Pewter Report’s Bucs Coaching Camp protection is introduced bySynergy Out of doors Kitchens & Extra
Develop into the envy of the neighborhood – and the place to come back for Tampa Bay watch events and residential tailgating – with a customized outside kitchen from Synergy Out of doors Kitchens & Extra! Get a FREE Coyote Transportable Tailgate grill – an $800 worth – with the acquisition of a brand new outside kitchen Wesley Chapel • Sarasota/Bradenton • Tampa • Orlando / Name Synergy at 813-993-1531 or go to SynergyFL.com
The Bucs have drawn nationwide headlines since coaching camp began, however not for the explanations the fanbase desires to listen to about.
Though there have been fairly just a few participant performances to control up to now, quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive sort out Vita Vea’s latest contract negotiations have been the darkish cloud looming over every part else.
In an try to clear the air, common supervisor Jason Licht held a press convention fielding questions concerning the two franchise gamers. Because it pertains to Vea, he firmly denied any considered the Professional Bowl nostril sort out taking part in elsewhere this season or sooner or later.
Jason Licht, Vita Vea’s Camp Are Engaged In Contract Talks: “We Love Vita”
It’s not shocking to see Vita Vea in search of safety and stability as he enters the ultimate 12 months of the contract he signed in January 2022. Vea is at the moment coming into the ultimate 12 months of a four-year deal that’s fairly the cut price given the present market. It is sensible that he desires to be pretty compensated going ahead, as he’s not getting any youthful and his subsequent contract traces as much as be his final substantial payday.
On the similar time, the Bucs have to think about the well being of their cap sheet and the dangers that include forking over huge cash to an growing older participant. That has created a stalemate that has progressed to the purpose Vea has requested a commerce.
Bucs DT Vita Vea and head coach Todd Bowles – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Vea’s agent, Collin Roberts, even got here out on Wednesday stating that, “I just don’t see it ending in anything but a trade at this point.”
That doesn’t provide a lot encouragement a few decision, though these techniques are widespread in negotiations to succeed in the end line. Provided that the two-time Professional Bowler has but to observe in camp up to now with what the staff has described as a again harm, Jason Licht first addressed the place Vea stands health-wise.
“He’s got a minor thing right now and we don’t want to make it a major thing,” Licht mentioned. “I don’t want to deal with hypotheticals right now, but he’s got a minor thing and we’re trying to take care of our players.”
Taking good care of gamers means extra than simply from a bodily sense on this scenario. From Licht’s perspective, he shared that some progress has been made in caring for Vea from a monetary standpoint, too.
Bucs GM Jason Licht – Picture by: Leah Vrabec/PR
“We love Vita,” Licht added. “We’ve been engaged with his agent recently. I don’t know how it’s going to end but we’ve been engaged and that’s at least some progress.”
Even with the uncertainty, Licht has stood agency in what is not going to occur.
“I have no plans on trading Vita.”
Requested about whether or not he expects Vea to play out his contract beneath the present phrases, Tampa Bay’s common supervisor stays hopeful.
“That’s what the hope is and that’s what we’re trying to resolve right now.”
There Is No Dismissing How Vital Vita Vea Nonetheless Is To Bucs’ Protection
The Bucs’ protection is aiming to look totally different this season, however there is no such thing as a denying how a lot they nonetheless depend on Vita Vea.
No. 50 is a giant purpose why the staff’s run protection has been one of many league’s finest beneath head coach Todd Bowles. Having a 350-pound nostril sort out eat up and battle by double groups with superhuman power just isn’t one thing the staff has ever taken without any consideration.
Bucs DT Vita Vea and Panthers QB Bryce Younger – Picture by: IMAGN – Bob Donnan
Jason Licht nonetheless sees it that approach.
“Vita is a great player,” Licht mentioned. “We all know Vita. He is, I think, one of the better D-linemen in franchise history and he is a very important piece to this.”
Vea stays a cornerstone piece of the protection reaching its ceiling, however now the enterprise facet has taken over. He’s in search of a increase on the $18 million he’s set to earn in 2026. His calls for are unknown, however it’s possible he’s in search of a further 12 months or two on high of his present deal that pays him over $20 million per 12 months and places him inside the high 10 highest-paid defensive tackles within the league.
“It’s a big puzzle,” Licht mentioned about making an attempt to make issues work. “I’ve mentioned {that a} thousand occasions, I really feel like. I give credit score to my employees and the coaches. We have now a whole lot of excellent gamers which might be both eligible, or shall be eligible quickly, for contract extensions. We take a whole lot of satisfaction in how we’ve carried out our greatest to maintain our core along with extensions, retaining guys and placing them on the high, or close to the highest [in terms of] resetting the market with sure gamers that we’ve carried out up to now, after which additionally extensions with different gamers.
“It’s a puzzle and it’s challenging. Not every situation is going to work out the way you want it to, and it can be frustrating for both the player and for the team. That’s just the way it goes – that’s just business.”
Regardless of how a lot the enterprise facet has began to make waves in a destructive approach, Licht doesn’t see that affecting the staff’s tradition.
Bucs NT Vita Vea, former head coach Bruce Arians and GM Jason Licht – Picture by: IMAGN Photos
“Not at all. Everybody here is very focused. Everybody here is very excited about this team. Everybody is very optimistic. You feel the energy out here, but you also feel it in the building. I feel like the culture is maybe at one of its highest points.”
That final level is one thing the fanbase may scoff at contemplating latest occasions, however there’s a sense of professionalism amongst gamers. Even Baker Mayfield has made it clear that regardless of his frustrations about not getting paid, he’s all about soccer and locked in. It’s exhausting to argue that the staff just isn’t dedicated to turning issues round, particularly with the work they’ve put in throughout coaching camp. A number of positions (vast receiver, outdoors linebacker, and inside linebacker) are deeper and have new additions already making waves this summer time.
Regardless of Vea not being on the market with the line of defense, the trenches are one other space Licht is happy about.
“We’re very excited about the players we brought in, the depth, the free agents, the draft. Watching practice every day – watching with the scouts afterward – one thing we look forward to most is watching that defense, especially that front right now. We feel like we’ve got attitude. We feel like we’ve got a lot of fire. It’s one of the things Todd and I talked about in the offseason – wanting to add to this team. We feel like we did right now.”
Now it’s about making certain the most important piece of the Bucs’ defensive entrance is ready to play out this season. Vita Vea stays a productive participant, and Tampa Bay has made it clear they need to maintain him round for 2026 and past.
“Yeah, that’s the hope.”
