David Walker Called Out For Loafing
August 20th, 2026
It was one thing when Joe noted second-year edge rusher David Walker, the super-hyped 2025 fourth-round draft pick, showed questionable effort in his preseason debut.
It’s quite another thing when two Bucs legends call him out.
The film doesn’t lie. And it caught Jon Gruden’s eye from the opening whistle.
On The Rondé Barber Show yesterday it was revealed that Gruden and Barber had a film session together, studying Bucs players in last week’s game against the Jets. Gruden and Barber were preparing to be in the broadcast booth for the WFLA-TV call on Saturday night at The Licht House.
“Coach and I were watching film, and on the very first snap of the game … Josiah Trotter, who I think is going to be a stud starter, chases this ball down. Well, [David Walker] goes up the field and starts jogging toward the ball. And I was like, ‘Jon’s going to call him out on that,” Barber said.
Oh, Gruden’s facial expression changed immediately on the show from a smile to a grimace.
Co-host J.B. Biunno reacted to Gruden and asked him if he was “going to keep it real”for viewers.
“No,” Gruden replied. “I’m going to keep it positive. I just pointed it out to Rondé but I know how these guys look at team pursuit on defense. It’s been a way of life here in Tampa Bay. “You run to the ball, you strain to finish players.
“When you watch Trotter on the very first play, you’re glad he’s a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. And don’t get me wrong, I love Walker. I love his upside but he’s going to have to learn to finish plays with authority. I got a couple of clips of Simeon [Rice,] Lawrence Taylor, some of my favorite guys out of the stack … Because that’s where you cause the turnovers. These receivers, they make a guy miss. The cut it back, and here comes Robert Mathis of the Colts. … I’m sure Todd Bowles pulled that play out and started the [defensive] meeting with it.”
Barber added that as good as Walker’s training camp has been, his preseason game was unimpressive.
Joe was stunned by Walker not playing with his hair on fire. But it was his NFL debut coming off a major injury, and he did admit to being “jittery.” So Joe is willing to cut Walker some slack.
But the Joe typing here remains scarred by Joggin’ Jamel Dean and other loafing on the Bucs defensive film last season. That cannot be tolerated.
August 20th, 2026 at 7:47 am
There’s ZERO tolerance for loafing on this defense. You don’t have to make the tackle, but you damn sure better be in the picture when it happens.
Trotter is chasing the ball like his roster spot depends on it. Walker’s jogging like he already made the Pro Bowl. 😂
If jogging is part of your game, San Francisco might have an opening—they seem pretty comfortable with players taking plays off lately. In Tampa, pursuit is the culture. Run to the damn football or run to another roster. 🗡️🏴☠️
🔥 LFG!!
🏈 In our DNA!b
August 20th, 2026 at 7:50 am
Good this occurred early for Walker…I’m quite sure he will be aware & correct…
August 20th, 2026 at 7:54 am
Meager potatoes
August 20th, 2026 at 8:00 am
Who hasn’t…
🙄
August 20th, 2026 at 8:00 am
Yeah, I am willing to give him some one-time slack on this one. Could definitely be nervous feelings after an injury keeping him out for a year.
But if that is it, there is no excuse for it not to be out of his system now.
Rooting for the guy.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:21 am
Making excuses for a professional football player not doing his job.
Those are the hallmarks of a Todd Bowles team.
Losers and Loafers.
Can’t wait for Jason to draft more of them next year. Draft guru. LOLOLOL
August 20th, 2026 at 8:32 am
You know what, you’re right. Let’s cut him now.
That would be smart.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:36 am
His loafing still had more of an impact than Braswell going 💯
August 20th, 2026 at 8:40 am
Sometimes you have to learn how to try hard, how to make that extra effort. It could be nerves, he could be a little unsure of what to do. He may have been caught watching the veterans play. I’m willing to bet he will be better this weekend. Maybe the preseason is not so worthless after all.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Playing his first NFL game coming off a season ending injury. I’m willing to give him slack for having jitters. He did do some good things this game and even admitted to trying to catch his second wind while being mic’d up.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:47 am
This defense, even when Bowles was just DC, has never really swarmed to the ball. They all look afraid to tackle. I’m glad I’m not the only one who saw Walker loafing.
I should have trademarked “Joggin” back when I aptly named Joggin Joe Tryon…
August 20th, 2026 at 8:49 am
Joes, are you going to start a weekly “LOAF” article from the previous week’s game? Would include who loafed and who was the exact opposite?
August 20th, 2026 at 8:50 am
“That cannot be tolerated” True, but one of the hallmarks of the Bowles tenure is that loafing has been tolerated. Its who he is as a coach.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:52 am
agree with most…he gets some 1 time slack…improvement from game1 to game2 is what im looking for…he has the “jitters” out of the way and now its time to ball
GO BUCS!!!!
August 20th, 2026 at 8:58 am
Screw that. If the guy really is going to loaf, trade him for a corner. Heck, trade him for a mascot.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:01 am
“Zero tolerance for loafing”? In what universe? This defense loafs all the time and since Arians bounced its been the general rule not the exception.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:04 am
He’s perfect for the championship caliber Bowles defensive scheme.
Fail miserably, make excuses, empty platitudes, storm out, declare victory.
Oh the culture!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡
August 20th, 2026 at 9:04 am
I hope his knee is 100%.
I understand that knee surgeries are pretty commonplace in today’s NFL – however there are many players who never fully recover from these major injuries…
My fingers are crossed Walker will be OK and contribute this season.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:26 am
That’s what training camp is for: get the bad habits out of the system now. Highly unlikely that this happens again when you know you are being watched.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:21 am
He was impressive enough to have the opposing team game plan against him. He was consistently double up or chipped. He had a pressure that lead to the pick six. I don’t think that throw is rushed if the Qb had another half second. The Qb probably would’ve seen Garnes undercutting that route.
I didn’t see the loafing. I trust Gruden. If he said it happened it probably did. It’s a good point to emphasize to all the new players. The NFL is all about playing together, effort & communication. All the teams have talent.
I love Ronde’s defensive philosophy, not only stop the offensive but to GET the ball back via turnovers.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:24 am
Walker pressure caused the hurried throw that resulted in a pick six so to say he was not impressive Ronde means you better go back and look at the int play referenced above , because it does not get more impressive than helping mightily to cause a pick six.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:26 am
I agree with Uoe. First game jitters.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:47 am
First NFL game after missing his first year. First play and he’s loafing. First sign this guy is another underwear star and gameday bust.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Jitters wtf you have rueben setting the standard working an hour after practice who is already named a starter and you have the hyped up walker already loafing who isn’t a starter hmm ok jitters yeah didn’t know jitters make you jog after the runner.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:00 am
Sounds like there’s a strain of yeast festering in the facilities at One Buc Place with all of the loafing going on over the last several years.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:07 am
At 26, from a small school, coming off an ACL, what did you expect? Fans buy into Buc hype on sites like this, when there’s zero facts to back it up.Walker gets sacks in practice against Skule, and Chuke, and Bucs media makes him into a legend. Quite comical.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:19 am
And yet people on this site don’t seem to mind when Tykee Smith does exactly that same thing on long touchdown plays. I saw him do that three times last year on super lung runs. I know some of you can watch replays. You only have to look at the longest ones. If the play is past him more than a few yards he will just jog
August 20th, 2026 at 11:21 am
“David Walker goes up the field and starts jogging toward the ball.”
Say it ain’t so, Joe. I saw this numerous times, on just a small sampling of his games in college. So, not very surprising at all. He seemed outta shape to me. He was allowed to get by with being LAZY versus the level of TALENT he was going up against in college. AND he was much OLDER than most.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:28 am
@ Hodad – Ding-Ding-Ding-Ding. It’s soooo mind-blowing. I mean, these comments. The amount of love is INSANE. It’s just shocking to me HOW these people fall such in-love with these ‘professional’ ATHLETES like this, and based off of NOTHING (just hype from those in power). JUST because they are on THEIR TEAM. All ‘followers’ of the crowd. It’s all EMPTY.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:33 am
Fred
You’re exactly right. He’ll also stand and wait for a ball carrier to come to him .. instead of shooting forward to tackle.
The NFL we grew up with is finished. Flag football will take its place.
August 20th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Melvin.
Two words. Orange Foolius.
August 20th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
Critique makes you better. People respond to the demands of her people make of them.
August 20th, 2026 at 2:15 pm
fast deflating balloon…?
camp star turn seasonal scrubb…?
there’s a fine line between dudes and duds
August 20th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
there are dudes with tudes…
and duds living on spuds
August 20th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
Loafers now makes a football themed shoe, including one with a Bucs logo. Perhaps Walker was wearing a pair and took the name literally. And his name is Walker, not Runner. Cut the guy a break.
And nerves? Don’t people shake and move faster during nervous attacks? Never met one who became tired and lazy under the influence of nerve induced episodes.
“I’m shaking like a leaf. Time for a nap.”
August 20th, 2026 at 7:38 pm
As long as you have tb as the dc that’s what your going to get ask zm and all the other tb lovers on defense go bucs 2027!
August 20th, 2026 at 10:40 pm
He’s not a savior. He’s a 4th Round pick from a small school. The guy to watch with real upside is Elijah Roberts.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:47 pm
That’s Why !! Your not the underserved Walker , get after it or GETGONE !!
August 21st, 2026 at 7:13 pm
Last season there were a lot of loafers and quitters on this team. Need to nip that in the butt.
August 22nd, 2026 at 8:50 pm
He’s all over the field causing havoc in the first half of game vs KC.
August 22nd, 2026 at 8:51 pm
Playing a great game against the Chiefs. Fast linebacker.