Vita Vea Defied Team Medical Staff
September 6th, 2022
What a cool story Vita Vea has from his 2020 season. It speaks to why he was named a team captain this week.
Vea sat down for the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast and talked about his broken ankle suffered in Week 5 of the 2020 season. Most Bucs fans have heard part of the story; Ndamukong Suh told Vea immediately to accept that he could make it back for the postseason while Bucs trainers and doctors didn’t think Vea had a chance.
Vea went all-in on the recovery process, didn’t skip team meetings like many injured players do, and got himself back for the NFC Championship game.
However, Vea explained on the podcast, part of that process was defying doctors.
Vea said throughout his recovery he intentionally soaked his cast regularly despite being told not to get it wet. Vea said he did that so team doctors would cut the cast and replace it. When it was off, Vea said, that gave Vea precious minutes to work on the ankle’s rotation and mobility and gauge the recovery, even though it was against doctor’s orders.
Needless to say Vea wasn’t a popular guy among the medical staff during that time, but he credits it for getting him ready sooner.
Great stuff from Vea. Warrior!
September 6th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
The medical industry as a whole took a credibility hit in 2020 and beyond.
September 6th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
The story also has a second lesson.
Suh.
September 6th, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Yep, Suh
September 6th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
@Goatfarmer I appreciate Suh for his contributions to the Bucs team and understand what his value was to the bucs team. However, Suh is the reason he is not back with the bucs. He was not good last year and priced himself out. The Bucs will be able to do much more on their defense with Hicks and Hall taking his snaps. Watch a cut up of Hicks 8 snaps against the colts. You will see he’s still a monster. Let’s just hope he stays healthy.
If he can’t then the bucs can call Suh.
September 6th, 2022 at 5:29 pm
D-Rome Says:
September 6th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Your intelligence just took a credibility hit from this comment.
September 6th, 2022 at 5:29 pm
So just who is the team’s head orthopedic surgeon I wondered? It’s Dr. Barry Craythorne since 2016 apparently. Straight from his website: Dr. Craythorne favors a conservative (key word) approach to many conditions utilizing skilled rehabilitation on premises.
I mean this story had a happy ending, as the end (rings baby) justified the means. Thankfully we’re not sitting here considering the flip side of disobeying doctor’s orders.
September 6th, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Hicks IS a monster IF he stays healthy. Say what you want about Suh but I’m not sure he’s missed a start IN HIS CAREER. We will miss that
September 6th, 2022 at 6:47 pm
Vea at least than 100% is a beast, lol Vea at 100% is going to be MF’n problem!
September 6th, 2022 at 7:04 pm
Suh and JPP- equal parts to our super bowl success- heart and soul of our team-
Let’s cast them aside like trash and see how it goes
September 6th, 2022 at 7:05 pm
I’m in the “I wish he would play more club” too, but I love this dude and he is all kinds of fun to watch. To me, he’s a lot like a defensive version of Alstott in that he’s not a star, but he makes grown men just look foolish at times by trucking their butts.
September 6th, 2022 at 7:45 pm
This may help explain his pitch count in 2021. Hopefully it is fully healed now with no lingering side effects. That’s a lot of body and force to put on his ankle.
September 6th, 2022 at 9:39 pm
It’s pretty obvious that Suh has been asking for too much hence remains unsigned. While I’d rather the cap space clearance from Shaq Mason’s contract be applied to signing Tretter, I would also be happy if it were to bring Suh back. One or the other of those would be dandy. And if it’s Gronk, say bye bye to Rudolph, who looked awful in limited preseason action.
September 8th, 2022 at 2:40 am
Very few doctors practice good health. It gets much much worse from there.