A theme of the offseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was reunion, but not everybody who was set to hit free agency was brought back. While key players like Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans were given healthy new extensions, Devin White was allowed to walk and find work elsewhere.
He's back to square one after that plan didn't go the way he wanted it to.
White signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, but lasted only five weeks and wasn't active for any of the team's first four games. He didn't make the trip to Brazil for the season opener and wasn't in Tampa when the Eagles traveled to play the Bucs a few weeks ago.
It's another sad bump in the road for a guy who very much should have been in the category of player the Buccaneers wanted to bring back this year. Poor play and a bad attitude pushed him off the roster, but his availability and a need at linebacker has some fans wondering if the reunion might happen after all.
Todd Bowles seemingly shoots down the Buccaneers bringing back Devin White
On Friday the Bucs sort of broke some silence on the matter and commented on whether the team has thought about bringing White back. Head coach Todd Bowles seemed to politely shoot the idea down in the way he typically does when talking about player movement.
Asked about Devin White, Todd Bowles said he hasn't been in contact with him this week but that the Bucs consider all their options for upgrading the roster.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) October 11, 2024
There's still a chance the Bucs have a change of heart, but all signs have seemingly always pointed away from the idea of the team bringing White back. Not only did his play decline, but the way he exited Tampa Bay left a sour taste in everyone's mouth.
Whether it was the trade request a year ago, the way he reportedly rubbed the locker room the wrong way during a 1-6 slump, or the trash he talked after signing with the Eagles, it's safe to say bridges were burned.
The Bucs replaced White with K.J. Britt in the middle of last season and have taken pride in elevating guys already in the building. While there's logic to the Bucs bringing White back, it doesn't make much sense from the team's perspective when it might be taking away from guys like Jose Ramirez getting reps that could have a longer lasting impact.
It's not a bad thought, but it doesn't seem like White will be back in Tampa Bay any time soon.
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