Vita Vea Slowing Down?
July 29th, 2025
Savvy veteran.
Folks who follow Joe on Twitter (@joebucsfan) have seen Joe mention more than once or twice how much Vita Vea looks slimmed down. That may not be his only physical attribute that has changed.
Speaking yesterday to the local pen and mic club, Vea, 30, seemed to admit he’s slowed down as a football player.
Asked what has changed for him since he was drafted by the Bucs 12th overall in 2018, Vea suggested he’s a smarter but maybe slower.
“You want to say it gets a little easier, but it kind of does not,” Vea said of his eighth NFL training camp. “The game, over the years, slows down for you. You start to learn more and more, when you think you know everything, you actually do not, so you learn more every day.
“[You] just still try and be a student of the game and learn more as you go.”
Joe doesn’t know if Vea being slimmer is for stamina or speed. Or both.
It used to drive Joe bananas that Vea barely took half the defensive snaps. A man that good needs to be on the field. But in the past four seasons, Vea’s percentage of defensive snaps played has increased each year.
Is that because he is smarter? In better shape? Joe can’t say. Being a smarter player does allow one to play quicker, even if he’s slowed a little by all the trenches battles and Father Time.
Maybe the leanest Joe has ever seen Vita Vea look.
Atlanta-ready! pic.twitter.com/itynHZlSPO— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) July 28, 2025
July 29th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
Kind of confused at the usage of the quote. He said THE GAME has slowed down for him, not vice versa.
Vita saying training camp is not getting easier suggests he’s not a kid anymore and has lost a little juice. Nothing too out of the ordinary, though not every player will admit it. Playing smarter can overcome lost speed.–Joe
July 29th, 2025 at 5:04 pm
I agree with BucsOnDeck, maybe we are all slowing down a bit HA
July 29th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
Clearly was referring to the game slowing down for him. Something most rookies say after year 1. This is CNN level journalism just to get a story.
July 29th, 2025 at 5:21 pm
Agreed with BucsOnDeck, the context of Vea’s quote doesnt match with the headline or article. He’s speaking about the mental, not physical aspects of his game
July 29th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
I guarantee Vita is still the fastest 350+ Lb’er in the league.
This is a misread by Joe.
Vita will hit 20mph on topend still.
He’s not slowing down yet.
July 29th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
When was the “savvy veteran” picture taken? That version of Vita explains the lack of stamina label. Just ask Rhonde how experience & play recognition can overcome a lack of speed.
July 29th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
Ummm–sorry Joe, I’m gonna agree with the first post here. Unless there’s more to the quote then he seems to be clearly talking about how the game has slowed down for him—not that HE has slowed down. It seems like y’all are misreading the statement.
July 29th, 2025 at 5:45 pm
I also believe he meant the game has slowed down, not him.
July 29th, 2025 at 5:58 pm
Bad reporting, Joe.
Not sure why you love to bag on VV over the years. He’s the cornerstone of the defense. We love the guy and your viewers are Bucs fans. We prefer to celebrate our players. If you wrote a responsible article, we’d be high fiving. Delete this garbage.
July 29th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Coach him up. Too bad he didn’t have someone like Dungy tell him he could be a HoFer if he was disciplined, controlled his conditioning and his weight.
July 29th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
I’m confused too. That’s clearly not what he said no matter how to try and spin it. He’s just saying training camp is a grind every year regardless what year it is.
July 29th, 2025 at 6:59 pm
VV is not the cornerstone of this defense Sly.
LVD is.
July 29th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
I’d have to agree.
That’s the leanest and meanest I’ve ever seen Vita looking.
After 7 seasons, the game should be slowing down for him. And if he’s playing smarter, even better. He’ll be more effective and a better defender.
July 29th, 2025 at 7:55 pm
Can’t carry that weight for all those years without taking its toll. I believe when VV’s contract runs out he’s probably done
July 29th, 2025 at 8:12 pm
yeah joe…you’re doing a bit of a cnn move here…lol…got me confused, and i was re-reading it over and over…ha it’s ok, luv you guys!…
from the new pic tho…vita is really looking lean and mean…
gotta love it !
July 29th, 2025 at 8:15 pm
i’ve watched big vita come in leaner the last few years…but honestly as the season wears on, he seems to put back on the weight…or at least some of the weight…
i love food like a mofo………so i certainly understand…chowing down is one of the pleasures of life for a hedonist…
and if i had the money & contract to eat like a king all day everyday – i certainly would
July 29th, 2025 at 8:56 pm
“Ccostello Says:
July 29th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
This is CNN level journalism just to get a story.”
LOL!
July 29th, 2025 at 10:51 pm
Love JBF, but not title bait crud
July 30th, 2025 at 2:13 am
I’m with some others here, he’s clearly talking about the game slowing down, not himself. If anything, he looked faster than ever last year when he was slimmed down a little. I just hope he does not slim down too much. Needs to retain that strength because it’s double teams all day long.
July 30th, 2025 at 2:27 am
Faux News had to pay $787 million for lying to its viewers, but give’em credit… they ain’t quitters.
They continue to this day.
FWIW, CNN was bought by RW John Malone, whose stated goal was to make it like Faux News.. G00gle is your friend.
July 30th, 2025 at 5:04 am
That bottom picture doesn’t even look like VV. The person in that picture actually has legs instead of two hams.
July 30th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Wow! That pic is Vea? He almost has abs! He Kancey and Hall could have massive fun this year.
Go bucs!
July 30th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
I expect stories on the edge when I read this site, but typing while falling off the cliff is a whole ‘nother matter. Then, when called out, you double down??? Deep breaths, Joe, deep breaths.