Depressing Lavonte David Forecast
March 4th, 2021
“He said what?”
Now Mike Garafolo of NFL Network is not one to just throw feces against a wall hoping something sticks.
And Joe knows who Garafolo talks to every now and then. You won’t have a walk onto a ledge to guess correctly agents are among Garafolo’s contacts.
So it depressed Joe to hear Garafolo in a recent report suggest it is likely that Bucs star linebacker Lavonte David won’t be wearing pewter and red gear this fall.
“Lavonte David, the linebacker, I mean at some point you get to a point where you don’t have enough money for everybody,” Garafolo said. “I think there is the general sense that Lavonte David is headed elsewhere.”
Of course, David is a prized free agent. The Browns are going to make a major push to sign David, per a Cleveland report last week. Joe suspected that was David’s agent trying to gin up the market for his client, and Joe wouldn’t be shocked if that’s what is also happening with Garafolo’s report.
“I know the Browns have been mentioned by Mary Kay Cabot who has covered that team for quite some time,” Garafolo said. “They will have company. There are a lot of teams out there looking to upgrade their defense and they have a lot of money to spend.
“I would think, Lavonte David is going to wind up being elsewhere in 2021.”
If David does bolt for what is likely his final chance at a big payday (he deserves it), then that should leave enough Team Glazer loot in the vault to keep Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett, receiver Chris Godwin and kicker Ryan Succop.
And if David does leave, with all the veterans expected to get turned loose because of a lower salary cap, it’s going to be a buyer’s market for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to find a competent replacement.
And maybe that also includes drafting Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton?
March 4th, 2021 at 7:12 am
LVD……..GO GET YO MONEY HOMIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
………..cause you deserve it my friend!
March 4th, 2021 at 7:15 am
I think the reduced salary cap is going to make this a very unusual off-season with lots of players getting cut and signing prove it deals.
March 4th, 2021 at 7:21 am
So much for all the “team friendly” ……
March 4th, 2021 at 7:21 am
@Joe … “And if David does leave, with all the veterans expected to get turned loose because of a lower salary cap, it’s going to be a buyer’s market for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to find a competent replacement.”
Huge mistake if Bucs let LVD walk. If it’s a ‘buyers market’ this year, what makes folks think that Lavonte will break the bank to the point where the Bucs can’t afford him? And a ‘competent replacement’ for LVD wouldn’t come cheap, so why not pay him?
And besides, he’s more important to this defense than Godwin is to the offense. We’ve already got a ‘competent replacement’ onboard IMO among our WR group in Tyler Johnson, and could have another by signing AB for a reasonable amount of money.
March 4th, 2021 at 7:23 am
If Lavonte leaves then that will be my secondary team I root for this year. Would love to see him with another contender if not us.
March 4th, 2021 at 7:30 am
If Lavonte leaves, I’d take Chazz Surratt out of North Carolina to replace him over Nick Bolton. Bolton had good production out of Missouri, but Surratt’s upside as a converted QB turned LB is much higher considering his hands, speed, and coverage skills are far superior to Bolton now. He is just a football player!! I’d take him at #32 , though draft “experts” wouldn’t agree. I just think Bolton, though experienced and instinctive, is small with average physical abilities and limited potential. Surratt, with this coaching staff, could be another superstar
March 4th, 2021 at 7:40 am
Gonna be a sad sad day if David leaves. He’s an all time favorite Buc for a lot people. It’s a business and you gotta do what’s best for you, but it’s gonna suck. I remember thinking Kwon wasn’t going to get the money thrown at him that he did, so I can’t even imagine what teams are gonna throw at David.
March 4th, 2021 at 7:50 am
Barrett going to want big money also! Godwin will get tagged, Barrett and David will go for the $$$$$ cant blame them I would do the same they are not getting any younger.
March 4th, 2021 at 7:55 am
Welcome the success Bucs fans.
Teams will poach and spend to weaken the top dog!
March 4th, 2021 at 7:55 am
Im taking bets
Lavonte aint going anywhere
March 4th, 2021 at 7:56 am
If he leaves it will break my heart, but the man deserves to be paid and paid well. He hasn’t gotten near the respect he deserves from the rest of the football world.
March 4th, 2021 at 7:58 am
This is probably going to be the most important draft in Bucs history. Cause if a lot of our players walk then you better hit some home runs in the draft to replace them.
March 4th, 2021 at 7:58 am
So one thing I noticed while watching games this past season, was the commentators continually saying that a linebacker or two on the others teams were the best in the business. If you add it all up, based on the commentary, there are probably 30 top-5 linebackers in the NFL.
LD54 is fantastic and the Bucs should definitely keep him, but in the worst case that they can’t, replacing him seems to me to be way easier than replacing Barrett.
March 4th, 2021 at 8:08 am
Tag LVD. Sign Shaq. Let CG walk and use his cash to sign Gronk. Sign Suh. Sign Succup. Extend Smaith , Marpet and Jensen. Sign/draft a WR and “let Brady coach the heck out of him.” Hate to see CG walk, but LVD is more important than CG
March 4th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Is there ANYone on the roster right NOW who can remotely do what LD does?
March 4th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Lavonte does deserve to be paid. He also deserves to finish his career as a buc. You cannot believe anything that’s said by insiders during this time of year. It’s mostly lies and posturing by agents or teams. We will find out in a couple of weeks what the truth is.
March 4th, 2021 at 8:28 am
“not one to just throw feces” Joe. This is under review.
March 4th, 2021 at 8:31 am
Yep. He definitely deserves a BIG contract with lots of guaranteed money.
“general manager Jason Licht to find a competent replacement.” Big difference between competency and what David brings to the table.
March 4th, 2021 at 8:34 am
Makes a lot of sense….Don´t get me worng I love LVD, and will be dearly missed, but we shouldn´t overpay for an aging LB…..We should and probably will overpay for Barrett…..LVD, Lenny…are gone…The rest wil be back, my only doubt is Suh….
March 4th, 2021 at 8:38 am
SMH, LVD does not NEED more money, he should take a little less(like Brady and Mike) and stay with his team to win another ring! Buc for life would be so sweet for him!
March 4th, 2021 at 8:39 am
Hate to see Lavonte leave…dang – I’m hoping he retires a Buc.
@Westernbuc – agreed about a secondary team. My closet team has been the Browns since the Kardiac Kids and Brian Sipe were doing their thing in 1980.
March 4th, 2021 at 8:41 am
Why not transition tag LVD if you know Cleveland has hot pants for him and then not match the offer and receive extra picks?
Sign Shaq, CG and Succop and enjoy the bounty.
I’ll miss LVD but I think we can find his replacement pretty easily.
March 4th, 2021 at 8:44 am
If David leaves I’ll enjoy the memories and hope his replacement plays lights out here. Simple as that.
March 4th, 2021 at 8:55 am
If he leaves for mo $$$, we won’t see his name in the Ring of Honor.
If he stays, we most likely will.
Leaving the Bucs for $$$ could destroy his legacy.
He needs to think this through.
March 4th, 2021 at 9:00 am
Hate to see him go, but if we get another young guy like DW….well good for LVD and good for us. We need speed, greasy fast speed………amd I’m afraid of seeing LVD turn into Derrick Brooks in his later years
March 4th, 2021 at 9:01 am
Its all about the Benjamins. Look at JJ Watt. “I want to play for a contender”! Really? And you sign with AZ?! AZ offered the most money. Its about the Benjamins, and who can blame them. Get em while you can LVD
March 4th, 2021 at 9:12 am
@Defense Rules Says:
LVD is “…more important to this defense than Godwin is to the offense.”
———–
Joe said a “competent replacement”. Not a like replacement. I hear you and feel your pain my Bucs friend. But its a business. Licht learned from Belicheat and the rule is better to cut loose early than late. David is 31 and a hard hitter. Its all about who you can LIKELY replace. I agree LVD is more important than Godwin, in that we are so deep at WR. And Shaq would be VERY difficult to replace – the MOST difficult to replace.
However, with Godwin, I think he is higher up the priority list than what I was thinking before. Only bc Brady love him, Brady had no weapons last year in NE, so maybe he is a little sensitive about letting CG walk and BA LOVES what CG does in his offense. So maybe the order is: Shaq > Godwin > Succop > LVD
Don’t know. What do you think?
March 4th, 2021 at 9:13 am
Take all the emotion and romantic thoughts about retiring a Buc. David in on the bad side of 30 — he’ll be 32 before the next Super Bowl.
Father Time is undefeated.
March 4th, 2021 at 9:26 am
I want to see him stay here. But lets step back a second. I don’t think his play is quite what it was a couple years ago. Now that might be scheme or something of the sort. But who knows how much he still has left in the tank? He isn’t a young guy anymore. Ill trust Todd, Bruce, and Jason to make the right call on this, or if he isn’t the guy we can afford, I’m confident we can find the right guy to step in to fill his place to a reasonable degree.
March 4th, 2021 at 9:51 am
Let LVD get his money and get a younger guy. Godwin is more important. Shaq and Suh are more important. Heck even Succop is more important to the teams success. LVD deserves a payday and if he wants to go to Cleveland, good luck, but another SB is not going to happen for him.
March 4th, 2021 at 10:24 am
it would suck to see LVD go….i think licht figures a way to bring everyone back…
GO BUCS!!!
March 4th, 2021 at 10:31 am
The problem is that someone could offer any one of these guys so much, that we can’t afford to bring them back. So we have to have a plan B in place, just in case.
March 4th, 2021 at 11:16 am
Mark2001 … ” I don’t think his play is quite what it was a couple years ago.” I’m not sure how anyone can measure something like that Mark.
In 2018 the Bucs went 5-11; Lavonte had 120 tackles, 13 TFL, 7 QB Hits, 3.5 sacks, 2 FR, 1 FF & 2 PD. He was playing in a 4-3 defense that pretty much sucked. Our MLB was the Matador Kwon (for only 6 games) & others, and that defense was designed to squeeze towards the middle as I recall.
Fast forward to 2020 when the Bucs went 11-5 and oh ya, won the Super Bowl. Lavonte had 117 tackles, 12 TFL, 3 QB Hits, 1.5 sacks, 2 FR, 3 FF, 6 PD & 1 INT. He was of course playing in a very different 3-4 hybrid defense that was ranked in the Top-10. Our MLB was of course Devin White who’s a beast IMO & collected his share of tackles (140), sacks (9), QB Hits (16) and TFLs (15).
My only point is that Lavonte & Devin complement each other perfectly in this particular defense. LVD might be 31, but I don’t see any indication personally that he’s lost a step or anything. Back in 2018 he allowed an 80.5% completion rate (569 yds & 9.2 Yds/Completion average). In 2020 he allowed a 75% completion rate (417 yds & down to 6.0 Yds/Completion average). Seems like he actually did better. And considering that he literally plays 99% of all defensive snaps that kinda tells me that he’s holding up pretty well.
Senor Harry … My order would be LVD > Shaq > Succop > Godwin. I’m convinced though that we can sign the first 3 in that list for about $30 mil. We simply don’t have the money to pay Godwin what he’s worth & he’ll basically be forced to negotiate elsewhere.
March 4th, 2021 at 12:17 pm
lavonte will flop out in a new system…as he gets older…
here he is a key cog who can play fast without thinking at all…
and ride for some extra time next to the new big whale at linebacker in the nfl – named devin white…
as he ages he can be the little fish swimming next to the big fish in a sense…
that won’t happen elsewhere…he will be a big disappointment
March 4th, 2021 at 12:26 pm
4 Reasons LVD does not go to Cleveland …
1. Roots. Wife, friends. Parents live in Florida.
2. Income Tax. 5% pay cut plus paying for two homes.
3. Weather. Ohio winters are cold.
4. Respect & Repeat. He endured 8 years as a bottom feeder. Now the Bucs are king of the hill and you leave? I don’t think so.
If he goes anywhere it’ll be Miami but why?
March 4th, 2021 at 2:08 pm
Garofolo just retracted his statements from yesterday.
March 4th, 2021 at 3:25 pm
We all want David to stay. But again, there is no allegiance to a team these dayz. The allegiance is the money. And I hope David gets paid. If not with us then elsewhere. These guys trying to retire with a nest egg. As much as they can get. Get paid, David.
March 4th, 2021 at 4:45 pm
JOE THESE IDIOTS!!! “I love Lavonte, but he’s getting old and we can find a replacement and Shaq is more important.” WHO THE F#CK ARE YOU GOING TO FIND THAT WILL REPLACE LVD?!!! Crippled old man had the best LB coverage rating since 2016 this year. He always been dynamite in coverage. Shut Kelce down.
After his amazing career through Bucs darkness, I can’t see them letting him go after a legendary defensive Super Bowl winning team. I can’t see Jason and the Glazers just letting an amazing long time defensive captain and many fan favorite (including myself) walk during all this excitement. It’s a business and Licht is obviously a good businessman. If he did walk I would be very disappointed with this FO. You’d be breaking up the best ILB duo in the NFL and you can kiss the number one run defense good bye.