Lavonte David On Playing In 2025
January 4th, 2025
Future thoughts?
Of course, Joe hopes like heck the following doesn’t happen.
We all know the Bucs are in a win-and-in game on Sunday. Beat the slimy Saints, and the Bucs host a playoff game next weekend.
Bbbuuuttt… lose and there is a good chance tomorrow will be the Bucs’ final game of the 2024 season. Sure, the Bucs would have to pray that the Dixie Chicks lose to the Stinking Panthers at home and the Bucs could backdoor their way into the playoffs. Joe doesn’t want to think about such depressing thoughts.
If the worst happens, then yesterday could have been Bucs legend Lavonte David’s final practice. The 13-year vet and personification of professionalism turns 35 later this month.
Last winter, David toyed with hanging up his cleats but decided to return. While a few, very few times, he began showing some signs of age. Just a little. But only flashes.
How good has David been this year? With two sacks tomorrow, he would set a career-high for sacks in a season. At age 34!
“I had no idea!” David said when Joe told him about this stat. “Shoot, let’s hope we can get that. I’d love to have that.”
David’s current career-best is seven sacks in 2013. He currently has 5.5.
Even better, this season, in the four games David has recorded a sack (or more than one), the Bucs are 4-0.
“I definitely got to get one then,” David said with a smile.
However, that’s the fun stuff. About 2025? Joe asked David yesterday if he’s made any decision about returning in 2025 or if not, when he may make a decision.
“No, no thoughts,” David said. “No thoughts right now,” David said. So he doesn’t know. When Joe asked him what the positives and negatives would be in coming back or not coming back, David repeated what he said earlier. “I’m not even thinking about it.”
David said he hasn’t put any thought into that because he’s so locked in with the Bucs. He’s trying to help the team get to the playoffs. After the season there will be ample time to sit down and collect his thoughts.
“Trying to take care of business,” David said.
David this week was named as a Pro Bowl alternate. It’s been an annual rite around these parts to be outraged by yet another snub of the Pro Bowl by the NFL community.
Joe asked David if he was upset by it. In so many words, David, who used to get upset by the annual dissing, admits it doesn’t even register with him now. It seems like he has come to expect it.
“It’s behind me, it’s all behind me man,” David said. “It’s a blessing to be considered as an alternate, but it’s all behind me. I’m older and wiser now. I’m not letting that bring me down.”
His drive instead is helping the Bucs keep their season alive.
January 4th, 2025 at 8:06 am
I hope everyone appreciates the privilege we have had of watching LD and ME the last decade.
Two high class, high skill gentlemen
January 4th, 2025 at 8:08 am
HOF. Fingers crossed.
January 4th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Drunk Bucs Fan I’ve only had the privilege of watching them the last two years but I sure the hell appreciate it. I’ve always known Baker to have elite skills and heart but with players like LD and ME I might look back at his career and say he also had elite luck. Those guys deserve another Super Bowl ring and I hope Baker can do his part to help them get it.
January 4th, 2025 at 8:58 am
I put Lavonte David up there with the great Derrick Brooks.
January 4th, 2025 at 9:47 am
Make no mistake, all the inside people in the nfl know it, players, Broadcasters, who know the game, sports writers, etc. He is simply one of the best to play the game over the last decade. Buc fans over the last decade know it all to well. The problem then: The Bucs as Joe says were a lost decade for many of David’s years. He was one of few very consistent bright spots during that period. To put it simply , he played on really bad Buc teams and as a result had little fan interest outside this area. What a travesty if not selected to the Hall. Had he been ona better team, better market, this would not even be a conversation!!!. I know for me, it has been quite an honor to see hin play!!!. He is simply a great player, teammate and person. I just wished he could have played on better teams. Hats off to Mr David!!!!
January 4th, 2025 at 9:52 am
LVD is the current version of the great London Fletcher who played very effectively into his late 30’s.
At least nobody yet has come up with “money” as a motivating factor.
LVD is a very grounded, spiritual human being by all accounts. He has enough money. His decision will be based on REALITY. Mainly his body. How has it handled all these years of abuse? Like London Fletcher who never missed games and played well until his late 30’s or the typical NFL LB who has a much shorter career.
January 4th, 2025 at 9:54 am
Shaq need to hype him up! Maybe they both decide to give the Bucs a run for two more years, passing the torch down to our younger bavkd
January 4th, 2025 at 9:56 am
Performing at his level Lavonte will run it back in 2025
January 4th, 2025 at 10:25 am
You cant replace our best linebacker with a bunch of unproven people.
January 4th, 2025 at 10:44 am
Not that I don’t love David, and all he’s been for the Bucs, but it’s time to find his replacement. Don’t even mention the China doll Dennis, he ain’t the answer. Need to draft one, and bring in some fresh blood through free agentcy.
January 4th, 2025 at 11:13 am
Just curious? Does everybody here believe if the Bucs keep Coen the offense is set for next year? As in a studly youthful OL, 1 great RB, 1 solid RB and a 3rd guy who has tons of potential but plays behind two solid backs. WR’s..ME13..Jalen McMillan a cast of solid TE’s who can catch the ball as well as the RB’s who are as good as any in the league as receivers.
But the D is another story altogether. Isn’t that where the draft emphasis will go?
ILB is most critical in my mind. It’s not simply LVD’s age that’s the gamble, it’s the horrible dropoff behind him. They simply have yet to replace DW45!
If Winfield comes back healthy, and the Bucs had a DW45 (motivated version) type fast ILB who CAN cover the middle of the field or better still if like DW in his SB year can over sideline to sideline.
Some want a stud DB, I think McCullough could still be that guy but they are perhaps talking about Dean who does need to go. But the curse of the Bucs defensive injuries are also the blessing in disguise that gave a lot of young guys a chance to get reps and there’s some talent in the Bucs defensive backfield.
January 4th, 2025 at 11:42 am
What’s up with Courvoisier Dennis, anyway?
Was his injury that devastating?
January 4th, 2025 at 11:44 am
Looked it up. Dennis.. shoulder surgery.. out for season. Didn’t realize he was done for the year.
January 4th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
David has been our fearless Warrior for a long time. He is slowing down. Hell, you would too after all of those grueling hits. It might be time for him to bow out under his own. I hate seeing players stay too deeyham long. Brady got out at the right time. And so should David.
January 4th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Lavonte David was a great pick @ #58 in the late second round, and we need him back next year mentor his successors.
Devin White was not a bust, but he also was not everything a first round pick might be. And, the Bucs have been trying to plug that gap without investing another first round pick.
But, in the defense that Bowles coaches, the ILB’s play really critical rolls.
By their draft profiles, there are a couple of ILB’s with some Edge potential who should go in the first round who are slightly taller, slightly heavier (stronger?), and slightly faster than Lavonte David was when he was drafted. These are players who play sideline to sideline with great coverage skills, run defense skills and blitzing skills. I think that this is the year to invest another high draft pick.
The ideal guy seems to be Jalon Walker from Georgia, but he is likely to go earlier in the first round before the Bucs have a chance at him. But, the Bucs should have a good chance to pick Jihaad Campbell from Alabama. He seems to be the perfect guy to spend a year playing beside Lavonte David as his designated successor.
Campbell’s partner at Alabama was Davonte Walker. He was a likely first or second round pick until he suffered a lower leg injury this season. Assuming that he fully recovers, getting him in the third round could give the Bucs a top notch ILB tandem that could be the heart of the Bucs defense for the next decade or so.
Along with an Edge player in the second round, and DB’s in the fourth and fifth rounds, the Bucs should be able to significantly bolster their team defense in this year’s draft.
January 4th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Well said
@drunk Buc fan
Well said
January 4th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
HOF awaits #54
January 4th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
More than anything, I hope Lavonte David comes back for what shall be a SB run next year. (He and Chris too ofcourse)
#54 and #55 are the GOATs.
Love LVD.
Heartbeat of our Defense.
Hasn’t lost a step.
Pray we are blessed to see #54 atleast one more Season.
We Need Him.
He’s our Leader
January 4th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
My favorite player, nothing has made me more upset than witnessing all the snubs against him throughout his career.
Lavonte David is the epitome of a Warrior.
Not on him at all the struggles of our D this year.
He keeps us going.
So so hope we see #54 back in ’25.
We’ll run it
January 4th, 2025 at 4:14 pm
Both LVD and ME13 (future HOFs) redid their contracts and took pay cuts so they could stay here in Tampa. Fact, only it’s reported as “contract adjustments.” Licht knows the players he needs to bring in to replace these two. He’ll be heavy on Defensive picks this next draft.
January 4th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
JL is better off trading for, or signing a Edge rusher in F.A. .. He has done a great job with that, in JPP, Shaq , and Suh . But he seems to miss in the draft. Lavonte David should be back next year, if only to help school his replacement. Bucs should have never gotten rid of Kwon Alexander for Devin White. Kwon was a beast, and he listened to what Lavonte was teaching. Anyway, Go Bucs. 45-17 Bucs win tomorrow
January 4th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
What am I missing here? All this conversation about David’s past….he’s been our best defensive player this year. Without LVD, we’d having a lot more losses with historically bad injuries. Except for him the entire middle and back of the defense have been wounded starters or practice squad. In fact, sometimes he looks like he gets beat because he is rushing the passer, playing the run, and covering tight ends by himself. If he decides to retire, I’ll be forever grateful, but given his durability, defensive calls, covering TEs (still the best) , causing turnovers….. we NEED HIM more than ever. He’s been here so long that everyone is acting like his play is digressing? If he comes back and he gets some help in the middle and Winfield, etc come back… we could go to the Superbowl next year. Quit reminding him of his age, he seems th think he’s 25.
January 5th, 2025 at 7:33 am
LaVonte is a true elder statesman.
Both for the team and the entire NFL.
I’d hate to see him retire, but would certainly understand if he decided to.
He’s certainly earned some time off.
I just wish him the best; whatever he chooses.