Jeremy Fowler: Vita Vea “Has ‘Zero’ Intention To Play Under His Deal”
August 4th, 2026
“Todd, I found a good chiropractor at Fidelity — I mean, Tampa General.”
When ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler was at One Buc Palace last week, he didn’t just show up to interview Baker Mayfield for a few minutes and then bolt to Hooters.
No, that same day Joe had several stories to type, including his daily practice notes, and Joe was the last guy to leave One Buc Palace hours after practice had ended.
Well, Joe was almost the last guy. Fowler was still there when Joe left.
So Fowler spent hours at One Buc Palace talking to players, to coaches, to suits. He got a lot of intel. And one piece of intel is that Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea is totally locked in. No new deal, he’s not strapping up a chin strap.
Bucs coaches are not worried about defensive tackle Vita Vea’s absence … yet. It’s early in camp and Vea, who is upset about his contract, can rest. But as one person with the team told me, “talk to me in one to two weeks.” Translation: It would be nice to get him back by mid-August because he’s central to the defense’s success. I’m told Vea is very dug in here and is prepared to wait this out. For how long? That typically depends on a variety of factors, including a player’s resolve with the threat of losing game checks approaching. That’s hard to measure at this stage. But he currently has “zero” intention to play under his deal or without a trade, I’m told. The Bucs have no plans to trade him despite league interest. Something has to give.
But Fowler hits the key point: When Vea starts getting docked game checks, that’s when stubbornness begins to meet common sense.
The Joe typing here is fully cynical about Vea’s hold-in sore back. Oh, Joe believes Vea is grossly underpaid. But Joe fully believes this is as much a ploy to get out of training camp as it is a disgruntled employee seeking fair compensation.
There is no doubt Vea is taking his cues from financially savvy Ndamukong Suh. But Joe doesn’t think Suh, who learned financial tricks from his buddy Warren Buffett, thinks throwing game checks into Tampa Bay is such a smart move.
But, even smart people make dumb decisions. Daily.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Great. MORE drama.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Contractually obligated to play.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:32 am
If its true trade his fat a$$ get what you can before he leaves
August 4th, 2026 at 11:33 am
Again KGB voice. Pay the man his money……..
August 4th, 2026 at 11:34 am
Key word in Fowler’s statement is “currently”.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:36 am
Slim needs a ticket on the Evans Express!
August 4th, 2026 at 11:36 am
Just brutal. I guess we’ve escaped the off the field drama for a while, it had to happen eventually.
I do think it feels a lot worse than it is though, we do need him, and I think he’ll play (not sure if under a new deal though).
I truly do hope the new DL pickups the past couple of years can step up in a big way though. Going to have to have essentially 2 guys with meaningful production to replace Vita.
Something interesting I saw, and I’m not sure if you’ve posted about it is that Nash Hutmacher made the move from NT to Guard. I figure Capehart probably took his spot on the depth chart when he got drafted. How is Nash handling the move? I know he played in high school, but never at Nebraska. Though he was on the practice squad all last year, is there a chance he has another crack from the defensive side of the ball?
I say it all the time but him and Ty Rob were beasts together for Nebraska. I want to see that here in Tampa.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:36 am
“Something has to give.”
Yea, cut the check.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:37 am
First – I have a serious dislike of this kind of behaviour. You signed the contract. The fact that the market has shifted is irrelevant. When you signed it you thought it was great. Now someone inked a big deal at the same position and you think you should have gotten it. If the reverse were true can you imagine the outcry? If a team decided that a position was less valuable and just reduced a salary to match? Do you think the Browns would LOVE to get rid of the Watson deal? Why sign a contract at all? Pay by the game with offseason money per practice etc.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:39 am
Time will tell. Either way VV50 goes. The Buc’s will field a team come September!
August 4th, 2026 at 11:42 am
31, often injured, won’t come down to a decent weight, takes plays off because he gets gassed. Take a second rounder off of anyone crazy enough to offer one, and don’t look back.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:42 am
Lokog Says:
August 4th, 2026 at 11:32 am
If its true trade his fat a$$ get what you can before he leaves
_________________________________
That’s not how the NFL works. He’s not walking at the end of this season if he doesn’t eventually strap up and play because, per the bargaining agreement, for a contractual “good year,” a healthy player has to be actually working toward the year. You can’t sign a four year deal and then sit out the fourth year and walk, unless it’s right into retirement. The team is still owed that final year of the contract, be it now, or in 2027, or 28, or 29…
August 4th, 2026 at 11:42 am
The “Tweak” of ‘26
August 4th, 2026 at 11:42 am
hey wait … this is great … we had 9 years of Gerald McCoy’s surly sour-faced interviews in the locker room! – now we can get a flash-back to the glory days of Bucs circa 2010 – 2018 with Vea – oh joy – can’t wait for Bowles and his locker room pep-talks and shout-outs always ending with “I’ll see you on Tuesday ! or Wednesday ! who gives a f$&k !” – we’ll see who’s smiling after a home loss to the Browns and/or the Vikings
August 4th, 2026 at 11:50 am
This is not that hard. Give the Man another year and pay him. He deserves it and he has a year of 2 left. The same with Baker give him 3 years and pay him.
As I said shame on the Glazers!!!. The only chance at playoffs this year is with those 2.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:51 am
Contracts get refigured because economic conditions change all the time.
The NFL is making record profits every year and Vea wants his share commensurate with his value to the team – and he IS very valuable.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:53 am
Vea refusing to play this season would be a living exhibit of cutting off your nose to spite your face. He won’t do that.
If he held out this season he’d be a 32 year old FA next year with $0 earned in 2026, after missing a season with his old team while trying to squeeze a new team for a contract. By that point he wouldn’t command what he’s getting from the Bucs this year. Anyone signing him would be taking on too much risk to give him more than that.
It’s in Vea’s best interests – him and his family – if he’s on the field balling in game 1. He’s not a stupid man, he’ll be out there.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Vita will get paid within the next couple of weeks…not worried one bit
GO BUCS!!!!
August 4th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Think he only needs 7 games to become a FA. That could certainly torpedo a season. Bucs should either pay him, or trade him. I don’t get wanting to hold on to a disgruntled player. If he’s not happy and is going to half arse it half the season just trade him
August 4th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
@ warrin
“ya just give him a blank check”
You want to write a blank check to an elderly NT?
Offer Vea a little bump in pay for this season.
If Vea doesn’t accept it and won’t play until after week 7 I am OK with that at this point.
Just like Baker – he signed a contract and now wants to pretend he didn’t…
August 4th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Joe – You’ve got to post that entire “Wake Up Barstool” segment from today about “DAVID WALKER.” LoL. Really Funny given the entire context (you wrote about here just the other day)… He is now a celebrity of the show. Good for him. It was the running joke all the way through until the very end, as they went to commercial. SO FUNNY, when T-Bob was like, “Wait, Wait, 3rd or 4th EDGE RUSHER.” It’s really funny that they all even remembered it from the first initial JL interview, AND that YOU just mentioned it right here, from just the other day! “Let Me Circle Back To David Walker.” Lmaooooo. They’re really going to have a DAVID WALKER “Sack-Counter” for this season. LoL. He REALLY ‘LUCKED-OUT’ with this, IF he has a big season. 💯
August 4th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
@ 813
“Vea getting paid this week”
I’m ok with a little bump.
My question to you is – what should that “bump” be?
An extra $5M?
$6M?
$10?
A multi-year deal? How long?
August 4th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
How much could the Bucs even add to his salary this season? If it was as simple as here’s another 4 million to start padding up… would it have happened already?
It’s a long offseason. The Baker thing takes time… the Vea thing, if in March he says hey, I am not playing for you this upcoming season without more money or an extension then maybe something gets done. If it doesn’t seem like an agreement can be reached then you could have traded him pre draft.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
@Marine
you’re aware everybody here can read, right? why make things up?
I told you, you’re my Kathy Bates or the “jackass” guy from Happy Gilmore and no I will not be joining you at the local Sizzler, ever.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
WAKE UP LICHT!! The longer this goes on, the more disgruntle Vea gets, the less game ready he’ll be, and his trade value will continue to drop. Team realize we are losing trade leverage and who wants to pay a premium for a 32 yr old who won’t be fully ready to go until week 4. Trade him NOW, before the cancer spreads. Send a message, be a leader for once instead of dragging your feet and losing equity
August 4th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
Anyway… Well, then BIG VEA can just miss-out on about $18-MILLION late into his career, post 30. When, HE will never be able to recoup, even IF everything was to work out perfectly for him… And, he can be FINED everyday, while he’s at it. Greg Auman also mentioned this on “WUB” today!!!! I agree with Auman AND the Bucs, and have been saying-it since Day-1. The Bucs are playing-it exactly how they should. It’s just part of ‘PROFESSIONAL’ Sports.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
Vita signed a contract. He would be making more money in 1 year than 90% of US citizens will make in a lifetime under that contract. I am sorry I got off on a tangent. What is Vita upset about?
August 4th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Grossly underpaid? The 10th highest paid dlineman is making 21 million Vea is making 18 million only two players are making 30 million
August 4th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Fully-Guarantee THIS season, and give him a 1-year/$22-$24.5MIL Extension, with a couple of MIL fully-guaranteed into next season. He’s should be happy with that, because he’s not getting much better anywhere else. He should take the OVER $20-MIL FULLY-Guaranteed. IF the Bucs are willing to do it. You’re only going to DESTROY his trade value, by offering anything more than that. Teams will NOT BE ‘lining-up’ at the trade-deadline, with 3+YEARS remaining (and lots of ‘guarantees’) on HIM at his age.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
As bad as Licht, Bowles, the Glazers, handled last year and now a straight across the board crap show continually exploding right into this year…
We as fans JUST DON’T NEED THIS!
What is the problem with these guys in management?
Are we blowing it up for a rebuild or not because it sure looks like they are running off EVERYBODY including the only QB that’s actually given us above average production since before and after Brady and that was only for two years. Bowles MADE SURE to play his part! But Jason Licht… by NOT providing protection for Brady with “with reasonably skilled replacements” just like he FAILED to do that last season for Baker EXCEPT it was EVEN WORSE in the QB department because Licht ALSO FAILED to provide a “reasonably decent qb back up as well”! DOUBLE SCREW UP FROM LICHT LAST YEAR IN THE QB DEPARTMENT “ALONE”. Don’t have time to write about the rest!
And the Glazers… Come On Man !!!
August 4th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Alanbucsfan Says:
August 4th, 2026 at 11:51 am
Contracts get refigured because economic conditions change all the time.
The NFL is making record profits every year and Vea wants his share commensurate with his value to the team – and he IS very valuable.
_____________________________
How much money the NFL is making every year doesn’t figure into it. They have a salary cap that they can’t go over. According to Over the Cap, the team cap space is currently $8,369,135. You can’t go around handing people money just because you deem them valuable.
FWIW, I’d also love to see both Baker and Vea get a contract, but with how tight the team is against the cap, signing one means the other is probably on his way out of town or has been traded, which is much easier to do for a defensive lineman than for a QB. The problem is, Vea’s not just any DT. He’s a noseguard, and noseguard is a specialist position almost like QB or kick returner is. You can’t just swap them out without causing problems throughout the defense.
I don’t envy Licht’s job right now, and this whole thing gives me an entirely new reason to despise Suh.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Send him home at this point…
Maybe the Bucs should make a 3rd run at Parcells…he would shut this nonsense down.
This is approaching MRSA + Shiano levels of despair….
August 4th, 2026 at 12:35 pm
VV wasn’t faking injury when he was extended early after his rookie contract.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
Nothing but dramatic. Vita will be on the field week 1. Either with a new deal or playing out yhe current deal.
If Kancey stays healthy and has a big year, I don’t see them paying a aging Vita and letting a younger DT walk.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
My question: Does the team just have to take Vita’s word for it that his back is tweaked? Or can the team doctors evaluate and say nope, he’s lying, start fining him $50k a day.
If we are forced to take his word, can he pull this in the regular season? Just say his back still hurts and he can’t play in games?
August 4th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Again – all you “pay the man” folks – what exactly do you pay him?
He’s a 31 year old DT exiting his prime. You absolutely cannot compare him to top of the market guys like Jalen Carter, Jeffrey Simmons or Dexter Lawrence. They are in, or heading into their prime. Vea, at 31, is past it.
If they bumped him 21-22 for two years, that would be fair to both sides. Anything more would be malpractice on Licht’s part. If he wants Jalen Carter money, trade him now and move on.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
If he is not practicing and is “Holding In” , why don’t the Bucs just send his A$$ home until either his contract dispute is settled OR he is traded. How can he NOT be a distraction to himself, the Bucs FO or the other plaers. At least Baker is practicing and is somewhat locked in having his typical good/bad days of practice.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
Trade him…now. Get something for him before he walks out or becomes a free agent. The Bucs don’t need this kind of drama.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
Here is my little concession deal for Vea…
– 2 year extension
– $24M per yr.
– fully guaranteed
That contract would make Vea the 2nd highest paid NT in the NFL.
If he wants more… It’s going to be an unfortunate set of circumstances IMO.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
What a flaming dumpster fire this is turning into. My advice to Baker and Vea, play your final year of your deals, play hard and build the leverage you need for your next deal. If the trust fund kids won’t pay you, go somewhere else, but at least honor the deals you committed to and stop listening to your slimy agents only looking to make a buck off of you.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
“If he is not practicing and is “Holding In” , why don’t the Bucs just send his A$$ home until either his contract dispute is settled OR he is traded”
You think the front office isn’t playing along with all this?
If there were the bad blood some people are inferring exists, don’t you think they’d want to collect that fine money they could make if they dismissed Vea from camp?
They’re working with him, it’s obvious at this point.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
The best player on their already miserable defense is a problem they absolutely do not need. But without knowing what Vea is demanding, its hard to know whos at fault.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Joe … ‘Oh, Joe believes Vea is grossly underpaid.’
It’s all got to do with when the player signed his contract. Three years ago when Vea signed his (4 yr contract for $71 mil), he was perfectly happy with the contract.
That seems strange in retrospect, because when he signed his 2023 contract, Vea was the 12th highest paid NT/DT in the NFL. He could’ve become a FA if he wanted, but he chose not to. And now he’s crying about a decision which HE made 3 years ago.
A contract is a contract. If you sign it, you play it out. I’ve lost a lot of respect for Vita Vea because of the way he’s playing this. Whether Licht & Bowles are willing to admit it or not, Vea (and Mayfield) are holding the team hostage right now, and that’s totally unacceptable.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Pay the man for crying out loud. He’s got another strong 3-4 years.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Just drove by stadium. His mural does look nice lol
August 4th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
Bucs need to fix this. This is dumb. He is clearly underpaid compared to others in the league at his level. Either get him a new contract or trade him.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
I’ve lost respect for ownership. They’re hamstringing Licht and not allowed by market value contracts for baker and vita. Vita should absolutely be paid. It’s a no brainer.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
If the Bucs believe that we are in play for a Super Bowl run in the next two years, then pay both Vea and Mayfield, if not, trade Vea and let Mayfield test the waters next year.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
I’m a little divided about the Vea situation, on one hand I hope the team and Vea can come to some sort of compromise as he’s a great player and on the other, I have to wonder if the entire situation is a bit of a cancer in the locker room, he’s clearly more dedicated to the almighty dollar than he is to the team’s success. Right now, the Buc’s organization has the better hand and can force Vea to play out his contract until he becomes a free agent, if he is that dug in and refuses to practice or play, he can be fined, and in the end the Bucs retain Vea’s rights until his obligation is fulfilled.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
@ DR
“A contract is a contract. If you sign it, you play it out. I’ve lost a lot of respect for Vita Vea because of the way he’s playing this.”
Ding. Ding. Ding.
We have a winner!
August 4th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
Hey Vita Vea Loco. FAFO!
August 4th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
And BTW, THIS is just 1 more reason why the Bucs should’ve drafted a NT/DT high last year or the year before. Not sure Capehart will be the answer if we lose Vea.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Same with Baker.
You SIGNED the deal.
AND – were thrilled to do so!
Now shut up. Stop pouting. Play football!!!!
August 4th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Extend him, or trade him. One of the two. Do not do nothing.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
SteveK no offense but there is a salary cap and the Bucs are up against it. You don’t just pay someone!
August 4th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
@ DR
“Not sure Capehart will be the answer if we lose Vea.”
Maybe if A-Rob is healthy he can play NT while E-Rob and Capehart fill in for A-Rob’s spot?
We also have Nacho who is an aging but solid reserve…
August 4th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
I’ve said this multiple times. This team is not winning like it should and that is hurting everyone’s pockets right now. The trust fund kids don’t give guaranteed money. They pay a smaller base, but offer larger performance incentives. These guys really, really get paid when they win. With Bowles back as HC after his colossal meltdown and blaming the universe for his ineptitude, these players are not happy. They can’t change the HC, but they can possibly change the terms of their deals to ensure they get paid what they want for the season and beyond. JL and the trust fund kids really made a strategic mistake keeping Bowles for the sake of continuity. If they at least had tried to bring a fresh mind in to be HC, the team may have had more optimism, but there is none no matter how much they parrot the talking points given to them from the propaganda police in the FO. Now you have this mess and they need to get through it and start clean in 27.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
@ AlabamaBucsFan – They just did offer to PAY Baker. For 3-YEARS WORTH. One of the years, the one for this season, when NO ONE ELSE was offering to pay him JACK. And, then for TWO MORE ‘additional’ years, at ‘top-of-the-market’ MONEY. I mean, I really can’t understand HIS problem or complaints. Oh, I know… I know. It’s because HE (and his agent) is trying to shake THEM down, while trying to USE that $30-MILLION as their leverage. NOW, he’s wanting to cry over it AND be all LOUD and PROUD, causing trouble and trying to drum-up sympathy. What a JOKE. It’s fricking PATHETIC. It’s DISGUSTING AF. To the ONLY franchise who has EVER fully supported HIM, and has given HIM a shot, when NOBODY ELSE freaking wanted to. And, they have him a GIFT on his current contract. Go get LOST, “Big” (lol) Bake.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Just trade him already, clearly no heart.
Play out the contract you agreed to like a man.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
Nauseating how many folks round here act like a hold out or hold in is new stuff in the NFL. John Riggins sat out in 1980, Emmit Smith sat out in 1993, and on and on and on. This is how getting a new deal works sometimes.
The tell that the deal will get done is Bucs are not fining VV nor will they-Btw Bucs could start clawing back bonus money too-but they will not. Bucs do not mind VV missing these garbage games anyway, because he will not get put at risk of season ending injury.
VV will be wearing the Red and Pewter and starting game 1-thank goodness.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
The Bucs should sit him down, and say, “Idk now, we’re starting to get a little more concerned with this whole “back” issue.. I mean, you know how it is with these “BACKS” and everything… They can be very finicky, and tend to linger. Especially, after 30.” LoL. Everybody’s just playin’ THE GAME.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
Vita ain’t sitting.. but again we can point the finger at the Glazer family. Speak up, throw the man a Bone. Spend a little money.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
He will lose money, diminish his value and get one year old and more out of shape and more apt to get injured when he finally comes back…BAd idea
August 4th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
@couch If it so miserable why would Vita consider signing again ,You know with mayfield not being “the” qb ..And of course the ” misery ” playing for Bowles??
August 4th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
He signed a deal…he should honor it. Right now, in my humble opinion, he is in breach of contract.
If needed, trade him to the Browns.
August 4th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
I personally do not trust Fowler’s claims…because they come off as more opinionated rather than fact based.
Vita Vea may or may not be sitting out…we’ll see. But if he isn’t, then all is good. If he is, I would trade him to the worst team possible.
August 4th, 2026 at 2:24 pm
The contract Vea signed back in 2022 assumed an anticipated salary cap for the 2026 season that has since gone way up from anticipated numbers.
He is using his leverage as a talented player to be compensated for the cap exceeding expectations.
A contract is a contract is always subject to Business is Business
August 4th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Vita Vea is a unionized employee of the Buccaneers and both are bound by the current CBA. VV is on a “Wildcat Strike of One”.
August 4th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Lefty … ‘but again we can point the finger at the Glazer family. Speak up, throw the man a Bone. Spend a little money.’
The NFL Players Association has a very detailed agreement with the owners about how contracts are supposed to be handled. Seriously doubt that anywhere in there does it say ‘And if you’re unhappy AFTER you sign a contract, please feel free to pout in the media & not show up for work to fulfill the contract’.
I don’t know if I’m the only one who’s concerned about what Vea’s & Mayfield’s actions are having on the rest of the Bucs’ players, but everyone should be. They’re both being very public about how grossly underpaid they are, which is almost humorous since the TEAM that they’re captains of finished 8-9 last season.
They’re both very good players IMO, but ‘grossly underpaid’? Give me a break. One makes over 33 mil per year & the other $18 mil per year. I’ve known a lot of military combat vets who were truly ‘grossly underpaid’. And a lot of teachers & many others like police, firefighters, etc who really are ‘grossly underpaid’. If you want the Glazers to ‘throw a bone’ to someone Lefty, let them throw it to some of them.
August 4th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
@couch If it so miserable why would Vita consider signing again ,You know with mayfield not being “the” qb ..And of course the ” misery ” playing for Bowles??
—-
He shouldn’t. But that shouldn’t stop us from trying.
August 4th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Perhaps people forget, but Vea missed almost the entire 2020 Superbowl season. I think Nacho replaced him (coincidence that Nacho is back on the team?). Vea came back for the NFC Championship game and the Superbowl.
In other words, I love Vea and I hope things work out, but he’s not totally irreplaceable.
August 4th, 2026 at 3:11 pm
“He signed a deal…he should honor it. Right now, in my humble opinion, he is in breach of contract.”
I would not be surprised to hear that the team is helping Vita hold-in, the $50K fine is supposed to be enforced by mandate of the CBA. Who better to know what those rules and more importantly, how to circumvent them than ownership.
Wouldn’t be shocked in hearing that help, is part of the negotiation tact, because even IF our front office wanted to get rid of Vea on the business side, the football people know that we can’t operate in the ideal way we want without Vea. At least not this year.
August 4th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
Play the contract you signed!!! You only play half a game. I say we trade him to the worst team we can find.
August 4th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
My biggest problem leave, is when I hear announcers say this is a contract year player will play harder.
August 4th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
@ Marine Buc Says: “Here is my little concession deal for Vea…
– 2 year extension
– $24M per yr.
– fully guaranteed”
If they are sitting at 2-7 or 3-6 or something at the trade-deadline, and need to move him… NOBODY is ‘signing-up’ for that $48-MILLION “FULLY-GUARANTEED” for the next season. You just DESTROYED his ‘potential’ trade value, and then WE ARE STUCK (hands completely tied), going into a complete REBUILD, with our next HC and GM. You just immediately ‘limited’ your pool of potential suitors/landing spots. And, therefore crushing his trade value from a ‘potential’ possible 3rd-Round (maybe 2nd even, depending on how HE looks, and the circumstances of a ‘bidding war’ & etc.)… To not even a 6th or 7th. Cause, NO ONE is RISKING $48-MILLION+ (fully-guaranteed) of THEIR 2027 AND 2028 Salary Caps on a 32-33 YEAR OLD ‘run-stuffing’ NT.
August 4th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Well said defense rules,
I hate when players act like little bit#@$ches
August 4th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Ownership isn’t helping him every player that’s ever played knows that a back is extremely hard to diagnose so that’s the go to excuse when holding out. I’d make vea play his contract and them Move on with his replacement next season at 31 with him only being able to be effective with limited snaps what trade value is there they should have done it last season or at the very least before the draft.
August 4th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
Right now it doesn’t matter. After the preseason he will either have to work out or miss time. If he chooses to sit out games we can always trade him to a team that needs a tackle, but I just don’t see him giving up game checks. In his case that’s a million a game. Plus 1/17 of a million roster bonus. No matter how big a raise he’s likely to get next year he will never recoup that. Especially if he goes to a high tax state.
August 4th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
Obviously it’s hard to definitively prove a back injury, but they can put him on IR and he only gets paid a small amount. I’m sure it’s over a million dollars, but that’s a pittance to Via. He has no more guaranteed money.
August 4th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
Send him to the house. Make plans to move forward without him. He’s causing more harm than anyone can imagine. These over paid athletes need to get real….
August 4th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
I mean, you can just take Baker Mayfield, for instance. Almost EVERYONE’S immediate reaction is “Yeah, Sign The Man,” & etc. But, that is because it is EMPTY. None of these guys actually ‘follow’ THE BUCS. So, you’ve got about 75% of them all, as being on “BAKER’S SIDE.” But, when they actually start discussing ALL of the little details, and truly debate THE REALITY from both sides… The entire tone almost immediately, begins to change. And, within about 2-3 minutes, that initial 75% being ‘all-in’ on BAKER, drops to about 2%. WHY!? Because, they started to look at EVERYTHING, and then decide what “THEY” would do if it were “THEMSELVES,” and THEIR TEAM. It all becomes an entirely different story, at that point.