Strange Todd Bowles Comments About Vita Vea
August 4th, 2026
Joe gives Todd Bowles credit for delivering prolific spin during his Sunday sitdown with NFL Network.
Bucs manbeast defensive tackle Vita Vea demanded a trade and will not practice in training camp. Allegedly, he ran during team-reporting day a week ago and tweaked his back. Joe’s not sure anyone believes Vea is actually injured.
On Thursday, Baker Mayfield lashed out at Bucs management with some misinformation regarding his contract extension offer. He intentionally made national news explaining how he disrespected he feels.
Both guys were team captains last year.
NFL Network co-host Gerald McCoy asked Bowles about keeping the team focused when he has two leaders are barking about money and respect.
“Everybody that has a job and works for someone is going to go through contract disputes,” Bowles said. “It’s just that it’s out there in the media and it happens to be two of our biggest guys.
“We understand that and they understand that. But they do not let it bother how they practice, how they prepare and how they play, and how they look at the other guys on the team. So, everybody has job to do whether you got one year left or whether you got five years left. You know, from a business standpoint, you hope both sides work it out and [for] whatever’s best for everybody. But they’ve been truly professional and [are] gonna play. The leaders have been like that. The team has been like that. So, where it probably seems like it’s chaotic on the outside, inside it doesn’t bother us at all.”
So Bowles wants fans to believe — and that’s who he’s talking to on TV — Vea and Mayfield have been pinnacles of professionalism. Got it.
Most interesting, however, is Bowles saying about Vea and Mayfield that they’re “gonna play.” Does that mean Vea already has informed Bowles he won’t sit out Week 1?
August 4th, 2026 at 9:53 am
“Everybody that has a job and works for someone is going to go through contract disputes,” Bowles said.” Nah Kit-Kat, most of us just work at will and are free to leave at any time. Not all of us are signed to contracts or non-competes.
This season is going to be interesting. Clowns from yesteryear are resurfacing – Cosplayer Gerald McCoy, drive killing Donovan Smith, expect a media circus.
August 4th, 2026 at 9:59 am
MonsVenusVIP Says:
August 4th, 2026 at 9:53 am
“Cosplayer Gerald McCoy, drive killing Donovan Smith, expect a media circus.”
_______________________________________
Don’t forget Mr. All About the Money Suh.
August 4th, 2026 at 9:59 am
“Most interesting, however, is Bowles saying about Vea and Mayfield that they’re “gonna play.” Does that mean Vea already has informed Bowles he won’t sit out Week 1?”
Of course he’ll play week 1. Go back and listen to Suh, who stated in his statement after the trade request that Vea is working out “for free”.
While that’s not necessarily true on it’s face because Vita is due to make $18M, that money won’t kick in until games are being played and he gets his game checks. I think think that’s part of why Vea is sitting out practice, but if his gripe is his finances there’s some money to lose sitting out games, just like there was money to lose being a no-show at TC.
Also, why I say don’t group him in with Baker, because the $30M bonus Baker has gotten is in his bank account already this offseason. Vita Vea has a regular season roster bonus that doesn’t pay out until games are played.
Big difference in compensation.
August 4th, 2026 at 10:01 am
Except that vea isnt practicing Todd wtf lol
August 4th, 2026 at 10:04 am
I miss the old days of football when VV would not be allowed on the practice field watching his TEAMMATES bust their asses while VV stood on the sidelines.
This is what leads to bad team chemistry when the going gets tough.
You want to hold out while you are under contract…. Get your fat face out of sight of the players practicing!
August 4th, 2026 at 10:17 am
I’ve said all all along Via won’t miss out on game checks. What he might do is fake an injury, but that would likely open an enormous can of worms. From my understanding none of his 2026 salary is guaranteed so he won’t get his salary. I think he still gets some money, but nowhere near as much (a pittance to him) and the team should be sending him to myriad MRIs and lawyers. After pulling a stunt like that no team would feel safe signing him.
August 4th, 2026 at 10:20 am
Joe, you’re so stuffed up the Glazer’s pipes, it’s embarrassing.
They actually HAVE been pinnacles of professionalism. Baker answered questions and he answered them honestly. So player speak. Just how he felt. And now you say he’s unprofessional? Vea has been quiet. And he’s doing a professional job of holding out. The owners made the rules.
In your world, the team is just allowed to privately give Baker an insulting offer and portray it as market value, and the player is supposed to just eat that dung or he’s no longer a pinnacle of professionalism?
Then we have lying or blind Bowles: “Everybody that has a job and works for someone is going to go through contract disputes . . . But they do not let it bother how they practice . . ..”. It has affected Vea’s practice.
Look, these guys get one journey through the NFL for a very limited amount of time, and they have to maximize what they make. The owners have no problems with the contracts that can be cut without any financial penalty, but everybody gets their panties in a wad every time a player stands up and says I want to be paid fairly.
Maybe if you looked at it from the players side every once in a while, Joe, you might get more access.
August 4th, 2026 at 10:43 am
ModHairKen Says:
Totally agree with everything you said. BTW, if Mayfield never said anything then they would be complaining that he does not care, doesn’t want to be in Tampa or whatever else garbage that they could make up and pound it around in the echo chamber of sports writers.
August 4th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Warren Brooks Lynch
PREACH!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 4th, 2026 at 11:11 am
I knew this season was over as soon as donavon smith in the booth. And now going to be apart of a show with kasey oh brother we are doomed.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Some players have a short shelf life for each team and maybe as Bucs fans we have to realize Baker is gone after this year . There’s a reason we don’t sign qb’s to 2nd contracts. After we go 8-9 this year , everyone is fired . Our 2 top players are gone .. we spend the next 10 years with the best defensive player with nothing to show for it. Thanks ownership and Licht. Dark days are ahead .
August 4th, 2026 at 11:23 am
I agree with Mod too!!!
August 4th, 2026 at 11:25 am
Bck to reality, Evans is suffering from another leg injury. Astrained quadriceps injury can follow you through the course of a season.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
I saw that dr.
You reap what you sow. “You sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind.”
August 4th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Isn’t it funny that moisty boyy bakerfan agrees with everything Buc fan ModHairKen said because he called the Bucs offer to Mayfield insulting but WBL puts out actual numbers what Baker is guaranteed this year plus you add what Glazers offered him and when you account for the incentives and bonuses he does have a good chance to earn will pay him more than $50mil/ year because it still throws shade on Mayfield??? I know Ken is a Baker fan now but he’s been up here for years and will remain once the moisty boyyz pack up and go to another team or retire, he’s still a Bucs fan.
August 4th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Well for me i am disappointed I realize that pro football has a difficult and short career window and you dont have a guarantee of how long it will last but today in this world contract money is going to make any pro comfortable, from the view in my chair I followed Baker here from Cleveland and have pulled for him in every game, but brady who I have never liked was a better example of team friendly contracts when he already had more than he could spend in my lifetime. I will still root for Baker and the Bucs I am just disappointed! GO BUCS!!
August 4th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
I’m not sure Vea is being “truly professional” since he hasn’t practiced one iota. He’s huffing and puffing, holding his breath till he gets what he wants. Baker on the other hand cares about his team and teammates and wants everyone on the team to be the best they can be, which is why he’s battling alongside his team in practice, trying to get better.
August 4th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
Bowles has to be one of the dumbest HCs I have seen in awhile. I hope Bowles never has to work out here with the rest us for his sake. He is going to be really disappointed. I can see it now, “Hey, boss, can I renegotiate my contract?”. Boss says, “Um, we don’t have contracts, Todd. How about this, why don’t you go pack your things and go home. We won’t be needing your services any longer.”.
August 4th, 2026 at 2:35 pm
I love all of the “all about the money “ comments. Like you wouldn’t do the same
If you are significantly underpaid at current market value… well unless you just too afraid or lazy to ask for it. You cash in when you can, the opportunities are few and far between.
August 4th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
Players acting like babies….
August 4th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Nobody faults Baker for poising. Saying it was insulting is a self motivator I think.