Todd Bowles On Devin White’s Status
June 14th, 2023
Hold-in or held out?
So yeah, disgruntled Bucs linebacker Devin White showed up yesterday for mandatory minicamp. That’s all he did. Showed up.
White didn’t practice. He stood on the sidelines and joked with teammates. It almost seemed like a coordinated thing.
It’s common for a player holding out for cash to perform what is referred to as a “hold-in.” Instead of boycotting minicamp, the player shows up so he’s not fined but doesn’t practice.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles insisted White wasn’t in the middle of a hold-in. Rather, it almost sounded like Bowles didn’t want White to practice as he doesn’t know if White is in shape.
“It’s not a hold in,” Bowles said. “We’d like to see where he is physically, so we don’t feel like we need to put him out here right now until we test him and do everything.
“Two or three days of camp isn’t going to help him that way.”
Bowles added it is unlikely White practices today, Wednesday. If the Bucs practice Thursday — there is always a chance the Bucs call off the last day of minicamp — White hasn’t been ruled out. Yet.
Bucs legend Lavonte David also didn’t practice but he’s not in any financial hassle. David has participated in underwear football this year and it seemed Bowles didn’t see the need for the Bucs’ graybeard to wear himself out.
Bowles knows what David’s all about and probably thinks it’s better for the young Bucs like rookie linebacker SirVocea Dennis to get reps.
“He’s been here,” Bowles said of David. “He’s been here in a few practices. We kind of know where he is physically by what he does and talking with the strength coaches.”
This is smart. David, 33, doesn’t have much tread on his tires. Everyone with the Bucs knows David is a warrior.
If White decides to launch Operation Shutdown in training camp or into the season, it’s extra important for David to have fresh legs.
June 14th, 2023 at 12:32 am
I don’t think Bowles knows what David, White, nor Mayfield are all about. He thought Darden did nothing wrong. I have serious doubts regarding his evaluation of players.
June 14th, 2023 at 1:04 am
Sounds like Bowles has a discipline issue and is afraid to get tough with White. I bet he doesn’t get a lot of respect from his players?
June 14th, 2023 at 2:13 am
and this is one of many reasons Bowles is irritating. He needs to stop making excuses (which actually amounts to lying to us) for holdouts/holdins devin white. If the guy is holding out then say so! Koetter would and Arians would. Todd Bowles–remember him after his his horrible game calling then said he thought Tom Brady would throw a pick–I forget the specifics but Todd Bowles is the problem along with Devin White. Both of them need to be gone next year. We need new head coach and Devin White sold for draft picks asap before he gets hurt.
June 14th, 2023 at 3:02 am
This is just strange.
June 14th, 2023 at 4:58 am
Should have traded White, at least the new head coach next year will.
June 14th, 2023 at 5:02 am
Seems to this poster that within the defensive organizational scheme there’s massive confusion that devin white wants no part of…and he’s getting the blame for… if the fish stinks at the head,
The fish is gonna stink at the tail …like what we saw last year against the cowboys in the playoffs, where it was one blown assignment after another defensively. On national tv. It was embarrassing. And after playing 20 games…
And his only way
Is to clear the decks and get the heck out….
You cant fight city hall…
Because when you are the knowing deck hand;
You are not going to tell the ignorant captains what to do… and white knows this… imo
June 14th, 2023 at 5:38 am
I think this is typical Bowles blowing smoke.
Hiding D Whites helmet and making him watch Dennis in his spot is actuallly a good move.
Lets him and others know that they can be replaced.
Go Bucs!
June 14th, 2023 at 6:21 am
It sounds as if the Bucs planned on sitting him regardless of his attitude.
Him watching that pick six by Dennis had to hurt, and I think that is what they were going for.
They could also be in final negotiations on either a deal, or a trade and don’t want him to get hurt.
Now if he pulled what Diggs did in Buffalo, that would be strange.
June 14th, 2023 at 7:09 am
Maybe they are just sitting him out so he doesn’t get injured so they can trade him here within the next few months before the season starts. One can hope because we don’t need this cancer diva white on the team causing distractions.
June 14th, 2023 at 7:28 am
Jesus, Bowles. I’m trying to stay on your side but the LIES?
“It’s not a hold in,”
“Two or three days of camp isn’t going to help him that way.”
Yes it is a hold in. He did not look out of shape and if he was, then he should have been doing something.
And if 2 or 3 days is not going to help, why the hell is anyone there?
June 14th, 2023 at 7:53 am
Bucs NEED White this year if we expect to make it through a grueling 17-game schedule. Just look at our ILB depth (or lack thereof) …
o LVD (age 33) … 11 yrs NFL (166 games – 10,906 def snap)
o White (age 25) … 4 yrs NFL (62 games – 3972 def snaps)
o KJ Britt (age 24) … 2 yrs NFL (29 games – 73 def snaps)
o Dennis (age 23) … Rookie (5th Rnd pick)
o Banks (age 23) … Rookie (undrafted)
o JJ Russell (age 24) … 1 yr NFL (6 games – 45 def snaps)
o Gilbert (age 25) … 4 yrs NFL (31 games – 69 def snaps)
Our ILBs have traditionally been the heart of this defense. For proof of that, all you need to do is look at who makes the most tackles each year. Everything ultimately flows through our ILBs, and their instincts & speed are the keys IMO to them making the big plays. Right now we don’t have the experienced DEPTH to plug in for LVD or White should they get injured. Dennis has shown promise in underwear football, but he most likely lasted until the 5th Round for a reason. He’s explosive, but his coverage skills apparently need a lot of work.
June 14th, 2023 at 9:38 am
Defense Rules “Dennis has shown promise in underwear football, but he most likely lasted until the 5th Round for a reason. He’s explosive, but his coverage skills apparently need a lot of work”
———————
Yes, he lasted until the 5th round. There are several reasons. Number one, he isn’t very big. Secondly, for a smaller LB that relies on speed he didn’t run a particularly fast 40 at 4.73 seconds. Finally, he wasn’t used a lot in coverage and was in a college scheme that had him running towards the LOS far more than dropping into coverage. Now, compare him to former 1st round pick and 11 year vet, Chad Greenway’s 4.78 40, and suddenly 4.73 doesn’t seem too slow. Of course Greenway later ran a 4.60 at his pro day but his Combine number doesn’t look too good.
I’m not saying Dennis will be a star, or even play, but the early results seem to show that his decorated collegiate career isn’t simply because he lined up behind Klancey during that time. Apparently, the guy can play even if his measurables are 5th round quality.
June 14th, 2023 at 10:11 am
DR, I have minimal expectations for 2024 for numerous reasons.
I see 2024 as The Year of the Cull.
I don’t care if White is “needed.” Needed for what? 5-12? 7-10? Squeak-into the playoffs pipe-dream, for one and done?
If he does not want to be a Buc, then I don’t want him “needs” be damned.
I’d instead dump him for whatever his trade value is for picks or another veteran player who “wants” to be a Buc. Yeah, I know, I know, last year of his rookie dealio. I don’t care.
Divas are poison, and White is the biggest Buc Diva since Meshawn Johnson. I have lost immense respect for White, and nothing short of a public confession of sins to Buc Nation will change that.
Oh, yeah: and the horse he rode in on.
June 14th, 2023 at 10:43 am
Welp!
I thought DW would be the successor for LVD and make the Bucs his whole career…..I guess we were all wrong on that one……
June 14th, 2023 at 10:58 am
Bowles is in over his head …. He just is not capable of being the big Man in charge . Another wasted season ahead ….
June 14th, 2023 at 1:20 pm
Cobraboy … I doubt that Devin White will be a Buc NEXT year at this time, but for now, we simply don’t have the experienced depth to replace him. Contrary to some, I don’t consider him to be a ‘poison’ at all. Probably delusional in terms of what he’s convinced that his market value is, but not poison. He knows full well I’m sure that him getting a big payday after this year is dependent on how he performs on the field this year. Millions of dollars at stake, and that’s a lot of incentive for someone like White.
June 14th, 2023 at 2:44 pm
Diva gonna Diva… we’ll see if he actually plays or holds out all year long.