Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Lavonte David 'Want to Stay a Buc For The Rest of My Career'
While the rest of the NFL may not appreciate the greatness linebacker Lavonte David has brought to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his 12-year career the people in the city he plays for certainly do.
After several opportunities to perhaps force his way out of the Buccaneers organization to play for a team that would have brought him more national attention, more wins, and maybe even more Super Bowls, David has stayed loyal to the team that drafted him, and it turns out he plans on doing so for as long as possible.
"Yeah you could say that," David said during a recent conversation with Ronnie & TKras on 953WDAE when asked if he would rather retire before playing for a different franchise than Tampa Bay. "It's at the point right now in my career, you know, 12 years playing at one organization, a place that I've grown to be a man - where I started as a young man and I grew into a man - in the city of Tampa. And just the love that the city of Tampa has for me and the love that I have for the city of Tampa. All of the stuff that I pour out into the city, I love doing it. I love doing my community stuff in Tampa and just the organization for having faith in me and having me stick around for this long time...you know, of course I would want to do that, I would want to stay a Buc for the rest of my career as long as I play. At the end of the day, I do want to retire a Buc, but it's just gotta be a mutual thing."
Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Lavonte David (54) celebrates as he sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) during the first half at Raymond James Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
In 12 seasons of play, David has earned just one Pro Bowl and one First-Team All-Pro selection. Ironically, he earned each in different years.
While playing in and starting 181 of a possible 194 games in his career David has become a fan-favorite and perceived legend of the franchise because of his availability but also his nearly 1,500 career tackles, 160 tackles for loss, 33.5 sacks, and 28 forced fumbles.
He may not end up in the postseason accolade conversations often enough, but the 2012 2nd Round NFL Draft pick out of Nebraska has a spot in the Bucs Ring of Honor reserved for when he does hang up his cleats.
Whether it comes this offseason or later, David has carved out a nice spot for himself in the hearts and minds of Buccaneers fans everywhere and is not at all mistaken when discussing the love Tampa has for one of its favorite linebackers of all time.
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