Solving The Riddle At Inside Linebacker
January 30th, 2024
Could both return?
Six weeks from tomorrow, the free agency dinner bell rings.
Time flies, huh?
Joe would hope by then, the Bucs have an idea about the future of team icon and inside linebacker Lavonte David.
The Bucs’ star linebacker turned 34 last week. Few linebackers are playing at 34. Even rarer are those inside linebackers playing top-shelf football at 34.
David sure was last week.
Bucs defensive assistant Larry Foote last week put out a cryptic Instagram stories message that David was planning on starting his own ministry when he retires. When David plans to break ground on this ministry, Foote didn’t say.
The shroud of mystery about David sort of complicates the Bucs’ plans for inside linebacker this offseason, typed Jenna Laine of ESPN.
Now if David does retire — Joe sure hopes not — does that change things for Devin White? The former No. 5 overall draft pick has seen his production, if not his skills, slip ever since the Bucs won the Super Bowl three years ago. White’s play that postseason suggested the Bucs had the next Ray Lewis on their roster.
How much has White’s play sunk? Well, a year ago he was called out in a very public manner by former Bucs great Warren Sapp. This season, White was a healthy scratch in a key game at Green Bay and he had only 14 snaps in Sunday’s divisional-round playoff game, losing his starting job to a career backup.
Do the Bucs just wave goodbye to White and let him carry his baggage out the door of One Buc Palace? Or if David retires, do the Bucs roll the dice and bring White back cheap and hope he has a bounceback 2024 playing in David’s vacated spot?
January 30th, 2024 at 7:35 am
David back.
45 packed.
January 30th, 2024 at 7:50 am
My opinion is, Whites gone. Signing David, Evans, Winfield and Mayfield looks like it’s gonna be tuff Wondering how much help an injury settlement with Jensen and letting S Barrett go will help with cap space.
January 30th, 2024 at 7:52 am
Ditto
Draft a Center
January 30th, 2024 at 7:52 am
The only mystery is the new name on the of #45
January 30th, 2024 at 7:59 am
Our highest priority on defense should be getting an elite pass rusher
January 30th, 2024 at 8:00 am
Evans is priority 1. Then Winfield (tag). Mayfield has to wait until we see who is calling plays. If it’s some slappy third tier play caller then he’s not coming back anyway and it’s Pray for Penix time.
January 30th, 2024 at 8:24 am
I think White is gone no matter what LVD does…….would rather go with a MLB draft pick…..we’ll need to save the money for Evans, Mayfield, Winfield & don’t forget McLaughlin.
January 30th, 2024 at 8:25 am
45 can ride that horse out of Tampa Bay, I bet he signs with the Saints.
January 30th, 2024 at 8:27 am
Don’t matter what happens with 54 let 45 walk out he’ll be the next Deion jones and kwon never to be seen again
January 30th, 2024 at 8:27 am
“locker room issues” I’ve heard that term a couple times regarding Bucs, I wonder if that was DW
January 30th, 2024 at 8:29 am
White is as done with the bucs as much as they are done with him. He isn’t coming back no matter what David does.
January 30th, 2024 at 8:30 am
White is as done with the bucs as much they are done with him. He isn’t coming back no matter what David does.
January 30th, 2024 at 8:40 am
Agree with all here predicting DW45 and the Bucs are about to embrace a no fault divorce. Although Buc fans would certainly find fault with DW45’s performances on and off the field.
DW45 will simply be too expensive to HOPE for a return to his SB form.
January 30th, 2024 at 8:42 am
White is undisciplined and has poor fundamentals. Sometimes he can overcome those things with speed and raw talent but overall he has become a liability. Meanwhile Britt has gotten better and better and has excellent fundamentals and discipline and he will put you on the ground. If he had been starting all year we would have won 1 or 2 more games. Even if David retires I predict that White will not be brought back at any price. It sounds like he became a cancer in the locker room
January 30th, 2024 at 8:53 am
You can draft a LB in the 4th or 5th round with the same skills as 45.
January 30th, 2024 at 9:03 am
Let both go. We can be ok with Britt at MLB and let’s see what Dennis is. I love #54. But let’s be real here, we can keep paying 34 year old linebackers no matter how high level he is playing. Eventually Father Time is gonna win out.
We have to look in the mirror and fix our cap for the long term. Let sign Winfield first and then see what we can do with Evans. But ultimately, let’s get back to a great cap shape.
January 30th, 2024 at 9:10 am
Britt doesn’t even make $1 mil per year, and clearly outperformed $11 mil per year White. LD only made like $7 and change, we can easily do that again if he’s amenable
January 30th, 2024 at 9:11 am
It’s mutual! He doesn’t want to be here & the Bucs don’t want him here.
January 30th, 2024 at 9:26 am
TWO MORE SEASONS …
If LVD plays two more seasons (similar to 2023)
ALL TIME LIST
Tackles
1. Ray Lewis
2. London Fletcher
3. Derrick Brooks
4. LVD
Tackles for a Loss
1. Terrell Suggs
2. JJ Watt
3. LVD
Combined Tackles
6. Zack Thomas
7. Derrick Brooks
8. LVD
I’d love to see LVD get consideration for the HOF. These stats, plus a Super Bowl, make a really strong case.
January 30th, 2024 at 9:34 am
No
January 30th, 2024 at 9:44 am
Re-Sign:
• RILB Lavonte David
Sign: Free Agent
• LILB Kyzir White (Arizona)
Draft (either)
• Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M)
• Payton Wilson (NC State)
• Junior Colson (Michigan)
January 30th, 2024 at 9:52 am
DAVID might retire this offseason, which would be a shame
January 30th, 2024 at 10:14 am
White is a lost cause. Even if David retires, there’s no way you bring back White. The guy just refuses to develop NFL level skills.
January 30th, 2024 at 10:31 am
White has gotta go. David and Dennis are hopefully your starters and Britt can capably spell either, and you draft another in the later rounds.
January 30th, 2024 at 11:23 am
Remember white wanted out at the beginning of the season. We let him walk and he can sign on in Philly like he wants to. LVD is a special type of player that needs to be brought back even if its a year-to-year deal. Britt seems to be that type of player that wants to get better and better. It showed on tape in those games that White wasnt in.
January 30th, 2024 at 11:27 am
It sucks but I think David will retire and that will be a very sad day for Tampa Bay.
White is a diva but if you can get him to sign a reasonable deal i would do it and if not then see ya.
January 30th, 2024 at 4:30 pm
One more year would have to be his last. Maybe it’s time to look elsewhere.
January 30th, 2024 at 4:46 pm
Fake Ass Hell. Always down playing certain people.
January 30th, 2024 at 11:47 pm
White is gone. There are too many GM’s & coaches are extremely full of themselves who think they could bring him to their team and get him to be consistently great like he was during the Super Bowl run. Maybe they will… Who knows?
The point is, no way the Bucs are paying the money needed to keep him, nor should they
January 31st, 2024 at 5:25 am
I will help him pack.
White I mean.
Go Bucs!
January 31st, 2024 at 9:20 am
Sly pirate. I had had no idea LVD was in that company. Thanks for the info. He’s a great player now and throughout his career. White must be a head case too bad his ceiling is off the charts.