“Strange” Timing
April 12th, 2023
Buccaneers savior linebacker Devin White is seemingly ok with a drum being banged across national media signaling he wants out of Tampa because the Bucs won’t pay him a proper salary.
One former NFL executive says White’s timing is off — if he’s trying to strongarm the Buccaneers.
Pat Kirwan, the former Jets assistant coach and player personnel chief, barked about that on Movin’ The Chains yesterday. Keep in mind Todd Bowles is very friendly with Kirwan and came on his SiriusXM NFL Radio show many times last season.
Kirwan emphasized that inside linebackers like White just don’t have the market value of outside linebackers, and that White is about a five weeks late when it comes to his trade demand.
“We’ve seen linebackers take less than the franchise tag. That price (about $21 million per season), I don’t know why [White] is panicking about it right now, but what a time to be asking to move,” Kirwan said. “Wouldn’t you want to go in the beginning of free agency when [teams] had a lot of money and [GMs] were doing a lot of different things? I think now is a litle strange.”
It sure is strange. If White really wanted out, then he likely would have asked sooner. And if he really wanted to stay, he wouldn’t be asking out.
Joe is torn. Ditching White doesn’t make the Bucs better, though getting rid of him now might make a lot of sense.
April 12th, 2023 at 9:20 am
Anything less than a 1&5 should be a non starter. That would give us the ammo to trade back 2x and clean up in rd 2 while still getting hooker or van ness or bijan or nsmith
April 12th, 2023 at 9:22 am
Kalind Says:
April 12th, 2023 at 9:20 am
Anything less than a 1&5 should be a non starter. That would give us the ammo to trade back 2x and clean up in rd 2 while still getting hooker or van ness or bijan or nsmith
^^^^^^^^^^
Not a chance.
April 12th, 2023 at 9:23 am
White is out for White, and to hell with the team.
Hope we can get rid of him soon
April 12th, 2023 at 9:27 am
we suck with or without him
talent isn’t there
April 12th, 2023 at 9:28 am
He can’t handle the off field pressure any better than on field pressure
He is reacting to what he thinks and his thinker ain’t too good
April 12th, 2023 at 9:34 am
Been saying this, White and his reps are legitimately fumbling the bag with this tactless demand for more money. Not to say he doesn’t deserve an extension, he’s young and does some good things on the field, but waiting a month after free agency opens up and literally weeks before the draft makes me question who White is paying to “read the room” for him, because this ain’t it.
I’ll say this, if it boiled down to having to choose 2 of 3 between White, Winfield, and Wirfs. White can go, and I’m holding onto Wirfs & Winfield because one protects the QB and the other protects the back end of the secondary. We can legit find a young ILB to pair with David in what’s presumably his last season to mentor while moving forward. I’m starting to think Devin Whites’ ego is entitling to a payday his play, while it’s been solid, but not $20M/yr exceptionally solid. White may be playing himself with this demand.
April 12th, 2023 at 9:49 am
It’s disappointing as a fan who staunchly supports Devin White’s success for past several years since day he arrived. The abrupt turn into Antonio Brown is startling. And…Philadelphia?! The effing eagles? Say it ain’t so, Devin.
April 12th, 2023 at 9:53 am
I don’t know if there was every really any question whether or not he was the brightest bulb in the pack, but this kind of reassures my thought.
April 12th, 2023 at 9:54 am
He will be paid 12 million playing for the Bucs this year and if he has a healthy good year he will be a free agent next year and certainly get the contract he wants this year.
Stupid is as stupid does.
He understands the cap situation the Bucs are in at this moment… SMF’n head
What a dumb phhuckay
April 12th, 2023 at 9:55 am
His self-indulged attitude could be a CANCER in the Lockeroom.
April 12th, 2023 at 9:55 am
There’s a few ILBs in this draft that are intriguing. I like Overshown from Texas and Sanders from Arkansas. Bigger sized players for the position that we normally draft but these guys can run and defend the pass. The more I think about it the more I think it’s smarter to let Devin White go now rather than later
April 12th, 2023 at 9:57 am
“Anything less than a 1 and a 5.” A one? Are you high??
April 12th, 2023 at 9:58 am
Good points @Dooley!
Also, players tend to ball out in their contract years, which I imagine would make Bowles that much more hesitant to trade him. You think White would jog during a tied game (the loaf reference) in a contract year? No way.
Remember that Bowles needs to have a good football team now, not a year or two from now. He knows that the Glazers will move onto a shinier HC if 2023 stinks.
April 12th, 2023 at 9:58 am
A mid/low 2nd or a high 3rd and goodbye. He thinks he is far better than he actually is and that wont change – not worth the hassle & distraction. Give his money to Winfield & Wirfs
April 12th, 2023 at 9:59 am
Make him play on the 5th year option, than use transition tag on him next year.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:01 am
Every play he has taken off should be deducted from his salary. Make him watch the film and explain why he should get a big contract when he doesn’t give full effort and gets “bored”. I’ve seen more than one article stating he just doesn’t have the trade value he thinks he does.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:01 am
Nobody can claim that White has ever been a smart guy so this should not surprise anyone.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:01 am
Agree. Get the draft picks and get rid of him. He will be a cancer and distraction all year now.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:02 am
Pay him a proper salary
😂😂
12 million isn’t proper
YOU PLAY A GAME FOR MILLIONS
Send this Clown to Another Town
April 12th, 2023 at 10:04 am
A pile of rubble has more awareness and common sense than Dumb Diva. And drama queens have no place on the Bucs. So, Jason, get what you can and I hope it’s to Cleveland, or Arizona, or Indianapolis. The Horse Diva should learn a big lesson from this hissy fit .
April 12th, 2023 at 10:05 am
If White had any brains he might be a pretty decent football player.
If he was a pretty decent football player he would have been guaranteed something big was coming, just not now.
We also wouldn’t have to be bitching about a lackadaisical JA who sometimes puts effort into playing only to totally miss the play too often or miss the tackle when he gets lucky enough to hit the play.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:06 am
Roquan was traded for a 2nd and a 5th. White is not quite Roquan if we arent willing to pay him $20m. So I doubt we will get a 2nd and a 5th for him. Its a bad trade for the Bucs either way. There is no 2nd round LB that can replace a #5 overall talent who led us to a Super Bowl victory.
Plus, he is under contract this year. He can be franchised for less than $20m next year. But when the leader of our defense wants out, what message does that send the defense when OTA’s comes around? We know where his heart is.
If your Jason and Todd, do you give in and pay him what he wants? So now we reward tantrums? As a human, it’s hard not to get emotional when it is about money, but he is getting bad advice. Consistency is the only reason why the Bucs have not paid him what he wants. He shows that this year then there would be zero problems paying him what he wants. Trading him means a rebuild. Keeping him while disgruntled, rips up the locker room especially when he is calling the plays. If we thought he took a few plays off last year, imagine what a disgruntled Devin would do this year.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:07 am
White is no longer a leader for this team… He let the team and teammates know that he doesn’t want to play for them. He is a very solid play and worth $10+ million…but wants 20. He seem to have no regard for reality. The Bucs are in cap hell and need to fill several holes in the draft. It is close to impossible to get OT, Edge, Safety, nickel CB, RB, TE, DT depth and …now LB. If the draft falls right …OT, Edge, Safety, and a RB is possible. I don’t see how they can get a LB that’s game ready.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:08 am
“pewter941 Says:
April 12th, 2023 at 9:59 am
Make him play on the 5th year option, than use transition tag on him next year.”
This. Right here. Licht needs to play hardball with this idiot. White has no leverage at all. Zero. None. Nada.
All of you who want to essentially give this guy away for a bag of used jockstraps ain’t thinking. That’s bad asset management. A good GM uses his leverage to maximize the return.
As far as upcoming free agents? He’s behind Wirfs and Winfield. Deep down, he knows this. He’s the third best linebacker on this team and isn’t even close.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:11 am
Sorry. He doesn’t sound very smart
April 12th, 2023 at 10:21 am
He is not a good linebacker. He had a good run in 2020 postseason, and can execute the blitz well…. And that’s about it. Inconsistent, lazy, liability in coverage, undisciplined…. We can replace him with a much cheaper free agent and get better play. Get a 3rd or 4th round pick for him and move on.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:21 am
He has shown his hand. No way he can stay here. Take your attitude and go.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:26 am
So much for Mayfield – he of a 1-1 playoff record in 8 seasons – exciting the players.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:38 am
How on earth could this have anything to do with Mayfield? This is a spoiled brat who told us after he was as drafted he was expecting a 100 million contract in 5 years. He’s the Jamies of the defense. All the physical attributes in the world, but the game plays too fast for him mentally.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:38 am
Who was the last LSU player that came to the Bucs that had a great career here? Booger?
Also good luck with Greedy Williams….can’t tackle, always hurt. SMB was much better
April 12th, 2023 at 10:40 am
Jason needs to play a little hard ball with this child.
1) Tell him flat out he isn’t worth what he’s asking based on his own play.
2) Tell him he has no trade value, again due to his play, and no-one else is going to pay him what he wants either.
3) He will play to his full potential on his 5th year option or he WILL be benched, destroying any chance that anyone else will want him for any price.
5) If he’s still not quite the value next year, he will be tagged and the same rules from the 5th year apply.
6) If, after all that, we still don’t see enough value, he can test the free agent waters… GOOD LUCK!
April 12th, 2023 at 10:40 am
LISTEN TO PAT!
Pat Kerwin is the only guy in the media who gets my respect.
In the past he has refused to go the way of other so called journalists and go for the clicks!
April 12th, 2023 at 10:42 am
He can’t strong arm anything. Bucs have all the leverage.
Devin White sounds like and idiot, looks like an idiot and plays like an idiot = He’s an idiot.
He’s afraid to bet on himself and play out the 5th year because he knows he’s only going to further prove that he’s not elite nor worth $100M.
Trade him to the Cardinals for a 3rd or 4th and call it a day.
What a dumb***.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:43 am
Sapp last year huffed and puffed D. White shouldn’t be a captain. He may have been onto something.
If I was his teammate, no way I’d vote for White to be our captain on defense, our leader, knowing full well he doesn’t want to be here.
At the least, we just lost a team captain.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:44 am
Let him seek his own trade. That’ll wake him up.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:51 am
Send him packing. Overrated.
April 12th, 2023 at 10:57 am
Fun exercise, go find some film of Lavonte David at Nebraska and then go watch ILB Daiyan Henley at Wazzou, it’s kind of uncanny. To me, that’d be an ideal replacement for White, because Henley is capable of doing what White does well and is actually better than White in coverage imo. There are a few other ILBs I’d be interested in kicking the tires on, but this situation with White from what the public knows is already FUBAR less than 24hrs after the trade demand was leaked, announced, or whatever. Send him on his way, and plot on his replacement the next few weeks.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:06 am
Roquan Smith was traded for a 2nd and a 5th, and he’s much better than Devin White. Any team interested in White is going to want a contract extension, so Buc’s best bet might be to let White shop himself around the league. He will find that his actual value is a good bit less than his fantasy.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:08 am
Big players make big plays. Management over think situations and winning championships are low. You get rid of you studs and think everything is okay. Very disrespectful to word certain people and never develop respect. The bucs will never be the same and winning championships is a choice buddy😃😃🙏🙏❤️❤️
April 12th, 2023 at 11:08 am
Trade him. He does have an occasional splash play, but not consistent.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:12 am
Trade him to the Cardinals.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:13 am
There is no way Diva will play for the Bucs if JL doesn’t trade him. He will sit out the year, forfeit his $12 million and hope he gets his $100 million from some stooge the following year. So, either you trade him or you save his salary but not the cap hit, and then get zero for him. He will do a DeShaun Watson minus the rub-a-tug, or a Lamar. Whatever the case, he can be abused by the horse he rode in on.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:24 am
Pat and Jim, yesterday on moving the chains also mentioned Iowa ILB, and draft prospect Jack Campbell. They raved about this kid and how smart and instinctive he is. Said he could go late in the first or top of the second. Give him a look-see.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:25 am
Goat
Not 100% sure, but if he sits for a year, he’s still on contract for his fifth year, so we still have the leverage. Such a plan helps him 0%.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:27 am
On at 11 tonight, Dateline with Devin White: “Unbridled – how I was chomping at the bit to silence the nay-sayers.”
April 12th, 2023 at 11:29 am
He is sliding into a liability just like Kwon was at this time in Kwons career, 45 is no where worth any of that he is asking and the bucs have to get something for him due to him and his play probably will be less than what it was last year. Get rid of this horse’s arse
April 12th, 2023 at 11:32 am
@hands. 100% agree! Jack Campbell has amazing, natural cover skills. High motor and intelligence. His play, size and speed are a clone of Luke Kuechly. He might go late in first round tho.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:36 am
Simple Math !!
He knows his play isn’t going to get him to where his mouth and his glory attention me brain want to be ……. So a trade will most certainly involve a resign and 30 plus mil Now !! Clown 🤡
April 12th, 2023 at 11:40 am
With Joe and Pat on this. Timing is definitely weird and the whole thing is not ideal, but I’m fine with moving him at this point. Just hoping we could get a 2nd at least but im not sure there is even that type of demand.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:41 am
Also another factor is if we force him to stay, and then he walks and did get a big deal, we’d still likely get a mid round compensatory pick of like a 3rd or 4th rounder.
So I wouldn’t move him for anything less than 2nd and force him to stay if we can’t get that.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:47 am
Please please please let’s not pick another dude from LSU. Playoff Lenny went into hiding, Gage was a waste of money and a roster spot and White would be great if he was paid in Loafs, that he excels at. Memories of Kwan and his injuries and Clayton Eeks.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:50 am
Lord C
On the other hand,
If we cut him now, I believe we save the roughly 12 mil he is due on our cap, and whatever team does sign him will probably pay considerably less than 12.
Granted, all we get is cap savings, no picks from a trade, but we do remove a cancer from the locker room.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:53 am
D-Rok! Sheer genius, brother! Giddy-up.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:56 am
Who is his agent? His horse? He would be better off with Lamar Jacksons mom
April 12th, 2023 at 11:59 am
D-Rok
Well done
But I think, had you taken your time, you could have done a little more with say…
gallop(ed, ing)
trot(“)
saddled
manure
fodder
tack
The list goes on and on!
April 12th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
If we cut him, we just have a hole in the defense. I think we need at least a 3rd for him. Otherwise I think you make him play for us next season.
April 12th, 2023 at 12:01 pm
If you can get a 2nd and 3rd (or 4th), then you can draft his replacement and get an extra day 2 pick in the process. Personally, I like Simpson from Clemson as his replacement.
April 12th, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Anybody remember Barrett Rudd
He used to make the occasional splash play. But mostly made tackles 5 or 10 yards down field. Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think he played out his rookie deal either. Had his pick on RayJay too. 😃
April 12th, 2023 at 12:13 pm
Clearly speaks to his common sense. Either he has some mental issues, is really dumb or needs to fire his agent. It’s the worst attempt at getting traded or paid I’ve ever seen. Can’t think of anything to compare it
April 12th, 2023 at 12:20 pm
When he was talking about $100 million during pre-draft I didn’t care for it and have been watching him since trying to see if he would be worth it. He’s not, so either play this year or good riddance. Next man up
April 12th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
He’s as undisciplined as he is talented. They don’t want to move him. He isn’t going anywhere for anything less than a 2. That would also involve paying him top dollar.
April 12th, 2023 at 12:29 pm
I have a slightly different take on this………the Bucs extended Vita Vea with a huge raise in his 5th year (option year)……….]
They didn’t have the money to do that with White because they brought back LVD and signed Dean.
White does have a point about the money…..but it’s the public display that is bothering….it does him no good.
He will have to play hard in 2023 in order to get paid big bucks….
We could use the non-exclusive franchise tag on him next year.we could receive 2 1st round picks if someone outbids us…..that price is about $20 mil.
April 12th, 2023 at 1:15 pm
White’s on field and off field timing seem equally off. He just got a transformative LB coach who could potentially turn him into the next Micah Parsons (let’s face it. White is a runner, not a thinker). Rather than play out to remove the tarnish of 2021/22, he tries to parlay a regression in his game to a big payday. Fool. He apparently has not learned a thing from David
April 12th, 2023 at 1:20 pm
The question must be… Is White worth $20 million per season more than a 2nd or 3rd round MLB in this round draft? MLB is probably the least valuable position in the NFL in 2023.
Let him walk for a 6th round draft pick. Is he even worth the $12 hes making this year? Real talk.
April 12th, 2023 at 1:26 pm
He is only being hated on because he is White!!!
April 12th, 2023 at 1:29 pm
i just cant see the bucs getting a first for him. i can see the bucs using him to trade up in the draft with perhaps some compensation coming back to the bucs in a later round pick or something of that nature. i just cant see the bucs getting a first for him. if licht does, god bless him and i will gladly eat crow.
April 12th, 2023 at 1:29 pm
Whatever the case, all Diva is good for is horseplay.
April 12th, 2023 at 1:46 pm
member when he was loafing and playing like poop; dude is a POS and an entitled clown, let him go, he has played 3 good games in his bucs career
April 12th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
I think his agent is Me Ed.
April 12th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Mr Ed
April 12th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
Well, Wilbur, I guess we won’t be riding like we used to.
April 12th, 2023 at 2:19 pm
SB~LV … ‘He understands the cap situation the Bucs are in at this moment’.
Exactly. And not just at this moment, but the CAP situation we’re in for 2024 also (it’s potentially even worse than 2023 now that we’ve restructured a bunch of contracts to free up money now for rebuilding this 2023 team).
Bucs next year have White, Wirfs & Winfield up for new contracts, plus Mike Evans, LVD (or his replacement) & a host of others (like Mayfield or another QB, Gaines, etc). Spotrac shows us with $30.9 mil under the projected $235 mil adjusted salary CAP, but with only 25 players under contract AND not counting any Dead CAP at this point (only void years). IOW next year’s mountain will be just as hard to climb as this year’s; very possibly harder.
Devin White probably already sees himself as ‘odd man out’ next year. He’s not getting $20 mil from the Bucs, but he MIGHT get it from some other team. Got a hunch his agent convinced him to roll the dice & see if maybe some other team is interested in trading for him (and thus redoing his contract for 2023 and beyond). In any event, even if he stays, I’m convinced he knows that having a great year is in his best interest going forward.
April 12th, 2023 at 2:24 pm
I wonder if the Bucs could trade one disgruntled ILB for a disgruntled RB?
Saquan Barkley isn’t signing his franchise tender in NY…
How about an even trade – D. White for S. Barkley?
The Bucs need a starting RB to improve the worst running game in the NFL and D. White would be a nice fit in NY.
I don’t believe the Bucs will receive fair draft pick compensation. Probably a 4th or 5th round pick – which is not worth trading him for.
April 12th, 2023 at 2:39 pm
If Devin White really wants to leave, then his best course of action is to just play this season out, and then say “I’m not interested and I’m gonna go into Free Agency”. The timing of this is pretty bad.
April 12th, 2023 at 3:02 pm
White should take the 11 million this year.
Next year he can demand even more money.
The cap will be raised, and the Bucs will be out of cap hell.
Patients grasshopper.
Nobody wins with holdout here.
April 12th, 2023 at 5:16 pm
Disappointing. Much like his career.
April 12th, 2023 at 5:21 pm
I would’ve taken Josh Allen over him from the beginning when both of them were coming out. So much for them doing that. You can definitely say F**K YOU & THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON DEVIN!
April 12th, 2023 at 5:56 pm
You never know guys. Maybe Licht can package him in a draft day trade and we get maybe a 2nd and a 4th rounder?
April 12th, 2023 at 8:04 pm
He must have a bad agent…
April 12th, 2023 at 8:28 pm
White has said “I want to be the first 100 million dollar linebacker” or something to that effect. It gave me pause then. He had an excellent Super Bowl run…probably wouldn’t have won it without him. He’s digressed since…and tackles higher by the game. No win situation here but might be time to cut bait.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:07 pm
As much as he has been a little inconsistent the last two years, he is still pro- bowler with one hell of a résumé during a Super Bowl run. He’s also one of the fastest linebackers in the NFL. There are plenty of DC’s that would beg their team to give up a first round pick for him.
Personally, I would try to get a third for him this year and a first next year. Teams are more likely to give up their first round pick in the future.
April 12th, 2023 at 11:53 pm
My guess? He musta been yakkin with his buddies in Cleveland. Hey, send him there!
April 13th, 2023 at 2:48 am
We need Nolan Smith from Georgia period.
Dude is faster than White and can play OLB.
Then we pay him in 4 years when he doesn’t whine about it.
The traditional side to side MIDDLE linebacker has no value.
Good O coordinators will have him tired by half time.
Stupid to pick ILB at 5 anyway, and this is why.
April 13th, 2023 at 12:35 pm
I like the idea of Nolan Smith or the Pitt DT at 19.
Trade white for a late 1 or early 2 and use that on Jack Campbell from Iowa.
April 14th, 2023 at 1:49 am
He hasn’t got the trade value he thinks he has. But if we can get a 3 and a 4 for him this year in a trade? Go for it. Sign a cheap free agent replacement if you can and move on. Keeping disgruntled/insane players is too risky.
See Keshawn Johnson and Antonio Brown. Then You get basically nothing for all the BS (locker room drama) you have to deal with. And quite honestly Bowles has lost his mind if he really thinks White is the 1st or 2nd best player on the defense!
April 14th, 2023 at 10:17 am
Let him go. He wasn’t good last year. Poor tackling. Over shoots the gap. Not good in coverage. Has temper tantrums. Gruden would love to have him but that was a long time ago. Turn the page now before it comes back to bite.