Bucs' Lavonte David on 2025 season: 'I know what we are capable of'
After the loss, fans had wondered if they would ever see their captain again in Lavonte David. The former Cornhusker turned Buccaneer has played his entire career in Tampa Bay and has won a Super Bowl during his tenure. He knows what a Super Bowl-winning team looks like, and on Wednesday, he made comments that should have fans excited.
The future Hall of Fame linebacker gave the bold proclamation, saying, "I know we can get it done. I feel like we fell short last year, I feel like we would have had a great run at it last year, honestly. We just fell short, and definitely unfortunate, but probably one of the main reasons why I came back, and I know what are capable of and I know what we can do. We have the talent to do it, and we have the mindset to do it. So, we just got to put it all together. . ."
David returns as the Bucs try to figure out what the future of the position looks like for the team.
They passed over on Jihaad Campbell in April's NFL Draft. Instead, they opted to run things back with SirVocea Dennis who is coming off a shoulder injury of his own. If Dennis can be healthy and play tag team partner alongside David, the middle of the Bucs defense will be in much better shape to defend in 2025.
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Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chiefs' Chris Jones: The backstory behind the 'Chris Rule,' and what's made him a three-time All-Pro
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Nearly six years ago, when the Kansas City Chiefs were just beginning their rise to prominence, Chris Jones tweaked a muscle in practice bad enough that coach Andy Reid made the difficult decision to hold him out of a playoff game against Houston. Jones wanted to play. In fact, he tried to push through the injury in warmups. But Reid was steadfast, and the Chiefs didn't need him in the end. After spotting the Texans a 24-0 lead, Patrick Mahomes & Co. caught fire, and Kansas City rolled to a 51-31 victory. And when Jones returned the next week, the Chiefs handily beat the Titans for the AFC championship — two wins that ultimately propelled them to their first Super Bowl title in five decades. It turns out the backstory to the injury explains a lot about why Jones, now a 31-year-old veteran preparing for his 10th season in the league, has become a three-time All-Pro and one of the game's premier defensive players. He's competitive. He's relentless. And he doesn't suffer fools gladly. You see, in practice, hitting the quarterback is strictly verboten. It's why QBs usually wear a different-colored jersey, yellow in the case of Kansas City. Yet pulling back as a defender whose instincts are honed to bring down whomever has the ball can be a difficult challenge, even more so when it's Patrick Mahomes dancing around the pocket, almost as if he's mocking you. 'So we were in a battle,' Jones recalled, after a recent training camp practice in the brutal heat and humidity that seems to engulf Missouri Western State University this time of year, "and I had to show Pat that I can really catch you. 'I just chill,' — usually, Jones added— 'because we have to stay 5 to 10 yards away from the quarterback. And it got serious one day, and I ended up pulling a (muscle). And I was like: 'You know what, Pat? You got it.'' Yes, the affable Jones had been so competitive that, even in a midweek practice against his own teammates, he managed to hurt himself before what to that point had been the most important game of a championship season. 'Now,' Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said, 'we've got a special rule for Chris on that.' The so-called Chris Rule is quite simple: Once he beats the offensive line in practice, he must stand there. Just stand there. 'Patrick does some crazy stuff back there. It gets very competitive,' Jones said, sounding downright exasperated. 'You know you can't touch the quarterback, so the quarterback can stand and hold the ball for five or six seconds during the play.' You can see how that could become annoying. Even infuriating. Fortunately for Jones, there are no Chris Rules when games begin. And that is decidedly unfortunate for opposing QBs, who have become keenly aware of his game-wrecking ability. Jones followed a 15 1/2-sack season three years ago and 10 1/2 the next with five sacks last season, a number made more modest only because the 6-foot-6, 310-pound Jones was faced with constant double- and triple-teams, and those in turn allowed many of his teammates to get to the quarterback instead. George Karlaftis had eight sacks last season, helping to earn him a four-year, $93 million deal a couple of weeks ago. Tershawn Wharton produced a career-best 6 1/2, which earned him a three-year, $30 million contract with Carolina. 'I've watched (Jones) over the years,' said Jerry Tillery, who signed with the Chiefs in the offseason to play alongside him, 'and that's somebody at the top of our game who's doing it the best. To watch this guy work and to be with him — I think that type of player is somebody who can raise everybody's level.' Jones acknowledged that his game has had to evolve over the years, especially the past six, since those days of trying to chase Mahomes around practice. He still is one of the strongest players in the league, capable of beating a woebegone offensive lineman with brute force, but he now has the priceless benefit of experience on his side. His explosive athletic ability paired with some nuance and craft has made for quite a combination. 'I mean, he's as dynamic as they come,' Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady said. In games, anyway. On the superheated training fields of Missouri Western, about an hour's drive north of Arrowhead Stadium, that dynamism can still last only as long as it takes Jones to beat the man in front of him — sometimes a fraction of a second. Then, according to the Chris Rules, Jones will dutifully stand up and watch the rest of the play unfold. 'Over time,' Jones said, 'you get to see the younger guys are faster. You're a little slower. You don't move the same. So you have to cherish these moments. Cherish these individuals you get to battle with every day, and enjoy the practice.' ___ AP NFL:
Fox Sports
7 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Chiefs' Chris Jones: The backstory behind the 'Chris Rule,' and what's made him a three-time All-Pro
Associated Press ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Nearly six years ago, when the Kansas City Chiefs were just beginning their rise to prominence, Chris Jones tweaked a muscle in practice bad enough that coach Andy Reid made the difficult decision to hold him out of a playoff game against Houston. Jones wanted to play. In fact, he tried to push through the injury in warmups. But Reid was steadfast, and the Chiefs didn't need him in the end. After spotting the Texans a 24-0 lead, Patrick Mahomes & Co. caught fire, and Kansas City rolled to a 51-31 victory. And when Jones returned the next week, the Chiefs handily beat the Titans for the AFC championship — two wins that ultimately propelled them to their first Super Bowl title in five decades. It turns out the backstory to the injury explains a lot about why Jones, now a 31-year-old veteran preparing for his 10th season in the league, has become a three-time All-Pro and one of the game's premier defensive players. He's competitive. He's relentless. And he doesn't suffer fools gladly. You see, in practice, hitting the quarterback is strictly verboten. It's why QBs usually wear a different-colored jersey, yellow in the case of Kansas City. Yet pulling back as a defender whose instincts are honed to bring down whomever has the ball can be a difficult challenge, even more so when it's Patrick Mahomes dancing around the pocket, almost as if he's mocking you. 'So we were in a battle,' Jones recalled, after a recent training camp practice in the brutal heat and humidity that seems to engulf Missouri Western State University this time of year, "and I had to show Pat that I can really catch you. 'I just chill,' — usually, Jones added— 'because we have to stay 5 to 10 yards away from the quarterback. And it got serious one day, and I ended up pulling a (muscle). And I was like: 'You know what, Pat? You got it.'' Yes, the affable Jones had been so competitive that, even in a midweek practice against his own teammates, he managed to hurt himself before what to that point had been the most important game of a championship season. 'Now,' Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said, 'we've got a special rule for Chris on that.' The so-called Chris Rule is quite simple: Once he beats the offensive line in practice, he must stand there. Just stand there. 'Patrick does some crazy stuff back there. It gets very competitive,' Jones said, sounding downright exasperated. 'You know you can't touch the quarterback, so the quarterback can stand and hold the ball for five or six seconds during the play.' You can see how that could become annoying. Even infuriating. Fortunately for Jones, there are no Chris Rules when games begin. And that is decidedly unfortunate for opposing QBs, who have become keenly aware of his game-wrecking ability. Jones followed a 15 1/2-sack season three years ago and 10 1/2 the next with five sacks last season, a number made more modest only because the 6-foot-6, 310-pound Jones was faced with constant double- and triple-teams, and those in turn allowed many of his teammates to get to the quarterback instead. George Karlaftis had eight sacks last season, helping to earn him a four-year, $93 million deal a couple of weeks ago. Tershawn Wharton produced a career-best 6 1/2, which earned him a three-year, $30 million contract with Carolina. 'I've watched (Jones) over the years,' said Jerry Tillery, who signed with the Chiefs in the offseason to play alongside him, 'and that's somebody at the top of our game who's doing it the best. To watch this guy work and to be with him — I think that type of player is somebody who can raise everybody's level.' Jones acknowledged that his game has had to evolve over the years, especially the past six, since those days of trying to chase Mahomes around practice. He still is one of the strongest players in the league, capable of beating a woebegone offensive lineman with brute force, but he now has the priceless benefit of experience on his side. His explosive athletic ability paired with some nuance and craft has made for quite a combination. 'I mean, he's as dynamic as they come,' Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady said. In games, anyway. On the superheated training fields of Missouri Western, about an hour's drive north of Arrowhead Stadium, that dynamism can still last only as long as it takes Jones to beat the man in front of him — sometimes a fraction of a second. Then, according to the Chris Rules, Jones will dutifully stand up and watch the rest of the play unfold. 'Over time,' Jones said, 'you get to see the younger guys are faster. You're a little slower. You don't move the same. So you have to cherish these moments. Cherish these individuals you get to battle with every day, and enjoy the practice.' ___ AP NFL: recommended Item 1 of 3
New York Post
7 minutes ago
- New York Post
Andy Reid has critical update after Hollywood Brown carted off Chiefs practice
The Chiefs appear to have survived a troubling injury scare. Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown Brown was carted off the field on Tuesday due to injury, but coach Andy Reid said after practice that the team was not overly concerned. 'I don't think it's too bad, but we'll see,' Reid told reporters, noting it was an ankle injury. It brought back reminders to a season ago when Brown suffered a shoulder injury in a preseason game that kept him out for most of the season. 4 Marquise Brown had an injury scare at Chiefs practice. AP Brown was only able to appear in two regular season games for the Chiefs — pulling in nine passes for 91 yards. Brown played in all three postseason games for the Chiefs, but was not a huge factor. The 28-year-old had five catches for 50 yards as the Chiefs made a run to the Super Bowl. Kansas City lost to the Eagles, 40-22, failing in their attempt to three-peat. Brown was not the only receiver to have an injury issue on Tuesday with Xavier Worthy 'banged his head' and Skyy Moore (hamstring) also leaving practice early. The Chiefs would be forced to call on JuJu Smith-Schuster and 2025 fourth-round pick Jalen Royals to pick up the slack left behind. 4 Marquise Brown (right) and Xavier Worthy both left practice with injuries. AP The team's most-talented receiver, Rashee Rice, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for driving 119.5 MPH during a Dallas car crash — and could face suspension from the league when he is released. In an optimistic sign before Reid's comments, Brown sat in the passenger seat — and not in the back of the cart. 4 Brown catching a touchdown against the Giants AP 4 Justin Fields at practice. Bill Kostroun/New York Post That mirrors what happened to Jets quarterback Justin Fields just a few days ago. During practice, he came up limping and hitched a ride on the passenger side of the cart. His injury turned out to be a dislocated toe, and Fields was back to practicing just a few days later. The Chiefs open up with the Chargers on Friday, Sept. 5
