Tampa Bay Buccaneers interior defensive lineman extraordinaire Vita Vea lost a tooth during a play this past Sunday, growing his aura the process.
This writer’s love for Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea knows no bounds. This is far from the first little ditty about him and it certainly will not be the last. Anytime you think he can’t get more amazing as a player, he goes and out does himself. In the Bucs most recent victory against the Indianapolis Colts, one such play in particular was just so perfect for Vea.
While engaging in one of his frequent double teams. His helmet started to fly up his face, while the helmet of Colts guard Mike Glowinski eventually hit Vahe right in the mouth, causing a tooth to fall out in the process.
Now, for any ordinary man, nay, mere mortal, this will be enough sideline them for at least a few moments. This is no ordinary Joe however.
They always seen laughing off the incident, and his lack of denture in the process. Not only did he not miss a snap, he didn’t even miss a smile.
Vita Vea, football guy pic.twitter.com/gMX7TbGNlm
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 28, 2021
Simply put, it is simply impossible not to love this Tongan titanic terror. He’s a tough guy, but ultimately a football guy.
Everyone thought Vea’s season was done in 2020, only for him to return for the playoffs, and his presence helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV. Now, after being CARTED OFF THE FIELD and diagnosed with a bone bruise and a slight MCL sprain after an MRI, Vea only missed one game. In his first game back, this dental disaster occurs, and our man is still smiling. Simply stunning.
The job of the nose tackle is to suck up blockers to allow the edge to create pressure. What makes Vea the best in the world at his position, is he’s able to do just that with great aplomb, but cause havoc and create gridlock at the line of scrimmage all by himself.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the NFL as a whole, are better because Vita Vea is apart of it.