Lavonte David Climbs The Hall Of Fame Ranks
November 25th, 2024
A forgotten play yesterday broke the Giants’ back and sparked Tampa Bay’s 95-play drive to bury New York so deep it was never coming out.
The Bucs led 23-0 at halftime and the Giants came out moving the ball on the opening drive of the third quarter. They got to 1st-and-goal at the Bucs’ 5 yard line and direct-snapped the ball to running back Tyrone Tracy.
He ran left into a wall of Bucs and guess who punched the ball out? Old man legend linebacker Lavonte David.
Calijah Kancey pounced on the ball. First down, Bucs!
It was David’s third forced fumble of the season. Last time he had three was in 2020. But more important, David now has 31 for his career. It’s a ridiculous total for an inside linebacker, or an outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, which David used to be.
Hall of Fame Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks had 24 in his 14-year career. Ronde Barber had 15 in 16 seasons.
The guys ahead of David on the all-time NFL forced fumbles list are primarily edge rushers, obviously. David is tied with Cornelius Bennett, T. J. Watt and Leonard Little in the modern era.
That stat has to become a factor in David’s eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy.
November 25th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
“Old man” legend linebacker LaVonte David???
Errr… excuse me, Joe?
Perhaps you meant “NFL Elder Statesman” ??
:):):):)
(Either way, he had a great game. The whole team did.)
November 25th, 2024 at 12:22 pm
I hope LD makes it to the HoF
November 25th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
What size does Lavonte wear in gold jackets?? Hey Joe, when is Vita Vea going to start being in the conversation for a Hall if Fame possibility one day??? He is just dominant when he plays and it’s almost every game. The Bucs would not have beaten the Green Bay Packers in Lambeu and in January of 2021 to go to the Super Bowl without Vita Vea returning from injury and just dominating in that game period!
November 25th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Being #7 all time in tackles and quickly approaching Top 5 (maybe this year) should help his case too!!! Not 1st ballot, but I believe he gets in after a handful of attempts!
November 25th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
Amazing man and amazing career, not a sign of Father Time slowing him down although it must be happening.
A true toes on the line Schiano man !
November 25th, 2024 at 1:38 pm
LVD is every good a LB as the vaunted HOF LB Brooks. Lavonte never called attention to himself from the time he was drafted. His play speaks for him. DB was a bit frisky when he was initially drafted and played here. He is getting set to retire. Licht will be concentrating on D/ST in the next draft. Count me in as one of his biggest fans.
November 25th, 2024 at 1:42 pm
Bobby Says:
November 25th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
What size does Lavonte wear in gold jackets?? Hey Joe, when is Vita Vea going to start being in the conversation for a Hall if Fame possibility one day??? He is just dominant when he plays and it’s almost every game. The Bucs would not have beaten the Green Bay Packers in Lambeu and in January of 2021 to go to the Super Bowl without Vita Vea returning from injury and just dominating in that game period!
___________
You’re joking right?
VV definitely has some great games but he also has a lot of games where he doesn’t do much of anything.
HOF?
Nah.
November 25th, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Ring of honor and second ballot hof .
November 25th, 2024 at 7:26 pm
A 95 play drive! How many minutes was that?! Lol
November 25th, 2024 at 10:14 pm
IRA needs to get him in. The stats he has while playing thru the lost decade is just unbelievable. Most underrated player in NFL history. Dude has bin a stud since his rookie year
November 26th, 2024 at 1:29 am
I caught that last second punch out Joe. He did it as he was making a textbook tackle! the others need to watch and learn from he and AWJ. The punch is fine but make the freaking tackle!
LVD is the master of it.
Go bucs!
November 26th, 2024 at 9:09 am
David is by far my favorite player on the team today.
November 26th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Lavonne David is the most underrated linebacker in the history of Pro Football! The guy has played at an extremely high level ever since he entered the league. He gets overlooked for all pro honors repeatedly. His numbers are incredible and his nose for the football is something that can’t be taught. It is instinctual and goes way back to his playing days at Nebraska. He has a motor that runs at top speed the entire game. If he gets snubbed for the hall of fame it will be just as bad as they have snubbed another incredible former Nebraska player named Roger Craig!
November 26th, 2024 at 6:55 pm
Leave vant to David to juice the defense and make teams pay for the honor of having the old man embaress the. Thank you Mr David.You are one of the goats of defensive play.
November 27th, 2024 at 8:54 am
31 forced fumbles is an amazing career stat for any defensive player, let alone an ILB. He’s currently #16 all-time for forced fumbles and only two active players are tied (TJ Watt) or ahead of him (K. Mack has 32).
Lavonte is amazing and the Bucs fans and media need to keep hyping him up so he gets that gold jacket after he hangs ’em up.