Lavonte David
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Lavonte David
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers received an interesting bit of news that while some will take with a grain of salt, others will see to be somewhat encouraging. Lavonte David, their star linebacker who has questioned retirement this offseason, has undergone knee surgery. After having to get it drained multiple times every week, David has finally received proper treatment on the knee. More importantly, it opens up the possibility of a potential return.
David has already stated that there are only two options available to him this offseason: either retire or return for one more year. On the “Up and Adams” Show, he even went so far as to say that the Bucs would gladly have him back if he indeed decided to return for one more year.
Now, with this surgery , David could now see the opportunity to extend his career. More importantly, he may want to end it as perhaps the best defensive player in Bucs history according to many stats.
A Legendary Buccaneers Career
Throughout fourteen seasons, Lavonte David has become one of the most decorated defensive players not just for the Bucs, but of all time. In just his second year in the league, he was named a first team All-Pro. He then went on to be named to All-Pro teams two more times in his career. He won the Super Bowl with the team in 2020, a year that also saw him named second team All-Pro.
He is right up there with Derrick Brooks, a Hall of Famer, in one of the NFL’s most integral defensive statistics: tackles. With 1,172 solo tackles, he is second in franchise history. More impressively, he leads the franchise in tackles for loss, with 177. No other Bucs player has over a hundred.
Mentorship Could Be His Final Role
For David, should he return, it would be more of a matter of pride and potentially mentoring. While he certainly has the willingness to play, he may not give the Bucs as much production wise. Last season, despite the knee injury, he played in 17 games. Whether it be the injury or simply age catching up to him, his production tailed off in a major way.
He had a career low in tackles with 61 and had an abysmal eight tackles for loss. He also only rakned 66 out of 88 graded linebackers on PFF’s scale.
Still, with a new generation of Bucs linebackers potentially having to be worked into the fold, David could be a valuable asset no matter if he steps onto the field more often than not. Should Tampa Bay select someone like CJ Allen in the first round, David would be the perfect mentor. He may not himself have the production, but if he can help impart it to the next generation, the Bucs would feel much better about their long term future without him.
In the grand scheme of things, the surgery may not mean much. What it does do however, is give Bucs fans a reason to believe that Lavonte David still has something left in the tank.