Lavonte David Talks Baker Mayfield Prodding, Old Age
March 27th, 2025
Before Lavonte David announced his return for a 14th Bucs season, head coach Todd Bowles and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht said they were giving David lots of time and space to decide whether he wants to continue his career.
Per David, it sounds like Baker Mayfield gave him a little less space.
Yesterday, David told The Rich Eisen Show (Joe listens via the SiriusXM app) that Mayfield texted him during his time of reflection. He explained that Mayfield said, ‘he’d love to do it again with me’ and that everyone was unhappy with how last season ended and they can be better in 2025 together with David.
“Everybody in the locker room loves him,” David said of Mayfield.
The iconic Bucs linebacker seemed very appreciative of Mayfield reaching out and noted Mayfield wants the guys around him that he’s most comfortable with.
“He’s taken over,” David said of Mayfield.
Most interesting to Joe was David acknowledging how his 35-year-old body isn’t what it used to be. David’s tone of voice said it all. “Your body feels a lot different going into the offseason,” he said.
March 27th, 2025 at 8:46 am
Winning another Super Bowl would be gang busters for LaVonte’s hall of fame trajectory. I believe he’s in, but another chip and he may be 1st ballot. He’s unbelievable. The prototype Schiano-man and a damn fine player. So glad he’s back.
March 27th, 2025 at 9:20 am
I suppose TWO more seasons is improbable, would be nice to see him becomes the Bucs all-time tackles leader
March 27th, 2025 at 9:25 am
ugggh, Steven, the schiano ref gave me ptsd!
March 27th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Schiano may not be cut out for NFL HC, but that SoB knows:
– Trust, Belief, Accountability
– Discipline
-Defensive guru
I totally get he rubs ppl the wrong way, but he also used to take live calls on WDAE from fans for an hour each week. Did you ever see Lovie, Dirk, Bruce or a Todd do that? I haven’t. It’s all good, it’s about coaching and Schiano may be be too much of a hard ass, but was 100% right about Josh Freemadonna and the Freemanites. The man at least saw through BS. Lord have MRSA!
March 27th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Had the pleasure of meeting Coach Schianos’ wife and got to interact with her for about an hour. Found her to be very articulate and humble and quite tall-certainly taller than Coach Schiano and quite attractive, but demanding. Nice lady.
March 27th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Beeej Says:
I suppose TWO more seasons is improbable, would be nice to see him becomes the Bucs all-time tackles leader
————————————————————–
DB55 is 7th all time (since 1987) in total tackles (solo and assist) with 1,713
LD54 is currently 8th all time in total tackles with 1,602
Lavonte needs 112 total tackles this year to overtake Brooks as the Buccaneers all time leading tackler – which should happen as long as David stays relatively healthy in 2025.
You were thinking of solo tackles only apparently. Lavonte is currently 5th all time with 1111 solo tackles. He only needs 25 solo tackles this year to overtake Donnie Edwards for 4th most NFL solo tackles in a career…. but David would need to play 3 more years to take another step up the all time ladder and surpass franchise leader Brooks’ 1300 career solo tackles.
March 27th, 2025 at 10:24 am
@SteveK,
What Schiano worshipping anti-reality, disconnected, unprompted bubble did you beam down from? The post was about Lavonte David, and you’re off defending a coach that nobody attacked in this thread. It’s completely irrelevant.
March 27th, 2025 at 10:34 am
He explained that Mayfield said, ‘he’d love to do it again with me’ and that everyone was unhappy with how last season ended and they can be better in 2025 together with David.
i agree!!!!!….everyone was unhappy with how last season ended…disappointed would be a better word…
who wouldve thought that after signing baker to $100mil he would lead the league in INTs…..and then cost us a playoff win with yet another costly TO….
the only way we get better is if he cuts his TOs in half!!!!
if he leads the league in picks again, we’re done…again!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 27th, 2025 at 10:59 am
Filthy animal,
Just pointing out that we have Schiano and Rock Star to thank for Lavonte David.
Say what you will about Schiano, he is a good defensive mind. Cheers!
March 27th, 2025 at 11:06 am
@SteveK,
Lots of people recognize that Schiano had some good traits as HC. I don’t give him and Dominik extra credit for drafting Lavonte. I mean, he was a great college player and was available in round 2… Didn’t take a rocket scientist.
March 27th, 2025 at 11:25 am
Yeah but Schiano whiffed on the first rd. pick and could have had Kechly to go with David. Whole team still stunk though
March 27th, 2025 at 11:50 am
Steve K
You’re right!
Belicheck admires him!
Schiano is a good man. An honorable man.
And he’s a general. A real military mind.
Raheem thought his players were his friends. They took advantage of his kindness and quit on him.
Schiano cleaned up the culture.
Schiano is a great coach.
March 27th, 2025 at 1:45 pm
I don’t under why this thread was turned into a Schiano thread. I actually liked Schiano and hold nothing against him. But, he’s irrelevant to this team and he didn’t draft Lavonte, Dominik did. And neither of them get gold stars for that. He was a star in a major college program. It didn’t take a genius.
So, what about Lavonte?
March 27th, 2025 at 1:55 pm
Lighten up Francis. Self appointed thread police? Sheesh!
March 27th, 2025 at 7:22 pm
Lavonte David says everybody in the locker room “loves Mayfield.” David ought to meet some of the complete nimrods that post on these pages who know a lot more about football than future HOF’ers, Wirf and David.
March 29th, 2025 at 2:48 am
Yes Gipper I have heard how everybody loves Baker. They don’t care about his interceptions. They just love playing with him. When we played the 49ers and Baker held off Bosa for 20 yards and made the throw to White, they absolutely loved that play. Forget the interceptions they just love playing with a qb that was that bad a**. Interceptions…. 😂