Lavonte David’s Ridiculous Numbers
September 7th, 2022
A cut above the rest.
Joe and Ira Kaufman are on opposite sides of the fence on this.
Few linebackers have been shat upon more than Lavonte David. All that guy does is produce and all he is given by his NFL brethren and NFL media types and fans is the back of their hands.
Part of this is because David lacks comfortable with the press. Oh, he’s a good guy and if folks like Joe that he knows come up and ask questions he always gives his time. But David rarely seeks attention. And in a media world that loves celebrities, that can come back to bite an athlete who needs a degree of promotion to rake in individual honors.
May not be fair, but that’s the way it is.
The one time David did a media tour of any sort was when he went to radio row at a Super Bowl in Phoenix. David was upset he had not made a Pro Bowl and decided to bite the bullet and get his name out there.
Guess what? The following season David was named to the Pro Bowl. See how that works? Sadly, that was the only time David made the Pro Bowl. (He was named All-Pro in 2013.)
For a guy as good as David to only make one Pro Bowl is criminal.
So Joe and Ira a couple of times crossed swords on the Ira Kaufman Podcast. Joe thinks since winning a Super Bowl in 2020, David has the goods to get in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ira is very pessimistic of David’s chances and said his lack of Pro Bowls will likely Pearl Harbor his chances.
Ira claims Luke Kuechly will very likely make the Hall of Fame, yet David’s numbers are better. And, as Joe pointed out, David has a big ol’ shiny ring, which Kuechly does not.
Ira was unmoved.
Well, here is information by way of Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports. No linebacker other than David, in the history of the NFL, has done what he has done.
And David isn’t done yet. He looks quicker this season and David says he is healthy, too. That helps.
If David puts up numbers again this year and the Bucs win it all, Joe doesn’t know how the Hall of Fame voters could sleep at night putting Kuechly in the Hall and not David.
September 7th, 2022 at 9:06 am
David > Brooks
September 7th, 2022 at 9:08 am
Put the yellow jacket on this man. LD is a stud and always has been. Selfless and a team player.
This would be criminal if he doesn’t get in
September 7th, 2022 at 9:18 am
Ira is correct. Lack of Pro Bowls will almost for sure make him a non finalist in HOF voting.
His only shot is we win another Super Bowl and he is memorable in that Super Bowl.
September 7th, 2022 at 9:20 am
That “Bussin” episode with David & Vea is the most candid I can ever remember hearing David be and it was dope hearing him downplay the lack of media hype in favor of receiving praise from his peers around the league. Said it before, David & Evans’ ring of honor plaques should be on a shelf somewhere in 1Buc waiting to be put up at RayJay as soon as either are done balling.
The story Vea shared about getting washed out by blockers during a Cincy game and David making it known if he doesnt know what he’s doing “get his ass out the game” lol is what you want from your leaders and David has been him since day 1!
September 7th, 2022 at 9:22 am
Can Ira get the snowball rolling on LD54’s HOF campaign?
Joes put up LD54 vs Kuechly the year Kuechly won DPOY…was sickening.
September 7th, 2022 at 9:31 am
If Ira is against Lavonte he will never get in the HOF, even if he gets his second ring. The HOF and Pro Bowl is all a big joke. Perception is reality when it comes to getting in either one. Buc hate runs deep.
September 7th, 2022 at 9:35 am
To be fair Im pretty sure Ira doesnt think T.O. should be in the HOF either…. Perception is a hell of a thing when it comes to the HOF. Its almost a popularity contest like the pro bowl is. Ronde Barber deserves to be in and has to do this dog and pony show every year.
Lavonte is 100% a HOF’er and on the one of the greatest, most consistent linebackers this game has seen
September 7th, 2022 at 9:59 am
KLD54,
LVD is great but no way is he better than Derrick Brooks.
DB 55 changed games frequently with his speed and nose for the football.
September 7th, 2022 at 10:08 am
I think Ira is not convinced because he knows what criteria the voters use in the room and 54 doesn’t check those boxes.
September 7th, 2022 at 10:08 am
Brooks > David
LVD Has had a good career, but ” the not giving up a blade of grass, NFL Defensive player of the year’ D Brooks had a better career, and a first ballot HOF. LOL I hope anyone comparing the 2 is actually joking lol. DB is the undisputed King of LB’s in Tampa.
GO BUCS!!!
September 7th, 2022 at 10:33 am
Just stay healthy, LVD. I can’t believe you’re almost “old” for a linebacker, seems like you were just drafted.
September 7th, 2022 at 10:59 am
He put up all those stats for horrible teams. Some of those defenses he played on were historically bad. I think he can turn it around if he and the team have continued success, but you cant expect voters from other markets to be dialed in on what LVD for a team that perpetually won 5-7 games during the lost decade, where he played the entirety of the time. He should be in the discussion, but Ronde likely has a better chance. We can likely have the same conversation about ME13 for the same reasons. You dont get recognition for individual success when your team is bad.
September 7th, 2022 at 11:18 am
Googly belongs in the Hall of Very Good, not the Hall of Fame. David is worthy whenever he chooses to retire. Simple as that.
September 7th, 2022 at 11:26 am
He is gonna get the Ronde Barber treatment. People are going to ignore the fact that he was the best EVER at his position because, well, you know. He played in Tampa
September 7th, 2022 at 11:37 am
And yeah, I said it, BEST EVER. The numbers don’t lie like the eye.
That said, we can certainly argue impact plays and timely plays and the like.
I mean, Ray Lewis and LT and several other guys including Mr Derrik Brook are great BUT none of them did what LVD has done and will seemingly continue to do forever and ever and ever. LOL.
But for real, consistency is a hallmark of the Hall, is it not? The fact that he does not have Pro Bowl credit should just demonstrate how incredibly INCONSISTANT that voting process is.
September 7th, 2022 at 11:48 am
It seems anathema to compare David to some of the greats, even our own, Brooks. But he really does compare favorably. Particularly when compared with Luke, who had his career cut short by concussion concerns and never won a super bowl.
September 7th, 2022 at 12:09 pm
To those saying LVD played on some very bad defenses, might that not be a big reason he has so many tackles?
Crappy DL missing tackles and allowing RBs to get to the second level.
Not dissing the man, just putting it out there.
September 7th, 2022 at 12:49 pm
We need to riot to get LVD in. After playing for the worst franchise in win percentage and still produced better then most LBs. n does is consistently. Never complains n now has a ring. I hope he goes off this season. JOE THIS GUY LVD DESERVES TO BE IN THE HALL OF FAME
September 7th, 2022 at 1:15 pm
He’s a legend..win 2 more rings and they will beg him to join
September 7th, 2022 at 2:22 pm
IT IS A GODDAMN TRAGEDY THAT DAVID DOESN”T GET THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVES.
Better stats than his contemporaries, AND a Super Bowl Ring!
“Can’t get no respect”
September 7th, 2022 at 2:22 pm
Ugh, *TRAVESTY ^
September 7th, 2022 at 3:11 pm
KingLDavid54 Says:
September 7th, 2022 at 9:06 am
David > Brooks
WTF have you been smoking dude? David is a fantastic player, but has he won DPOY? Brooks has. At the height of his career, only one player got mentioned in the same breath as Ray Lewis, and that was Brooks. And there’s plenty of people who will argue Brooks was better, myself among them.
September 7th, 2022 at 3:14 pm
Just want to add one more comment to what I just said. If LD wins another SB, okay let’s compare the two careers at that point.
September 7th, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Comparison and projection:
14 seasons
Tackles 1715
Sacks 13.5
Ints 25
FF 24
TDs 7
10 seasons
Tackles 1222 1710
Sacks 26.0 36.5
Ints 12 17
FF 26 36
TDs 3 5
Yeah tell me who is better if LVD continues on his projected path. The only reason Derrick Brooks got so many accolades was we had the best overalll defense in the NFL.
September 7th, 2022 at 5:12 pm
The Pro Bowl voting system is dumb.
They have way too many OLB pash rushers and not enough inside and weak side backers.
September 7th, 2022 at 7:31 pm
I agree with Ira in that David just hasn’t racked up enough accolades to get in the hall. He’s a better player than both Kuechly and Wagner, but he’s played on some sad teams and there is an obvious, blatant bias against our players and team by the national media. Ronde has unique numbers for his position as well as the pro bowls and the (mostly) clowns that vote for the hof put chumps (comparatively speaking, he was a nice player, but not hall worthy) like Brian Dawkins in before Ronde.
Hopefully the next generation of hof voters will not fall prey to the rampant cronyism that pervades the hof process and with a lttle luck, they’ll have some integrity as well.
September 7th, 2022 at 9:09 pm
The one thing Greg Schiano did right….
Trading Blount and Talib, and letting Michael Bennett walk for peanuts was just asinine…
September 8th, 2022 at 5:33 am
Crackwise says some questionable on this board, but he must be on crack if he thinks Ronde and David are the best ever at their respective positions. Don’t be a total homer. Ronde should be in the hall, but him playing for TB isn’t a reason that he hasn’t been selected. Our defense was legendary during those days and well respected by many national media types.