Lavonte David Likes The “Open Door”
February 5th, 2020
Some people think Lavonte David is snubbed and underappreciated. Not everyone thinks so.
There’s even division at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. Joe typing here thinks David hasn’t been as good as two NFC linebackers drafted in his 2012 class, five-time All-Pros and future Hall of Famers Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly. Hence, David has taken his place behind those two on the national stage, in part because he’s also played on horrendous Bucs defenses.
Kuechly, though, retired after last season. And David told NFL Network that should provide him a golden opportunity for bigger recognition.
“That’s an open door for me for Pro Bowls and everything like that,” David said of Kuechly’s retirement.
“You know, just the systems that I’ve been in, I haven’t been able to get that recognition to get to the Pro Bowl. Now I guess you could say Luke’s not going to be there anymore, now it gives me an opportunity to get into them. But it’s not going to stop me to keep doing what I’m doing. It’s a bad situation that he retired, but hopefully it will propel me to where I want to be.”
David was asked whether he is “slept on” as a guy with over 1,000 career tackles and 22.5 sacks. “Most definitely,” David replied, citing playing in a city without “big media” and incessant losing in Tampa. “Let’s call a spade a spade,” David said.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:07 am
This is your year LD54….especially if we bring back JPP and Suh!
Oh, and get that QB thing fixed ((((BRADY))))
February 5th, 2020 at 10:46 am
gotta get this man to the playoffs….lol…
GO BUCS!!!!!
February 5th, 2020 at 10:56 am
It kills me that this dude doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. I already know one poster who will chime in about how he’s a bum and yada yada but David is a baller and deserves better. I only hope this team becomes somewhat relevant before he retires.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:09 am
Steve Smith gone try the man on live Tv? that was crazy to me & the look lavote had was like you gotta be kidding me lol im just starting to see the NFL is just a popularity league and there are more than 2 good MLB’s linebackers in the NFL but we gotta rely on NFL network and ESPN to tell us who’s good or not as opposed to our actual eyes
February 5th, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Steve Smith did say that, even though he does not get the popular recognition (I’m paraphrasing here), offensive coordinators, quarterbacks and wide receivers know to look out for him
February 5th, 2020 at 2:49 pm
I’ve heard of dumb jocks…but what on God’s earth makes one think that (((BRADY))) would even think about coming to Tampa? Please would someone tell me why he would make such a move at the end of his career!!!
February 5th, 2020 at 3:32 pm
Among other unfair circumstances, I think David was a victim of being drafted onto a team with McSofty as face of the franchise. Being a respectful person, LD always seemingly deferred to GMC as team leader.
It’s unfortunate that GMC was pushed so hard by the team as THE GUY, while he was oh so content as long as he was “having fun.” Hopefully David will benefit in the national press in the next few years without GMC sucking all of the air out of the locker room.
February 5th, 2020 at 5:09 pm
Why can’t they all three be equally good. Cause that’s what they are.
February 5th, 2020 at 5:11 pm
Wagner and Kuechly are and were great, but Lavonte is every bit as great as those two. If he played on the Panthers or the Seahawks he’d get the recognition. Simple as that
February 5th, 2020 at 5:30 pm
Lavonte David deserves recognition even if this Joe thinks he’s second rate.
February 5th, 2020 at 7:15 pm
He’s a faster version of Derrick Brooks (and I love Brooks), and if he was used properly in his first few years he would have been the best 4-3 OLB in the league. Now, as an ILB, the need to let him loose up the middle. He could be an absolute terror as a blitzer. His rookie stats are incredible: 139 tackles (led the team), 20 tackles for LOSS! And they barely blitzed him at all, smh..
February 5th, 2020 at 7:24 pm
Lavonte is a complete player. Love him. He looked good in Bowles scheme. Almost like Schiano-era Lavonte. Great player.
February 5th, 2020 at 7:26 pm
Is need to compare those three LBs, but I do know that Keuchly and Wagner benefitted from playing MLB whereas David was OL and largely overlooked bc of edge rushers that play OLB. Lavonte is/was the best off the ball Lb in the league and is still a damn good player.
February 5th, 2020 at 8:23 pm
Luke Kuechly career numbers:
1092 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 75 TFL, 18 INTs, 66 PDs, 31 QB Hits, 7 FF, 1 SAFETY
Lavonte David career numbers:
1007 tackles, 22.5 sacks, 116 TFL, 11 INTs, 45 TDs, 52 QB hits, 21 FF, 1 SAFETY
Kuechly – 7x Pro Bowl, 5x All-Pro, 2012 AP Def ROY, 2013, AP Def POY
David – 1x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro (and not even in the same year)
Yeah, explain that…
February 5th, 2020 at 8:24 pm
2013 Luke Kuechly
156 TKLS, 2 SACKS, 10 TFL, 4 INTs, 7 PDs, 2 QB Hits, 0 FF, 0 SAFETY
vs
2013 Lavonte David
145 TKLS, 7 SACKS, 21 TFL, 5 INTs, 10 PDs, 13 QB Hits, 2 FF, 1 SAFETY
Luke – NFL Defensive MVP
David – Doesn’t even make the Pro-Bowl.
February 5th, 2020 at 9:29 pm
Rod Munch… Exactly! The whole premise of conventional wisdom on LVD vs Keuchly is flawed. The idea that Keuchly was correctly recognized as the better player is BS. He was over hyped by connected media and benefitted from playing on better teams and having a truly charismatic personality. I wonder how LVD would have developed personality-wise had he been running with Suh instead of GMC from day 1 and never had to play alongside that poser Kwon.
We’ve had some truly toxic players that have damaged the franchise (looking at you Freeman)… but we’ve also had some talented players that were poor leaders and stunted the development of team mates (Gerald). One of the most impressive accomplishments of the new staff has been largely cleaning house of the corrosive elements. We’ll soon see what off season 2 yields…
February 5th, 2020 at 9:42 pm
If their were players here so called (toxic) then coach Toes On The Line was as toxic as any player to ever wear a BUC uniform…his forte was DEFENCE but he couldn’t coach an NFL TEAM !! That’s my two cents worth!!!
February 5th, 2020 at 11:50 pm
@hog, surprised you didnt spell it “my too sense worth” after “if their”…..exactly that kind of low IQ logic who thinks Brady wouldnt want to come here with a built to win (or should i say when) now team with SB potential! Finish out his last year or two with another shiny SB. But, you wouldnt get that, so make fun of it again lol.
February 6th, 2020 at 5:02 am
MadMax … If we paid Brady what Spotrac says is his Market Value ($33.8 mil) we couldn’t afford to ALSO re-sign some of those FAs (like Barrett, JPP, Suh, Nassib, Perriman) who he’d NEED to win the SB. Brady undoubtedly wouldn’t give us the same ‘hometown discount’ that he gave the Patriots for many years.
February 6th, 2020 at 7:14 pm
Maybe someone should tell the joe writing this article that LVD has better stats in most categories than either of those other 2 linebackers.
He’s just stuck on a chit team.
Yet even when the Panthers stink, Luke would still get props.
It’s almost like the NfL just hates the Bucs and snubs us every chance they get, but hey wtfdik?
And again, LOFL at Brady. He ain’t coming to Tampa folks, get over it.