“Grudge Holder” Rueben Bain

July 25th, 2026

Rueben Bain

Buccaneers first-round pick Rueben Bain takes his job, his life, very seriously.

The Miami Mauler edge rusher is now just three days from his first NFL training camp and Joe is reflecting on how lucky it appears the Bucs are to have landed Bain in the draft. And no, it has nothing with Rondé Barber’s outrageous Bain prediction.

That’s got Joe re-watching many Bain interviews from his pre-Bucs days.

When Bain sat with ProFootbalTalk at the NFL Scouting Combine, he was asked about a scouting report the crew had on him: “note taker, grudge holer, block disruptor, ill-tempered.”

Bain didn’t quibble.

“That ‘grudge holder,’ yeah, I don’t forget nothing,” Bain said.

“I don’t forget nothing at all. I may not say nothing at first, but it’s definitely jotted down and noticed somewhere. I’m keeping that in the front of my mind at all times. I felt like everybody seen a couple of little examples of that [in 2025]. Just loving what I do, loving the game of football, and knowing when I get to see you, I get to see you. It’s going tp be nice to meet you.”

Joe can’t wait to see Bain in pads setting the tone for what hopefully is a new-look and new-attitude Bucs defense.

19 Responses to ““Grudge Holder” Rueben Bain”

  1. NCbucfan Says:

    Gaines Adams, Adrian Claybourne, Daquan Bowers, Spence, Joan Tyron. I really hope Bain Bucs the trend of the last 20 +years of not being able to get high play consistency from a highly drafted Edge Rusher. This dude seems different, but I have to see it to believe it.

  2. Curse of Gruden Says:

    I’ll put up with the double negatives if the guy can get to the quarterback often.

  3. Drunk Bucs Fan Says:

    It’s been a while since I’ve had legit, can’t help myself hope for one of our 1st round picks.

    For example, Tristan is everything I could have hoped he would be but I didn’t have the same level of hopeful expectations.

  4. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    I think David Walker has something to prove also. The kid had a great training camp last year before his unfortunate knee injury. He’s a lot like Bain, 6’2″, 260lbs & 4.65 in the 40. I don’t know if he bends like Bain but he runs and plays angry.

  5. Teacherman Says:

    AlabamaBucsFan has nailed it.

    David Walker and Bain are twins.

    They are both very angry and serious men.

    Neither one of them wants to “have fun.”

    And they are both stout with a low center of gravity.

    I think Braswell is in serious danger of getting cut.

    OLB Depth

    1. Bain
    2. Yaya
    3. Mohammed
    4. Nelson
    5. David Walker
    6. Braswell

    Will we really keep 6 OLB?

    David Walker and Bain will be a sick 1-2. Offensive tackles will be worn out by the 4th quarter.

  6. Allen Lofton Says:

    Hopefully all the hype about Baine’s grudge mentality potential to be great shows up on the field more than just in the media hype. If he just makes his teammates better that is a big plus for the Bucs. Hopefully his mentally rubs off on every Bucs defensive player and Baker does the same on the offense.

  7. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    Teacherman says: “I think Braswell is in serious danger of getting cut.”

    I highly doubt it, but it would be nice Licht could swindle a 7th rounder for Braswell.

  8. football 1 Says:

    I sure hope all the hype dies down!!. He is a rookie and has not even put on pads yet. However, the hype is he is already in the HOF. Rookies usually have a learning curve. So he may take some time to develop. Let’s hope he is lights out, but I would not expect it on game 1.

  9. MadMax Says:

    Just Pleeeeeease stay healthy

  10. 3.28.Evans Says:

    When 30% of the personnel you’re counting on to transform the defense are rookies, that’s the way you coach winning defense.

  11. Tampa2ATL Says:

    “When…I get to see you it will be nice to meet you.” LOVE IT

  12. BucsfaninOregon Says:

    Wouldn’t braswell get cut or traded for a new football. What has he done? I am sicken by how JL/TB kicks a roster spot open with obvious failures. See JTS for example.

  13. Simple T Says:

    I can relate to grudge holders. Many athletes are predominantly motivated by grudges (Tom B, Michael Jordon, etc) and to prove doubters wrong. I imagine we have quite a few players and coaches who are motivated by their doubters.

  14. Buddha Says:

    Great football player. How did he pass English 101?

  15. Jmarkbuc Says:

    David Walker was injured on the 3rd day of training camp last year. Hardly qualifies as a “great camp”.

    People remember what they think they want to remember. That being said, looking forward to seeing him this year.

  16. Saskbucs Says:

    Haha Curse of Gruden.

    Put me down for the same.

    Someone teach him the word anything.

  17. Steve V Says:

    Plenty of fire! If he Just reads 328’s posts

  18. JR Says:

    Reuben Bain’s new name should be “The Bane of their existence”. That in reference to all other teams.

  19. DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:

    Imagine if he holds a grudge against Mayfield for turning the ball over so much, guess the moisty boyyz would hate him then

 

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