“We’re A Better Football Team Than What We Displayed”
March 24th, 2023
Season No. 12.
There are a lot of reasons why Bucs icon Lavonte David wanted to return to the Bucs.
His re-signing — his fourth contract with the team — is for one year. Though David didn’t say it, it’s not unreasonable to believe 2023 may be his final NFL season.
After all, David will be 34 in January. How many 34-year old linebackers do you see in the NFL?
But pride as much as anything motivated David to return. Last year really bummed David out. So many high hopes. So underwhelming. And he admitted yesterday the loss to the Cowboys left him with a nasty taste in his mouth.
David was asked during a Zoom call with the Tampa Bay pen and mic club about the embarrassing playoff loss on Monday Night Football. He said it wasn’t just that game that irked him.
“I would say the whole season – not just the end of the season – everything was just so up and down and wasn’t consistent,” David said. “And de’re a better football team than what we displayed.
“So definitely that playoff loss, you know, losing at home in a wild card game, we was basically, you know, probably played the worst game of the season. We was outmatched, just didn’t play the way we know how to play football.
“Obviously, that [loss] factors in. When you’re a competitor and a competitor like me, I feel like the best place was to redeem myself was in Tampa Bay – to stay in Tampa and kind of finish what I started.
“You know I’ve been there my whole career and wouldn’t want to be nowhere else. I’ve made basically a family there so I’m definitely excited to be back and I’m ready to get back playing football.”
David is entering rare Bucs territory. Only three players have been with the Bucs their entire career, and longer than David. They are Rondé Barber (16 years), Derrick Brooks (14 years) and Paul Gruber (12 years). David has played 11 seasons, only with the Bucs.
Despite all the changes this season highlighted by Tom Brady retiring, there is something reassuring about David returning.
March 24th, 2023 at 4:08 am
YOU FORGOT TO MENTION HOW MAYFIELD’S “LEADERSHIP” WILL MAKE DAVID HAVE THE BEST YEAR OF HIS CAREER AND THEN RETIRE TO CURE CANCER DUE TO MAYFIELD’S “LEADERSHIP.”
March 24th, 2023 at 6:54 am
“We’re a better football than what we displayed” usually means “our coaches didn’t hold us accountable and there was no one on the sidelines ready to chew our asses after we screwed up”.
March 24th, 2023 at 7:25 am
I dont believe they were a better team than they displayed. They were exactly what they showed. The Defense was good, not great, very little meaningful pass rush, few turnovers and exposed on 3rd downs. Brady was a mess behind the line, there was no meaningful rushing attack and had it not been for a weak division….
I am happy Lavonte is back. But I dont believe for a minute he came back because he thinks they will make a superbowl run LOL. He is back because football is what he knows and loves. The rest of it is just BS.
Fingers crossed they sonehow cobble together a Defensive backfield and the O line holds up for Shake and Bake. I re watched a few of his games from last season. If he has a running game and can get the play action working he looks pretty good.
March 24th, 2023 at 7:32 am
I am a proponent of getting much younger & cheaper……but, if we are going to make an exception to that…..LVD is a good one…..
March 24th, 2023 at 8:04 am
Thats proof a good football team can turn bad with an incompetent head coach.
March 24th, 2023 at 8:45 am
2 #54’s Richard “Batman” Woods and Lavonte David. Linebacker legacy at OBP
March 24th, 2023 at 8:47 am
We was.
We was.
March 24th, 2023 at 8:49 am
Yes!
March 24th, 2023 at 8:53 am
He is right. IOW Bowles Curse.
March 24th, 2023 at 9:25 am
“YOU ARE WHO YOUR RECORD SAYS YOU ARE…..” Bill Parcels……sorry Lavonte!
March 24th, 2023 at 9:31 am
Sorry to nitpick, but wouldn’t you think a 34-year-old guy could learn some educated grammar?
I like David, but cringe when he speaks.
March 24th, 2023 at 9:52 am
You are what your record says you are.
March 24th, 2023 at 9:55 am
David says this every year, it’s a broken record. Well, except one year.
March 24th, 2023 at 10:29 am
I’d swear from reading through the comments that some of you guys aren’t really BUCS fans… Smdh! Like you can’t win for losing with you guys, sure glad your opinions don’t matter when it comes down to it!
March 24th, 2023 at 11:03 am
Happy…happy…happy…Glad to have you back.
March 24th, 2023 at 11:08 am
Heard that pretty much every week last season.
March 24th, 2023 at 11:09 am
Every team (and especially those who are rebuilding) needs LEADERSHIP in each position group. The leadership (AND accountability) provided by players like Sapp, Brooks, Lynch & others like them is absolutely critical to a team. Head coaches & coordinators have their own ‘bag of tricks’ when it comes to accountability especially (a la Jon Gruden?), but there’s no substitute for leadership on the field.
Lavonte is one of those veterans who provides that leadership. He’s still playing the game at a high level IMO, and because of that he’s an inspiration to others. I don’t expect that this will be his last season Joe. LVD’s still got good wheels, and that’s critical, especially when combined with his veteran instincts.
Vea was offered the leadership mantle but never grabbed ahold of it. Winfield has yet to truly step forward either (although I expect that he will, hopefully this year). Bringing back LVD made perfect sense.
March 24th, 2023 at 11:10 am
Please Mr. David. Stop the tired Rah Rah speeches. The reality is we backed into the playoffs last season with no hope of winning. We were exactly what our record says we were..a below 500 team. Put the air freshener down and just open up the windows sir.
March 24th, 2023 at 12:17 pm
What LVD didn’t say, is the reason for last season being a major disappointment, why there was so often a lack of energy and effort on game days, and especially the home playoff game against the Cowboys.
The head coich has red tufts coming out of either side of his bald head, a large red nose, makeup, and a frilly collared shirt.
Bloweszo the Coaching Clown.
March 24th, 2023 at 12:30 pm
YEAH
March 24th, 2023 at 5:25 pm
Tom Brady was devastated from his divorce.
He lost his family. He lost 20 pounds. He lost his center/bodyguard.
He lost his Hall of Fame Tight End. The best 6th lineman in the NFL.
He lost 2 badass guards. Marpet and Cappa.
Tom Brady lost his kids and his ideal family.
Tom Brady deserves our compassion.
Divorce is one of the hardest things that a good man can suffer.
We sucked last year because Tom Brady died inside.
God Bless Him.
March 24th, 2023 at 6:23 pm
You snowflakes need to speak to LVD personally next year at training camp, emphasizing the importance of the use of proper grammar. Or…hear me out fellas, you could just STFU.
March 25th, 2023 at 12:15 am
Well said teacherman