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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gained a lot of national attention this off-season due to the arrival of quarterback, Tom Brady. For years, those surrounding the team have wondered aloud about the lack of attention paid to some of the team’s best players.
Players like Lavonte David, who has quietly been perhaps the most consistent contributor to his team’s defense during his eight-year career. Evidence of the under-appreciation lives in both the 2013 season and 2015.
In 2013, coming off of his second season out of Nebraska, David racked up 145 tackles including 21 for a loss, seven sacks, and even tallied a safety for his team. The performance earned him a first-team All-Pro nod, but not a trip to the Pro Bowl.
Then, in 2015, David made it to the Pro Bowl but was held off the AP’s All-Pro squads. In 2016, David again got All-Pro respect - this time on the second-team - but was held out of the Pro Bowl once again.
To say the attention and recognition has fallen short of what’s deserved, is an understatement. Moving into 2020 though, the spotlight will be on all of the Buccaneers because of Brady and the five primetime games awarded to the franchise for the coming year.
On Tuesday morning, Good Morning Football welcomed David to the show and host Kay Adams talked about how highly she ranks both the veteran and his younger, second-year running mate, Devin White.
“I think you guys (Lavonte David and Devin White) might be the best one-two punch, at linebacker, in the NFL this year,” said Adams. She then asked David, “Can you tell me if you think I’m right?”
“Yeah, of course. Of course you’re right. You’re right on point with it,” David responded. “You know, you got me - an older guy - and then you got Devin who’s a young guy, smart kid, fast guy who loves the game of football.”
You can see the full clip here.
Do the @Buccaneers have the best LB duo in the NFL?
— GMFB (@gmfb) May 19, 2020
Lavonte David says "of course" he and @DevinWhite__40 will continue to dominate in 2020. pic.twitter.com/af9EumFhQj
This increased spotlight has hit network television a lot lately, and this isn’t the first time we’ve talked about NFL Network’s ‘Good Morning Football’ talking about something Bucs related on their show.
It surely won’t be the last. Obviously expectations are high, and while we’ve all seen this team fall short of those expectations, the fact these players are having fun with their new-found attention is a positive as they adjust to life with Brady.
Even if the attention is long overdue for some like Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker, Lavonte David.