It’s one of the biggest moments the Bucs fan community has been waiting for in training camp. On Monday, Bucs inside linebacker Devin White finally broke his silence about his offseason trade request because of frustrations over his contract status.

White was rather upbeat when meeting with the media for the first time and showed a great amount of humbleness and humility over the entire situation. After the media session with Devin White, it’s clear that he is in a much better place in his relationship with the organization.

“I just want to be the guy here for a long time,” White said. “After sitting down with Coach Bowles and Jason Licht, just understanding their plans for me and what they got in play, coming up with something with those guys just to see how I can do better. Moving forward, I think we all came to a good agreement. Just focusing on the season now.”

Later on, Devin White went a little more into detail about those conversations with his head coach and general manager.

Bucs ILBs Lavonte David and Devin White and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“They just told me they always had a plan for me,” Devin White said. “They know what was going on, what they did as far as everything, helping us get that Super Bowl, a lot of stuff. It ain’t really too much to speak on. I believe in their plan. I believed in their plan when they drafted me, so I’m going to keep believing in their plan, I’m going to keep working hard, and I’m just going to be me. At the end of the day, whatever you do, just leave it all out there.

“I think it’s already written, that’s my mindset. What you do is for you – you just got to be a little patient, be even more humble. That was a time that humbled me, and I’m grateful for it. “I’m grateful I went through it, I’ve seen a lot of people turn on me, a lot of people go with me, but it is what it is. I do this for my family and the pole that I line up with me and the other guys on the other side of the ball. I do this for them. I’m grateful for it all. It is what it is.”

Devin White Coming In With Positive Mindset

Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

There’s no question that Devin White has his legions of fans. He’s one of the most popular inside linebackers in the league with his flashy play and fun monikers such as “Get Live 45.” As he alluded to, the fans were a little split over his decision. But does he regret making the trade request? White admitted that he was thinking about himself too much.

“I don’t think there’s no regret,” White said. “I don’t think it’s just about being paid, it’s about being a guy who was drafted here and doing a lot for this program. (I) just want to be the long-term guy. Just want to be a guy like Lavonte [David], he’s been here forever. I wanted to be that next guy, and we just didn’t make it happen when I wanted to, and that’s where I kind of got a little selfish. Even knowing I still had the fifth-year option and that was a thing in place. I guess early on you don’t realize and you just know ‘Hey, I’m at the end of my contract. Let’s get it in, lock me in.’

“I know I feel comfortable here. I love the coaching staff here. I love (it) all, the teammates and the fans, the ones that went against me or the ones still with me, it’s all love. At the end of the day, I thought that was best for me, but at the end of the day, I’m still here and I came back with a positive mindset and I’m locked in. You all have been watching practice, I’ve been getting in. I’m trying to be the leader for this team because we got a great bunch this year and I think we can get it done.”

Devin White Wants To Be A Captain Again

Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Taking backlash from the fans is one thing, but what about his teammates? Devin White has been a leader on the Bucs for years, and then things got dicey this summer with his offseason holdout. Yet any bad vibes never translated to the rest of the Bucs roster, though.

“Oh yeah, first day I came in, I’m the one who led the huddle,” White said. “Like I said, it is business, all business at the end of the day, it’s going to happen. I hate that it had to happen like that way because I love being here, I can’t over-express that enough. Everybody knows my love for horses, I got a nine-stall barn in Florida, so I want to be here, I want to be established here. That’s in the past now, I’m going out there I’m trying to focus on what I can do better to step myself up or for what I want. It can’t be denied.”

White realized that he needed to be present on the field in order to be a captain again for the Bucs this season, which is a major goal of his entering his fifth season in Tampa Bay.

“I think that’s the only thing, but even with me doing that it’s still within a team effort, I’m just trying to be the perfect teammate for my guys. I want to be a captain again. A lot of stuff was hard, sitting out was hard and I wasn’t really sitting out because I still came in the building because I want to be here. But that’s over with. I’m going hard and I’m embraced by all the guys. I’m out there working, making them better and they’re making me better.”