Report: Vita Vea Out Of Bucs Uniform, Colors At Practice Is A Sign
August 17th, 2026
UPDATED: Yes, manbeast Bucs defensive tackle Vita “Trade Me” Vea was at Bucs practice today and seen not wearing team colors.
Vea is not practicing/pouting because the Bucs won’t give him a raise or a contract extension that meets his desires. But at past practices, Vea has been seen wearing a Bucs hat and his trademark No. 50 jersey. He wore that Tuesday in New Jersey but was dressed more casual on Wednesday.
During an NFL Network report following that Wednesday practice, reporter Mike Garafolo noted how players in Vea’s bitter-about-a-contract shoes often won’t put on team colors. It’s a sign of protest and frustration, Garafolo said, noting what he saw from Vea on Wednesday.
Joe waited until today to share this — to see if Vea perhaps spilled coffee or pomegranate juice on his jersey last week. Apparently not. Today, Vea was seen in black street clothes at One Buc Palace, though Evan Closky of Ch. 10 Sports tells Joe that Vea was wearing a practice jersey during the final 20-plus minutes of Bucs practice.
Garafolo seems to think Vea out of his jersey means something.
Whatever it means, Joe believes, it can’t be good for Vea’s chances of playing for the Bucs this season.
Vita Vea is all smiles this morning after practice with former Bucs teammate Beau Allen. pic.twitter.com/yS0t92kivq
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) August 17, 2026
August 17th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
🤣🤣🤣
What a reach !
Yeah, what the NFL Network reporter around Vea last week says on national TV about Vea’s clothing choice — and noting it’s a common protest around the NFL — is a total reach. Joe should have ignored it.–Joe
August 17th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
His perogative… probably has the mindset that the more of a distraction he becomes the sooner the team will look to move him.
August 17th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
Maybe he got a Nike endorsement to offset game check’s
August 17th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
He’s using his old Bucs gear as TP to save money.
I guess $18 million puts you in the poor house.
If I had control, he’d already be gone. Everyone is replaceable.
And even with him the Swiss cheese scheme is awful.
Trade him now.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
The Bucs very well could have offered him a raise to sweeten the last year of his contract in order to get him motivated to play out the year. His camp could’ve just said no. We want a long-term deal or a trade. I would think at this point it’s more likely that this happened than it didn’t.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Will be very interesting to see him turn down that $1 million game check. We shall see.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Wearing all black in the summer is diabolical.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Figures
August 17th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
I was recently looking at Haloti Ngata’s career statistics. They fell off a cliff after his 9th year in the league. Very similar spot to where Vita is now. Interesting.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:18 pm
HUGE REACH!!!!!!!!
Ive seen BUC player wear black underneath their game and practice gear….if he was wearing green or blue that would be a story
Cmon Joe…you’re better than that
GO BUCS!!!!
August 17th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Getting kind of sick of hearing about this dude. Clearly he doesn’t want to play here, and he’s become a daily distraction to the players who want to be here. Id ask for a 2nd, and send him to the worst team who offers. Good riddance, no Ring of Honor, thnks fr the Mmrs
August 17th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
“What a reach “
Is my conclusion and opinion!
August 17th, 2026 at 1:22 pm
Smart choice to wear all black with today’s heat index. Did his buddy Suh help him with that outfit?
August 17th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
TRADING HIM WOULD HIT OUR SALARY CAP FOR A TUNE OF 56MIL HE CAN SIT OUT THE YEAR BE FINED AND OWE THE BUCS MONEY FOR ALL I CARE ….THESE PLAYERS MAKE CRAZY MONEY TO PLAY A GAME STOP YOUR b@&$HIN
August 17th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
It’s definitely a message. Get this guy off of the team asap. Get some draft picks. Other teams will have to resign him though or he is not going to want to play. I would love to see him hold out and loose all of his game checks. At this point he hasn’t even practiced and it’s Andrew weeks until the season starts.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
LET’S MOVE ON JOE … UNTIL THERE IS REAL NEWS
I’m fatigued of the VV negativity. Who cares what he’s wearing.
A lot of young studs on the team.
A lot of competition for the final roster.
Only 13 days until final cuts. Maybe some DBs become available?
Another preseason game.
A lot of good stories to write.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:35 pm
Bills need him most; VV would be tremendous improvement in their SuperBowl odds. If I was a Buffalo fan/front office, would be pounding the table into smithereens.
Challenging situation made worse because we already have likely compensatory pick in our back pocket so trade would have to beat that plus losing best DL for this upcoming season. Plus satisfy VV’s desired compensation. Plus be in CA or LV. Plus….aww screw it.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Licht understands who has leverage right now, and it’s not Vita. I love him as a player but the Bucs have the better hand in this poker match. While I think he should get a raise for this year only and depart on good terms next year, the Bucs obviously feel otherwise.
$1M per week in lost money starts for Vita three weeks from now. With all due respect to Vea’s agent, his client will soon be cuttting off his nose to spite his face. Whether he gets the raise, trade or new deal he wants there’s no good reason to burn $17.8 in cash to prove a point.
This soap opera doesn’t make the Bucs look good around the league – and might bite them when they compete for players in the next offseason. That doesn’t seem to bother them, and it’s another area where Vita and his agent seem to have miscalculated.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
BUCSFAN4LIFE Says:
TRADING HIM WOULD HIT OUR SALARY CAP FOR A TUNE OF 56MIL HE CAN SIT OUT THE YEAR BE FINED AND OWE THE BUCS MONEY FOR ALL I CARE
*********************
Lay off whatever you’re smoking or snorting dude. The cap hit for trading Vea before the season starts is $4.1M and NOT ’56MIL’!
August 17th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
NObody is going to trade for a player that takes so many plays off.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
Licht…you already paid him early and often with his last contract. It’s time to send him home. This is bleeding over to the fellas who will be here Week 1…including YaYa and Mauch who may be contract extension candidates themselves.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Winny Testaverde Says:
Licht…you already paid him early and often with his last contract. It’s time to send him home. This is bleeding over to the fellas who will be here Week 1…including YaYa and Mauch who may be contract extension candidates themselves.
***************
Vita’s a lot of things, but a toxic locker room presence isn’t one of them. It becomes a ‘thing’ if the Bucs block him from entering the building. Then the national media will constantly ask each and every player they can about it as a non-stop item for discussion. Also, do you think Yaya and Mauch wouldn’t notice what the Bucs do with their team mate?
August 17th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
He has no leverage and he has now burned whatever bridges he might have crossed. A player his size needs training camp. He only was available for about 60 per cent of the plays. He is a unique talent and we will miss him clogging the middle but he never turned out to be that much of an asset to the pass rush. Obviously, he doesn’t want to play here. But this was not a smart move.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
These hold outs usually never end well. Especially for guys on the wrong side of 30 looking for one last big contract.
Here’s a crazy novel idea..play out the contract you signed and if you have a great year, you will get a fat new contract from someone.
Or, keep taking poor advice and rot on the sidelines.
August 17th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
Trade him, the defense will still be the same with or without him
They’ve been very soft for the last 3 years with him, they can be soft without him
August 17th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
Bye bye you big bloated biotch.
August 17th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
some of yall are funny…
his job is to clog up the middle which we’ve seen him do consistently….
AT HIS SIZE, we’ve also seen him drop into coverage….more than a few times…ive never seen Q.Williams, J.Simmons or J.Carter drop into coverage
IF Vita was asked to play every snap and play the run on his way to rushing the QB, his numbers would be even better…..he’s playing within the defense and executing his assignment
Licht is screwing this up big time and teams are waiting for Licht to make another mistake is they can capitalize….
GO BUCS!!!!
August 17th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
@ LouiseFiend
We can agree to disagree. He may not be toxic overtly…but the situation becomes more toxic by the practice. Now he’s doing the neutral color thing for attention/in protest. I hope the other players do take notice. vV received an early extension and YaYa & Mauch may also.
Continuing to pretend he isn’t there while he’s in plain sight is a chaste move.
August 17th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Vita aint going nowhere this year….
he’s simply not risking getting injured prior to the season…
he’ll be starting week1 vs the bengals, play every game and become an All Pro…then he’ll walk out the door and head to California
GO BUCS!!!!
August 17th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
Wondering if the black shirt is also a sign? Like Silver and Black aka Raiders!
He’ll regret that move if that’s where he goes
August 17th, 2026 at 2:17 pm
VV is just turning up the heat. He doesn’t have much leverage, but he sure is trying. Fake injury, now different attire. My next guess, he’s going be sitting at home with covid.
August 17th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
might as well trade him and often injured kancey together in a mega deal…
kancey’s game is absolutely built and predicated around vita…
little fish swimming next to the big fish…
kancey will be rendered possibly average with out being able to navigate around big vita…
oh wait i forget….often injured kancey is actually quite average right now…
maybe we can r@pe a team and get a 1st and 2nd for the pair in despair
or a 1st and a 3rd………?
August 17th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
Winny Testaverde Says:
@ LouiseFiend
We can agree to disagree. He may not be toxic overtly…but the situation becomes more toxic by the practice. Now he’s doing the neutral color thing for attention/in protest. I hope the other players do take notice. vV received an early extension and YaYa & Mauch may also.
Continuing to pretend he isn’t there while he’s in plain sight is a chaste move.
******************
Yaya is definitely not getting an early extension, and neither will Mauch. There’s a lot of tape of Diaby being a good but not great pass rusher, and Mauch was out of the lineup last season so there’s still some question about his league value I’d imagine. Signing either of them early would be a mistake for both parties.
Diaby and the Bucs need to see how he does as a pass rusher without the TE/RB/OL double teams that Bain should draw, which has limited Yaya so far in his career. Honestly I don’t think anyone can accurately say what he’s worth with how his career has gone so far.
I’m not sure the Bucs and Mauch are going to be together next year. Mauch might be good enough to get a much bigger pay raise from another team than the Bucs want to pay. It wouldn’t be the first time for Licht letting a starting OL test free agency. RG Alex Cappa ended up with nearly $9M per year from the Bengals. Massive overpay but good for him. Mauch might be in the same boat.
August 17th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
This isn’t fantasy football. There’s $8.5 million to work with and more than one player who wants a new deal.
I was willing to give Vita wide latitude for the first couple of weeks of this, thinking he’d eventually come around but damn, dude… this is well past ridiculous. The Bucs aren’t a fantasy football team and money actually is a factor.
Vita needs to suck it up and go the right thing. Does it suck that he’s not paid top money all these years after the Bucs made him one of the highest paid DT’s in football (yes, I know he’s a NT, which is a specialty position)? Absolutely, but Vita wasn’t complaining about the length of the deal when he signed it, and with the loner term deals, you’re eventually going to run into a point where your peers start making more money than you. That’s how long term deals work. So either you want a big money contract or you want length and stability. Don’t sign a length-and-stability contract and then start complaining that it’s no longer the highest paid in the league anymore.
August 17th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
BUCSFAN4LIFE Says:
“TRADING HIM WOULD HIT OUR SALARY CAP FOR A TUNE OF 56MIL”
That is 100% untrue.
August 17th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Dead cap is $6,478,460 on Vea. Cap Hit is $22,194,460.
He’s making $17,000,000 this year.
August 17th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Keep in mind Trading him would transfer the balance to the new team.
I flipped to the trade him side yesterday. Free up that $17,000,0000-22,194,460 for Mayfield.
August 17th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
I really don’t understand Jason and the Glazers. These are players are valuable to the team. Not only in past production, but team morale. There’s been no indication that any of that has changed. It can’t be the salary cap because that increased as always.
These players are good for the team and good for the fans. What fan doesn’t scream and celebrate when these guys make the spectacular plays we’re used to?
Pay them. Pay them now. Stop playing mind games.
August 17th, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Vita not suiting up is apart of the business
Vita does not have any guaranteed money remaining on his base salary for the 2026 season and his upcoming salary is not guaranteed before Week 1 unless a new extension or restructure is finalized…
Vita is not going to risk his future by practicing were he could get a freak injury….he’s a true professional and he’ll be in shape ready to role week1
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 17th, 2026 at 3:05 pm
BuccoMarty Says:
This isn’t fantasy football. There’s $8.5 million to work with and more than one player who wants a new deal.
**********
Negotiating a new deal for Vea reduces his cap charge this season and makes his salary tolerable in 2027 as well. It’s what comes after (age 33+) when he’s less likely to perform at a high level that Licht doesn’t want to be stuck with.
Giving Vea a hypothetic new deal I think he’d sign would be 4 years for $72m (1 void year) with a $35M signing bonus and would work out like this:
2026: $8.75M signing bonus cap hit + $1M salary = $9.75M cap charge
2027: $8.75M bonus cap hit + $10M salary = $18.75M cap charge
2028: $8.75M bonus cap hit + $24M salary = $32.75M cap charge
2029 (void): $8.75M bonus cap charge
The Bucs would be paying Vita an average of $24M per season for him but $43M would come on the back end with him over 33 years old – where it’s tough to say he could be expected to be healthy.
This is a contract stand off I don’t really don’t want Vita to win.
August 17th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Aloha…pay here. Wont make a bit of diff.
August 17th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
He cant drop in to coverage In the Bowles drop out game plan.
August 17th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
I’d be willing to pay for an edit function for posts here, lol.
August 17th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
Tomorrow Joe will have an insider scoop to what underwear Vea is wearing and how that could reflect the state of negotiations.
August 17th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
Yeah, I noticed the Bucs hat up in Jersey, too! I had to do a double take and zoom-in on the photo just to be sure though, since my first reaction was a little shocked to see. I didn’t know what to make of it. You always want to pay close attention to these things, whether it’s their choice of clothing, social media bio, or etc. Because, you better know that everything is all ‘intentionally’ planned-out, and meant to send a message. In one way, or another.
August 17th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Vita looks mad as hell in that picture!
August 17th, 2026 at 3:56 pm
They’re going to keep him until they get the ‘RIGHT’ deal. It’s not so say to just ‘move him’ now, that EVERYONE already knows that the Bucs are in a bad situation, and pretty much HAVE TO… Since, Vea is ‘intentionally or unintentionally’ (he just doesn’t care – doesn’t matter to HIM) his value. On top of all of that, the other team has to agree to an EXTENSION (more than likely), since VEA has already clearly stated that HE’s NOT playing on an expiring 1-year contract for $18-MILLION. So, you don’t have the first clue, as to whether or not, if the BUCS aren’t already TRYING TO trade him. Which I’m sure THEY ARE. It’s just not that easy. Vea put us in THE WORST possible situation, with the timing of this. It’s ALL BS. And, this SHOULD TARNISH his Bucs Legacy 💯. Ya know, why trade him for a 4th or 5th… Might as well WAIT until the trade deadline, when you get a couple of legit “contenders” looking to make a BIG move. Or, just say to hell with it then, and SCREW YOU VEA. Not only will you not get paid a DIME for this season… You’re also, NEVER gettin that big longterm “extension” you’re looking for, EITHER. We’ll just hold onto your rights going into next season as well, so you might as well just go ahead, AND RETIRE.
August 17th, 2026 at 4:19 pm
What no one knows is what he’s been offered already. Is it zero or have they offered him a shot term extension? Is he looking for $30 million?
August 17th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
Hopefully we will see an article he’s traded soon.
August 17th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
Also, you have to think about how serious he is about getting traded. He could have told the Bucs I’m done here find a trade partner that’s a Super Bowl contender.
August 17th, 2026 at 4:24 pm
Thanks for the report, Fashion Joe! What color shoes is Dev Culp wearing?
August 17th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
@ Fanofdabucs Says: “These hold outs usually never end well. Especially for guys on the wrong side of 30 looking for one last big contract.
Here’s a crazy novel idea..play out the contract you signed and if you have a great year, you will get a fat new contract from someone.”
Exactly. NEVER. I believe that the closer and closer it got to the season, he started thinking about what was the most likely scenario happening… And, that was him getting DUMPED before this upcoming trade-deadline. So, he tried taking ahold of his own destiny, but he never held the cards to do so. He wanted to try to dictate and control when and where he went next. And, to get that team fully locked in. He wants it all RIGHT NOW, and doesn’t want to risk the many unknowns. I guess, his agent and Suh have convinced him that he can get that big longterm ‘extension’ NOW. So, we shall see… I really hope he does at this point, so that we can all just move on. It has to be at least a 3rd though, and a 6th for 4th swap or something… IF we are at least due a 3rd Round Comp Pick regardless, either way. And, I’m not sure that another team would even do that right now, while also having to hand him a longterm extension. To hell with both of em… Suh AND Vea.
August 17th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
Let’s also remember that if Vita sits out his agent doesn’t get paid too! So you can imagine what’s going on behind the scenes to get this resolved.
August 17th, 2026 at 4:48 pm
Would Vea had tried RETURNING a single PENNY of that money he received early for his own personal COMFORT, if he had played poorly or been injured!? Yeah, I don’t think so. I mean, he was totally free to have signed a short term deal, at the time.
August 17th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
@ adam from ny says: “maybe we can r@pe a team and get a 1st and 2nd for the pair in despair
or a 1st and a 3rd………?”
In the most LOADED Draft-Class of ALL-TIME!? On two players who are both, basically on expiring contracts!? I mean, the Bucs picked up Kancey’s 5th-year, BUT he only plays in half the games anyway. NOBODY is doing that. Just because you add extra players to a trade, it doesn’t increase the trade’s value. NO ONE is even giving a 4th for Kancey right now… It would be a HUGE red flag for every team in the league. And, you’d do REAL WELL, if you could even get a 2ND for Vea straight up. I see people do this all the time, but usually with just a BUNCH of trash players… And, I’m like, LMAO. Now, WHY in the WORLD would anyone else want YOUR TRASH, that you don’t want in the first-place!? And, THEN give YOU actual ‘picks’ for it… Much less, a 1ST or something!? It’s NUTS. You have to always ask yourself, if things were completely reversed and you were the OTHER TEAM involved… Would “I” do it if “I” were THEM!? And, the chances are extremely high, that if YOU wouldn’t do it… Then, neither would THEY.
August 17th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
Black and pewter are both buccaneer colors…major reach on this joes part.
Let’s not get the wagon before the horses on this one.
August 17th, 2026 at 5:31 pm
Sad it’s come to this. If I’m Vea and I see worthless Zyon get an extension a year early, I’d be done with the Bucs too. Now it’s going to be who can screw who. Just trade him.
August 17th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
melvin:
true true…i forgot kancey got picked up for his 5th…i assumed he was under contract for a couple years – thinking he could sweeten the pot in a vita trade…
yeah so 2 dudes on expirings isn’t fetching much…
i’d think you could get a 3rd easily for vita…a 2nd would be nice…
also i always question how good kancey can be without swimming next to vita…he’s small and fast, but has been trained to scheme around vita…no vita could mean a lesser kancey…that’s why i figured package the duo in a trade to a team in the hunt or desperate as the season wears on towards the deadline…
just some thoughts as the season approaches
August 17th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
I say the f you should sign a contract then live by it until the terms have expired. DWYSYAGTD. I love VV (the man beast) but he did not have the kind of season last year that deserves a new contract with a huge pay increase.
I say VV plays for the Buccaneers or he doesn’t play at all. Why should the Bucs trade him to a team that can use him against them.
It’s a Business, the owners and GM will handle it.
Go Bucs !!
August 17th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
Send him home until he’s ready to play or he decides to retire. He has no choice but to honor his contract and if he becomes a distraction do him like Brandon Aiyuk….
August 17th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
adam from ny – I mean, Kancey does have 2-seasons left (I think so, since they picked up the 5th), but the thing is he’s barely been healthy enough to play. If the Bucs suddenly wanted to trade him outta nowhere, right after picking up his 5th year option (& etc.), then that would raise some major red-flags on him. And, I don’t know how much value that he would even have at this point, given that he’s barely played. My guess would be not very much. Definitely, nowhere even CLOSE to a 2nd. Regardless, 1-year or 2-years remaining, he’s not worth a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, and prob not even a 4th, in 2027’s LOADED Draft. At least he’s not yet, at this point. He’s someone with A LOT left to prove.
August 17th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
At what point do we start calling this what it is and start fining him.
August 17th, 2026 at 6:44 pm
I think it’s time to give vita. The marcus allen treatment.
August 17th, 2026 at 6:49 pm
Just send his ass to Cleveland already.