Lavonte David Had No Chance
August 7th, 2023
Fun revelation today by Devin White about his NFL big brother.
White was asked about having another year alongside Lavonte David, who was a free agent this offseason and had interest on the market.
White said he did everything he could to trash talk all of David’s suitors.
“I mean Lavonte mean the world to me ever since my rookie year,” White began. I know every team that wanted him and I was telling him he couldn’t go. And I was making it hard on the teams that wanted him. I was just being negative to him. Because I mean, at the end of the day I love playing beside him. Man, he’s the best vet that I ever had. He’s always made everything around me easier, and I think I’ve been doing the same for him as well. … “Oh, man. It’s a love-love relationship with us, too, man.”
The thought of David leaving or retiring is too much for White, he added, noting how he tells David he has three more football years in his 33-year-old body.
Joe loves that David and White tied for the team lead in tackles during the last regular season, with David having a big game in the playoffs and White ending his season quietly.
It’s obvious the Bucs’ dynamic linebacker duo feeds off each other, and they’ll need to in a bigger way this season for the Bucs to repair their run defense and to generate more turnovers.
August 7th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Devin White talks and acts the part of the Alpha, but LVD actually plays like the Alpha out there. {Other than during our 2020 SB run, that is. D White was a beast then. But since then, meh.)
August 7th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
I feel a lot better knowing that he has his head in the game and will be playing for the big bucks this year. I’m hoping for another year like 2021
August 7th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
I meant 2020, especially in the playoffs
August 7th, 2023 at 12:09 pm
“And I was making it hard on the teams that wanted him. I was just being negative to him.”
He gave the Bucs a hard time playing out his 5th year then speaks negative about David so he doesn’t leave. Seems very self centered. Unless he can turn that around I hope he’s not part of their future. It’s a team sport. He’s easily replaceable. I was a big fan of white too. Hoping he changes his way.
August 7th, 2023 at 2:52 pm
Since DW asked to be traded pretty early, he wasn’t planning on playing along side LD! Then he trash talks LD! He saw LD as competition as both were free agents for the same open gigs!! I’m sure LD wasn’t talking bad about him!! Some team mate! Some friend!
August 7th, 2023 at 3:13 pm
JFC people- He didn’t trash talk Lavonte, he was talking trash about the other teams that were interested in Lavonte, in attempt to get him to stay in Tampa.
@Erik- agree that Lavonte is the real alpha (though that wasn’t always the case… see the season opener against the Jets a few years back…)
August 7th, 2023 at 3:46 pm
Unbelievable, that was his rookie year against Geno Smith. First game.
August 7th, 2023 at 3:47 pm
Wow, that was a long time ago.
August 7th, 2023 at 4:23 pm
Actually Fred that was in 2013, which was his 2nd season.
But I referenced the wrong game / year myself! I was actually thinking of the season opener against Tennessee in 2015… when the Bucs had an early personal foul called, and after the game Lavonte said that the early penalty shook the defense, and they never recovered mentally.
The penalty in that 2013 Jets game happened at the very end, which of course led to them winning…
August 7th, 2023 at 4:24 pm
Man, what a dark time the 2010s were for this franchise…
August 7th, 2023 at 7:13 pm
Sorry, I got the gist of this article wrong, lol
August 8th, 2023 at 6:08 am
Huh? What the hell is he talking about?!?
Geez
Go Bucs!
August 8th, 2023 at 8:05 am
VERY REFRESHING TO SEE DEVIN WHITE WITH HIS HEAD BACK ON STRAIGHT..MAYBE THERE IS HOPE FOR THIS TEAM AFTER ALL !..I STILL BELIEVE THAT KYLE TRASK SHOULD END UP THE BUCCANEERS STARTING QUARTERBACK..
August 8th, 2023 at 11:40 am
I think it’s important for buc fans to remember Lavonte’s arc. Lavonte was trashed on this very site as being mentally weak and part of the reason this bucs D couldn’t play up to its talent levels. 4 years with Bowles and without GMC (along with his first 4 career playoff appearances\wins and a ring) dramatically changed his career narrative
There’s still time and room for White to become a better player and a better buc. For all our sakes, let’s hope he does