“When Tony Dungy came here in 1996, he saw 99 (Sapp) and 55 (Brooks), and that was a good start, ” Smith said upon his arrival in Tampa previous year.
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The team revealed that it would hold a press conference Monday to announce David’s extension, but it did not disclose details of the deal.
The Bucs have completed what was their largest precedence of the offseason, locking down All-Professional linebacker Lavonte David with a five-year contract extension that may make him the highest-paid Four-Three outdoors linebacker within the NFL.
David was chosen to the NFL All-Professional staff following the 2013 season, through which he was extensively considered a snub for Professional Bowl honors that season, going up towards Three-Four outdoors linebackers who can pile up sacks as pass-rushers.
David’s agent, Ron Butler, told NFL.com that the extension includes $25.56 million in guaranteed money. He also has six career interceptions, though Smith believes he should have more.
The Buccaneers drafted David in the second round of the 2012 draft. It was the next year in 2005 that he took off with 107 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks and a forced fumble.
David, meanwhile, has led the Bucs in tackles each of the past three years, recording 139, 143 and 146. He also ranked third in the NFL in tackles for loss (20), behind Robert Quinn and J.J. Watt.
“Last year, I missed a lot of opportunities when I go back and look at myself on film, where maybe I could’ve forced a fumble or make an interception or get a sack”, David said recently.
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General manager Jason Licht was particularly outspoken about David and what he means for Tampa’s defense moving forward, per Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
