Lavonte David is again for his thirteenth 12 months with the Bucs. He, greater than anybody on the roster, has skilled each the highs and lows that Tampa Bay has been via.
First, it was the lows. From 2012-2019, David was top-of-the-line gamers on a foul workforce. The Bucs had zero playoff appearances, one profitable file and 6 last-place finishes in these eight seasons.
Bucs LB Lavonte David Photograph by: USA Right this moment
Since then, the final 4 seasons have been one thing of a golden period for Tampa Bay. David and a few of his longer-tenured teammates have seen (and helped carry) the workforce because it reached new heights. From profitable a Tremendous Bowl in 2020 to profitable three consecutive NFC South titles within the final three years since, the bottom of the lows seems like a very long time in the past.
All through all of that and to at the present time, the kind of participant, caliber of chief and high quality of person who Lavonte David is has made him a fan favourite in Tampa Bay — and a favourite of the entrance workplace. He’s the prime instance of the kind of participant the Bucs need to discover extra of, as uncommon as they might be.
That’s not hyperbole, both. Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht mentioned as a lot on Friday, pointing to visible proof of the concept that Lavonte David is the image of what they need a Buc to be.
“He’s the poster baby — actually — for us. We’ve got an image, a silhouette of a Buc participant in our draft room” Licht mentioned. “It says ‘I’m that man’ and that is the person who we wish in a participant, the traits that — a few of them — we simply mentioned. It doesn’t present his face, however it’s Lavonte. He’s the one which we search for yearly. He’s the usual.”
Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
Licht arrived in Tampa in 2014, two years after Lavonte David was drafted. He mentioned Friday, with a smile, that his fellow Nebraska Cornhusker would’ve been the highest participant on his draft board had he been with the Bucs in 2012. However whereas he could not have drafted David, however he’s seen his greatness for a very long time. And that’s why he continues to prioritize the legendary Buc when it comes time for him to hit free company.
From 12 months 1 in 2012 to what’s going to now be 12 months 13 in 2024, David has ascended to the ranks of the perfect gamers in Bucs historical past. He’s persevering with to take issues one 12 months at a time, as evidenced by the truth that he signed a one-year contract for the second straight offseason.
It’s a protected guess that if he continues to play deeper into his 30s, David will maintain signing these one-year offers. That’s the trail that Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer and fellow Bucs legend Ronde Barber took on the finish of his profession.
And when you concentrate on it, it’s becoming that David’s rookie 12 months overlapped with Barber’s ultimate season in 2012. As a result of that 12 months, in a method, signaled the passing of the torch from “the prototype” to “the poster baby.”
THE STANDARD. pic.twitter.com/ON7oYdsLtm
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) March 22, 2024
Lavonte David Is A Lock For The Bucs’ Ring Of Honor
Lavonte David has been a future Bucs Ring of Honor member for years now, and his case will get solidified an increasing number of with every passing 12 months. It’s not as if it wants any extra solidifying, although, as he’s gotten to the purpose the place the group ought to be ready to announce his induction on the identical day he retires.
Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
David has cemented his standing as a Buccaneer legend, and even when he hasn’t gotten the league-wide recognition he deserves and continues to be a Professional Bowl snub on a yearly foundation, his followers in Tampa Bay know the kind of participant he’s. And so they’ve by no means had any drawback going to bat for him.
As for David himself, he has lengthy maintained that he doesn’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to the person honors and the shortage of recognition he’s gotten nationally. He is aware of that he’s revered by different gamers within the league, and he’s assured within the tape he’s put collectively for 12 years and counting.
As for the prospect of sooner or later being within the Bucs Ring of Honor, although, David mentioned Friday that it hasn’t been till now that he’s begun to consider it. And after seeing a number of the greats that got here earlier than him have their induction days, he is aware of it could be a particular feeling for him and his household.
“It’d be nice. I believe that’s one thing everyone would wanna see. I believe it’d be nice,” David mentioned. “I don’t actually give it some thought till now, particularly with the truth that my profession is winding down. You form of take into consideration stuff like that.
“You simply take into consideration seeing guys, once I’m enjoying, like I’ve seen Ronde get put up, I’ve seen John Lynch get put up, I’ve seen Warren Sapp. Seeing all their household and pals and simply seeing the gang nonetheless cheering these guys, I’m certain that was a terrific feeling for them. So, why wouldn’t I need to be part of that?”
Sure, sooner or later, Lavonte David might be part of that. It’ll be a becoming tribute to the profession he’s put collectively in pink, white and pewter. However for now, it’s protected to imagine that so long as Jason Licht is the person in cost in Tampa, David will stay “the poster baby” within the workforce’s draft room.
