Cease me in the event you’ve heard this earlier than. The nationwide media isn’t too keen on the concept the Bucs will as soon as once more win the NFC South – regardless of being division champions for 3 straight years. We additionally know that staff chief and inside linebacker Lavonte David has heard the disrespect many occasions – maybe too many occasions.
The explanation this time round for doubting the Bucs is approach totally different than the 12 months earlier than. Final season it was as a result of the Bucs have been dropping quarterback Tom Brady and changing him with Baker Mayfield, whose profession at that time was leaning in the direction of being a disaster. However Mayfield and the Bucs proved everybody improper, going 9-8, successful the NFC South and making it to the second spherical of the postseason.
Why Are The Bucs Getting Questioned?
So this offseason Tampa Bay re-signed Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Lavonte David amongst others huge strikes they’re … getting penalized for it? The haters will level to the Bucs successful a weak NFC South Division with a document barely above .500, and there’s some reality to it. However what some doubters within the nationwide media received’t carry up is that Tampa Bay saved its core group collectively, upgraded the protection in a number of methods and can have one other season with Mayfield and the offense working collectively.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA Immediately
The opposite argument is what else occurred within the NFC South – specifically the Falcons signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a huge contract. Many have put the Falcons as the favourite within the division as a result of Atlanta had a roster that could be only a quarterback away from being profitable after three straight 7-10 seasons, which led to the firing of head coach Arthur Smith. Cousins, who has one much less profession playoff win than Mayfield, is actually an improve for the Falcons, however hasn’t everybody discovered their lesson about doubting the Bucs?
Tampa Bay was slept on for extra poignant causes a 12 months in the past. What we’ve discovered concerning the staff is that it thrived within the chaos and fed off of individuals saying that the Bucs can’t be a contender. Quarterback Derek Carr was the following huge factor within the division when he signed with the Saints final 12 months, and whereas New Orleans had the identical 9-8 document Tampa Bay did – and break up the collection with the Bucs 1-1 – the staff missed the playoffs for a 3rd straight season.
So getting into the NFC South this 12 months, Carr and Cousins have a mixed one profession playoff win whereas Baker Mayfield has two.
Lavonte David Reacts To The Criticism
Lavonte David has seen this all earlier than. He has been by means of both sides of the spectrum in his Bucs profession. David has gone from being on groups with few wins and no probabilities of making the playoffs, to successful the final word prize with the Tremendous Bowl LV championship and and having groups with dominant gamers that win division titles.
Bucs ILB Lavonte David and DT Vita Vea – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Becoming a member of the set of NFL Whole Entry this week whereas in Los Angeles for the Tom Brady roast, Lavonte David responded to the critique of this 2024 Bucs staff heading into the season.
“It’s been like that for some time, David mentioned. “My first eight years within the league, you know the way that was, no one actually cared. Then we received Tom. We nonetheless weren’t actually favored with Tom however we proved lots of people improper with that.
“Now we have now a special scenario, individuals counting us out and issues like that not figuring out that we nonetheless have the nucleus of our staff nonetheless there. So you’ve got quite a lot of nice guys within the locker room. Now we have quite a lot of nice soccer gamers. We had quite a lot of nice rookies we added final 12 months who performed very well for us and now with them having a 12 months of expertise underneath their belt. I’m certain it’s going to be a greater 12 months this 12 months.”
Lavonte David echoed the sentiment that many Bucs followers have felt. He’s again and Antoine Winfield Jr. isn’t going wherever both. Baker Mayfield is returning and simply as importantly, so is Mike Evans. When there’s a bunch of that caliber of gamers it’s actually exhausting to say that the Bucs received’t be the favourite for the division as soon as once more.
