An Historic Oversight
December 28th, 2013
Learned football people, not just fans, Twittered Joe often last night aghast that Bucs linebacker Lavonte David was snubbed by the people who concoct what is now known in Joe’s eyes as the “Pro Blow.”
In fact, David was trending globally on Twitter more so than this Duck Drop schlock or whatever it is on A&E that Joe has never watched a second of and is oblivious to but has made national news the past week.
How big of a miscalculation was it to ignore David for the Pro Blow? Joe will let NFL Network talking head and star of the Red Zone Channel, Andrew Sicilano, explain.
@AndrewSiciliano: re: Lavonte David: Since sacks became a stat in ’82, no player with 130+ tackles, 5+ sacks, 5+ INT missed Pro Bowl
Until now, with David.
This snafu just reinforces what Joe has written several times this past season. That Lavonte David is the current Joe Pisarcik.
In case you don’t know Pisarcik, he quarterbacked the Giants in 1978, and in a game in which the Giants were up by five in the waning seconds, Pisarcik fumbled a handoff thatwas scooped up by Herm Edwards (yes, that Herm Edwards) and the winning touchdown, giving the Eagles a victory in what is still known as “The Miracle at the Meadowlands.” That the play happened in Gotham (well, Jersey to be exact) under the eyes of the media capital of the world, is why Pisarcik’s name lives in infamy.
No one can ever remember anything good he did, but Pisarcik’s fumble is seared into NFL lore.
When David had his brainfart moment that propelled the Jets to a win in Week 1, that too happened in Gotham (well, Jersey to be exact) and David made every NFL highlight package that night across the country and not for a good reason.
That, sadly, is what too many people think of when David’s name is mentioned.
Further proof happened earlier this month when eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune made a compelling case for David to be a defensive player of the year during his weekly “Kaufman’s Korner” segment with the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on the show that bears his name, “Mad Dog Unleashed,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio.
When Kaufman brought up David’s name, Russo howled, in so many words, “Oh, really? The guy that had the idiot play against Geno Smith up here? He’s playing that well, huh?”
Mind you, Russo is a national sports radio host of great import who both has a large audience and influence. If a guy like Russo thinks of David’s play against the Jets before David’s body of work, imagine what Joe Six Pack out in Nebraska or New Mexico thinks of David?
If David made that bad play in Jacksonville or Nashville or Buffalo or some other nondescript NFL market, few would remember. But it happened in the worst place. Within the shadow of Manhattan’s skyscrapers.
December 28th, 2013 at 8:15 am
That’s fine for me, because now we don’t have to worry about Derrick Brooks Jr. getting hurt in a meaningless game.
December 28th, 2013 at 8:21 am
What a shame that people are so stupid that they would let ONE PLAY overshadow an ENTIRE SEASON of work. >:/ this pisses me off, I can’t even imagine how David feels right now.
December 28th, 2013 at 8:30 am
He will show them next year what they missed, with the entire team better he will be even better.
December 28th, 2013 at 9:07 am
Russo has proven over and over he doesnt watch any Bucs games. What a dolt.
On a side note. Im sure Joe Six Pack in Nebraska knows how David’s career is going, but probably no one else in the rest of the country
December 28th, 2013 at 9:13 am
Lavonte David is the DPOY award. Yeah Robert Quinn is having a great season, but David is just balling out. Broke Ray Lewis’ record in Defeats for a LB (TFL, FF, INT, Sacks, pass defelctions) in a season. Only trails JJ WATT for the nfl record.
In that, he’s only 2nd behind JJ Watt in Tackles for Loss over the past two seasons combined.
He got jipped out of DROY last year when he hands down was better than Keuchly. Keuchly didn;’t even wear the MIKE at the start. David took it since Day 1 at WLB.
David better get an All Pro award, which is better than Pro Bowl in my opinion. To me, this was nothing but an easy choice to pick David. The fact he got snubbed is unbelievable.
December 28th, 2013 at 9:15 am
This is the product of a flawed system run amok with the desire to satisfy the majority. It makes the idea put forth by Horatio Alger of hard work, determination, courage, and honesty look like a sham. It is tantamount to daylight robbery.
It is what happens when you allow a merit program to be run like a beauty contest. It should be a weighted average of fan votes (25%), coaches and players (50%) and the NFL stats office (25%).
December 28th, 2013 at 9:23 am
I listen to Colin Cowherd and Dan Patrick show almost daily. And a little Mike and Mike. Outside of the Freeman debacle, neither of them spent more than 2 minutes on the Bucs all season.
NFC Playbook just skips the Bucs game at times.
Total Access: Ive heard almost nothing about the Bucs all season.
I dont watch NFL Gameday Final anymore because Pee on Sandcastle is just too dam annoying for me, but I remember last year, at times, they would start a Bucs game highlight and Pee on would say, “Do we have to?”
I watch very little BSPN on the TV, but I assume they follow the same blueprint.
Then we have the Media Darling, over rated Kuechly stealing all the thunder from the linebackers in the NFC South.
There is no way anyone in the country knows anything about David.
It’s disappointing but not surprising at all.
December 28th, 2013 at 9:27 am
This all comes from being a bad team just the way it is
December 28th, 2013 at 9:35 am
Fantastic player that is instantly the best player on the field week in and week out gets snubbed in the pro bowl vote? This only happens because the bucs are a small market team that doesn’t win football games. Revis had virtually no stats this year because nobody threw his way but is back because he is still the best corner in football. Don’t need stats when you are that good. If David played for Green Bay or New England he might have been voted to the probowl twice for good measure. People that have seen him play know. People that haven’t actually get to vote.
December 28th, 2013 at 9:43 am
It’s a damn shame Mr.David was not voted on, all he is done is be the backbone of this defense this year, but I have a feeling he will still be making the trip to Hawaii….GO BUCS
December 28th, 2013 at 9:50 am
It’s not like LVD needs extra motivation to play better….but if there is even 1% there….it will just make him even better.
LVD is a absolutely, positively a Probowler whether he was selected or not.
December 28th, 2013 at 9:56 am
I love that he didn’t make it- he will go nuts next year
December 28th, 2013 at 10:06 am
DOES HE HAVE A CHANCE TO BE SELECTED BY THE COACHES?
December 28th, 2013 at 10:18 am
Popularity contest is all it is! He’s not a household name (yet) so when fans sign on to vote for their favorite player the rest are based on name recognition only. Too many fans have no idea how good or bad players are from other teams. Kind of the way Revis made it this year on his name recognition. There were a bunch of CB’s that out played Revis this year because of the injury or whatever, but he’s living with his reputation.
December 28th, 2013 at 10:19 am
We know who u r . The future. Don t let them get u down. Go off and set a record that no one can touch. 150 plus and 7 and 7
December 28th, 2013 at 10:19 am
I blame Schiano…
December 28th, 2013 at 10:32 am
Pretty much like the pre-Dungy era.
One or two guys under consideration, somebody like Paul Gruber would occasionally make it.
Not many take our team seriously, just like it was back then. Oh, and we were always rebuilding.
December 28th, 2013 at 10:39 am
Luke Kuechly is overrated!! His tackles are inflated by assisted tackles that are given to him when he jumps in a pile. He’s a good player, but LVD is way better.
December 28th, 2013 at 10:51 am
Ahmad Brooks???? Ahmad Brooks Really?????
Lavonte David – 137Tackles 6sacks 2FF 5Int
Ahmad Brooks – 57Tackles 8.5 Sacks 1FF 1 Int
John Abraham – 35Tackles 11.5 Sacks 4FF 0 Int
The Pro Bowl is a complete Sham!!!
And Sacks are apparently overated. ill Take LVDs production over those two “Pro Bowlers” anyday
December 28th, 2013 at 11:47 am
I just don’t see David being marked by that one play, in the national media I peruse. If David doesn’t make the All-Pro team, then yeah, David is marked by that play. Every outlet I’ve seen rates him as 1st team All Pro. This just shows that the Pro Bowl is on its last legs.
& what’s really stupid is the rule that David was called on.
December 28th, 2013 at 11:48 am
Comrades, democracy is a sham. Lavonte should make his own probowl team of good, working class, under-appreciated players and take the game over and name himself premier of the NFL, supplanting capitalist oppressor Roger Goodell.
December 28th, 2013 at 11:57 am
McCoy and Revis in a show of support of LVD should boycott the pro bowl. That would be a super classy gesture on their part and do wonders for reinforcing team chemistry.
December 28th, 2013 at 12:11 pm
So now the best 4-3 linebacker in the NFL has a chip on his shoulder. I would not want to be Drew Brees this weekend.
December 28th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
It’s all Freeman’s fault. Damn him for getting us a lead in that Jets game, forcing LVD to make an attempt at a game saving play in front of the Gotham media!
December 28th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
I SAY BULL$#iT!!! Funny, Suh SCREWES UP EVERY YEAR!!! and HE is in the damn pro bowl.
December 28th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Joe,
Nebraska is the one place in the country besides Tampa Bay that knows exactly how good this guy is.
I get your point though.
December 28th, 2013 at 12:47 pm
ESPN and NFL network are to football what MTV is/was to music. Personally I blame ESPN for ruining pro sports period! Sell jerseys!! More Merch. That’s what it’s about, no one cares about substance, just show!! Maybe if these networks concentrated on ALL the teams that played instead of end zone dance competitions, and cool it on the attempts to be funny, I might watch again!! BTW,NFL network get rid of the hotties! I’m tired of watching these idiots falling all over themselves like JR high idiots!!
December 28th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Simple solution…win more games.
I guarantee if you ask David he could give a rat’s ass about the pro bowl if the team isn’t winning.
Make the playoffs and he’ll be All Pro, Pro Bowl and the defensive MVP. When your team is 4-12 (or soon will be) you can’t be surprised when people don’t notice what you’re doing.
December 28th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
HAHA BucfaninMi,
Heath Evens is the worst at that. It’s actually comical how bad he is. I laugh all the time at that guy. JR high is the perfect example. He’s like a jr highschool kid that hasnt learned how to pick up women yet.
December 28th, 2013 at 1:33 pm
chickster Says:
December 28th, 2013 at 9:27 am
This all comes from being a bad team just the way it is
I beg to differ, the 2 win KC Chiefs had like 6 Pro Bowlers last year abd haven’t been relevant until this year in quite a while. He got snubbed, it is what it is. I think he’s got a 2nd team All Pro lined up though.
December 28th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
BS!!!!! L David is not in the Pro Blow. You cant be serious Joe that the reason he didn’t go to Pro Blow is because he gave Geno Smith a little push (In New York) to go out of bounds which wasn’t even a penalty a year ago. Didn’t go to Pro Blow for one penalty. That’s reaching more than a bit.IMO
December 28th, 2013 at 2:08 pm
Nobody knows what LVD did last week in a loss to the mediocre Rams, but everybody knows Kuechly made 24 tackles and 1 int in a very important win over the Saints.
DPOY goes to an important player who excels in important games.
Lee Roy Selmon’s career ended in Hawaii.
December 28th, 2013 at 4:00 pm
When you play for Tampa Bay, you get no attention. McCoy has been in the league for a while now and Revis popular going back to his days with the Jets, that’s why they’re in. Just another reason for me to hate being a Bucs fan right now.
December 28th, 2013 at 5:29 pm
When your team is 4-11 and is a constant non-factor in the NFL, and the league has no respect for your coach, only guys that already have a name and reputation will get picked
December 28th, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Keuchly isnt even the best linebacker on the panthers team, davis is way better than him. but LVD is top of the class of the nfc south. Heck, I would take LVD over any linebacker in the NFL.
December 28th, 2013 at 5:42 pm
Did anyone else notice no bucs player was on the ballot for special teams player? Hiw the hell does that happen? We have 2 of the best special teams players in the league with watson and hayward.
Probowl is retarded. I usually watch it but with the LVD snub i will be boycotting this catastrophy.
December 28th, 2013 at 8:05 pm
We start wining games , getting to the playoffs , and competing for championships, people will damn sure know what he is.
December 28th, 2013 at 9:41 pm
Lavonte David is going to come back next season and win DPOTY.