Bucs linebackers coach says LB Devin White has ‘champagne problems’
Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Devin White is looking for a new contract, but he’s still set to make $11 million in 2023 — and his position coach let him know.
Co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Larry Foote spoke to media on Wednesday and was asked about the current situation with White, who previously requested a trade from the team a few weeks ago. Foote said he told White that despite his desire for a new contract, he’s still getting a big payday this year as well.
“Like I told him, he’s getting paid 11 million this year [and] those are champagne problems,” Foote said. “I get it on both sides. He’s played a lot of ball. Does he need to be here in the spring? We’d love him to be here, but it’s not going to hurt him from the standpoint of playing.”
Despite the comment, Foote also acknowledged that he understood where White was coming from just as he understood where the team was coming from. He mentioned that if White wanted clips from offseason workouts that he wasn’t going to attend, he would send them to him so White can “stay in tune with what we’re doing.”
On top of that, Foote was also asked about where he thought White could improve from his season last year, and he pinpointed limiting explosive plays as a main point of emphasis.
“Everything, just get better. Pre-snap stuff, zone coverage, even blitzing better, attacking the run,” Foote said on White. “In the offseason, you want to look at any plays, explosive plays, that you gave up and we want to minimize that. Just little things, new ideas that we’re putting in… So far, during his short career, he’s been evolving.”
Foote said he hasn’t heard from White about when he might show up during the offseason amid his wishes for a new contract.
