Without Trying, Lavonte David Made His Case For The Pro Football Hall Of Fame
March 18th, 2025
Elite.
It really grinds Joe’s gears the way Lavonte David is shat on each and every year.
Joe doesn’t give a rat’s rear end about the Pro Bowl but the guys and gals who vote on the Pro Football Hall of Fame value that dumbass game and use it to push for or run off Hall candidates.
It’s an outage this is a criterion, but it is. And it’s a reason Joe gets steamed every year that David doesn’t get named to that waste of time and energy.
Joe has maintained for years there is no more disrespected player in the league than David. Hell, he’s fifth in NFL history (since the NFL began keeping track of solo tackles in 1994) in most career solo tackles.
And the guy can’t sniff the friggin’ Pro Bowl and never gets any run when Hall of Fame players come up. Criminal!
Now yesterday at One Buc Palace, David was not asked about the Hall of Fame. He was asked how playing linebacker in the NFL has changed since he was drafted in 2012.
David’s response was a helluva pitch for him being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday.
“That’s something that I just started thinking about,” David said. “Somebody in my position playing inside linebacker who basically has to be the leader of the defense – the quarterback of the defense.
“In my 14 years of playing, I’ve probably played with five defensive coordinators. [Joe’s note: Actually six.] Each defense, I adapted to it and I made it what’s good for me – I prevailed in each one. So, just adapting, taking what I learned from those defenses, and putting it into my game right now.
“The game doesn’t change, people do the same thing but in different ways. Once you learn that and try to adjust to that, the game just slows down to you. It’s just fun to see all of that just come together – all of the things that you learn from your rookie year all the way until now and putting it into fruition and watch yourself and see your product on the field, how you’re moving through stuff like that and how you adapt to the game the way it’s played now. It’s a great feeling for you, personally.”
And there you have it.
It doesn’t matter if David played for Bill Sheridan or Leslie Frazier or lousy Lovie Smith or Mike Smith or Mark Duffner or Todd Bowles, he has adjusted, sometimes changed positions, given various responsibilities, and played elite football game in and game out for 13 years. All the while being a total class act.
If that’s not a Hall of Fame player, then Joe doesn’t know what one looks like.
March 18th, 2025 at 7:07 am
Lavonte deserves to be recognized. I hope Ira is already putting his name in peoples’ ears, along with Simeon Rice and Mike Alstott. There will never be another Alstott, he deserves to be in just for being 1 of 1.
March 18th, 2025 at 7:17 am
Win another SB. Pick up Top 5 in solo and combined.
Then put Ira on the clock.
It will get done.
March 18th, 2025 at 7:32 am
I agree with Lambchop, especially when it comes to Alstott. He has the All Pro Honors, and the Pro Bowls (I think from before they became a popularity contest).
Rice should be in too. Better than Strahan and Strahan is in the HoF.
Hopefully those who vote start realizing the worthlessness of the Pro Bowls as a measure of success and understand that it’s now a popularity contest that favors players from the big markets.
March 18th, 2025 at 8:00 am
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, if anyone doesn’t think LVD is a HOFer, they are ignorant. One thing that really bothers me is how underrated “Tackles for Loss” are. They are literally the same thing as sacks!! The only difference is that it’s a “non-QB” that’s being tackled in the backfield. Both negative plays for the offense and huge wins for the defense. I think once you begin to factor in that he has a TON of those, to go with his actual “sacks”, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, His resume is undeniable. Oh, and of course a SUPER BOWL! I pray that Ira has a mean pitch prepared, because LVD deserves it!
March 18th, 2025 at 8:26 am
He’ll never get in. Sadly, one can tell the NFL story without ever mentioning his name. And the story is just as good or better without him.
March 18th, 2025 at 8:50 am
you’re a real piece of work Jeff….
The Skyway Bridge is calling your name dip-wad….
March 18th, 2025 at 8:51 am
I suspect that a lot of whether LVD gets in has to do with who else is being considered during the years that he’s eligible.
Although there is no set number of new enshrinees, the HOF Committee’s current ground rules do stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected each year. Every candidate is thoroughly reviewed and must receive approval from at least 80% of the full Committee to be elected.
They apparently use a narrowing process, starting with about 120 Modern-Day players (nominees), then culling that to about 25 Semifinalists, then to 15, then to 10 then to about 5 on average. Kinda like ‘running the gauntlet’ it sounds like.
March 18th, 2025 at 8:56 am
Sorry Jeff-you cannot brush aside LVD’s accomplishments that easily-especially during the Buccaneers victory over the Chiefs in the Super Bowl where if not for LVD sticking to Kelce like glue perhaps Bucs do not win that game. Kelce is most likely the hardest TE to cover in the game. Shame on you Jeff.
March 18th, 2025 at 8:57 am
“played elite football game in and game out for 13 years. All the while being a total class act.”
There’s the bottom line…. and let’s hope its 15 years with a 2nd Super Bowl added to LD54’s stellar resume.
Evans is already in – probably 1st ballot. Lavonte is every bit as deserving and his career #s when the final calculations are in will fully demonstrate that….
March 18th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Jeffs grandpa- wake up and go down to the basement. You best bring a bullwhip with you. It’s time to teach that little curmudgeon a lesson.
March 18th, 2025 at 9:19 am
[Someone hasn’t been paying attention. smh — Joe]
The Hall of Fame voters are old and conservative. [Oh, they are NOT conservative. Not even remotely close. — Joe] Of course its taking them way to long to realize that the pro-bowl lost its prestige in the 2000’s . Simply put a pro bowl post 2010 is 25% of the award it was pre 2010’s
The game is a skills competition/flag football game now. The amount of players that skip the probowl is ENOURMOUS. The games is full of alternates and rookies and does not represent the best of the best.
March 18th, 2025 at 9:42 am
You gotta admit, Jeff brings out some humorous banter. “Skyway bridge calling your name” LOL, the grandpa character, and then the bullwhip…thanks for the laugh, all.
Lavonte is one of the game’s giants. I hope he has a secret fountain of youth in his yard and he plays for 3 more seasons at his usual stellar level.
March 18th, 2025 at 9:49 am
I love Mike, but we need to put LVD up for man of the year until he retires. That should help.
March 18th, 2025 at 10:45 am
Lavonte has been a brilliant leader showing incredible resilience over his many years. He should be in the HOF and I hope he does but it will likely take years.
March 18th, 2025 at 11:12 am
I see that David is a 1x Pro Bowl 1X All Pro and 1 x Superbowl.
Now if he didn’t get a sniff then maybe he opted out but then that was his choice.
Cannot argue with this years ILB’s Fred Warner and Zack Baun or even Baun’s replacement Bobby Wagner.
Now if Joe is not counting David’s one Pro Bowl because he may have made it as an Alternate then maybe the other Joe should stop praising a guy that got in on a pass twice.
When David lays his head on the pillow on Sunday night’s, he know’s what kind of job he did that afternoon and probably doesn’t need a pat on the back from anyone. For Men that is always enough.
March 18th, 2025 at 11:24 am
Grab another Superbowl and his chances go up significantly. A guy who put up his stats and was on 2 Superbowl teams is definitely in the HOF conversation.
March 18th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
If ELI MANNING is a/going to be HOFer then LVD is more than a slam dunk
March 18th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Jose, I agree.
March 18th, 2025 at 1:02 pm
100% Everyone considers Bobby Wagner a HOFer. They have been in the league the same time and have similar stats.
LVD has more solo tackles, FF, FR, TFL.
Wagner has more combined tackles and QB hits.
They are tied with INTs.
All that is nitpicking though. They are real close
Yet Bobby Wagner has 10 pro bowls and 11 All-pros compared to LVDs 1 & 3.
Every thinks Luke Keuchly is a no brainer HOFer …. LVD and Wagner are both better than him in everything and it is not close. (except INTs)
March 18th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
If you heard the interview with Lavonta David yesterday on WDAE you know he is not only a HOF player but a serious CLASS PERSON
March 18th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
The best strategy for LVD at this point is to play the “side” game. These are popularity contest (pro bowl, hof…) that favors the extrovert. Quiet guys that quietly fade into the sunset (Alstott, Rice, LVD) get no play. LVD needs to channel his inner Straham and dance with the stars, get on Hollywood squares, do a commercial for crying out loud. It is lame that his body of work is not enough, but this is the game…a game you don’t win sitting in the shadows and waiting for a pushing-semi-retired sports journalist to carry your baton across the finish line
March 18th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
With that said, NOBODY is more worthy of the hof than David. Unfortunately, idiots rule the world
March 18th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
He’s belonged in the HOF since the 1st Super Bowl. He handled Kelce from the opening coin toss. There’s 100 reasons why he belongs in Canton, and countless positive things to say about him.
Another SB Victory and he is easily in
March 18th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
I remember when people would downplay what Ronde did, calling him a system corner.. despite basically revolutionizing nickle and seeing more outside corners do some of his stuff now. Surely they will credit David for the opposite right??? Right???
March 18th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
I think like Evans, a defining moment in an NFC Championship or Super Bowl would help. Rondé was great but without that pick 6 vs the Eagles, I’m not sure he’s in yet. DB55’s pick 6 to seal the Super Bowl. Sapp vs Favre. Ray Lewis allegedly shooting a guy.
Players need a defining moment.