The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been on vacation for almost one week, since they were eliminated from the NFC Playoffs in Week 18.
The NFL Game Day Accountability team took no such break.
Buccaneers inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis was hit with a $6,163 fine by the NFL over his actions in a Week 18 win over the Carolina Panthers.
“One last hit: Bucs LB SirVocea Dennis was fined $6,163 for an unnecessary roughness facemask in Tampa Bay’s season finale vs. Carolina,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on X. “The play in question did not draw a flag during the game.”
The Buccaneers finished the regular season with an 8-9 overall record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Tampa Bay wasn’t eliminated from the postseason until the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints in Week 18, giving the Panthers the NFC South Division title.
Dennis Fell Flat in First Season as Starter
The Buccaneers have been intrigued to see what Dennis’ upside was since they selected him in the fifth round (No. 153 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft out of Pitt.
They wouldn’t get a real chance to find out until this season. Dennis missed a total of 17 games due to injuries over his first 2 seasons and didn’t become a full time starter until 2025.
What the Buccaneers saw this season likely means after Dennis plays out his rookie contract in 2026, his time in Tampa Bay might be over. In 16 starts, Dennis had 101 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 1 interception. Not bad stats on the surface, but anyone who saw Dennis play this season knows it’s a much different story. Most notably, his struggles in pass coverage seemed to get exposed over and over again.
According to Pro Football Focus, Dennis’ 49.1 overall grade puts him among the very worst inside linebackers in the NFL — he ranked 71st out of 87 eligible playrs at his position.
“The Bucs have a giant weakness and his name is SirVocea Dennis,” Eagles Eric wrote on X early in the season.
“Per PFF, Sirvocea Dennis has surrendered 438 yards in coverage, the worst number in the league by a comfortable margin,” Bucs Edition Pod’s Jon Ledyard wrote on X on October 24. “Yes, he’s given up more yards in coverage than any defensive back in the league. And over 100 yards more than the next closest linebacker.”
“Oh look,” Pewter Plank wrote on X during a game earlier this season. “SirVocea Dennis in coverage! What could go wrong??”
Bucs Could Have Big Problem at Inside Linebacker
The Buccaneers have been pretty well set at inside linebacker for the last few decades with Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks manning the middle followed by NFL All-Pro Lavonte David taking over after that. Both players won Super Bowls for the Buccaneers.
Now, David might be ready to retire after 14 seasons. Which would create a huge chasm in the middle of a defense already lacking much of an identity.
“Lavonte David will go down as the most underrated defensive player in NFL history,” former NFL linebacker and podcast host Will Compton wrote on X on January 7.
Buccaneers LB Gets Bad News Following NFL Punishment