Vita Vea Reported To Training Camp
July 28th, 2026
Today was player check-in day at One Buc Palace for the start of the 2026 season.
The first training camp practice is tomorrow.
One guy who showed up, per what Joe was told and per a Buccaneers.com photo array of players arriving, is Vita Vea.
The Super Bowl/Pro Bowl defensive tackle has asked to be traded, but it appears he likes the Bucs and himself enough to show up and try to avoid a fine. Players can be fined up to $50,000 per day for missing training camp.
It’s unclear if Vea will practice tomorrow in any capacity. It’s also unclear whether the Bucs will fine him if he doesn’t.
Perhaps Vea showing up today means there’s hope for Vea and the Bucs to reconcile and keep him on the field. Sadly, it feels more likely that Vea probably came to work to avoid a fine.
July 28th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
What an s show this season has become and we haven’t even played a worthless preseason game yet smh
I have a feeling Joe is going to hear a ton of stories that are “off the record” that he will not be able to tell us.
July 28th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
Pay the man or trade the man. It’s that simple. Don’t try and hardball one of our better players of the past decade. He’s a beast. Deserves a raise or a trade. Go Bucs!
Ownership>Licht>Bowles are the pain points in that order.
July 28th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
Who else thinks Vea will hold in with a mystery injury. The days of hold outs are over. Now they participate in everything but getting on the field.
July 28th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
He’s the best player on the best part of a terrible defense. Getting rid of him is just insane. You are not replacing him with a draft pick. Pay the man, its that simple. He’s way more deserving than the middling QB.
July 28th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
Vea being besties with Suh is both a blessing and a curse. I always like Vea and I hope the Bucs keep him around, but I understand this is a business and sometimes it just doesn’t work out like you want it to.
July 28th, 2026 at 5:57 pm
Big guys like Vea don’t have as long a playing carreer. The most important signing is Baker, so get it down and get a 2nd round pick for Vea. Finding playoff contending Quarterbacks isn’t easy and the Bucs have an unfortunate history of ever drafting a true franchise quarterback.
July 28th, 2026 at 5:57 pm
They are not going to let him practice if they are trying to trade him. Need him to pass a physical to be traded.
July 28th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
…
July 28th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
I still think he is concerned this team will not do well and that means not getting the incentive payouts he is expecting on his current contract, if this team goes to the playoffs and more. The Glazers don’t do guaranteed money, unless you are Tom Brady. They give a modest base salary with layers of performance incentives. Losing games means you lose an opportunity to make more money and the meltdown of last season left this crew scarred. They do not trust Bowles to do better than .500. I mean, this is what AI had to say about Bowles…
Defense underperforms his reputation — as a defensive “guru,” his scheme has repeatedly been picked apart by mediocre-to-bad quarterbacks; the defense ranked outside the top half of the league in points allowed and had the league’s worst red zone defense in 2025
Chronic post-bye collapses — a recurring pattern nearly every season, capped by the 2025 stretch where the Bucs went 1-7 after the bye and nearly blew a division lead they’d built early
Poor performance in one-score games — inconsistency in close games (at one stretch 4-7 in one-score contests), suggesting in-game adjustments and clock/game management are a weak point
Conservative, stodgy play-calling — criticized as unimaginative and slow to adapt, especially on offense, failing to exploit mismatches or push tempo
Low ceiling even in “good” years — across his head-coaching career, five losing seasons out of eight, only one playoff win, and a max of about 10 wins including playoffs
Defensive personnel gaps not fixed — struggles at inside linebacker and cornerback have persisted multiple offseasons without adequate roster fixes, undermining the scheme he’s supposed to excel at
Wins have leaned on weak competition — three division titles came in a historically weak NFC South rather than through consistently beating strong opponents (notably struggling against top-10 teams)
Accountability/culture questions — critics point to a lack of urgency or edge in the locker room, and his public comments after collapses (blaming players/effort) have been seen as deflecting responsibility rather than owning results
July 28th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
Jalen Carter just signed at 38 Mil per year
VV out stats Jalen Carter over the last 3 years in sacks and tackles
Do you see now??? Pay the man-he has earned it.
July 28th, 2026 at 6:11 pm
It’s funny the Eagles can pay anyone any amount , any time . We have trouble paying Jack dookie
July 28th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
I could see raising his salary to the low 20s and guaranteeing it for the year, maybe 2. Any more than that and the DT contracts are getting insane.
July 28th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Sign vita and let baker walk baker carr deserves to be paid anywhere but in tampa
July 28th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
Well it Vita Vea in ‘top’ shape?
If he goes to the 49ers…. I want a DT back…. I don’t just want a draft pick or picks and and I would also take Brandon Aiyuk, provided that he would go to Tampa in shape and a good attitude.
July 28th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
@lightningvinnie1, very good point, the pigeons don’t have a salary cap, this has to be investigated,by the NFL; what’s going on???
July 28th, 2026 at 6:29 pm
Looks like it’s gonna be one of those seasons if they allow it. I think it’s telling where the owners sit if you’re not paying Vita or Mayfield. If you’re that on the fence about the people why bring the coach back for another year. You knew both guys wanted money at the end of the year, so why waste everyone’s time. Seems stupid to be in the same boat since Feb.
July 28th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
Lefty_R Says:
If he goes to the 49ers…. I want a DT back…. I don’t just want a draft pick or picks and and I would also take Brandon Aiyuk, provided that he would go to Tampa in shape and a good attitude.
That is an insane take. That guy is a walking problem, he’s more of a diva than Terrell Owens or Meshawn Johnson ever tried to be. The wanting a DT back is smart but Aiyuk is bad juju.
If Crosby is available, make that trade, throw in a 4th with Vita and be done with it. This season is getting out of control already.
July 28th, 2026 at 6:35 pm
They’re going to move the team to London- mark my words
July 28th, 2026 at 6:36 pm
Test
July 28th, 2026 at 6:39 pm
Regardless of what happens with Vea or Mayfield’s contract situation, they are both under contract for this year and if they feel like they are worth more than they are being paid and deserving of an extension with guarantees, the best way of proving that is on the field.
Both should try to play balls out this season, putting them in an extremely advantageous negotiating position with the Bucs or another team come season’s end.
Holding out or lashing out at the current team will only hurt their value.
July 28th, 2026 at 6:47 pm
Why does it feel like he is just avoiding a fine??? Any details? Or just hearsay?
July 28th, 2026 at 6:49 pm
I hope he gets paid. He deserves it. If Tampa wont pay him I hope he gets traded.
Millionaires over billionaires.
July 28th, 2026 at 6:53 pm
If he doesn’t practice and just stands around, because he “showed up” id fine his ass every single day he didn’t get to work!
July 28th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
If one million a game isn’t enough, send his ass packin.
July 28th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Licht & Greenberg better be working this out
July 28th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
Via can hold in all he wants. As long as he practices and plays in September.
July 28th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
Why does this team feel like its in a rebuild mode. They didn’t really address the Cornerback situation in a meaningful way. They aren’t going to sign Baker or Vea to a new contract this year. Chances are Vea will either be traded or he’s gone in free agency. Honestly I think Vea wanted out last year. As far as Baker. The team says they want him and Baker says he wants to stay. Its a funny way to show a player he’s wanted. Making him play out his contract on his final year. Says they don’t have faith in his future with the team. I wouldn’t be surprised if Baker walked in free agency on principle. Without Baker this is the worst team in the worst league in football. Strange game Licht is playing. Maybe there’s more to Mayfield’s injuries than we are seeing. Specifically that left shoulder that has plagued him for years. If thats the case trade Baker. Trade Vea. Tank the season. And rebuild through the draft in one or two years.
July 28th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
Trade him !Suh has ruined him, im sure
July 28th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
JefffeeyLane77
Sir, what are you talking about? The team showed they wanted Baker and offered an extension which HE CHOSE NOT TO SIGN. Lol…why are so many people confused about this? If Baker wanted to be here, he would’ve signed. He thinks he’s worth more. We’ll see how that works out.
Give the raise to Vita.