Devin White: Future Star, Says Peter King
March 30th, 2021
New star of NFL Films.
Now this is a little bit of irony for Joe.
If we are to blame one guy for the plague that is everyone seemingly parroting whatever the PFF tribe thinks, it may just be hot-dog-eating-contest-protesting, mock-draft-scowling, L.L.-Bean-wearing, Second Amendment abolitionist, Mike-Florio-arguing, parrot-insensitive, chewing-with-his-mouth-open, soup-gulping, California-train-romancing, anti-football proliferation, outhouse-admiring, airline-napping, steerage-flying, Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal-picture-taking, video-game-playing, Taylor-Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie-LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, craft-beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training, Budweiser-tolerant, baseball-scorecard-keeping, pasta-feasting, vomit-dodging scrooge, Kay-Adams-following, Coors-Light-souring social activist and NFL insider Peter King of NBC Sports.
Using arguably at the time the biggest NFL forum to constantly cite PFF jibberish, King quickly had people regurgitating their stuff without thinking. It’s just like people (Joe Buck springs to mind) can’t stop talking about the most idiotic football stat known to man, passer ratings.
In fact, the high priests of the PFF tribe once even traveled the country one summer with King as he bounced from NFL city to NFL city to report on training camps.
So Joe finds it quite ironic if not funny that the man who helped put the PFF tribe on the map, completely and totally disagreed with their recent unflattering analysis of Bucs linebacker Devin White.
Yesterday, Joe brought word that the PFF tribe is of the mind that White struggles so much and that if not for Lavonte David and the Bucs’ d-line bailing him out, White would be exposed as grossly overrated.
Where does King come in? In his “Football Morning in America” column yesterday, King was confident that White is the NFL’s next big thing, after watching NFL Film’s season review of the Bucs.
In the film, currently available at Amazon.com, White is mic’ed up. And King loved it!
I think if we didn’t know about the emergence of Devin White as one of the great defensive players in the NFL, we do after watching the NFL Films Super Bowl film about the Bucs, “Super Bowl LV Champions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” from Cinedigm and NFL Productions, produced by Todd Schmidt of NFL Films. There’s always good wiring of players in these NFL Films post-Super Bowl shows. You’re tempted after this season of Brady, Brady, Brady to think the film’s going to be all about Tom Brady leaving New England and winning his first Super Bowl somewhere else. There’s plenty of that. But the best stuff, I think, is with White.
Early in the season, Christian McCaffrey called him the best linebacker in the NFL. White spends the rest of the season trying to prove it. In the second half of the divisional game at New Orleans, Bucs down 20-13, White, wired for sound, said, ‘’Gotta get me a takeaway.” Next series: Antoine Winfield Jr. knocked the ball loose from Jared Cook of the Saints, White recovered, and White ran it back to the New Orleans’ 40. Five plays later, the Bucs scored the tying touchdown. Midway through the fourth quarter, Tampa nursing a 23-20 lead, White said on the sidelines: “I’m gonna put the dagger in it! Watch.” Five plays later, White, prophetic, picked off Brees. Ballgame.
Good to see NFL Films spreading the wealth, and the wiring, around the team. And good for them that White had the game of his life in one of those wirings.
To purloin a King line he wrote about watching the presidential inauguration speech by 46 recently, Joe found King’s words about White to be “life-affirming.”
It is funny as hell perhaps the first and biggest cheerleader of the PFF tribe essentially wrote they can go to hell with their critique of White.
March 30th, 2021 at 6:19 am
things are really lookin’ up for dee white…
he just might be that guy!
March 30th, 2021 at 6:27 am
When Devin came back after missing the Washington game, he was a complete animal. The Saints and Packers and Chiefs know he is a star already. Funny when you live in your head (PFF) and not really take into account everything, you are discounting the heart of the player. Human beings are not Excel Spreadsheets. Yes those numbers can be used, but you will never be able to tell the whole story about a human being. We all watched Devin go off on the biggest stage of his young career. Is there some kind of stat that measures how someone shows up at the biggest moments and excels. The same goes for Shaq, he showed up huge also in the biggest moments of the season. Devin is a star already shining bright, and very glad they took him #5 in the first round of the 2019 draft. “1-2-3 DOMINATE” GO BUCS!!!!!
March 30th, 2021 at 7:46 am
Already “a star” — I’m sure most on here will agree with me the guy is a soon-to-be “Super-Star”……if he just keeps doing what he’s doing….
March 30th, 2021 at 8:00 am
I love this White guy!
We’re privileged to have him.
Go Bucs!
March 30th, 2021 at 8:26 am
Remember D. White on NFL Network GM Football when he boldly predicted while the season was still going in that the Bucs will be in the Super Bowl, that’s that guy we have.
March 30th, 2021 at 8:57 am
Yes White and Shaq both had an amazing post season, but I don’t credit that to him developing as fast as it appears. IMHO it all revolves around Vita getting back, VV is just a freak of nature and eats up 2 to 3 linemen at a time giving White the ability to hunt. While there is no doubt that he is on an amazing trajectory for his abilities. he still has alot to learn and there is Lot of room for growth.
March 30th, 2021 at 9:01 am
The next Ray Lewis only faster. I just wish he would drop his shoulder and paste guys rather.than wrestler them to the ground, both effective but dropping that shoulder and pasting is more fun to watch, like Winfield Jr. does. White is a beast.
March 30th, 2021 at 9:36 am
LOVE watching this kid play. I’ve had my kids watch his interviews so they get an understanding of how to elaborate when asked a question. My wife was even impressed with how he is in interviews for being so young. His play is incredible I wish he was mic’d up more often I love hearing him talk after a tackle. Him going against Fournette was also a good one the year before. His will be my next jersey and will wear it proudly at the Rams game.
GO BUCS!
March 30th, 2021 at 10:17 am
Everyone knows White’s fast and hits hard. The big knock on him was his coverage skills. And even he has acknowledged that’s an area he needs to improve on. Last year, as the season wore on and particularly during the playoffs, it looked as though his attention to that aspect of his game was paying off. I suspect it’s even going to get better as his in-game experience grows and he becomes the quintessential ILB we know he can be.
March 30th, 2021 at 10:57 am
Sadly, we’ll only have Devin White for three more years. He will be unaffordable for the Bucs after the next tgree seasons, given where the Bucs are going to be salary cap wise. That’s OK, I’m all for win now, but he’s not going to do what Lavonte did because he’s only going to be 27 and will be looking for at least a five if not sevin year guaranteed deal with most of the money guaranteed, and he’ll get it.
March 30th, 2021 at 11:06 am
Many in the media criticizes the Bucs for drafting White 5th overall. Then they praised the Steels for trading up to select Devin Bush. I didn’t get their logic of why Bush was such a great value at 10th while give up a 2nd round pick as well. But, White was terrible value at 5th??? Opinions are like ________
March 30th, 2021 at 12:04 pm
@Swampbuc , by the time Devin is up for his contract the cap will have gone up significantly and we will be clearing out all of this years new contracts. Brady, Gronk , Suh, JPP, David , Fournette, Succup all gone. We will be able to keep White. The question is what kind of team will we be, perhaps Heinicke will be the QB ?
March 30th, 2021 at 12:04 pm
Or maybe Cam ?
March 30th, 2021 at 4:54 pm
Hey, Buxszntkt
Heinicke far and away for me. Yes, I would roll with Heinicke after him being seasoned as a developmental QB behind Brady. Even within his own limited NFL game experience. He was tough to defeat. Over Cam.
Devin White is a Star. I like his words in the Super Bowl alright. This is MY …… House!!! As he and his teammates had just backed that UP!! Right after his INT to seal the deal! Yes, he has a few more improvements to his many very good game skills and he is working on that. Humble, Hungry, Smart, Let’s Go DO This Again.
Go Bucs!
March 30th, 2021 at 6:15 pm
Levonte David WILL be the next Bucs HOF LB to be inducted and White WILL be the 3rd one after his career’s over . Like LD he’ll most likely be a Buccaneer for life just like DB and LD were and are .
March 30th, 2021 at 7:07 pm
I think his rodeo background helps him. When he tackles people it looks like he’s bringing down a steer.