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If one were to follow the timeline of the Bucs’ offseason considering their star players, it would look like a dicey situation.
Future Hall of Famer Mike Evans left the Bucs in free agency despite Tampa Bay offering him more money than the San Francisco 49ers.
Hopeful future Hall of Famer and surefire Bucs Ring of Honor member — inside linebacker Lavonte David — decided to retire instead of playing one more season with the team keeping the door open for him.
When it comes to the current roster, another future Ring of Honor member and Super Bowl champion — defensive tackle Vita Vea — has requested a trade out of Tampa as he seeks another long-term contract.
Bucs DT Vita Vea and head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Meanwhile the face of the organization, quarterback Baker Mayfield, talked this summer about wanting a new contract extension. However, no deal was done by the start of training camp and thus he is playing on the last year of his contract. It’s possible that Mayfield could hit free agency after, although the Bucs having the franchise tag could put a stop to it.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has seen it all before, so whether it was a problem with Mayfield or Vea, it didn’t really phase him much coming into this year’s training camp.
Bowles Wants To Make Bucs Camp Just About Ball
“As players every year, you’re going to have them (contract issues),” Todd Bowles said. “These happen to be two of our biggest players. We haven’t had two of our biggest in a while, but we have players every year. It just hasn’t been to that magnitude. But it’s always about football. There’s always going to be distractions just like there are on game day, there’s going to be sudden changes on the field.
“We have a very professional and mature group and a lot of leadership there, starting with Baker, he makes sure that’s separate and he makes sure the team knows that’s separate. We’re not going to make this training camp about what he signed or what he didn’t sign being his contract. We’re just going to play ball.”
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by Cliff Welch P/R
With all this information over star players either leaving or being unhappy in their current situation, it would be fair to question whether there is a break in the foundation of this team, or that the narrative could become the that the Bucs don’t help their own.
Bowles was asked about this as well and if there’s any concern.
“Not at all, every situation is different,” Bowles said. “Mike’s situation is different. Baker’s situation is different. Vita’s is different as well, but we talk to about all these things and we have a very mature group. We make sure we make it about ball. We understand the business side of football as well and everybody’s going to go through that – coaches and players alike. We have a very tight-knit group team, and I feel pretty good about them.”
Chris Godwin Jr. Chimes In On Locker Room Leadership
It’s one thing to hear it from the coach, but it’s another to hear it from a long-time leader on this team. Veteran wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. has seen his fair share of moments in a Bucs uniform both centered around him and watching from a distance.
Godwin has always been cerebral in his approach as a player but that also includes how he handles the outside noise that some would consider drama.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/ PR
“Honestly, I’m not particularly concerned,” Godwin said after the first day of training camp. “We talk in the locker room. Guys aren’t oblivious to what’s going on. We understand that it’s a business.
“We never question any of our teammate’s ability to go out and perform or their desire to give their all to the team. We let the players handle their respective business and know they’re going to give it their all on the field. I’m not concerned with it being an issue for anybody here.”
Let’s see if the Bucs can use these early hurdles as building blocks to fuel the team to a winning season.
Pewter Report will recap all of day one of Bucs training camp on the Pewter Report Podcast at 4 PM ET.
We also have a quick recap from practice that can be found below and on our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.