While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are busy preparing for what’s essentially a playoff game against the Carolina Panthers, lost in the shuffle has been the ugly truth that this could be Lavonte David’s last game in red and pewter.
Over the last two free agency periods, Lavonte David has ended the season without a contract for the following season, taking time away from the game to consider retirement. He came to a decision pretty quickly this season, saying he believed this team had the talent and makeup to win a Super Bowl. And after a hot start, he looked right.
However, the Bucs are now winners of just one game in their last seven contests, and even if they can beat the Panthers, they’ll need help from the Saints to win the division.
It’s not difficult to see that the Pro Bowl linebacker has slowed down a bit. It’s been gradual over the past few seasons, but has really shown itself this season with his lack of speed and range in coverage. This has led many to believe this is the year David hangs them up and moves on to life after football. If that is the case, Bucs’ head coach Todd Bowles will be one of the many sad to see him go.
“To me, personally, he’s meant everything because he’s been not just a captain, and a quarterback, and a coach on the field, and a playmaker – he’s been the steady rock that’s been here since I’ve been here, going on seven years now,” Bowles said. “He’s kind of got us out of trouble mentally [and] physically at times. Off the field, his leadership and the kind of person that he is that you really don’t get to see – helping the younger guys out, helping the older guys out and just always showing up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player do what he has done from a defensive standpoint that I’ve probably ever coached [with] the way he goes about his business, the way he carries himself and the way he leads the team. When that day comes, it will be a heart-wrenching moment at that time.”
That time could come sooner than later if the Buccaneers can’t defeat the Panthers on Saturday and pray for a Saints upset on Sunday. But even if this is the end for David, he’s had a storied career for the Bucs. He’s been arguably the most underrated defender for years, vying for awards amongst his peers like Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuchkley, who had been on more successful teams at the time. If you look up David’s stats, they match up with both of those players and surpass them in certain categories, giving him the case for what Bowles thinks is a Hall of Fame career.
“He’s got a great case,” Bowles said. “He’s got a great case. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a Hall of Famer, if I had a vote, which I don’t. He’s done enough in his career, and he doesn’t have to show or prove anything to anybody.”
In late July, retirement wasn’t on David’s mind, but with how things have played out this season, it wouldn’t be unfathomable to see him walk away after 14 years in the game.
“I don’t know man, I haven’t thought about it,” David said. “Like I said, I felt really good being out there. If I came back, obviously, I feel like I can still go. So we’re just gonna see what this year takes us – you know I’m saying? I’m an in-the-moment, guy, you know, I just like to enjoy the moment while I’m in it. And whenever that time comes that’s when I’ll think about it.”
The time could come as soon as Sunday, when David potentially takes the field at Raymond James Stadium for the last time as a Buccaneer.