Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ronyell Whitaker, a cornerback who spent six years playing pro football, has died at the age of 46.

“The Whitaker family is heartbroken to share the passing of our beloved son, brother and friend, Ronyell Deshawn Whitaker, who departed this life on Feb. 22, 2026,” Whitaker’s family said in a statement published by the Vikings. “Born on March 19, 1979, Ronyell lived a life marked by passion, perseverance and purpose. A gifted athlete, he proudly played high school football for Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Virginia, and college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies, where his talent, determination and leadership on the field made a lasting impact. Ronyell went on to pursue his professional dreams in the National Football League, signing as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. Throughout his career, he also played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, and he later continued his football journey in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before retiring from professional football in 2010.”

Whitaker was born and raised in Norfolk. He was the nephew of boxing legend Pernell Whitaker.

After retiring from playing, Whitaker coached high school football and also was CEO of Whitaker Group, which specialized in relocations and short sales for professional athletes, who often have unique needs in having to find a new home quickly, something Whitaker himself knew as a player who had moved around in his career.

No cause of death has been announced.

Running back Javonte Williams bet on himself last year, signing a one-year, $3 million deal. He delivered, with a career-high 1,200 rushing yards.

His reward was a three-year, $24 million deal to remain with the Cowboys.

Since the Williams deal was the first significant contract signed by a looming free agent, it’s important to remember a few things as we approach new-contract season. The initial reports routinely overstate the true value of the contract. For example, the reported $16 million in guarantees for Williams surely aren’t fully guaranteed at signing, and there’s little about the structure of the deal. There could be a little fudging at play to make the deal look better than it is, with the reporters who rush to Twitter with the early information rarely if ever insisting on full and accurate details. (If they do, someone else gets the scoop.)

For now, even the potentially inflated initial reporting reinforces an important point: The running back position continues to be undervalued.

The deal, if it’s truly worth $8 million per year, puts Williams at 16th among all current running backs. And while he took the offer before the annual tampering festival in Indianapolis, it’s believed that the offer the took was the best one he was going to get.

It’s also possible the Cowboys tried aggressively to get Williams signed before he could hit the market, perhaps by trotting out their CBA-violating practice of negotiating directly with the player. Or by making it clear that they’ll find another cheap veteran running back in the second or third wave of free agency, when players sign modest one-year deals.

Still, what would Williams have gotten on the open market? The absence of state income taxes in Texas are a factor. (Most players only care about APY, and that’s often a mistake.) Only the superstars at the position get market value. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley leads the way, at $20.6 million per year. 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey’s current deal has a new-money average of $19 million.

It happens for one very simple reason. The supply of capable running backs outweighs demand. Teams can resort to the draft for a younger, cheaper, and usually healthier player in lieu of paying a veteran who may not be able to duplicate his performance in a contract year.

Every year, college football generates plenty of running backs who can play at the NFL level, if they can be trusted to hold onto the ball and if they are able to pick up blitzers in pass protection. Most of them have their best years under slotted rookie contracts. When those expire, teams look for another young player to replace them.

The Williams contract gives other teams a data point that will become relevant to their negotiations with running backs. The other players who’ll be trying to get paid (Kenneth Walker III, Breece Hall, Travis Etienne, Rico Dowdle, Rachaad White, Isiah Pacheco, JK Dobbins) will have to deal with the argument that a guy who rushed for 1,200 yards in 2025 got only $8 million per year. (The counter would include that Williams isn’t much of a factor in the passing game, and that he lacks breakaway speed.)

Then there’s Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Currently eligible for a second deal, he has shown the kind of superstar ability that would justify a market-level contract.

And how about Falcons running back Bijan Robinson? Repeatedly called the best player in the entire league by his former head coach, Raheem Morris, Robinson will be in line for a superstar contract, too.

Will the Williams deal hold down what the Lions will offer Gibbs and what the Falcons will offer Robinson? It shouldn’t be a factor, at all. Gibbs and Robinson are far closer to Barkley and McCaffrey than the players who are hitting the market. Still, all running backs who are ready to become free agents will have to deal with the fact — as underscored by the Williams deal — that the running back market continues to be not what it could be, or perhaps what it should be.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield added some spice to his team’s rivalry with the Falcons when Kevin Stefanski became Atlanta’s head coach, making clear that he still has hard feelings about the way his time with Stefanski in Cleveland ended. But now Mayfield is downplaying any issue with Stefanski.

“There’s stuff there, but it’s not like it’s beef,” Mayfield said in a Super Bowl interview with Sports Illustrated, via NFL.com. “We’ve worked together, anytime you know somebody, you want to beat them whether it’s a good or bad relationship.”

Mayfield said that if there’s extra motivation to beat the Falcons, it’s because the Buccaneers want to get back on top in the NFC South, not because Stefanski is the Falcons’ coach.

“Not a revenge game of a sense of Atlanta, but we lost the division for the first time since four or five years, so, any divisional game will be a revenge game, I guess,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield has had a lot more success than Stefanski since the two of them parted, and Mayfield knows beating Stefanski on the field will mean more than any words he can say.

Buccaneers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater saw his career as a high-school coach in Miami end after other coaches complained that he was spending his own money to help his players.

An effort is now underway to allow high-school coaches in Florida to do that.

Via Andy Villamarzo of Rivals.com, the Florida Senate has passed a “Teddy Bridgewater Act” that would allow coaches to use up to $15,000 of their own money to support student-athletes with food, transportation, and recovery services.

The bill still must pass the Florida House of Representatives and be signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.

If it becomes law, the Teddy Bridgewater Act potentially opens Pandora’s box. How will anyone accurately track expenditures? And what’s to stop the coach from becoming the conduit for boosters to funnel more than $15,000 to players?

Bridgewater’s situation came to light when he asked Northwestern fans to help him pay for Ubers, pre-game meals, and athletic services. He was suspended and then resigned, returning to the NFL for the 2025 season.

In 2024, Bridgewater coached Miami Northwestern to a state championship before joining the Lions after the high-school season ended.

Bridgewater, 33, is due to become a free agent next month. It’s unclear whether passage of the law would prompt him to return to high-school coaching.

Hardy Nickerson was a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker in the 1990s and had a 16-year NFL career. Over those years in the league, he accumulated a collection of mementos that has great sentimental value to him — and potentially great monetary value to collectors. And now Nickerson has reported many of his items stole, and is asking for collectors to help.

Nickerson, who is now a high school football coach, was in the process of moving to San Juan Capistrano, California, to begin his new job as head coach at JSerra Catholic High School, when his moving crew stopped at a Hampton Inn in Santa Clarita. The next morning, the crew reported that the locks on the back of the truck had been cut and some of Nickerson’s property had been stolen.

That property included awards, jerseys and autographed helmets that Nickerson is hoping to get back if the thieves try to sell it.

“Hopefully, someone will see that if they’re trying to sell it and say, ‘Hey, wait a minute, I believe that was lost,’ or no, ‘Stolen!’” Nickerson told CBS News. “If it has my name on it, please get it back to me.”

Nickerson said he was particularly upset to lose the 1998 Byron “Whizzer” White NFL Man of the Year Award, which was bestowed on him by the NFL Players Association for his leadership both on and off the field.

“The Byron ‘Whizzer’ White Award, which was given to, like, the man of the year,” Nickerson said. “Huge, huge award.”

Nickerson played for the Steelers from 1987 to 1992, the Buccaneers from 1993 to 1999, the Jaguars in 2000 and 2001 and the Packers in 2002. He went into coaching after retiring and has coached at the high school, college and professional level.

Mike Evans said late in the 2025 season that he would think about his playing future when the time was right and it appears that process has come to an end for the veteran wideout.

Evans’s agent Deryk Gilmore told multiple reporters that Evans plans to play in 2026. Evans is set to become a free agent in March and Gilmore said that he plans to explore all options for where he will play.

One of those options could be a return to Tampa for a 13th season. Evans has spent his entire career with the Buccaneers, who have Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan set to return at receiver.

Evans was limited to eight games by hamstring and collarbone injuries last season. He had 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns in those appearances.

Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving missed more than two months due to ankle and shoulder injuries. The latter reportedly has resulted in offseason surgery.

Via JoeBucsFan.com, Irving has undergone a procedure on his shoulder since the season ended.

Per the report, the recovery process is not expected to significantly impact his participation in the offseason program.

Irving missed seven games, from Week 5 through 12. He returned in Week 13 and finished the season with six straight appearances and five straight starts.

After gaining 1,122 rushing yards as a rookie (5.4 yards per carry), Irving’s production dropped to 588 rushing yards in 2025, averaging 3.4 yards per carry.

With Rachaad White likely leaving in free agency, Irving will return as the likely starter in 2026, pending moves made by the Buccaneers during the offseason.

The NFL filed a grievance over the NFL Players Association’s annual report cards in order to keep the NFLPA from publicizing criticisms of teams and owners. The NFL won a ruling preventing the NFLPA from doing so.

Still, the 26-page ruling from arbitrator Scott E. Buchheit, a copy of which PFT has obtained, makes it clear that the next wave of report cards may be disseminated to all players.

The opinion also includes a full list of the criticisms about which the NFL complained from the 2025 report cards.

Here’s the full content of relevant portions of Buchheit’s written decision.

“As to the individual comments contained within the Report Cards that lead to the letter grades, the NFLMC has richly detailed that they do contain numerous criticisms. These include, but are not limited to, the following examples from the 2025 Report Card that are contained in its brief:

“New York Jets: The Union said Players complained that ‘management responded to feedback [from prior Team Report Cards] by making conditions worse,’ including cutting the food budget and not retaining a long-time dietician after poor food grades the prior year. The Union also graded owner Woody Johnson an F — the lowest owner rating in the league, 5.58 out of 10 — which, according to Players, resulted from his perceived unwillingness to invest in facilities. . . . Players cited ‘perceived top leadership issues, with some describing issues as “top-down problems”'—reflecting ownership concerns.

“Cincinnati Bengals: The Union again criticized treatment of families, stating that Players called it a ‘major concern’ and saying there is ‘little to no effort’ to support families. ‘One player describes the treatment of families as “‘almost disrespectful,”’ resulting in a grade of F-minus.

“Buffalo Bills: The Union dropped the Club in the overall rankings from prior years because ‘issues . . . previously raised [by Players] . . . have not been addressed and thus have become greater concerns[.]’ The Union claimed Players were concerned that ‘current [training] staffing is inadequate to help them recover,’ and ‘travel continues to be the worst part of their experience’ because they ‘do not have a comfortable amount of space when traveling and the travel schedule itself is a source of significant dissatisfaction.’

“Arizona Cardinals: The Union ranked the Club last overall based on Player feedback, criticizing the treatment of families (lack of family events, limits on pregame sideline access, poor in-game family accommodations), and a so-called deficient locker room, training facilities, and weight room. The Union stated that Players also faulted owner Michael Bidwill, saying he ‘slightly contributes to a positive team culture’ and is only ‘somewhat committed to building a competitive team[.]’

“Philadelphia Eagles: The Union highlighted that Players ‘are frustrated that mealtimes overlap with the organization’s business staff, leading to crowding and limited seats,’ and ‘feel they should get first class seats on team flights instead of the coaching staff.’

“Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Union published that Players criticized the locker room, lodging ‘several complaints about cleanliness, including poor ventilation and a persistent bad smell.’

“Jacksonville Jaguars: The Union gave the Club an F for treatment of families; ‘Players believe that many changes need to be made,’ including more access to sideline passes, a family room during the game, and upgrades to the post-game family area.

“Kansas City Chiefs: The Union said Players ‘continue to express the need for renovation and upgrades to the locker room’ and criticized the home game hotel as the ‘lowest in the league,’ remarking that it is ‘outdated,’ the beds are ‘uncomfortable,’ and the floors are ‘dirty and sticky.’

“Carolina Panthers: The Union continued to cite Player criticisms of owner David Tepper for using ‘turf instead of grass, perhaps because it is cheaper to maintain,’ and complained about travel due to the ‘new coaching staff moving players from first class last season and placing them in smaller, coach seats.’

“New England Patriots: The Union gave the Club a failing travel grade and singled out the ‘team plane’ —'Players specifically responded that “our plane is the worst thing – size, space, [and] safety,”’ and ‘it is not conducive to preparedness for athletic performance,’ because, among other things, ‘it lacks Wi-Fi and still has ashtrays in the seats.’ One player also referred to the carpeting in the locker room as ‘dingy with pieces missing.’

“Indianapolis Colts: The Union stated that Players complained of travel arrangements, noting that they ‘don’t feel like they have enough personal space on flights. They want more access to first-class seating.’

Those are the full complaints from the 2025 report cards that were included in Buchheit’s decision. Eleven teams in all were mentioned, with three owners identified by name — Woody Johnson, Michael Bidwill, and David Tepper.

The complaints listed in the 26-page ruling come from not from the to-be-released report cards but from the report cards prepared and published in 2025. It’s inevitable, however, that one of the many NFLPA members who’ll receive the 2026 report card will disclose them, to someone. Once they’re leaked (to PFT or to another outlet), we’ll post them here in full.

UPDATE 11:46 p.m. ET: An earlier version of this article mistakenly characterized the complaints listed above as coming from the survey conducted in 2025, not from the report cards released in 2025. The 2025 surveys were not included in Buccheit’s opinion. They’ll eventually be released to the players but not published by the NFLPA. In past years, the report cards were released during the Scouting Combine.

The Buccaneers, at 6-2 through eight weeks, seemed to be destined to win their fifth straight NFC South crown, and to make it to the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. Then, the roof fell in.

They went 2-7 down the stretch and ended up among the 20 non-playoff teams for 2025. Linebacker Lavonte David recently reflected on the collapse.

“To be honest with you, I think it’s embarrassing,” David told the Caps Off podcast, via JoeBucsFan.com. “You know what I’m saying? We had ample amount of opportunities to be able to clinch our division. We lost to the Dolphins. We lost to the Saints. We lost to Carolina at their home. If we would have won one of those games, we would have made the playoffs, which is crazy and insane to think about. Like after all that, losing all those games, we still had an opportunity to make the playoffs.

“We controlled our own destiny and we kind of like shit the bed.”

We agree, with one exception: They didn’t “kind of like” do it.

David, as an impending free agent, will have to decide whether to stick around, or whether to move on. (He said during the same podcast interview that he’s “undecided” about retirement.)

The Buccaneers have talent. But something was missing. The organization decided that a coaching change wasn’t needed; however, offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard got the heave-ho after one season in Tampa Bay.

The pressure will be on coach Todd Bowles in 2026. In a division that remains fairly wide open, there’s no reason the Buccaneers can’t re-establish themselves as the best of the four teams. If they don’t, things could change significantly for 2027.

Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David has played one of the most physically demanding positions in football for 14 years. He’s not sure whether he’ll keep going, but he believes he can.

“I feel good,” David recently told the Caps Off podcast via JoeBucsFan.com. “You know, I’m healthy. I’m happy. I’m undecided [on retiring]. I’m genuinely undecided, like I don’t know. I don’t know. I still got a lot of football left in me. I know that for sure. I still love the game. I know that for sure. The other side is I want to spend more time with my daughter. She’s in school, so [I’ve been] taking her to school and it’s a good feeling.”

David turned 36 last month. He’s due to become a free agent next month.

A second-round pick in 2012, David has played his entire career with the Buccaneers. He’s survived (actually, thrived) through five different head coaches.

David has played 215 regular-season games. He has started every one of them. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2013. Two other times, he was a second-team All-Pro. Somehow, he’s been voted to the Pro Bowl only once.

He’s at crossroads. After that much time, it makes sense. While (amazingly) he’s confident he can still physically do it, life changes for a guy in his late 30s. Priorities change. Football season is a significant commitment of time and focus and effort.

At some point, the cost of continuing outweighs the benefit — especially for a guy who has made $100.846 million under six different contracts with the same team.