Calijah Kancey Says Voluntary OTA Practices Are Critical
August 11th, 2025
New Bucs edge rusher Haason Reddick.
When the Bucs release their epic 50th-anniversary documentary later this year, which will be a first-class Hollywood production, there’s a good chance one Bucs story will make the cut.
Generations ago, Tampa Bay’s Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp, a bleed Bucs player, had a bit of a feud with receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
Johnson wanted to play in Tampa and Sapp had recruited Johnson. The two went deep on the subject at a Pro Bowl and in April of 2000, the Bucs traded two first-round picks to the Jets to get Johnson. That’s right, two first-round picks.
Then Johnson arrived and did not attend voluntary Bucs spring practices in Tampa, which infuriated Sapp.
Sapp believed that was critical team time and Johnson needed to be there, especially after Sapp vouched for him. Yeah, they won a Super Bowl together, but their sniping at each other has continued through the media over the years.
Enter the 2025 Bucs. They signed free agent edge rusher Haason Reddick in March and Reddick had little interest in the Bucs’ offseason program.
Publicly, team officials and players have said it was no big deal. But one player may have a different line of thinking, and he happens to play Sapp’s position.
Calijah Kancey was asked on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday to explain how his defense looks like such a cohesive unit in practice.
“Yeah, man, that’s just something we established in OTAs, offseason,” Kancey began passionately.
“A lot of guys spent their offseason here at the facility, and then OTAs, like you got your starting offense and defense here at OTAs. The heart of the team [was here]; that’s how you build. That’s how you bond. A lot of guys think you can miss OTAs and then come in mini-camp for three days, and then go away and then come back to camp, and then you got the team bond. But we do that in OTAs. The whole team is here. Everybody’s bonding, gelling together, getting to know each other. And that’s how we play together. That’s how you play stronger. That’s how you become a better team, just being able to trust the guy next to you.”
Kancey never named Reddick, but Joe sure found that rant from Kancey interesting, especially considering how Kancey is a cornerstone Buccaneers and a likely future face-of-the-franchise kind of player
August 11th, 2025 at 8:24 am
As long as the Putrid Pass Defense improves and Reddick is part of the reason- all will be forgotten. Go BUCS!!
August 11th, 2025 at 8:26 am
was braswell there?..lol…i sure as heck didnt see him saturday night lol
Licht needs to get trey hendrickson asap!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 11th, 2025 at 8:32 am
Chris Bustwell is soft with arms like a grandma. The dude is clearly out of shape which explains why his arms are constantly hanging on his hips.
August 11th, 2025 at 8:32 am
Truth be Told just told the truth.
August 11th, 2025 at 8:49 am
Go get another edge Jason as your pass rush will be the most critical improvement your team needs to reach the prize.
August 11th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Don’t care about OTAs, it’s for the rookies. What I care about is talent. Braswell can spend every day at one Buc, and still not be able to rush the passer. Some guys just have it, most don’t. If you don’t have the talent, no amount of practice, camp, OTAs are going to make a big difference.
August 11th, 2025 at 9:30 am
Haason Reddick has started 83 games and played in 124 games.
Calijah Kancey has started and played in 26 NFL games.
Let’s be serious here, ones a tenured NFL vet the other has yet to play a full season of NFL football.
August 11th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Yeah Warren that’s right. Also Reddick explained what he was doing during OTA’s and the Buc’s understood, he was taking care of his personal business to find a place to live, move, change banks, doctors, all that stuff that takes time and the reason was so he could concentrate on football when camp opened up. I can understand that. I’m sure his team mates do too.
August 11th, 2025 at 10:00 am
Thank you Warren Brooks Lynch. The negativity nit picking on this board is hard to take. I saw two reputable commentators this week who had the Buccaneers roster as top 5, better than KC, better than the 49ers, better than the Vikings, Houston, Green Bay, Washington, and the Rams.
August 11th, 2025 at 11:27 am
Budda, the 49rs are a mess. Clearly Tampa’s roster is better.
August 11th, 2025 at 11:44 am
FACE VALUE vs MIDDLE SCHOOL GOSSIP
Does every comment have to have a negative side or hidden agenda? Sounds like everything CK said was positive. Sounds like he’s excited about his teammates. Not sure why we need to make it negative.
August 11th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Braswell has no first step. And no power.
I saw it last preseason too.
He needs to be traded or released.
We are really going to miss David Walker this year.
Braswell is just not an NFL athlete.
He’s not fluid, fast or strong.
He’s taking up a roster spot at this point.
August 11th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Yeah, that was very disappointing that he didn’t show up but they’ve been singing his praises all training camp so we shall see