About Vita Vea’s Back
August 20th, 2026
“What bad back?”
We all know that Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea was a hold-in. He asked to be traded — more on that in a moment. He wanted a new contract.
If none of this was true, then Vea should be looking for a new agent because that was what his paid representative was feeding to anyone with a keyboard last month.
(Long ago, Joe decided to largely stay away from agents. They are rarely upfront and are basically paid spokesmen. So what they say is what they want both the public and the Bucs to learn.)
But the Bucs and/or Vea did not like this narrative that he was holding-in. So why not create a more soothing excuse for not practicing: Vea’s hurt.
On the first day of training camp, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles said Vea was dealing with a sore back and that was why he wasn’t practicing. OK, so if that is the official team-approved message, then Joe will play along.
This morning, for the first time this summer, the Bucs made Vea available to the local pen and mic club. So Joe asked Vea point blank, “How’s your back?”
Vea is not a bad guy. At all. But he is not comfortable talking to reporters. He certainly doesn’t love giving direct answers. So his initial response was, “What?”
Joe paused because that’s a classic Vea response to a direct question. It’s also a stall to buy a moment to come up with a dodge. Joe repeated, “How is your back?”
“It’s a little tight,” Vea said. And then he flashed a huge s(p)it-eating grin as if to say, “Ha, ha!“
In his post-practice remarks this morning, Bowles was asked (not by Joe) if Vea’s back was healed enough to resume practice. Bowles deadpanned, “He should be good to go.”
An extra $30 million in the checking account sure works wonders for a sore back.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:18 am
I think it was admirable for the Bucs to give him that cover
August 20th, 2026 at 11:19 am
BIG VEEEEEEEE!!!!!
Take THAT “send fat boy outta here” haters….
August 20th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Class move by organization IMHO. Could’ve went the other way which would not have had same mutually beneficial result.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:31 am
It’s like Eddie Murphy in “Trading Places” when the cops busted him lol
In wrestling, they’d call Vitas’ back injury “a work”
August 20th, 2026 at 11:32 am
“Joe paused because that’s a classic Vea response to a direct question. It’s also a stall to buy a moment to come up with a dodge”
That’s quite a prevalent tactic these days
August 20th, 2026 at 11:39 am
We all knew he wasn’t hurt.
LFG now.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:47 am
Good for the Bucs to play along less drama. Ok get that Man on the field now that his back is good
August 20th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
who cares…he’s signed…theres no more meat on that bone Joe…
how’s Wirfs and the CBs?
GO BUCS!!!!
August 20th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
@beej
I do too. It shows how loyal and awesome our franchise is.
The Glazers forgave Gruden. Clsssy!
The Glazers paid Sterling Shepherd his bonus last year even though he fell short.
I love this team and honestly love the Glazers. They are generous gods.
Go Bucs!
August 20th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Let’s see how he drops back in coverage this year lmao
August 20th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
His back is fine, 30 million reasons why
August 20th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
Its fine,it’s gotta hold that tummy up! NOW GET TO WORK,SLIM!! Boy Buc is counting on you!!
August 20th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
Who cares? He played them, and they caved. But he should not have had to do that. Licht has mismanaged this beyond words.
August 20th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
Do we need to take a knee and stand in silence in line at the concession stands to hope his back recovers from this arduous recovery?