Richard Sherman Details Devin White Absence, Says White Asked To Start
December 18th, 2023
Ex-Bucs cornerback Richard Sherman shares his inside knowledge.
Joe always pays attention when Richard Sherman talks Bucs, and today he was talking about unrest within the Buccaneers defense.
The former All-Pro cornerback closed his career with the Bucs in 2021 and maintains friendships within the team.
(Joe can only imagine how much Sherman ripped his buddy Jamel Dean for dropping another interception yesterday at Lambeau Field.)
Speaking on Undisputed today on FS1 and SiriusXM, Sherman was asked about linebacker Devin White “getting benched” for K.J. Britt yesterday. White was on the inactive list and Todd Bowles said White told him he couldn’t “go,” but Bowles did not say White was injured, only that his foot was sore.
Sherman shared his insider information.
“The conversation that I [had] to understand was they said they would rotate [Devin White and K.J. Britt]. They would rotate them and they would start K.J. Britt [against Green Bay] but they would bring David in and they’d flip-flop them,” Sherman said. “And Devin said he wasn’t about that, ‘I’m not a rotational player, not a rotational guy. I’d like to start and finish the game.’ That’s understandable. He’s been a great player in this National Football League. He’s been a Pro Bowler, but clearly he’s fallen out of grace with Todd Bowles and this defense for some reason.”
This is a terrible look for White, if accurate.
Joe realizes there are conflicting reports/rumors out there on White. What Joe does know is that JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman said 11 days ago that he expected Devin White to not play again this season. And, of course, Kaufman didn’t pull that out of thin air.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:47 pm
So many head cases / divas in football. Why can’t they be more like hockey players?
December 18th, 2023 at 1:47 pm
I don’t see Sherman pulling this info out of thin air either. This is a terrible look for Devin.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:53 pm
One of the Joes commented to the effect that he is no longer popular among his teammates. I would have to say that got worse this weekend when he sat out. He seems to think he is entitled to the starting job which would explain his attitude. The NFL always stands for “Not for long” and he seems to think he is untouchable. That’s probably a coaching failure if no one told him that his starting job is in jeopardy. Maybe someone did. Who knows?
December 18th, 2023 at 1:55 pm
This is a terrible look for Todd Bowles…..he outright lied.
Bowles messed this up months ago….sure White’s playing his part….
December 18th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
For some reason? – How about loafing, disinterested play and generally playing terribly. Bowles stuck by this guy (and JTS) far longer than he should have.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
team flow is going in one direction…and devilin white is going in another…
they might want to pull a gruden X keyshaun johnson…
and #Deactivate
December 18th, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Diva crap!!! A couple of years ago was Antonio Brown, now this inmature egocentric mediocre player.
What is really funny is Sherman saying that´s understandable, pretty comical actually.
Head coaches decide not you selfish boy!!!
He is hurting the small equity he has…..
Players and coaches used to back him up….not no more.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:58 pm
the bucs need to respect devilin white because he must strategically protect his body for that 6 year 120 million contract that is anxiously out there waiting for him
🙂 🙂 🙂
December 18th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
We’ll always have ’20
December 18th, 2023 at 2:01 pm
Tomorrow there will be another take on this
December 18th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
His value is sinking like the Titanic
December 18th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Time to move on.
If Sherman is telling the truth, does that mean DW lied to Joe?
December 18th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Bad look for Bowels? He is trying to keep a lid on a major distraction while his team is on the verge of winning a division for the 3rd year in a row. I’m sure David would have told them team he would do whatever he could to help out. One is going to the ROH and the other is goin to be a free agent.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
and truth be told, lavonte was probably making devilin a better player just by playing next to him…
he’s so sound out there, that he makes anyone playing next to him better
December 18th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Bowles was trying to do White a favor there, if the truth had gotten out, which it apparently has, it will diminish his chances to sign elsewhere for decent money
December 18th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Can’t wait to see his contract in free agency. That’s a good indicator what other teams think of him.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:07 pm
What Dewey said…
I’m no Bowles fan, but not throwing Diva White under the bus is the professional thing to do..
Bowles did say “ you’ll have to ask him” . Apparently White told Joe his footsie was sore. He didn’t relay his demands either..
December 18th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
if he’s really a distraction to the squad as they are gearing up for the playoffs…as the coach, you let it be public and back your players…
and deactivate…
it’s weird, a few years back it looked like we had the next lawrence taylor or something
December 18th, 2023 at 2:11 pm
You can’t have it both ways. You can’t say, “Bowles needs to make his players accountable, then when he does say, this is Bowles fault. The Buccaneers energy yestserday was impressive from the get go. The players have gotten the message and they trust their head coach. Look, I’m not saying Bowles hasn’t shown his flaws this year but the objective is to improve. This hasn’t looked like the same team that lost to Atlanta and Houston earlier in the season.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
I have no issues with Bowles not throwing his player to the wolves. The truth came out and has nothing to do with Bowles in my opinion. If this report is true, it’s totally on White.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:17 pm
A guy who should feel lucky collecting a paycheck in the NFL is whining because he’s not a starter? Hahaha, pathetic.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:18 pm
id let him start at special teams the whole game then. #consistency
December 18th, 2023 at 2:18 pm
Fallen out of favor for some reason….. umm he misses tackles always tackles high can’t cover anyone. He has sucked this year and half of last year.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Devin can ride his horses out of town. He’ll probably end up with the Saints.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:31 pm
Devin we used to love you but at the current time I Wouldn’t trade 1 David For two Devins 🤣
December 18th, 2023 at 2:37 pm
I’ve criticized the Joes A LOT over the years, including them wanting to draft OLB Josh Allen over Devin way back in the day. Sure, this was before Shaq & the SB, but ultimately yeah, Allen was the better pick. Mea culpa ☺️
December 18th, 2023 at 2:41 pm
I’m sensing a “good cop – bad cop” scenario. Bowles seems to be a people pleaser and wants to be friends with the players (modern day coach). Bowles gets to keep the love and the big bad GM holds the hammer and sends the message. Seems to be working.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:43 pm
White sucks now.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:45 pm
White’s behavior and the attitude he is projecting will surely diminish his value as a FA. I have to believe his agent must be trying to reel him in some.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:45 pm
It just shows the gap between a good season or two at LB and being Derrick Brooks.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:46 pm
Show him you have a pair Bowles. If White refuses to accept his sub role then…suspend him without pay.
December 18th, 2023 at 2:48 pm
This meshes pretty well with what Scott over at the PR was reporting after the game as well.
December 18th, 2023 at 3:01 pm
White has looked a bit heavy and slow this year and Britt looks better right now.Devin looks like a malcontent not willing to do what the HC is asking. I would suggest that if Devin is 100% , he should let his play and attitude earn him more time on the field. Really sad state of affairs and have to believe White can be salvaged for the remainder of the season if that is what Todd wants to happen?
December 18th, 2023 at 3:07 pm
The Bucs would get a compensatory pick after he signs with another team so it is in there best interest for it to be as good a deal as possible.
December 18th, 2023 at 3:10 pm
Bravo to Todd Bowles. Devin White has become a liability and KJ Britt is playing solid team ball. Nobody ever said you can’t lose your starting spot when you’re injured.
Shouldn’t refusing to play be considered conduct detrimental to the team? Devin soaked up as much attitude as he could from Fournette and Antonio Brown while they were here. This is the kind of crap that submarines guys careers.
If he refuses to play they need to figure out a way to give him some kind of designation so they can open up a roster spot.
December 18th, 2023 at 3:21 pm
“For some reason”
Hmm that’s awfully… polite.
December 18th, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Get him out….dump him.
December 18th, 2023 at 3:24 pm
I knew he would devolve to this when we drafted him. At least he had a good playoff run in 2020, we may not win the SB without him. He needs a coach who can make him understand the brutal truth about what it takes to be great – and that certainly doesn’t include feelings of entitlement like a 16 year old millionaire Valley Girl.
December 18th, 2023 at 3:34 pm
Unfortunately this type of thing can’t be coached out. If Lavonte David and Mike Evans, 2 of his most respected peers can’t get him to act like a man, why would he listen to any coach?
December 18th, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Coaches need to coach and players need to play. The decision to be a rotational player or not is a decision for the coach. His attitude is now in open view for all to see. It’s not a good look for Mr White. Not at all.
December 18th, 2023 at 3:51 pm
We have all watched white take plays off and loaf. That’s an attitude and character issue. Britt is a very capable player and he is playing faster than White right now. Why Bowles says what he says like with the Godwin situation I don’t know. It doesn’t look good when your not straight with it. White is where he belongs right now though. On the pine.
December 18th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
A quote from DW (fabricated in my head) ” I’m talking my ball and going home!!!!!”
Football is a team sport. The winning teams know this way more than losers!!!
December 18th, 2023 at 4:50 pm
We have this problem because Bowles is scared to do anything bold. White, JTS, Neal, all should have been benched much sooner than they were. Stinnie should have started from day 1. We got Davis/Dean making $30 million combined to play zone….nothing Bowles does makes any sense.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:09 pm
Even more of a reason they shouldve drafted Josh Allen. Yep I would’ve leaned more towards drafting Allen over him from the beginning but no of course they pass on him & let Jacksonville steal him. They should’ve traded him on draft day & they could’ve got at least a pick or two for him then but no why should they. Give Watts, Yaya & Britt more playing time instead & dump Devin & Tryon for sure & they definitely need to do something about the secondary because Carlton & Dean are just robbing them of $$$$ also. They’re getting paid a bunch of that $$$$ they could be spending on Antoine, Wirfs, Lavonte, Evans, McLaughlin & depending on Baker & they’re hurt on like every play. They should just have FRAGILE on the back of their jerseys instead.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:11 pm
Too bad we didn’t trade him when we had the chance. If his value dips, we might not even get a comp for him when he jumps ship in free agency.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:11 pm
Maybe Godwin’s wife should be the new coach instead.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:32 pm
From the time we first play organized ball you get how this works. Coach decides who plays, you earn your spot by your performance. Refusing to play when you are being paid over $10 million a year is beyond outrageous. I can’t see how he is allowed on the field again this year. How it got this far is a head scratcher to me. I sit on the couch for weeks watching Wrong Way way White missing tackles and looking lost and sometimes jogging around. I see this and the Head Coach doesn’t? The position coaches don’t see it? The players do I will tell you that.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:33 pm
So basically – White told the Bucs “Fluck Ya’ll – If I ain’t starting, I ain’t playing.”
Just Go home and play with your horsies you mentally weak, crybaby.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:35 pm
Wish I wouldn’t have gotten so drunk before the 2019 texans game and bought that white jersey for $140
December 18th, 2023 at 5:36 pm
I’m not digging all the lying and misinformation coming outta my beloved organization. Whatever is happening quit with the bullsh!t.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Wish I wouldn’t have gotten so drunk before the 2019 texans game and bought that white jersey
December 18th, 2023 at 6:39 pm
He is not the better player his replacement gives a better chance of winning. End of story. 2020 was a great season Bucs kicked everyone’s ass. It’s 2023 now and DW will not help us be that way again.
December 18th, 2023 at 6:47 pm
This high horse BS with White has been going on for 2 years. Head scratcher cos LVD has been a mentor since White showed up. Was there any hint in his college records? I don’t follow college. That SB ring sure gave him a big head.
December 18th, 2023 at 6:50 pm
Seriously…of course he wants to start! You people act like he is wrong about wanting to do so.
Devin White’s play has slipped at times, but at other times, he explodes. The problem is that we never know which on we’ll get.
Also, let’s not discount the following possibilities:
Bowles could have wanted to start him off with a lighter load with him coming back from injury.
Not starting him could be an effort to drive down his value, lowing his price in free agency.
And…also…
…this isn’t factual data. Never believe without confirmation.
December 18th, 2023 at 6:52 pm
I like Devin White…but I understand if they do not re-sign him. He isn’t worth the price he wants…and with us having cap issues, we cannot afford to re-sign him anyway.
David will be gone as well (retiring) so at least we know where we need to address the roster early.
December 18th, 2023 at 6:54 pm
Bobby M. Says
“We have this problem because Bowles is scared to do anything bold. White, JTS, Neal, all should have been benched much sooner than they were.”
Maybe. Maybe not.
Player development is a real thing, and starting makes it happen faster. That said, I agree that the best players should be starting.
December 18th, 2023 at 7:06 pm
Some one above said Bowles out right lied…so what?
If I was a coach or a player, I wouldn’t tell anyone in the media anything. We’re not entitled to know anything that goes on inside the walls of the organization. Enjoy the games and root for the boys they roll out! Go Bucs!!
December 18th, 2023 at 7:12 pm
For some reason?
His play has been subpar the last 2 seasons
December 18th, 2023 at 7:53 pm
Too bad. Maybe he’ll get back on track with the Saints or the Raiders or some other team. Bowles probably overestimated White a bit and gave him too much responsibility in the huddle and in coverage.
December 18th, 2023 at 8:33 pm
Truth be known,D,White hasn’t played a good game since the vikings game.
December 18th, 2023 at 8:39 pm
D whites kryptonite is pass coverage.
December 18th, 2023 at 9:17 pm
There’s 2 facts from my point of view here.
1 is that this team is responding to Bowles coaching. They look like a totaling different team and have bought in to what he’s saying. 3 weeks ago I wanted his head because he looked to be in over it, not so much anymore. I remember his fire in the locker room after the Vikings game and when you look into his eyes when he talks about some things he means business and, at times, looks pissed off, so it doesn’t surprise me with putting Stinnie in, sitting White and some other moves he’s made, he’s earning his bones right now. These guys are stepping up and, just maybe, it’s taken this long for things to jell under the new OC.
2 Players tell you how much they want it by their play and/or lack of it. IF D. White told coach he couldn’t go to help the team, I applaud that and only he knows,{ see Minshew TD run}. That would be unselfish on his part to help the team and honestly NO ONE knows if that’s the truth but 2 men, and we don’t need to. I do remember after his rookie year he was put in and asked to do different things for the D when David was out for an extended time which did effect his play and things we were accustomed to seeing him do, Bowles said that himself. Only time will tell the truth.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:21 pm
Tony Says:
December 18th, 2023 at 5:11 pm
Maybe Godwin’s wife should be the new coach instead
—-
The way Canales stood at attention and complied she might already be.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:30 pm
@Bonzai, come on man. DWhite has been azz his entire career. Even 2020. Yep, he had 9 sacks. Go back and watch them. Almost every one was schemed up. His pass coverage skills were extremely bad then just as they’ve been every year. He allowed an 83% completion rate and 109.6 rating against him in 2020. The best stretch in his entire career was the 2020 postseason. Nothing good before or after.
And don’t get me started on his run defense. Dude can’t shed WRs. Olineman pushe him anywhere they want to. QBs juke him like he’s a 5-year old.
He’s been embarrassing for a long time. He would have looked even worse if David hadn’t been cleaning up his messes every week.
Good riddance, Diva! Unheralded Britt looks all-world by comparison.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:50 pm
Looks like Diva White slacking on plays finally caught up with him and he has been out played by the backup.
December 19th, 2023 at 12:03 am
Hey sometimes a good ole fashion divorce is what is needed for both parties. Devin got comfortable with the Bucs and really let himself go! Devin knew it this off season and the Bucs wanted to salvage it by going to mediation. Hindsight is we should have ripped the band aid off earlier in the off season and traded him. The fact still remains without the play of Devin we would not have this wonderful SB trophy. See what I did there? Good luck to him and hopefully it works out. Maybe he goes to Miami or Jacksonville so he can come back and visit the Lombardi Trophy at One Bucs Place every other weekend.
December 19th, 2023 at 4:04 am
White should have been tried at DE. He pass rushes effectively. White at MLB is done in Tampa. His inability to be effective against the pass is evident. And the team seems to win more when he doesn’t play…
December 19th, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Rip that C off his chest. Replace with an L. Put him on IR and take his keycard to one buc.
December 19th, 2023 at 4:11 pm
Been saying it for a year now. He’s overrated. He has a me-first attitude. He frequently doesn’t play smart. He overruns plays and misses tackles and STILL has terrible tackling form. He is somewhat coddled by Bowles, which makes you think he NEEDS coddling. He thinks he’s worth WAY more than he is. He’s the Jameis Winston of linebackers. I can’t wait until he’s gone.
December 19th, 2023 at 10:53 pm
White is available for Bucs and his value. Who wins. Hopefully White decides to increase his value by not playing or possibly playing and being a team player.