Fan Respect Flowing To Lavonte David
November 17th, 2014
Early Pro Bowl votes are in
The past two sad Buccaneers seasons mercifully ended with the kick in the groin of Lavonte David getting snubbed for the Pro Bowl.
The fancy national panel of sportswriters voted David an All-Pro last season, but fans, coaches and players combined to keep him from Hawaii.
But it seems fan opinion of David are on the upswing. Despite playing for the Bucs, which get about as much national media attention as the Jaguars, David is now fourth in Pro Bowl voting among outside linebackers.
NFL.com posted voting leaders for all positions today. Buccaneers only show up at two positions.
Outside linebackers:
1. Von Miller, Denver Broncos
2. Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs
3. Elvis Dumervil, Baltimore Ravens
4. Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers
6. Julius Peppers, Green Bay Packers
7. Connor Barwin, Philadelphia Eagles
8. DeAndre Levy, Detroit Lions
9. Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins
10. Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings
Defensive tackles:
1. Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills
2. Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets
3. Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
4 . Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets
5. Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans
6. Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Vince Wilfork, New England Patriots
8. Henry Melton, Dallas Cowboys
9. Stephen Paea, Chicago Bears
10. Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens
You can vote through Jan. 9. So get it done for your Bucs right here. McCoy is currently second among defensive tackles with 6.5 sacks. Marcell Dareus leads with 10.
The Pro Bowl voting process has changed from past years and the 2015 game is the Sunday before the Super Bowl in Arizona.
Joe sure hopes David, the NFL leading solo tackle leader, gets his due.
November 17th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
I’m pleasantly shocked that David is ahead of Clay Matthews. I still think it’s ridiculous that these 3-4 DE’s are classified as OLB’s when it comes to Pro Bowl voting, especially since teams aren’t allowed to run a 3-4 defense in the Pro Bowl. I would love to hear a logical explanation for that one. If they would rightly be classified as DE’s, David would probably be going to his third pro bowl this year.
November 17th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
Top two CB vote getters are ex-Bucs (Revis and Talib). Go figure
November 17th, 2014 at 5:48 pm
Obligatory Pro Bowl voting proves how stupid most fans are, and the game itself even stupider. I hope Lavonte and GMC don’t go cause I’d rather not risk injury for glorified flag football. LVD will make the All Pro team again, that’s what really matters. GMC? Probably not, Suh is having a monster season.
November 17th, 2014 at 5:49 pm
Multiple voting & “single-shoting” permitted…..
By the way…..we need to blitz LVD at least some of the time…..even if it turns out to be a running play…he is fast enough to turn it into a TFL….
November 17th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Man, I hope we can re-sign him!!!!
November 17th, 2014 at 6:04 pm
Maybe because Detroit’s defense is good but I’m not sure how Suh is having such a better year then McCoy. He’s not stars wise and McCoy has a bum hand with lots less talent around him.
Now Dareus has been amazing this year; I can see him as a 1st team All Pro. The other spot we will see, Suh peeked his first and us trying to land his mega deal outside of Detroit.
I agree David should not be included with 3-4 linebackers that are mostly ends anyway. He’s my favorite player on the team.
November 17th, 2014 at 6:13 pm
Henry Melton being on that list is just plain depressing.
November 17th, 2014 at 6:18 pm
ABOUT TIME L. DAVID IS CHOSEN!
LONG OVERDUE!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
November 17th, 2014 at 6:19 pm
1st play from scrimmage yesterday (Lansanah’s pick): was that LVD who was smothering RGIII? What the heck happened there? It looked like LVD was about to wrap him up and then inexplicably let go (it looked a bit as if RGIII faked a pass)… the QB spun away & threw the pass, which was bobbled and intercepted. I was happy we got the takeaway, but that first LB-on-QB encounter was just bizarre looking.
November 17th, 2014 at 6:25 pm
I don’t know if anyone heard it sunday before the game but one of the pregame shows they were discussing Richie incognito’s visit last week with the Denver broncos.
he wasn’t signed YET. lovie he who hesitates is lost!
November 17th, 2014 at 6:37 pm
Just wish they could get this guy in position to make more “impact” plays.
He needs to get his hands on some picks!
#FIVEFOUR
#APATHY
Go Sucs!
November 17th, 2014 at 6:45 pm
Who’s your favorite player? Mr. #54
November 17th, 2014 at 7:03 pm
It’s worth noting that David is the only 4-3 OLB in the top 7.
November 17th, 2014 at 8:17 pm
Hawaiian- I didn’t know they couldn’t run 3-4 in pro bowl game. All good points.
November 17th, 2014 at 8:46 pm
Sheldon should have been a bucs draft pick
November 17th, 2014 at 9:01 pm
@DallasBuc,
No 3-4, and no blitzing. I want to see Elvis Dumervil covering guys like Lavonte does.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:16 pm
Top two CB vote getters are a Patriot and a Bronco, go figure.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:23 pm
LD deserves it, especially after the snub last year.
November 18th, 2014 at 9:06 am
To te you the truth I don’t even think he cares about it. All he cares about is what is accomplished as a team. I bet he like the all pro vote though that actually means something half the people voting for the pro bowl don’t even comprehend what it actually means to play a certain position.
November 18th, 2014 at 9:33 am
@Vincente,
I very much disagree. Players absolutely care about Pro Bowls. It’s a huge part of his resume. When a player is being described, one of the very first things (if not the very first thing) mentioned is how many pro bowls he went to. It’s a very big deal. It can also be used as a bargaining chip when it comes to contract time.
November 18th, 2014 at 9:40 am
LVD will start getting more media attention this week when he surpasses Luke Kuechly as the total tackle leader. Kuechley has played one more game than LVD, is only one total tackle ahead of LVD, but will get his bye week this weekend. LVD will go on top, most solo tackles (already leads the league by a bunch) and total tackles, where I expect him to stay the rest of the year baring injury.
November 18th, 2014 at 10:56 am
If the league were paying attention they would have known that Lavonte David is already one the best linebackers in the game!