Todd Bowles: We Can Play Without Vita Vea
August 6th, 2026
It seems there’s been a mindset shift at One Buc Palace.
At least this morning, Todd Bowles sort of acknowledge there may be a Bucs life ahead without Vita Vea, who has demanded a trade.
“We can play without him; that’s not a big deal,” Bowles said. “You don’t want to play without him, but we can play without him.”
Joe suspects a week ago, Bowles wouldn’t have gone there. He might have something like, ‘Vita is a cornerstone starter for us. Period.’
As Joe shared earlier, ESPN insider Adam Schefter suspects the Bucs are headed toward a late-August Vea trade.
Joe agrees that the Bucs can play without Vea. Why? They did it for 11 starts during the 2020 season. Additionally, until last year, Vea was only playing about two-thirds of all defensive snaps. Last year, Vea played 73 percent, a career high.
Joe doesn’t want Vea to leave, but if he doesn’t want to honor his $18 million contract for this year, then maybe it’s best for all parties.
Meanwhile, Vea continues to patrol the Bucs sidelines in practice (video below).
Here’s Vita Vea giving some pointers to Calijah Kancey as he continues to deal with his back injury. pic.twitter.com/NvOMLExqhu
— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) August 6, 2026
August 6th, 2026 at 11:09 am
I feel dumber every time I hear Todd speak. Wasn’t it just last year he said Vea was the most irreplaceable player in his defense?
In other news, JMac out with a knee injury and no timetable for return.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:12 am
Maybe throw Bowles in the trade too? We can play without him too…
August 6th, 2026 at 11:14 am
Licht & Bowles are both full of the same type of 💩, but it’s to be expected from guys in their respective professions.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:16 am
Maybe not ideal or preferred, but we did win our last Super Bowl w/ Nacho & McClendon playing NT most of the season. Vea missed double digit games w/ injury, plus a couple in the Playoffs. So yes, it can be done and has been proven already. Probably not the hands of cards you wanna play or be dealt. but not an un-winnable hand either.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:23 am
“We can play without him”…
Uh-oh.
The gloves are off.
We all know that our beloved Head Coach is a pansy.
So for him to say something like this sends blue and red flashing lights in my rear view mirror…
August 6th, 2026 at 11:25 am
We can play without Todd too. Inexplicably, we’re not.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Well, that takes care of that…….
August 6th, 2026 at 11:28 am
VV was the 4th or so highest paid DT when he signed the contract in ’22. Maybe he should have just made it a THREE year contract. I’m pretty sure the Bucs assumed he’d be gone after the 4
August 6th, 2026 at 11:31 am
“Joe agrees that the Bucs can play without Vea. Why? They did it for 11 starts during the 2020 season.”
Joe you do realize that defense was stacked right? Theres no Suh, no JPP, no Barrett, no prime LVD and White, and our corners aren’t even close to that 2020 team. Its like comparing apples to pizza. Wow, yall are down so bad you’re comparing this team to the 2020 team.
Of course they can play without him, that doesn’t mean they’ll play good. Smh….
August 6th, 2026 at 11:33 am
He’s only your best and most dominant player on your defense. We are an average at best defense with VV can you imagine what we will be without VV? I know we have some new pieces and that’s great for the future but you can absolutely KISS THIS SEASON BYE BYE WITH NO VV. And, maybe that will mean goodbye to Bowles too.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:34 am
“Of course they can play without him, that doesn’t mean they’ll play good. Smh….”
Literally the only point that truly matters.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:34 am
Joe Bob Pigskin Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 11:12 am
Maybe throw Bowles in the trade too? We can play without him too…
___________________________
We’d get less in trade.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Beeej Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 11:28 am
VV was the 4th or so highest paid DT when he signed the contract in ’22. Maybe he should have just made it a THREE year contract. I’m pretty sure the Bucs assumed he’d be gone after the 4
__________________________
Accurate. He wasn’t feeling disrespected immediately after signing the contract. He’s just pissed that other teams pulled bigger Brinks trucks up to the front doors of other players’ houses after the Bucs pulled one up to his.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:39 am
The Bucs offense averaged almost 31 points/game in 2020.
Can they do that this year, too? 😜
August 6th, 2026 at 11:40 am
So if they trade VV for Kavon Thibodeaux or someone else or a draft pick who replaces VV on the mural?
August 6th, 2026 at 11:52 am
this is starting to become embarrassing…
pretty obvious to me that the Glazers arent paying anyone until they see WINS…pretty clear bowles, licht, and baker are not safe with 9wins or fewer
GO BUCS!!!!
August 6th, 2026 at 11:57 am
Trade him. Bucs aren’t going anywhere with this coach/QB anyway.
August 6th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
I think vita is a benefit for us. Understandable Bucs are hesitant to commit to long term $ with a guy that’s his age and size
Unless they give him way too much $, either way will be fine.
August 6th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Why is Vea on the field still? I am really trying to understand the purpose here. Its like watching Belichick with his girlfriend at UNC. Are these guys dating or something? At least Baker is out there practicing. Would you just have someone come to work and stand around after they said they will not work until they get a raise? No, you send them home. Bowles must just roll over to everyone, because he has no balls! I’m starting to see the dynamic between Bowles and JL now. Explains a lot.
August 6th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Well Bowles has adopted the company line. What this tells me the Bucs don’t think they can win this year. I think without Vea they truly can’t. Kancy’s history says he will be hurt again and or his snaps limited. Robinson is not all that or Car would not have let him go. He is no substitute for Vea.
I am starting to be annoyed with the team. That is unfortunate I have been a big fan. I think ME nailed it. This team is going backwards. Paying Vea money he deserve and extending him a year is not a back breaker and makes little sense letting one of the best players on a not very good defense go.
Yes please remember how good Bowles said the Bucs were with Dennis at MLB. So with that in mind do you really believe what he says about Vea.
Let’s see what he says when the defense is again giving up a ton of points .
August 6th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
If you can’t stop the run without him then it’s a serious problem. I’m more concerned with his ability to collapse the pocket. Missing that will hurt, especially when Kancey gets hurt again.
But at the wrong side of 30 at 350lbs. Take the second round pick for him.
August 6th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
When it is time to play after his back is healthy, VV will strap it up and give it his all, just like he always has.
August 6th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Seem fair to me – $18mil for a part-time player. Correct me if I am wrong, but due to injuries, Vea only completed a full season once in his career and that was last year.
August 6th, 2026 at 12:45 pm
Vea’s back is not hurt. Vea is out there because if he wasn’t he would be racking up fines every day under the CBA, if he did a full “hold-out”. He just has to show up to camp per the CBA to avoid the fines. Bowles is letting it happen at this point, because he knows he is done without Vea. JL is also going alone with it to not burn any bridges with Vea. They say it happens all over the NFL, but trying to normalize a poor behavior only causes more problems for the team. Bowles is done anyways despite all of this. The Glazers are not going to pay any players right now, because they need the capital for the next HC. JL is safe and will continue to be the GM. Its a lost year.
August 6th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
Foot in mouth
What an absolute boneheaded statement
There is no upside or benefit from saying such a stupid thing
August 6th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Clearly a coach who doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. SMH
August 6th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
bucs would have lost to packers if vea didn’t return for that game
August 6th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Hahahahaha, of course you can play without him. The Great Guru of Defense couldn’t figure it out with him, I’m sure things will be fine without him.
August 6th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Some of you little old Karens clutching their pearls over 2 sentences. He was asked a question and gave the logical, honest answer. What should he have said ?
August 6th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
“Seem fair to me – $18mil for a part-time player. Correct me if I am wrong, but due to injuries, Vea only completed a full season once in his career and that was last year.”
Missed a total of 3 games in the last 3 years due to injury, and none last year.
2 in 2023, but played both playoff games & 15 regular season
1 in 2024, but played 1 playoff game and 16 regular season games.
overblown/emphasized point.
August 6th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
“We can play without Vera” – Todd Bowles
Translation: “My defense can suck with anyone in the lineup.”
We were 5-1, then Todd let his scheme take over.
3-8 to finish should get every HC\DC fired anywhere in the NFL.
In Tampa you get a raise and an extension.
August 6th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
Simple T, that’s about the sum of it. Otherwise meaningless.