“I Don’t Watch It”
December 5th, 2024
Joe found this interesting because Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht often talks about drafting players with a profound and deep love of football.
Rachaad White was the Bucs’ third-round pick in 2022, and Joe certainly doesn’t question White’s work ethic and commitment. He’s clearly driven and White’s life story is one that let’s you know he’s pushed through a lot of challenges to be in the NFL.
So it struck Joe when White told the Stacking The Box podcast that he doesn’t watch football in his free time.
The host pressed White about keeping track of the Falcons in the standings. White said he doesn’t “check up on them” and doesn’t care. In fact, White said he doesn’t even celebrate a Falcons loss.
“I’m really not watching football. Football’s not going to be on my TV,” White said. “… Thursday Night Football or Monday Night Football, I’m going to be honest with you. I’m not that type of guy; I don’t watch it.”
White added that he watches film and cares deeply about all things Bucs, but that’s where it ends. He said he usually can be found playing a game with family (not football) when he’s out of One Buc Palace.
Joe gets it, but it’s still hard to understand.
Joe had a buddy who was a hell of a baseball pitcher for a state champion high school team and put serious time into his craft. Pro scouts took notice and the guy played minor league ball, but he didn’t watch professional baseball. Disinterested, even when he was in the minors.
Hey, not being a football junkie is working for White. He’s a pro on his way to a second contract. Whatever works.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
I don’t blame him at all. Football broadcasts are increasingly not for people that know football at all. It’s just a personality pageant – see Chiefs national obsession. I wish they had alternate broadcasts for people that don’t care about the personalities and love the strategy of the game. Like a live version of the show Jaws used to do.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:34 pm
Bo Jackson was the first athlete I ever heard say the same thing. His take was it’s his job. There is time to work and time for life. You need to get away from it.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:35 pm
It’s this new generation it’s just a job for them
December 5th, 2024 at 12:35 pm
not loving football and watching football as a spectator is not the same. He plays the game so he doesn’t need to watch it other than film.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
Perhaps White doesn’t watch football because he, as an insider, knows what the NFL is all about. That may substantiate some of my theories. Maybe he likes his job and pay and keeps his mouth shut to keep it.
December 5th, 2024 at 12:47 pm
Everyone is different when it comes to their relationship with their work especially when one’s work is a pastime for millions of others.
In a lot of cases I would say not watching the sport you play is a bit of a red flag, could mean you have less passion for the game than others you are competing with or against. If you are a professional and watch film to prepare and are good at your job… it doesn’t matter.
I could have had a better career, no doubt in my mind, but I wasn’t passionate about my sport. I think it’s a great game and I liked playing it but it became a job to me and I wasn’t committed enough. It’s a crazy thing to do or say when millions of dollars are potentially on the line, but I wasn’t cut from the right cloth and I can accept that/ have to accept that otherwise I really need a Time Machine for my mental health!
December 5th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
I get it. I don’t like to watch other people sell educational data analytics in my spare time…
December 5th, 2024 at 1:02 pm
It’s like a chef that has to cook at home. Only if they absolutely have to otherwise no way. Very few people are interested in doing their job when they are off the clock.
December 5th, 2024 at 1:45 pm
It’s strictly a job to some guys, hard to fault them
December 5th, 2024 at 1:51 pm
Good thing….probably not A JBF reader either…..getting bashed unmercifully…
December 5th, 2024 at 2:00 pm
I could never play it or any other sport. Doesn’t stop me from following the Bucs. We’ve all got lives to live outside of work/diversions. Sounds mentally healthy to me.
December 5th, 2024 at 2:16 pm
Wanting to see White with more action in the passing game with Bucky also in the game. He and Bucky against linebackers sounds like a Baker target dream.
December 5th, 2024 at 2:26 pm
You guys are wild I love doing what I do for money otherwise it becomes a grind. Im all about it even in my off time but different strokes for different folks. Go bucs!
December 5th, 2024 at 2:42 pm
After reading this and some comments I’m a little perplexed that a person who loves the game and plays it professionally and has said he loves it …but doesn’t watch it ??!!?…what gives ???.I’ve loved the game since I could walk and played in high school and I can tell you this.
..from where I sit….it doesn’t make sense to me…from April draft day to the Super Bowl my whole life changes for the good…and at 70 years of age …..it actually rejuvenates me as I hate the months of February-April draft day …it’s boring ..lol…maybe I need a hobby….in my opinion..and it’s only an opinion….anyone who says they love football but doesn’t watch it is either a liar or is kidding you…..or if he might be a pro….I’d cut him if I was coaching…..I bet you Bucky Irving watches it along with the rest of the Buccaneers…..
December 5th, 2024 at 3:03 pm
Pappa I’ll r u a 70 year old idiot or what a stupid statement u sound like a woke democrat with no power (loser)
December 5th, 2024 at 4:09 pm
I played minor league baseball and don’t watch MLB baseball anymore because I learned quickly while playing that it’s all about the money & not the players that the owners really care about, so maybe White feels the same way…it’s just a job & not a passion because you’re expendable when you don’t produce….
December 5th, 2024 at 4:35 pm
@BakerBucs
STFU. And learn a tiny bit of Grammer.
And keep politics out of the comments section.
Another dumba$$ with a typewriter.
December 5th, 2024 at 6:07 pm
I can definitely understand why he doesn’t watch football. I will never watch shows about paramedics because they bore me and they’re usually BS, even the real ones.
December 5th, 2024 at 11:13 pm
I can understand it.
I used to try and watch all the major sports. Followed the standings.
I can’t anymore.
I watch all the Buc games. All the Magic games. Every lightning and Rays game I can.
In person or televised.
But I’ve lost interest in following any teams but the home teams.
The refs constant influence on the outcome. The obvious favoritism towards the large market teams. The Announcers on clearly defined agenda to “ star build” certain players.
I don’t love sports like I used to.
It’s more like I’m hanging on to the home teams, not enjoying them.
It’s probably just growing old, but I really miss how much sports used to mean to me.
December 6th, 2024 at 6:04 am
I played all major sports to some degree. Loved playing baseball, basketball (back befoe it became a glorified three point contest). Football was my favorite, I took up golf after school and loved it. The only one I truly love watching is football. Although I could do without alot of the lame people they choose to put on the broadcasts.
Most of the directors of these games need to be fired for the Bush League stuff they put out there. Love to look at the ladies but they need to put them on something besides my NFL games. It really ticks me off to be forced to listen to them trying to get their face time and tell me about things that have very little if any interest in…. five or six times a game. Wish Tony Siragusa (the best sideline reporter of all time) was still with us. I miss guys like Pat Summerall, Tom Brookshier, Charlie Jones, and of course Merlin Olsen. They knew there stuff and were not trying to be so politically correct and “entertaining”.
Go Bucs!
December 6th, 2024 at 8:19 am
It makes perfect sense to me.
Rachaad (And everyone at One Buc Place) needs to be focused on one thing and one thing only:
The next game.
Win Baby!!