Lavonte David Clarifies Decision Timeline (Sort Of)
March 18th, 2025
So when did Lavonte David decide he would play football in 2025?
At the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 25, all Bucs officials were saying David was being given time to make a decision on returning to NFL for his 14th season.
Yesterday, David was pressed by WDAE host Tom Krasniqi to tell fans when he actually decided he would return. David didn’t give an exact date and was fumbling for an answer, but he made it clear it was in February.
(The following is David’s verbatim response, not evidence that Joe has been pounding beers and mauling plates of sushi all afternoon.)
“Maybe towards middle of February, maybe? Maybe middle towards the end of middle February towards the end of February,” David replied.
Did the Bucs really not know of David’s plans when they were at the Combine? Your guess is as good as Joes. The whole truth on anything is not something that flows freely at the Combine from any club.
David said once he knew his (knee/ankle?)injury suffered late in the January playoff game wasn’t serious and his wellness and training team said his body still had the juice to perform at a high level, then he was ready to embrace the Bucs’ standing offer to return after a long look in the mirror.
“Confident I’ll come back even better [than last year],” David said, adding that leaving Tampa is not an option.
“It was Buccaneers or retirement … They’ve been loyal to me all these years, so I have to be loyal to them. … Loyal and transparent. I’ll always return the favor.”
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