Lavonte David’s retirement in March closed the book on a long run in Tampa, but the Buccaneers’ first-round pick the next month gave him a moment of pause.
When the Bucs selected edge rusher Rueben Bain, David said it sparked a brief thought about whether he should have stayed on for a 15th season. He shared the story during an appearance on This is Football with Kevin Clark of ESPN, where he talked about Bain, the roster in Tampa and the conversation he had with the rookie after the draft.
David said he already knew Bain and reached out once the pick was made. Bain’s response, according to David, was simple: “Man, I wish you just waited one more year.”
That got a reaction out of the former linebacker.
“And, I was like in my mind like, ‘Maybe I should have, but, you know, the deal is done already. I’m out, my guy.’
But, I told him I’m definitely going to be there to be supporting him and stuff like that. I definitely have high hopes for those guys.”
David also called the Tampa roster “amazing” and said of Bain and the rest of the group, “They are going to be some animals.”
Even with that fleeting thought, David doesn’t sound like someone still wrestling with a comeback. He did say coaching could be in his future someday, and if that path leads him back to Tampa, he’d have a chance to help Bain keep building on that promise.
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