![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DavidLavontecenter.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDissed.<\/p>\n
Man, Joe\u2019s not sure why the CBS dudes suddenly have it in for Lavonte David.<\/p>\n
Bucs fans, still reeling from Mike Evans telling the franchise Va fa Napoli, are currently sitting on pins and needles wonder if the Bucs\u2019 linebacker legend is going to call it a career or come back and give it a go one more time.<\/p>\n
David is 36. And last year, specifically late in the season, his many years in the NFL were showing.<\/p>\n
Not until after the season did we learn David was dealing with a bad knee. He noted on \u201cBussin\u2019 with the Boys\u201d that he had 50 CCs of fluid<\/a> drained from his knee weekly. Then, once the season was over, he had his knee scoped and before the start of the new league year last Wednesday, was rehabbing at One Buc Palace.<\/p>\n In the wake of the initial round of free agency when legal tampering began, CBS hailed the arrival of Alex Anzalone typing that Anzalone was a \u201csignificant\u201d upgrade over David. Calm down.<\/p>\n Joe likes Anzalone a lot. Thought he was a smart signing. But a \u201csignificant\u201d upgrade<\/a>? Take it easy. Joe\u2019s pretty sure Anzalone would push back on that.<\/p>\n Now enter Garrett Podell who jumps on the bandwagon suggesting Anzalone is an upgrade from David as Podell graded the Bucs\u2019 free agency season<\/a> as a C-.<\/p>\n The departure of Evans is a shot to the heart of the franchise, and Dean hitting the road is a key setback. It\u2019s been rough in Tampa Bay this offseason. The Buccaneers will be relying on young wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan to elevate their respective games. Linebacker Alex Anzalone is an improvement over franchise legend Lavonte David in 2026. Retaining Otton was nice, but the Buccaneers have gotten worse thus far this offseason.<\/p>\n