Ndamukong Suh Blasts Bucs’ Negotiation Style
July 27th, 2026
Vita Vea’s good friend Ndamukong Suh is publicly shaming the Bucs for their handling of a potential Vea contract extension that has resulted in Vea requesting a trade.
Poor Vea, the guy is in line to earn $18 million this season.
What a hardship. Vea signed the damn contract four-plus years ago.
Suh is a future Hall of Fame player and was a stud for the Bucs (2019-2021). He also was known for negotiating his own contracts and advising players. He and Vea are close. They train together and Vea was on Suh’s podcast last season talking mostly about money and opportunity.
Suh took to social media tonight (video below) to blast the Bucs without the courage to name Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht or even say the word “Bucs.” He’s seen speaking with an image of Vea behind him.
Joe would call that “cowardly,” especially for a guy like Suh who has worked as an analyst for Sky Sports NFL in the United Kingdom. Perhaps Vea’s “big girl” nickname for Suh is appropriate.
In short, Suh complains the Bucs waited too long to communicate clearly with Vea.
Never understood why teams do this. pic.twitter.com/dJshIfvFhh
— Ndamukong Suh (@NdamukongSuh) July 28, 2026
July 27th, 2026 at 10:12 pm
Shut up Suh! Vea is still under contrac! Unfortunately VV has no leverage, he’s on the wrong side of 30. He will be missed if traded, but at some point the team needs to get younger.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:13 pm
“Joe would call that “cowardly,” especially for a guy like Suh who has worked as an analyst for Sky Sports NFL in the United Kingdom. Perhaps Vea’s “big girl” nickname for Suh is appropriate.”
It’s more PC than it is cowardly; Suh is talking as a businessman who used to be a really good football player, not the other way around. This clip isn’t for provocation, it lines up with what he’s been talking about in terms of finance and players managing their $$$ on all types of platforms. This isn’t Monday Night Raw man, Suh isn’t cutting an opening promo trying to drum up heat. Wouldn’t be smart, and Suh is a pretty smart guy.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:14 pm
They are acting like Vea has no salary for this season and he would be playing for free without a new deal.
This is stupid, but I still think we should do whatever we can to sign Vea.
He’s too important for this franchise to let him go. 💯
July 27th, 2026 at 10:14 pm
Suh is being disingenuous here. I agree that teams wait too long to get a deal made as a negotiating tactic and players with their agents have tactics as well. However to say “you don’t show up to work without being paid” (paraphrasing) is just utter BS. Vita has a 18 million dollar pay out this final year based on the contract he signed years ago. He got guaranteed money upfront and last year is not. So don’t give us BS. I’d like vita to stay but his numbers weren’t great last year so he doesn’t deserve a top end payout and 31 is not young for a DT, so he shouldn’t get more than 3 years.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:15 pm
Thank you Suh!
July 27th, 2026 at 10:16 pm
Man we have to work something out with Vita. He’s too crucial to our team. I know the age thing makes folks nervous, but he is a unique type player that’s worth the risk. I’m no salary cap expert, but let’s find a way to make this work. He is still dominant and elite. We can’t lose a guy like that right now.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:17 pm
Side note,
The 2 biggest mistakes the Bucs have made in recent history that set us back multiple years and killed our chances of success were: getting rid of Suh & JPP at least 2 years too soon.
And Vita would be an even bigger mistake and setback than those 2 were. And they were HUGE MISTAKES.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:18 pm
“Vea signed the damn contract four-plus years ago.”
.
.
And it was a very fat contract when he did so.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:18 pm
All of this is an annoying negotiation tactic. Is there anyone that doesn’t think this video was recorded and in the can days ago?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not mad at anyone here; do your thing, get the money you can while you can. Business is business.
Just don’t insult my intelligence by thinking we can’t see all this for what it is. The NFL version of professional wrestlers cutting a promo.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:19 pm
How is it cowardly when he makes a video and shows his face? Make it make sense.
Keep in mind the scenario Suh was talking about has happened to multiple players and maybe even himself. Also, since Vita is his friend why would he not go to bat for him? Saying waiting to the last minute for negotiations with a player that helped you win a chip is cowardly?
He doesn’t have to mention a name, it won’t make the situation better. Once a player asks for a trade he doesn’t believe he fits the team anymore. Its over. Give him what he wants and let him go.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:20 pm
Ha, WBL both of us going with a wrestling promo angle in our comments.
I was the first comment going when I started typing. Guess I rambled on a bit. LOL
July 27th, 2026 at 10:24 pm
How is it “THE LAST MINUTE”?
The season ends January 1, 2027.
VV is under contract for the next 157 days.
They can negotate a deal anytime over the next 6 months.
Drama Queen
July 27th, 2026 at 10:24 pm
This implosion ain’t good. Maybe Bowles will demand more money too.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:24 pm
You know Suh left Detroit and got paid for life, joining a not to good Miami defense at the time. That’s how he was able to make it to the Bucs and Rams to get his rings. Vita Vea I Lije most will be sorry to see go if he can’t get paid. However, I believe the financial advisor Suh is playing too much of a role in his decision to stay. Let soured players go, trade him and get good draft picks, or good CB and draft picks.all us not lost. For a prove it year for Boweles, Lichtenstein should have paid VV sooner if he truly wanted him around. NFL is a business, and players move so much sometimes, it was bound to happen to the Bucs.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:25 pm
“Play for free…”
.
.
What an arrogant thing to say. As if there isn’t already a contract in place.
I tell you what, sit out the year, and give back all of the pro-rated bonus money that you’ve already collected for this season. See how free that feels.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:34 pm
I need to look up the word “contract”. Apparently, it means something different tha I thought.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:37 pm
Big V has been my favorite Buc since we drafted him. That said, I don’t want malcontents on my team. So either fall in line or sayonara.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:45 pm
Agree with Suh here. Vita should be paid and he’s earned to be paid another contract. He is one of our best players.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:48 pm
It’s bizarre how this team makes sure to hand out early contracts to the likes of Todd Bowles and McCollum, yet make guys like Vita play out their final years.
While I think Vita needs to honor the contract he signed, extending elite players heading into their final years is common practice. There’s no way Gas Licht didn’t see this coming.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:52 pm
Work for free? WTF is this dude talking about. Has this guy ever had a real job? If Suhs been in VVs ear with this horse 💩 no wonder we are here. Love Vita, but IMO the smart move is to take rade him
July 27th, 2026 at 10:55 pm
Bucs didn’t want to extend a player on the wrong side of 30, simple as that. If Vita was 5 years younger he would’ve been extended already.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:56 pm
Really can’t disagree here. It is business and Vea has earned it, an extension. The timing of course is leverage here pretty smart. He wants to make it look the Bucs are already starting off this year on the wrong foot. Distraction with Baker and Vea. 2 huge players on this team this year. He is trying to get Vea some money that is deserved. I can’t fault him or Vea actually
July 27th, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Anyone can check, SUH the last few years he played had made more money than any player in the history of the NFL at that point in time. Go and check out that statement, its a fact.
Suh knows how to get paid. Like Suh or not, he knows what he is doing when it comes to Finances in the NFL.
Whether Vita stays or not, who knows, but the D line WITH VITA has not been anything close to what it was even just a few years ago.
So I like Vita, but hey, this team needs to be a lot better at the point of attack, and start winning the line of scrimmage again on both sides of the ball, before real consistent winning returns in Tampa Bay.
Winning always starts in the trenches. You either consistently win the line of scrimmage or you end up with a losing record. 1 +1 =2
GO BUCS!!!!