More Lavonte David Slander From CBS
March 18th, 2026
Dissed.
Man, Joe’s not sure why the CBS dudes suddenly have it in for Lavonte David.
Bucs fans, still reeling from Mike Evans telling the franchise Va fa Napoli, are currently sitting on pins and needles wondering if the Bucs’ linebacker legend is going to call it a career orand give it a go one more time.
David is 36. Last season, specifically down the stretch, his many NFL years were showing.
Not until after the season was it learned that David was dealing with a seriously bad knee. He noted on “Bussin’ with the Boys” that he had 50 CCs of fluid drained from his knee weekly. Then in January, he had his knee scoped and was rehabbing at One Buc Palace.
In the wake last week’s first wave of free agencey, CBS hailed the arrival of linebacker Alex Anzalone to Tampa, typing he is a “significant” upgrade over David.
Calm down.
Joe likes Anzalone a lot and thought he was a smart signing. But a “significant” upgrade? Take it easy. Joe’s pretty sure Anzalone would push back on that.
Now enter Garrett Podell who jumps on the bandwagon suggesting Anzalone is an upgrade from David as Podell graded the Bucs’ free agency season as a C-.
The departure of Evans is a shot to the heart of the franchise, and Dean hitting the road is a key setback. It’s been rough in Tampa Bay this offseason. The Buccaneers will be relying on young wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan to elevate their respective games. Linebacker Alex Anzalone is an improvement over franchise legend Lavonte David in 2026. Retaining Otton was nice, but the Buccaneers have gotten worse thus far this offseason.
Where does this David hate come from? Anyone remember how the Bucs beat the Seahawks? David picked off a pass to seal the win.
Yeah, the ball was deflected off of Logan Hall’s helmet. So what? David still had to make a play. It sure as hell wasn’t Sabby the Goat who grabbed the pass.
With David saying his knee was messed up and having his knee scoped, Joe wonders if David’s biggest issue last year wasn’t necessarily old age but a bum knee? Hard to make plays with your wheels when you’re dealing with a flat.
March 18th, 2026 at 12:16 am
Hopefully David retires too. He’s healthy and slow
March 18th, 2026 at 12:27 am
Sometimes the truth is hard to accept. I don’t sense any “hate” toward LVD. Sounds more like objective analysis/opinion with an outside perspective. Anzalone IS an upgrade based on the linebacker play last year.
March 18th, 2026 at 1:00 am
Anzalone is an upgrade over David with a bad knee. Critical part here is “with a bad Knee”. Hoping LVD can make a recovery to his All Peo form. However as with any 36 year old football player, that is a question mark. Love and respect LVD but I am old enough to remember Brooks’ last season and he was a shell of his former self. Still hurts…
Go Bucs!
March 18th, 2026 at 1:00 am
Lavonte will go finish his career with Mikey and Fred Warner in San Francisco. You know Mike is pressing him hard.
March 18th, 2026 at 2:10 am
Linebackers has a lot of responsibilities
That’s why Edge Rushers in a 3-4 defense has to drop in coverage
He’s a Edge Rusher but he’s still a Linebacker
Inside Linebackers has even more responsibilities than Edge Rushers
With that said, the play of your fellow ILB affect your play
Lavonte has been playing with garbage next to him lately
It started with Devin White in 2022
When Lavonte first came into the league in 2012
Mason Foster was the MIKE in their 4-3 defense
Mase was the MIKE for Lavonte first 3 seasons in the league
And Lavonte was tearing the league up, he was unstoppable
He was the best Weak Side LB in the NFL
I think the different HC,DC, Schemes, Linebackers has taken a toll on him
It’s a combination of things, his health, the trash playing next to him
You know he’s playing with trash players
When he’s leading the team in tackles at 36 years old
March 18th, 2026 at 3:07 am
The full sentence is Anzalone is an upgrade over David **in 2026**. Which might just be the case.
March 18th, 2026 at 3:27 am
Im not sensing hate here.
I think Anzalone covers better for sure.
He is smart as well.
I think he is excited about playing for Bowels.
March 18th, 2026 at 4:19 am
Garrett Podell … ‘Linebacker Alex Anzalone is an improvement over franchise legend Lavonte David in 2026.’
From what I can tell, Anzalone isn’t replacing David; he’ll almost surely be replacing Dennis at MLB. We’ll be drafting at least 1 ILB who’ll replace LVD. And if we don’t, we’re dumber than dirt.
The last thing we need in 2026 is to be starting a 32-year old MLB and a 36-year-old weakside LB. And oh ya, paying the combination of the 2 of them probably in excess of $17 mil for the priviledge of starting the oldest combination of LBs in the NFL.
The Bucs can’t afford to pay Lavonte David starter money. Nor can we afford to sit high-draft ILB selections on the bench while he gets the def snaps. It’s time to move on. IF the Bucs want to sign LVD to a part-time role for a lot less money, so be it. But I’d much rather see us draft TWO ILBs in the Top-4 Rnds this year to go with Anzalone & Dennis, and then if 1 of them gets hurt & has to go on IR THEN re-sign LVD to plug the hole.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:07 am
CBS is right.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:55 am
We all appreciate David, he is probably a top10 Buc of all time.
But it is fair to say that he is not the same player he was a couple of years ago. It is not a diss its the truth.
Go Bucs
March 18th, 2026 at 6:20 am
Call
Bucs
Season
We cooked. Baked. Burnt. No shot in 2026 with Turdo kids.
March 18th, 2026 at 6:56 am
Saying Anz is a better linebacker than David isn’t hate Joe, it’s fact. As a fan, I’m not sitting on pins, and needles and waiting for David’s decision. I could give a rats behind if he comes back. He’s washed. Not hate Joe, fact. My guess is his decision comes down to money, doesn’t it always? David wants at least 8 million, and the Bucs aren’t willing to do more than 4. They know he has no suiters to compete with, and aren’t over paying. David’s money went to Anzalone.
March 18th, 2026 at 7:46 am
I’m afraid that if he comes back, they’ll be obligated to pay him $4-5 million, whereas an FA with the same skill set would warrant league minimum
March 18th, 2026 at 7:49 am
CBS these guys have no credibility. Let’s be real Anzalone is not a serious upgrade over Lavonte David, but Anzalone is a HUGE UPGRADE over S. DENNIS!! He was not brought in to replace David. The linebacker room does not get better if David retires and Anzalone replaces him. It does get better if David stays and Anzalone replaces Dennis. Like Lee says we still need two more linebackers brought in if not three.
March 18th, 2026 at 8:17 am
For what Lavonte is going to sign for it’s a no brainer. He is not top tier but would be good for depth but great for teaching the new draft picks how to be great. You can’t put a price on that.
March 18th, 2026 at 8:40 am
I think we took a hit on offense, but while the defensive moves haven’t been flashy, the defense has better personnel now than at the end of the season.
March 18th, 2026 at 8:41 am
David is toast at this point of his career. He needs to as my friend Spike once said ‘Do the right thing’ and retire.
March 18th, 2026 at 8:42 am
That CBS guy was talking out his rear. Did he forget Godwin is still here, so no exactly relying on our young guys only, Got a better DT, Edge, RB, and ILB. As for LVD, he slowed down last year. If it was a knee issue, then I get it. Father Time catches up to everyone at some point. One of the greatest Bucs ever, and can’t take that away from him!
March 18th, 2026 at 8:43 am
Signing LVD is a good idea. The Bucs have so many holes on defense it’s not funny. He may have lost a step or two but he is still better than SVD will ever be. SVD is just another version of JTS. lol.
March 18th, 2026 at 8:58 am
We are probably not offering much and that’s why LVD hasn’t signed
March 18th, 2026 at 9:01 am
We all know he is either gonna play one more year or retire…Definitely not going to another team! That’s kooky talk…If he wants to play one more year cause knee is feeling better then sign him to a team friendly deal…use him for certain downs only to keep him fresh and healthy and most importantly to coach up the hopefully new young Linebacker in Blows super duper complex system! Part time coach/ part time player! It’s the best scenario
March 18th, 2026 at 9:19 am
I really feel like if David comes back, Bowles and Licht will roll the dice with a 36 and 32 year old starting with SVD backing them up. I’m with Joe that they still need to draft 2 more ILBs. Right now we’re thinner at this position than any other position on the team.
March 18th, 2026 at 9:33 am
LVD still hasn’t signed. He may be having additional second thoughts with ME13 gone.
March 18th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Because. He’s. Old.
March 18th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
The Bucs and 49ers were among the most banged up teams last year. The difference between these two teams key players was Mayfield was playing through a shoulder injury and that doomed there season. Mayfield was also playing behind a very banged offensive line.
Mayfield’s style of play is conducive to injuries. He needs to understand the difference when to sit down rather than push for a couple more yards. His current style of play is the reason why the Bucs have failed to make the playoffs or lose in their first playoff game. Brady’s mentality was to play for another down. That’s why TB was playing into his mid 40’s and winning 7 Super Bowls. He played with his head while Mayfield plays with his heart.
Mayfield needs to play smarter otherwise we will be eliminated early into the playoffs because of Mayfield’s play style.
March 18th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
Missed tackles, getting trucked, running three yards behind wide open receivers in the middle of the field…. Hopefully he’ll bounce back with a healthy knee.
March 18th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
He needs stem cell injections.
Go to South Korea for a few months.
Get stem cells injected into his knees.
Come back for 1 more year.
I still believe Lavonte has one more year in him!
March 18th, 2026 at 5:51 pm
Yazus Christ guys, lets face the music. Its time for David to go. His performance this past season would barely pass as average. As a franchise, you gotta sometimes call it like it is. I’m sick of Buc Mediocrity. Aren’t you? This todd Bowles and lavote admiration club is past due. Give him his flowers and lets get a quick hard hittin ILB in here.
March 18th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Fxxk CBS and all the other haters. Even if you never play another down in the NFL we love you LaVante54 David Thank you for all your sacrifices and the love you gave the game.
March 19th, 2026 at 7:29 am
My guess is he’ll probably retire.