 pm
He’s … 76 on the NFL top 100 list, folks.