Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The national media isn’t too fond of the idea that the Bucs will once again win the NFC South – despite being division champions for three straight years. We also know that team leader and inside linebacker Lavonte David has heard the disrespect many times – perhaps too many times.

The reason this time around for doubting the Bucs is way different than the year before. Last season it was because the Bucs were losing quarterback Tom Brady and replacing him with Baker Mayfield, whose career at that point was leaning towards being a catastrophe. But Mayfield and the Bucs proved everyone wrong, going 9-8, winning the NFC South and making it to the second round 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 big moves they’re … getting penalized for it? The haters will point to the Bucs winning a weak NFC South Division with a record barely above .500, and there is some truth to it. But what some doubters in the national media won’t bring up is that Tampa Bay kept its core group together, upgraded the defense in several ways and will have another season with Mayfield and the offense working together.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

The other argument is what else happened in the NFC South – namely the Falcons signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a gigantic contract. Many have put the Falcons as the favorite in the division because Atlanta had a roster that may be just a quarterback away from being successful after three straight 7-10 seasons, which led to the firing of head coach Arthur Smith. Cousins, who has one less career playoff win than Mayfield, is certainly an upgrade for the Falcons, but hasn’t everyone learned their lesson about doubting the Bucs?

Tampa Bay was slept on for more poignant reasons a year ago. What we’ve learned about the team is that it thrived in the chaos and fed off of people saying that the Bucs can’t be a contender. Quarterback Derek Carr was the next big thing in the division when he signed with the Saints last year, and while New Orleans had the same 9-8 record Tampa Bay did – and split the series with the Bucs 1-1 – the team missed the playoffs for a third straight season.

So entering the NFC South this year, Carr and Cousins have a combined one career playoff win while Baker Mayfield has two.

Lavonte David Reacts To The Criticism

Lavonte David has seen this all before. He has been through each side of the spectrum in his Bucs career. David has gone from being on teams with few wins and no chances of making the playoffs, to winning the ultimate prize with the Super Bowl LV championship and and having teams with dominant players that win division titles.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Joining the set of NFL Total Access this week while in Los Angeles for the Tom Brady roast, Lavonte David responded to the critique of this 2024 Bucs team heading into the season.