Class.

Yesterday was a sad day, but damn, Joe never thought he’d hear a farewell speech like the one Lavonte David gave yesterday as he bid the NFL goodbye after 14 years with the Bucs.

In just a couple of minutes, David explained how he really only played football because he loved it so much. That passion helped him reach dreams and goals he never thought possible.

“My 14-year career was a journey,” David said. “It was a long road to get here. Starting at Liberty City Optimist, going to Miami Northwestern and then going to junior college – that’s when I didn’t think I’d get here, just because of everything I went through there.

“It was a tough journey, but there I learned what it takes to become accountable and I learned that a lot of people depend on you. Going to the University of Nebraska, I kept that chip, kept that same mindset. Throughout every year that I’ve been here, I’ve had that same mentality – have that chip on my shoulder. Every time I step on the field, I want to prove myself right and all my doubters wrong.

“A lot of people in this building, a lot of guys I see, my family, helped me continue that dream, helped me continue that process. I want to thank everybody throughout my journey, throughout my career, for pushing me and helping me be the greatest I can be.

“To play at an organization for this long and to get all of the respect that I have from everybody and all my peers and the lives that I touched throughout my career, it’s something you can [only] dream of.”

Pretty heartfelt words from David. And his words hit home shortly thereafter.

David broke down talking about how his parents, who didn’t have much, always made sure to support his football dreams. The family only had one car, which his mom needed to get to work.

So his father would put a young Lavonte on the handlebars of a bike and ride him to practice and back. Sometimes, even the bike wasn’t available and the two had to walk.

That’s what got David emotional as he looked back at the sacrifices his parents made so David could chase his dreams.

“Somehow, they made it work,” David said.

They sure did. And David is walking proof that if you have a support system, lack of money doesn’t matter so long as you have heart.

The Bucs are going to miss this guy.