Lavonte David has no reason to leave the Buccaneers
By Rob Leeds
Lavonte David isn’t going anywhere.
It almost feels like this should go without saying. The Buccaneers won the Super Bowl less than 72 hours ago, and the rumors have already begun that Tampa Bay won’t be able to keep their roster intact. Chris Godwin might make sense as a free agent who could end up somewhere else, but there is no chance that Lavonte David leaves.
In this day and age, everyone online thinks they have a source. At this point, these rumors were more likely speculation on a dwindling cap space dilemma more than anything, but even David has seen these rumors himself.
David made it clear in an Instagram story last night that if the news doesn’t come from him, it isn’t credible, and Bucs fans should believe this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
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Some fans may wish that David shut the rumors down a bit harder, but why should he? David has just won the Super Bowl, is entering free agency as a highly-coveted player, and deserves his stock to rise by the minute, even if the Bucs start to feel the pressure.
What does Lavonte David get from leaving?
At the end of the day, one has to ask, what would Lavonte David gain from this? The answer to that question shows how bizarre this contingency is.
Lavonte David has been in the NFL for nine seasons and has played all nine seasons with the Buccaneers. During that time, David has faced seven losing seasons, various coaching changes, yet has chosen to stay put. Even when opportunities arose to jump ship (a much more common occurrence today), Lavonte David remained a stalwart leader for the Buccaneers through thick and thin.
So why would David leave now? After winning the Super Bowl as underdogs and gaining undeniable national recognition, Lavonte David would choose to go to a different franchise? Unless he goes to the Chiefs, Bills, or Packers, David would just make his opportunity to repeat in the Super Bowl that much more difficult, and leaving the Buccaneers could result in less of a spotlight.
Lavonte David has a Super Bowl ring and is talked about as one of the most underrated defensive players in the NFL right now, so to say that he would leave at this point in his career for more money is downright outlandish. David IS the Buccaneers far more than Tom Brady ever would be, so to believe that the franchise would just let him walk away on the basis of money is also out of the question.
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At the end of the day, leaving Tampa makes no sense for Lavonte David. He already makes a case as one of the best players in franchise history, and he could set himself apart by winning one more ring, something no one else has. David has always put Tampa first, even above himself, and there is no reason to think that will change any time soon.
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