'I Don't Understand' Says Buccaneers LB Devin White After Receiving Backlash
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into Week 15 on the road to face the Green Bay Packers with one clear goal and need.
Needing a win over the Packers the Buccaneers got a perfect quarterback performance from Baker Mayfield and solid defensive plays from guys like linebacker Lavonte David and K.J. Britt.
Absent from the Tampa Bay victory was linebacker Devin White who was expected to play after practicing in full on Thursday and Friday of last week only to be a gameday scratch on Sunday.
From there, reports that his absence was not injury-related surfaced and were not refuted by the team. And then after the game coach Todd Bowles told the media White notified the team he couldn't play on Saturday or Friday, and 'that was that.'
No more, no less. But the reports surfaced painted a picture of a linebacker who has lost touch with his motivation and perhaps has lost the connection he once had with the team and city he plays for.
On Wednesday, White addressed the situation.
“I’ve just been seeing a lot of stuff saying like I quit on my team," White said. "I mean I don’t understand how I could do that when it was personal from Coach Bowles and I decision to sit down and rest to be able to help my team.”
Sep 25, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White (45) takes the field for warm-ups before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
White hasn't been fully healthy for a long time and for a man who lives on speed having a foot injury is almost one of the worst he could have.
But the information coming out of One Buc is that White is at odds with the team and perhaps his teammates. Something the linebacker also doesn't understand.
“I can only speak from what I know and what I went through," White said. "Baker went crazy last week and we're talking about Devin White."
White has a point, and this isn't the first time he's been thrust into the spotlight by his own actions, words, social media postings, or words from inside the building. Usually, there are much bigger things to worry about from a Buccaneers' viewpoint.
We not so boldly predicted accurately that yesterday's developments would not be the end of it.
One day after accusing media of publishing stories about him without speaking to the 'main character' White decided to make himself available for comment. So that's helpful.
What comes after the words will ultimately decide whether or not they fall on deaf ears.
