Report: Vita Vea Will Report To Bucs Training Camp But His Participation Is Unclear
July 27th, 2026
“Jason, he’s here, but he’s not here, and he doesn’t want to be here, but he really does want to be here if we really want him here for years. Is he allowed in the cafeteria?”
So disgruntled Vita Vea could be fined up to $50,000 per day for not attending training camp.
It seems please-trade-me Vea doesn’t want to cough up the cash and protest like a tough guy.
Per Mike Garofolo of NFL Network, Vea is expected to attend camp but what he’ll actually do there is unclear.
“Vea is scheduled to earn $18 million this season on his current deal. He did not participate in the spring program with the Buccaneers. He’s expected to be with the team for training camp, though his participation is TBD,” Garofolo wrote on X.
Joe hopes the Bucs don’t coddle Vea during his current contract tantrum.
What kind of fresh defensive culture would be established if you let a guy under contract for huge money hang out and pout without financial consequences?
Joe has hope the Bucs might be able to work something out with Vea quickly. But asking for a trade is not the kind of toothpaste that usually stuffed neatly back in the tube.
The next 72 hours will be a firm test for Todd Bowles and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:31 pm
That’s sad. Did not see that kind of attitude coming from Vea….
July 27th, 2026 at 7:31 pm
Did he ask for a trade?
July 27th, 2026 at 7:32 pm
I would let him go. Trade him to a LOUSY TEAM.
With Mike going and Vita going, you begin to see what was wrong last year and what everyone seemed unhappy. There were some really bad apples with bad attitudes. Poisoned the team. Give me a break. What a baby.
Yes, he did alot for the Bucs. But he is getting older, bad foot.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Well, this will be interesting.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:33 pm
Trade him for a corner. Would’ve loved to see Vea play alongside Bain, but now I can’t see a solution to keep him here, short of overpaying for him.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:38 pm
By placing the index finger and thumb on opposite ends of the collar on the toothpaste tube, and applying moderate pressure sufficient to bend the collar down toward the sealed end of the tube, and then positioning the tube opening near a quantity of toothpaste, one can cause the toothpaste to return inside the tube by releasing the two fingers that were temporarily bending the collar out of its normal shape.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:46 pm
Tell him that he not going to get a New Deal and he is not going to be traded. The Money these guys make is ridiculous. Take it or don’t play this year. Enough is enough.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:46 pm
To put things in perspective, Vea is pretty much the same age Sapp was when we let him walk.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
I like your attitude, Truth be Told. Enough.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Vita Vea can report to camp, sit in every meeting, and eat in the cafeteria if he wants. None of that changes the only thing that matters.
If you don’t want to wear the pewter and red, there’s the door.
He’s 31, gave this franchise some good years, and I respect what he’s accomplished. But I bleed for the logo, not the name on the back of the jersey.
If you’re asking for a trade while under contract, don’t expect fans to beg you to stay. Trade him, get the draft capital, and go find a young, hungry dog who actually wants to be a Buccaneer.
And this whole “he’s here, but participation is TBD” routine? That’s like punching a time clock while your heart is already somewhere else. Championship culture doesn’t make exceptions for that.
The Buccaneers were here before Vita Vea, and they’ll be here long after him.
🔥 LFG!
🏈 Next Man UP!!
July 27th, 2026 at 7:53 pm
I wouldn’t trade him – he will ruin his future prospects of a big contract if he sits out the season- let him get pissed off and frustrated, then he’ll likely come to terms with the situation and ball out this year for Bucs.
If they trade him they won’t get equal value- probably a has been vet and mid level draft pick.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:54 pm
If a company employee is under contract and does not want to perform his duties that he is being paid for, being disruptive at the workplace by his actions. That would be a derelict of duty subsequent to penalties.
You can’t just show up to a workplace and not perform the work you are being paid for. Think about it.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Vita Vea can report to camp, sit in every meeting, and eat in the cafeteria if he wants. None of that changes the only thing that matters.
If you don’t want to wear the pewter and red, there’s the door.
He’s 31, gave this franchise some good years, and I respect what he’s accomplished. But I bleed for the logo, not the name on the back of the jersey.
If you’re asking for a trade while under contract, don’t expect fans to beg you to stay. Trade him, get the draft capital, and go find a young, hungry dog who actually wants to be a Buccaneer.
And this whole “he’s here, but participation is TBD” routine? That’s like punching a time clock while your heart is already somewhere else. Championship culture doesn’t make exceptions for that.
The Buccaneers were here before Vita Vea, and they’ll be here long after him. Go Bucs.
🔥 Next Man Up!
July 27th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
People are seeing a different Vita. But hey, Money does that to a man, folks. He believes what he believes just like you and I. I’m not mad. Either get a new contract done or trade him. But after this, I don’t expect him to be here long. And if he does play. He will do just enough to earn his salary. Sorry to see a fan fav go.
July 27th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
This defense was putrid last year, how much worse without Vea especially covering for Kancey the guy who can’t stay healthy. Vea is underpaid just trade him to the Westcoast, the Bucs have gotten him at a major discount for years. I would love to see the oops regret posts if he leaves lol
July 27th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
Trade his fat a** to the Jets.
Couldn’t handle a real alpha in the locker room like Ashawn I guess.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:03 pm
Vita Vea can report to camp, sit in every meeting, and eat in the cafeteria if he wants. None of that changes the only thing that matters.
If you don’t want to wear the pewter and red, there’s the door.
He’s 31, gave this franchise some good years, and I respect what he’s accomplished. But I bleed for the logo, not the name on the back of the jersey.
If you’re asking for a trade while under contract, don’t expect fans to beg you to stay. Trade him, get the draft capital, and go find a young, hungry dog who actually wants to be a Buccaneer.
And this whole “he’s here, but participation is TBD” routine? That’s like punching a time clock while your heart is already somewhere else. Championship culture doesn’t make exceptions for that.
The Buccaneers were here before Vita Vea, and they’ll be here long after him. Go Bucs.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:05 pm
This could become a win-win.
VV demanding a trade suggests his agent has called around and found a few interested teams. If the Bucs can squeeze a 3rd for a 31yo DT, that’s a win for a rebuilding team.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
We absolutely need to Vea. He completely stops the runs gun. With the new guys that we drafted everyone will be better with him.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
Vita sees the writing on the wall. Another bad defensive year with Bowles trying to figure out what is wrong with his defense. Bowles is not a coach who can analyze an offense. Bowles does not understand cause and effect.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:16 pm
Seems normal for him regardless honestly lol
July 27th, 2026 at 8:18 pm
“Joe hopes the Bucs don’t coddle Vea during his current contract tantrum.”
Hold on, where’s all this attitude for the starting qb? Vita is the better player and a SB winner. Without him you wanna rely on Kancey and a rookie? They need to pay Vita because he can’t be replaced easily. But they won’t pay him cause Licht overpaid bad players on this team so Vita might gone.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Drama drama drama. Right off the bat. Distractions can distract a team unless they have a good solid head coach. Well uhhh. Let’s go Bucs!!
July 27th, 2026 at 8:22 pm
It’s wild how poorly our cap has been managed. We’ve been a middling team for half a decade but are completely cash strapped against the cap for this year and next.
Gas Licht is really knocking it out of the park.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
Didnt Brooks sit out and want to be paid??? I don’t think he was a culture killer. Crosby was traded, fell through and came back with a good attitude. The Bucs have known about this all offseason and haven’t done anything about it. If they knew they weren’t going to pay him, why not trade him around the draft. Seems like there are more problems with this team than anyone has let on. Good culture doesn’t have all your talent leaving or retiring. Should have fired the coach before bringing him back just to have the 26 season be a giant flaming turd not even worth watching.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
This is what happens when you keep an inept HC who has a worse W/L percentage than Lovie Smith and blames his players for his failures. The Bucs fired the great Tony Dungy but keep Bowles for some damn reason.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:26 pm
TOP ON ESPN VEA IS DEMANDING A TRADE!!!!
July 27th, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Trade him.
We’ll get a 4th and be able to carry over his $18m into next years cap
July 27th, 2026 at 8:34 pm
You don’t overpay a d-lineman on the wrong side of 30.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:36 pm
I’m cool with a 2nd or 3rd
July 27th, 2026 at 8:37 pm
He’s still the best player on our defense. Give him a new deal if he’ll still accept one.
July 27th, 2026 at 8:40 pm
Probably get a 3rd round pick for him
July 27th, 2026 at 8:43 pm
PAY VITA NOW!!!!!!!!
LICHT is on the hot seat just as much as Bowles
GO BUCS
July 27th, 2026 at 8:50 pm
But but the players love radio.
Evan’s pieced out. Vita wants out. David hung it up. What’s all this telling ya?
Bowels sucks guys know it
July 27th, 2026 at 9:11 pm
Vea is taking his advice from Suh. Vea also watched Hassan Reddick waste a season of pay, get a crappy deal and then be out of the NFL. He isn’t dumb enough to hold out all year. He wants a few more years of good pay.
Let him hold out, tell him no new deal will be done and he’s forced to play or faces the potential issue of being 32 coming off a season he didn’t play and don’t make any money. He won’t get a good contract (more than he’s making this year). He will play this year and will play hard because he wants one more big multi year contract. It’s no risk.
July 27th, 2026 at 9:12 pm
Licht ROH? Nah. Brady was not because of him. Too many poor draft picks. Too many blown coaching decisions. He got muscled into accepting Bowles.
July 27th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
Honesty my first reaction is WTH but while you really can’t replace him he’s not the same animal he use to be. If he has value trade him and get a corner or some draft capital. Could be a blessing in disguise. Personally he will make bank this year at 18 mill. Deff don’t feel sorry for the guy and everyone saying it’s Bowles fault let’s see why would he do it now and not several years ago. It’s all about money. Suh is his mentor and prob telling him what to do.
July 27th, 2026 at 9:15 pm
So what was the plan if Evans stayed and David didn’t retire?? Where was the money going to go come from to sign Baker and Vea. You can’t restructure Wirfs and Winfield to clear some money up. What about Zyon? Can’t force a Dean move like last year? Trade Zyon and keep Vea, you already know Zyon will just quit and be bored. Some of these signings are not looking very good. Get creative and keep him if you really think this is a team that can make a push. My guess though is it’ll be a lot like last year and the arrogance of thinking the backups are good enough and not willing to get rid of draft picks for depth will kill this team again. And with bad coaching come week 6 the stadium will be all over the owners about Bowels killing the team and should have been fired at the end of last season
July 27th, 2026 at 9:16 pm
Brady tried to leave Bowles a year sooner than he did but the team blocked it.
The rest of these guys are just now catching up to the winner, Brady.
July 27th, 2026 at 9:23 pm
So wont extend Vea 2 yrs but payin a CB2 early. Things already going haywire. JL getting soft
July 27th, 2026 at 9:25 pm
Meanwhile the Bucs reopen wesk talks w Baker on the eve of his deadline
July 27th, 2026 at 9:30 pm
Trade him to a lousy team that’ll cough up some picks.
July 27th, 2026 at 9:31 pm
Can The Bucs Get Crosby 1-1?
July 27th, 2026 at 9:32 pm
Jl weak. Now Suh goin live saying Bucs messing up waiting lill last minute, that they dont value Vita
July 27th, 2026 at 9:37 pm
Suh just posted. Says Vita aint coming to work for free lol
July 27th, 2026 at 9:43 pm
A pattern is developing here. The Bucs want to go cheap so they don’t extend contracts and hope the players signs for less money after the season is over. The pattern is ME played out his contract and left after the season was over. He never considered the Bucs offer. Jamal played out his contract and left. Now Vita will (maybe) play out his contract (missing many games with questionable injuries) and sign elsewhere. And Baker is the next part of the saga. He is a stand up guy like ME and will play out the season. Adios Baker.
July 27th, 2026 at 9:48 pm
18 million dollars!? I’d be set for life if I played just one year for that amount. It is staggering how elitist these guys have become.
July 27th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
For free? Lol he still has year left I wouldn’t trade him I’d make him play his last year players are such divas didn’t expect it from vita but it is what it is.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:30 pm
Remember White he stayed and didn’t play up to his potential. If Vea does the same it’s going to be similar story. The fans and the other players pay for this behavior. Financial advisor Suh at it again.