Cease me for those who’ve heard this earlier than. The nationwide media isn’t too keen on the concept that the Bucs will as soon as once more win the NFC South – regardless of being division champions for 3 straight years. We additionally know that staff chief and inside linebacker Lavonte David has heard the disrespect many instances – maybe too many instances.
The rationale this time round for doubting the Bucs is approach completely different than the 12 months earlier than. Final season it was as a result of the Bucs have been shedding quarterback Tom Brady and changing him with Baker Mayfield, whose profession at that time was leaning in the direction of being a disaster. However Mayfield and the Bucs proved everybody mistaken, going 9-8, profitable the NFC South and making it to the second spherical of the postseason.
Why Are The Bucs Getting Questioned?
So this offseason Tampa Bay re-signed Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Lavonte David amongst others huge strikes they’re … getting penalized for it? The haters will level to the Bucs profitable a weak NFC South Division with a report barely above .500, and there’s some fact to it. However what some doubters within the nationwide media gained’t convey up is that Tampa Bay saved its core group collectively, upgraded the protection in a number of methods and can have one other season with Mayfield and the offense working collectively.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA At the moment
The opposite argument is what else occurred within the NFC South – specifically the Falcons signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a huge contract. Many have put the Falcons as the favourite within the division as a result of Atlanta had a roster that could be only a quarterback away from being profitable after three straight 7-10 seasons, which led to the firing of head coach Arthur Smith. Cousins, who has one much less profession playoff win than Mayfield, is actually an improve for the Falcons, however hasn’t everybody discovered their lesson about doubting the Bucs?
Tampa Bay was slept on for extra poignant causes a 12 months in the past. What we’ve discovered concerning the staff is that it thrived within the chaos and fed off of individuals saying that the Bucs can’t be a contender. Quarterback Derek Carr was the subsequent huge factor within the division when he signed with the Saints final 12 months, and whereas New Orleans had the identical 9-8 report Tampa Bay did – and break up the sequence with the Bucs 1-1 – the staff missed the playoffs for a 3rd straight season.
So getting into the NFC South this 12 months, Carr and Cousins have a mixed one profession playoff win whereas Baker Mayfield has two.
Lavonte David Reacts To The Criticism
Lavonte David has seen this all earlier than. He has been by way of both sides of the spectrum in his Bucs profession. David has gone from being on groups with few wins and no probabilities of making the playoffs, to profitable the last word prize with the Tremendous Bowl LV championship and and having groups with dominant gamers that win division titles.
Bucs ILB Lavonte David and DT Vita Vea – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Becoming a member of the set of NFL Complete Entry this week whereas in Los Angeles for the Tom Brady roast, Lavonte David responded to the critique of this 2024 Bucs staff heading into the season.
“It’s been like that for some time, David mentioned. “My first eight years within the league, you know the way that was, no person actually cared. Then we bought Tom. We nonetheless weren’t actually favored with Tom however we proved lots of people mistaken with that.
“Now we have now a distinct scenario, individuals counting us out and issues like that not realizing that we nonetheless have the nucleus of our staff nonetheless there. So you have got a whole lot of nice guys within the locker room. Now we have a whole lot of nice soccer gamers. We had a whole lot of nice rookies we added final 12 months who performed rather well for us and now with them having a 12 months of expertise beneath their belt. I’m positive it’s going to be a greater 12 months this 12 months.”
Lavonte David echoed the sentiment that many Bucs followers have felt. He’s again and Antoine Winfield Jr. isn’t going anyplace both. Baker Mayfield is returning and simply as importantly, so is Mike Evans. When there’s a gaggle of that caliber of gamers it’s actually arduous to say that the Bucs gained’t be the favourite for the division as soon as once more.
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