Jason Licht: Lavonte David Played His Best Ball Last Season
March 22nd, 2024
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Big bold statements today from Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
Speaking at a news conference celebrating the re-signing of iconic linebacker Lavonte David, Licht shouted to the world that Davis is on a track to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Licht even called out JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman from the podium. “No pressure, Ira,” Licht said, referring to Kaufman being the Tampa Bay area’s only Hall of Fame representative/voter.
“He’s elite in every way, as a person, as a player, his stats,” Licht said of David (not Ira). “… He makes these plays when they count, and very consistently, too. And he’s playing at the best level that he’s ever played right now. So he’s on a Hall of Fame track, for sure.”
That line about David playing his very best right now, as in last season, really stands out. Licht studies the film, as does the rest of the Bucs coaching staff and front office. That’s what Licht sees from David. Joe is sure that’s not hyperbole.
Joe thinks that very much explains David’s hearty raise from last season and is a nod to how much the Bucs expect from him in 2024.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:21 pm
Go Bucs, Go LVD
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Flowers for David while still strapping them up! Go Bucs!
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:41 pm
I know he won’t but I hope he is able to play until he’s 40. A man of great character, Buc legend and more than deserving of a gold jacket! Go Lavonte! Go Bucs!
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:45 pm
What Tom said.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:47 pm
Congrats LVD!
Glad to hear SOMEBODY is hitting their peak in old age!
Now, did you ask Jason about that pass rusher?
Ask him, if during his review of last years tapes, he noticed that we need a pass rusher, and our IOL SUCKED?
Stop looking at History, JL! We care about the FUTURE!
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:51 pm
I remember watching how fast Derrick Brooks would find a hole in the line of scrimmage and fly through it, tackling a ball carrier for a loss. When I watch LVD, it’s like going back in time to when Brooks was doing it. It’s the SAME experience.
Good on LVD. I’m glad we get him for one more year.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Lavonte was great last year, glad he’s back! You know who else had one of their best seasons last year? Khalil Mack, who is supposedly on the trading block. I wouldn’t mind a few years of Mack and a young guy from him to train up (maybe a 2nd Rounder).
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:11 pm
Licht is the most honorable GM in the NFL.
I am so proud of the Culture he is re-building in Tampa.
We have a special culture with Dungy. It died with Chucky and Raheem.
I liked the culture with Schiano and Koetter. But not with Lovie.
But the culture now? With Bowles and Licht. Perfect.
I wish you guys who cheer for and hate on the Bucs at the same time would really do some research into some of the other franchises around the league.
Most of them are a mess!
We have a Family Dynasty in Tampa Bay.
At a time when “the family” is dying in America.
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:18 pm
I would LOVE trading for Mack.
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:24 pm
I don’t know if I’d say it’s David’s best – because you’re talking a HOF player and he’s had some remarkable years. However, David did look great last year – and it’s remarkable he can still look that good at his age.
March 22nd, 2024 at 2:11 pm
That’s the cool part of older players. They might lose a step, but they’re never out of position. You can’t fool LD, he’s seen it all.
March 22nd, 2024 at 2:20 pm
If LD54 can maintain a high level of play for 2 more years, there will be no way to keep him out of the HOF. His stats will be overwhelming. They kind of already are but 2 more solid years and his overall career stats will stand out in a way that cannot be denied or overlooked.
March 22nd, 2024 at 2:42 pm
Pickgrin … I agree with you that if ‘LD54 can maintain a high level of play for 2 more years, there will be no way to keep him out of the HOF’. And I honestly believe he can (and will) do that. What I’m hoping is that the Bucs can have good seasons those 2 (or more) years so that the national media pays attention to Tampa Bay and doesn’t view then … and thus LVD … as an afterthought to everything else going on in the NFL. Too much of that tainted his early years to a degree, and it took 2020 to now to get them to pay attention.
March 22nd, 2024 at 5:16 pm
^ yup, he got no recognition bc the Bucs were such a bad team, despite having as good if not better stats than guys like Luke Kuechley, Bobby Wagner, Navarro Bowman, etc
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:51 pm
All time Bucs Great! May be the best 2rd pick in Bucs history. Looks like Winfield could potentially take a run at that honor. Glad he is back
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:57 pm
Could be fun poll have evryone name best BUC draft pocks of all time by rd. I know I left allstott off but he is right here w them although not a HOF’er
March 23rd, 2024 at 12:23 am
I’m surprised Oneilgirl or Bosszzz haven’t come around to find some fault in LVD’s game and complain that we should have kept Diva White instead.
Ya can’t fix stupid.