Rotten Teams Dooming Lavonte David
December 25th, 2015
A star ex-linebacker weighs in. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
You think Lavonte David got screwed again by no Pro Bowl selection for the fourth consecutive year?
Well, a former outside linebacker who might have been screwed out of pineapple eight times has weighed in.
Joe’s talking about Takeo Spikes. The former 1998 first-round pick of the Bengals was a hell of a linebacker and made 200-plus career starts for five teams over 15 NFL seasons. Nowadays, he’s a regular voice on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Speaking yesterday, Spikes talked about how the Pro Bowl process has long been flawed for outside linebackers and how he was named a “first alternate” for the Pro Bowl eight times in his career.
Spikes never got to go to Hawaii as an alternate but was selected as an outright Pro Bowler following the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
Spikes credited being a member of rotten teams for his Pro Bowl snubs. He said players and coaches who vote are looking at winning clubs and weighing that into their equation. During his first five NFL seasons, Spike’s Bengals teams never finished better than 6-10. (That sounds quite similar to David’s situation).
Joe knows David has gotten hosed in the Pro Bowl vote, and committing one of the dumbest penalties in Bucs history — in front of a New York audience on opening day of 2013 — probably still is a factor in voting for those who don’t know David’s game.
Yes, the Bucs winning games again will cure all kinds of ills.
December 25th, 2015 at 11:26 am
Mary Christmas to Joe and your Staff, and the same to all the Posters on this site! Go Bucs!!!
December 25th, 2015 at 11:42 am
#3 is going to bring a lot of attention to more than just #3! LVD and others will finally get their props.
LVD is in the catbird seat. He’s piled up a bunch of sentimental favoritism, when the Bucs start winning LVD will get the rest of his accolades. And he’s going to get to play along side a really good young MLB! It’s all good for LVD!!!
December 25th, 2015 at 11:55 am
Can’t buy that the play against the Jets has any affect on him not getting selected the last 2 years.
December 25th, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Merry Christmas!!!!
December 25th, 2015 at 12:32 pm
I don’t blame David for that hustle play against the Jets. I still insist the play should have been a no call. Tickytack call out of the New York cesspool.
December 25th, 2015 at 1:33 pm
@Buccfan37
Yes, indeed…..the Jets player was still just in-bounds when LVD pushed him….it was a bad call…..one that would only be called against the Bucs (in NY) in a close game…..
December 25th, 2015 at 3:27 pm
All of the outside LBs in the pro bowl are going to the playoffs so it looks like David will have a good chance at getting to Hawaii
December 25th, 2015 at 4:32 pm
@Greg
Pro Bowl is just before Super Bowl, meaning only 2 teams will not show up
December 25th, 2015 at 6:04 pm
Pro Bowl rules require teams to play a 4-3 defense, but the majority of OLB selections play in a 3-4 defense and don’t come off the field in nickel situations, giving both OLBs on a 3-4 team making the Pro Bowl. See both Chiefs and Broncos OLBs making the top selection. One year two inside linebackers from the 49ers 3-4 defense made the selection, even though only 1 could start due to the 4-3 rule.
December 25th, 2015 at 6:41 pm
I’m sorry but David is so overrated. Yea he mad a few plays this year but I have seen him jogging on plays before. He’s also dumb as a box of rocks. He’s to small and lacks the strength needed on most plays. Go ahead and blast me on this I don’t care, never been a fan of LVD.
December 25th, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Funny. I read the headline and thought the story was about terrible teams who the Bucs PLAYED AGAINST and made Lavonte David look terrible because he didn’t show up or make plays or got exposed…. all of which seems entirely plausible.
December 25th, 2015 at 10:32 pm
Win and the accolades will come. Continue to lose and be on a bad defense and the players will get what they deserve
December 25th, 2015 at 11:57 pm
I don’t get how any buc fan can dislike LVD. The kid is an absolute monster. He got me through the previous 2 seasons. Just watching LVD every week made it worth the 3 hours of watching the bucs getting their butts kicked. Any true fan of the bucs (one who watches the games and actually has a little football knowledge) would know LVD is the best linebacker in the league. 10 x better than that overrated panther.
December 26th, 2015 at 4:20 am
Wyoming buc. Just STFU. u clearly have no idea what ur talking about. One of the dumbest things I have heard all year. U r a complete idiot. Please never post here again. Thank you.
December 26th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
That penalty against the jets was absolutely BS. You wouldn’t see a flag being thrown if it was Green Bay or New England or Pittsburg or Seattle making that play.
LVD gets love for the all-pro, which is less of popularity contest and I think probably means more to the players. (Although pro bowls prob help their agents get them more $$ in contract negotiations)