“My Love For The Game Overtakes All That”
August 8th, 2023
Season No. 12 for Lavonte David means a 12th training camp in the brutal heat and more wear on his body that has endured thousands of hits, including 989 career solo tackles.
Still, David said today that he embraces everything that is summer football, including preseason games that he doesn’t need.
“My love for the game overtakes all that,” David said, adding that he loves getting to better know teammates and re-learning the defense every year.
And in what might be the greatest sign that his career is nowhere near ending, David said the offseason felt too long this year.
David is the leader among active NFL players in solo tackles, and he’s second to Bobby Wagner in total tackles among active players. David also is 20th in the modern era when it comes to total tackles, and he could move to as high as 12th place with a typical David season in 2023.
Keep that love for the game, Lavonte. Joe wants to see your Hall of Fame case get stronger every year.
August 8th, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Yawn…
August 8th, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Oh my mistake
August 8th, 2023 at 12:35 pm
LD54=STUD!
Totally consistent with high level play every year since 2012.
Unlike another Bucs ILB who wants to get paid like Ray Lewis but whose tape more closely resembles Barrett Ruud….
August 8th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
No way he’ll make it. A Clay Matthews Sr/Paul Gruber type player. Only the hometown fans will know he was as consistently good as any HOFer, for longer than most.
August 8th, 2023 at 12:37 pm
Clay Matthews the Cleveland Brown. I think he is actually a junior.
August 8th, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Lavonte.
You rock.
You have been a consummate pro your entire career and the most underrated player in the NFL the entire time.
I hope you will make the PFHoF one day
LOL
August 8th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
It took FAMU and Bartow county’s own Ken Riley 40 years to get in the HOF and he retired with 65 interceptions (4th most ever) in a time when this was not a pass happy league. Since he played for the Bengals and was not flashy or brash, he had to wait. Unfortunately, I can see that same thing happening to LVD
August 8th, 2023 at 2:29 pm
Definitely going to the HOF. LVD is D Brooks 2.0. By the end of his career, his stats may be a shade better than Brooks.
August 8th, 2023 at 5:36 pm
If LVD plays this year and next year, he’ll likely end up #4 all-time in solo tackles. #3 is Brooks. That would be so cool.
August 8th, 2023 at 7:53 pm
Life long Bucs fan here. I was born in TB in 1983. The Bo Jackson year.
First game live, 1995. Saw Barry Sanders run for 200+ and break Lynch’s ankles.
I remember Dungy coming to town in 1996. I was 13. I witnessed the transformation of the Bucs from 1995 until now.
I was a senior in high school in 2002. Then? I went to Auburn for 4 years. I met Caddy 3 times. A Saint! (I wept when he tore his knee for the second time)
Then, I moved abroad in 2006 to be a teacher and anthropologist.
I started live streaming games from Morocco in 2009.
I have never missed a game since Lavonte was drafted.
I have live-streamed every Bucs game while teaching abroad since 2009: the Year of Lavonte.
I watched a lot of bad games in the BB years. (BB= Before Brady). My hot Moroccan wife used to tease me every Sunday. “Oh poor you. You’re gonna watch the Buccaneers lose again today.”
I felt Lavonte’s pain for 13 years. Until Tom Brady came to town.
I can say, on God, that Lavonte David never took one game or even one snap off during all those embarrassing losses.
He has given his heart and soul to the Buccaneers.
And I just want to say “Thank you” to a Titan of a human being.
JPP’s JUCO teammate. Derrick Brooks 2.0. The GOAT: Lavonte David.
Thank you Lavonte David. And God bless you.
(PS- I called for the Bucs to draft Luke Kuechly in the 1st)
Check the archives.
(PS 2- I also later called for the Bucs to convert Mark Barron to a LB.)
Check the archives.
Go Bucs!
August 9th, 2023 at 6:41 am
More noise from diva.
Next
Go Bucs!