Vita Vea Felt He Was Needed At OTAs
May 17th, 2022
Today was the first day of voluntary OTAs underwear football practice. Key word there is “voluntary.”
Veterans didn’t have to be there. While there were a bunch there, several were not. Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Playoff Lenny and Donovan Smith were among those not attending.
One guy there was Vita Vea. And Vea was asked why he showed up. He gave off the vibe that he felt responsible to attend.
“It is one of those things [to] come in and be together as our group,” Vea said. “We’ve got a real young group. Young guys that we have to get together on the field and off the field. Get that comradrie going.”
Is this a sign of guys stepping up without Ndamukong Suh to replace one of the defensive line’s leaders? Sure seems that way to Joe.
But as you will hear later this week from famed JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman on his podcast, Vea’s action says a lot about the character of players Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has cobbled together.
Class move there by Vea. Thinking of the team.
May 17th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
What surprises me is that no one has picked up Suh. He’s given no inkling that he’s retiring. You’d think someone would have grabbed him by now. I think the Bus are hoping Gronk will be back and don’t have enough loot for both Gronk and Suh. Maybe Suh’s holding out to see what happens with Gronk in hope that he might still have a chance to resign with the Bucs.
May 17th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
This is Vea stepping into a leadership role. With Suh, McCLendon & JPP out…….a good move by Vita.
Great to hear an article on character coming…..if you study this draft class and others, you’ll see an abundance of really strong character draftees….
Sometimes during the draft we rely too much on pundit rankings of players which likely doesn’t measure character.
I hope Joe runs a story on Rachaad White & Jackson He…….White stepped out of bounds before a TD so that his teammate, Jackson He (Chinese) could notch a TD…….now that’s the kind of player we need……unselfish……
May 17th, 2022 at 4:23 pm
Maybe also to get a hard start on improving his conditioning?
May 17th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
Great leadership move by VV50… a leadership void with JPP, Suh, and others out… no better time to fill that void than now!
May 17th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Vea is going to be on a tear this year. Watch and see. He’s going to leave a major impact on the NFL and take over some games. Once he’s double and triple teamed, game planning for him will be a neccessity.
May 17th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
I think procuring the type of guys we have and the character of the Players and Men on this team is one of the best parts GM Jason Licht and Co. have done in assembling this Bucs team together over the years. I agree w/ Ira!
May 17th, 2022 at 4:59 pm
I have trouble seeing Vea replacing Suh as a DLine leader. Same issue I have with say JTS or even Shaq replacing JPP as a field general. Guys like Suh & JPP are a very special breed. Both will be contenders for HOF, but may face the same fate as Simeon Rice.
And as far as other teams having interest in Suh goes, read a national report earlier today saying that both the Raiders & the Colts have expressed strong interest … as well as the Buccaneers.
May 17th, 2022 at 5:27 pm
It’s a good thought. You want to show these guys how to work and get it done as a Buccaneer. It starts in the OTA’s.
May 17th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
Hes the biggest monster on the field and he blows up centers around this league. His presence alone sets a tone. Plenty of other vets that can do the talking. I appreciate this approach.
May 17th, 2022 at 5:30 pm
PSL, everyone in the NFL knows that Suh has age and physical limitations now. He’s not a hot commodity. Most of the DL and edge still available are well into their 30s. Any of them, including the ones who had fine 2021 seasons, have to be checked out physically.
As for Vea. What’s mandatory is his conditioning and weight loss.
May 17th, 2022 at 6:05 pm
@DR: IMO, Suh is a slam dunk HoFer.
He and Donald are generational. The Best.
May 17th, 2022 at 6:11 pm
I can remember a time when we drafted almost all team captains…….some didn’t work out too well but they had good characters….
We have gotten in trouble with some of our FAs……..AB, Swaggy…..and a few others over the years….
But no Ray Carruth, Aaron Hernandez, Ray Rice, Henry Ruggs……and now Alvin Kamara…Damien Wilson, Shi Smith (both with Carolina)
Of course we did have “America’s QB”
May 17th, 2022 at 6:17 pm
Maybe he’ll be in good enough shape to play more than 50% of the snaps.
May 17th, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Awesome to hear. Him, Gholston, Shaq, Nacho, Nelson, Logan, JTS…. WOW. They are pretty young now.
The best way for him to be a leader though is to play at least 70% of the snaps so hopefully he’s getting in shape for that too.
May 17th, 2022 at 7:08 pm
Vidi Vici Veni Vita Vea
May 17th, 2022 at 7:21 pm
Goedeke soiled his pants when he saw Vea in person. His “controlled rage” is going to get rammed down his throat when the pads come on.
I can’t image going against VV at all, let alone as a Div1 rookie.
Good luck.
May 17th, 2022 at 8:15 pm
Has he lost any weight? Spent more time in the weight room?
Those things are more important for the Bucs. Vita needs to be able to play more than 40% of snaps.
May 17th, 2022 at 8:23 pm
Not too much to ask out of someone you’re paying 18 million per year.
May 17th, 2022 at 10:13 pm
Vita needs to train in the Florida heat, no wonder why he is in for a handful of plays.
May 18th, 2022 at 12:10 am
Truth. OTA feel good stories are fine and dandy, but show up on the field more than Nunez-Roches would be handy.
May 18th, 2022 at 12:44 am
Having Vita stepping up like this is a great thing. Not expected at all – lots of other guys aren’t there. He is for the right reasons, and yes he gets paid for it. So do the others who aren’t there.
May 18th, 2022 at 10:36 am
Vea does not have tthe Alpha male personality of JPP. He is a diiferent cat than Suh. It is great to see him step up to leadership in the context of who he is. Another great teammate and role model.
May 18th, 2022 at 11:33 am
I think it’s a very smart move. Vita understands that he is the man now and needs to be on the field more. You know he doesn’t like being on the sidelines half the game. His nagging injuries obviously affected his conditioning especially since it was a fractured ankle and then being carted off with a knew injury so I’m glad he is pushing himself to get to that “next tier” of greatness with conditioning now that he is healthier this year. He has to be sick of hearing about his snap counts as much as the rest of us. I look forward to Full time greatness instead of part-time greatness.
May 18th, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Drop some weight kid, you’ll be better player for it. Just ask Sapp, he let himself balloon up to 320lb one year, thought being stronger was better, instead he was just slower, the extra weight did nothing. Not saying get down to 300lbs, but Vea is playing at more than 350lb at this point, probably like 370lb or so. If he dropped 40lbs, got to a legit 330lb, I think he’d be a much better all-around player, and I really, seriously, doubt that dropping the blubber is going to affect his run stopping.