Lavonte David Opens Up About Retiring From The NFL + What's Next For Him? | Bussin' With The Boys

Summary

Bussin' With The Boys: Lavonte David Opens Up About Retiring From The NFL + What's Next For Him?

Date: March 31, 2026
Hosts: Will Compton, Taylor Lewan (absent for this episode), with guest co-host Lavonte David
Notable Guest: Lavonte David
Special Appearances: Sherm, Luke Kuechly (via phone)

---

Episode Overview

This episode features an intimate, wide-ranging conversation with recently retired NFL linebacker and Super Bowl champion Lavonte David. Will Compton and Sherm join Lavonte for an in-depth look at his celebrated career, his decision to retire after 14 stellar seasons, the ups and downs of his NFL journey, thoughts on his legacy, untold stories from his days at Nebraska and Tampa Bay, and what might be next for him. The episode is packed with football insights, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and reflections on personal growth, leadership, and fatherhood.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Retirement Reflections & Legacy

• Lavonte’s Mindset on Retirement
  • Admits the decision came after much thought, needing "structure" for another season and realizing his motivation was shifting ([02:46:00]).
  • “If I really wanted to play football again, I would have had all this mapped out… and I thought to myself, ‘nah, I probably won’t’” — Lavonte David ([02:43:50]).
• Feelings After Retirement Announcement
  • Overwhelmed by support from fans, teammates, and the Buccaneers organization.
  • Proud of long-term impact: “Growing up as a kid, you want to be the best the game’s ever seen… to know that’s how they feel about me in the organization, it kind of made me choke up a little bit.” ([02:46:34]).

2. Career Path: JUCO, Nebraska, and the NFL

• JUCO Struggles Shaped His Resilience
  • “There were times I wanted to quit… but the stuff I went through in JUCO, it got me to where I’m at today.” ([00:49:01])
  • Details grueling experiences: running five miles to a lake, wrestling teammates for a ride back ([00:54:10]).
• Nebraska Locker Room Dynamics
  • Recounts competition and camaraderie with Will Compton, losing/gaining starting positions, off-field friendship ([00:21:01]-[00:30:00]).
• Transition to Pros
  • Drafted in second round, self-identified as an “undersized cat,” played 14 years at the highest level despite initial doubts ([00:44:28]).

3. NFL Life: Coaching, Adversity, and Leadership

• Learning from Coaches (Shiano, Lovie, Dirk, BA)
  • Shiano: “I learned so much football with Shiano… he was detail-oriented and held us to a high standard.”
  • Bruce Arians: “Players’ coach… first thing he said was ‘this is your team’ — that’s when it finally felt like I was in the NFL” ([01:37:36]).
• On Not Trusting Coaches Initially
  • Grew to realize leadership styles are different; credits Nebraska coaches for helping him learn to communicate and motivate different personalities ([01:29:27]-[01:90:56]).
• Dealing with Losing Seasons in Tampa
  • Eight losing seasons weighed heavily. Serious consideration to ask for a trade/release after 2018; ultimately stayed and became a franchise cornerstone ([01:91:06]).

4. Recognition, Hall of Fame & Being 'Underrated'

• Pro Bowl & All-Pro Snubs
  • Passionately discusses the challenge of being recognized as a 4–3 linebacker vs. pass rushers: “We’re doing all this, covering, tackling, but never get real recognition. It’s not fair.” ([01:100:31])
  • Suggests All-Pro selections should have separate categories for off-ball linebackers vs. edge rushers.
• 2013 Defensive Player of the Year 'Snub'
  • Outlines stats head-to-head with Luke Kuechly.
  • “I didn’t even get any recognition… no votes… that’s messed up.” ([01:108:13])
  • Later, Luke Kuechly phones in to back Lavonte: “He needs to be in [the Hall of Fame]” ([02:166:45]).
• Statistical Legacy
  • Top 5 all-time for tackles for loss, the only off-ball linebacker in top 15 all-time. “That should be considered too, for real.” ([01:106:00])
• Buccaneers’ Organizational Respect
  • Jason Licht and the Bucs modeled their ideal player profile after Lavonte’s character and impact ([02:146:34]).

5. Super Bowl Run and Playing With/Against Greats

• Super Bowl LV Memories
  • Emotional retelling of receiving ‘the call’ from Tom Brady: “You Tom Brady, you get whatever you want. This is your team now…” ([02:120:03])
  • Tom’s influence: “He didn’t even need to say anything. The way he practiced… you saw greatness every day.”
  • Locker room after Super Bowl: “I celebrated on the field… didn’t think I’d ever be there, and it happened at home.” ([02:125:28])
• Gronk, Antonio Brown, Mike Evans
  • Gronk: Always positive, fun; “sometimes I didn’t even think he knew the playbook — but he did everything right.”
  • Antonio Brown incident: “He might snap… he was that dude… but if you rub him the wrong way, you get AB or Antonio Brown. That day, he was AB.” ([02:132:44])
  • Mike Evans moving to the 49ers: “Not surprised, maybe looking for a new challenge. The Bucs have a strong receiver room.” ([02:184:17])

6. Life After Football

• Initial Plans
  • “Honestly, I want to unwind, relax at home and enjoy my time with my daughter.” ([02:155:33])
  • Travel aspirations: Egypt, Rome, Bali ([02:154:03])
• Possible Next Steps
  • Interested in media, scouting, or becoming a GM: “You love football, you want to be around the game… maybe one day be a GM” ([02:164:08])
• Fatherhood
  • Openly discusses how being a “girl dad” changed his outlook, sense of patience and vulnerability ([02:157:37])
  • Shares bedtime and parenting routines, negotiating with his daughter at bedtime ([02:159:13]-[02:161:20])

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Recognition and Hall of Fame:

  • “I feel I should get some votes [for the Hall]. If you really just sit down and watch football, and study film… my stats speak for themselves.” — Lavonte David ([01:104:21])
  • “If my position said MLB instead of OLB, I’d probably be saying something different right now.” — Lavonte David ([02:167:16])

• On Motivation in JUCO:

  • “This one dude called me a soft m-----, and I took it personally… I appreciate him for that, that drove me.” ([00:49:01])

• On Coaching Styles:

  • “Bo [Pelini] just had that fire, but you always knew he cared. He didn’t care about the politics, just ball.” — Will Compton ([01:80:20])
  • “Coach Bo… the standard was the standard, all about process… if you focus on the process, the win column takes care of itself.” — Will Compton ([01:82:32])

• On Fatherhood:

  • “Patience, vulnerability, the love is crazy… I didn’t know I’d be this type of person with her.” — Lavonte David ([02:157:40])

• On Retiring for Good:

  • “I could have played another year… but if I really wanted it, I’d have everything mapped out already.” ([02:143:28])

• On Super Bowl and Tom Brady:

  • “I did my celebrating on the field… after 8 years, never thought I’d be in that situation, and to do it at home… one of the best moments in life.” ([02:125:33])
  • “Before the bye week, Tom grabbed me and said, ‘I promise you, when we come back, we're not gonna lose another game’ — and we didn't.” ([02:127:52])

---

Detailed Timeline & Timestamps

| Topic | Timestamp | |-------|----------| | Intro, show structure, audience interaction | [00:04:01] | | Will & Lavonte discuss March Madness, Cam Jurgens, and Nebraska football | [00:06:35] | | Stories from Nebraska—competition, off-field antics | [00:21:01] - [00:30:00] | | Lavonte on JUCO football struggles | [00:49:01] - [00:56:48] | | Conditioning, weight rooms, NFL vs. college | [01:59:18] - [01:74:09] | | Comparing NFL head coaches: Shiano, Lovie, Dirk, BA | [01:75:04] - [01:77:36] | | Difference a coach can make: Bo Pelini | [01:79:36]-[01:90:56] | | Recognition, snubs, Pro Bowl/All-Pro selection flaws | [01:100:31] - [01:110:10] | | 2013 DPOY: Lavonte vs. Luke Keuchly, getting snubbed | [01:107:20] - [01:108:52] | | Luke Keuchly calls in, affirms Lavonte’s Hall case | [02:166:45] | | Super Bowl LV: Brady’s arrival and impact | [02:120:03] - [02:128:38] | | Gronk, Antonio Brown, wildest Bucs moments | [02:130:20] - [02:135:59] | | Thoughts on leadership, inspiration for young players | [02:177:17] - [02:179:19] | | Life after football & fatherhood conversations | [02:153:40] - [02:163:54] | | Closing thoughts: legacy, Nebraska, future plans | [02:164:07] - [End] |

---

Lighthearted & Memorable Moments

• Will and Lavonte's “little bro/big bro” banter about driving and who was the responsible one in college. ([01:112:11])
• Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and movie talk: Both reveal they’re big TV/film fans and critique Snape’s TV series recasting ([00:14:34] - [00:18:44]).
• Celebrating and competing in the weight room: Stories about gut-busting Nebraska workouts and NFL “Russian volume training” ([01:65:31]).
• Lavonte’s aspirational travel bucket list: Egypt, Rome, Bali, and a nod to his love of Italian cooking ([02:154:03], [02:186:33]).
• Parenting hacks & bedtime routines: Negotiating book reading and daughters crawling into bed at 2am ([02:159:13] - [02:163:13]).

---

Closing Sentiments

• Lavonte’s Impact: Will and guest hosts repeatedly affirm David’s enduring influence on and off the field, praising his humility, work ethic, and leadership.
• Support for Hall of Fame: Both hosts and peers like Luke Kuechly pledge to continue “banging the table” for Lavonte’s Hall of Fame candidacy.
• Focus on the Future: Lavonte remains open-minded about media, front office work, or just enjoying life and family post-football.

---

Summary Takeaway:
This episode is an unfiltered, heartfelt celebration of Lavonte David’s career, revealing personal struggles, football highs and lows, his drive for respect, and the friends and values that shaped him. Whether reflecting on snubs, mentoring teammates, or sharing fatherhood laughs, Lavonte's story stands as a testament to resilience, loyalty, and the quiet pursuit of greatness.

Transcript

[Will Compton]

The postseason is upon us and there's really nothing like it. But the postseason can be stressful. Crushing losses, wild upsets, your unhinged six game parlay falling apart at the literal last second. Things can get rough and it can leave you feeling a little sour. But you got to look at the bright side. Once your team is out and headed to decompress, you can finally relax. Now you can actually enjoy the postseason with all of the heart palpitations. That's why we're partnering with Jim Beam. We want to help you turn that lemon of a loss into delicious, tasty Jim Beam and lemonade because it's really the perfect bevy for the offseason. It's refreshing, it's got the perfect sweetness and a little bit of tang on your tongue. Best paired with stress free watching when your team is out. So gather the boys and grab some Jim Beam and lemonade to make the rest of the postseason just a little bit sweeter. Refresh your season with Jim Beam and lemonade best enjoyed together. Please drink responsibly. Jim Beam Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey 40% alcohol by volume 2025 James B. Beam Distilling Company Clermont, Kentucky hey, it's Ryan

[Lavonte David]

Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's stock up savings time now through March 31st.

[Will Compton]

Spring in for storewide deals and earn

[Lavonte David]

four times the points.

[Will Compton]

Look for in store tags to earn

[Lavonte David]

on eligible items from Hunts, Nerds, Pillsbury, Lowry's, Breyers, Quaker and Culture Pop. Then clip the offer in the app

[Will Compton]

for automatic event long savings.

[Lavonte David]

Stack up those rewards to save even more.

[Will Compton]

Enjoy savings on top of savings when

[Sherm]

you shop in store or online for

[Lavonte David]

easy drive up and go, pick up or delivery restrictions apply.

[Will Compton]

See website for full terms and conditions. Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt.

[Lavonte David]

From renewable energy companies with high free

[Will Compton]

cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and

[Sherm]

put the AI to work.

[Will Compton]

It screens thousands of stocks, builds a

[Sherm]

one of a kind index and lets

[Lavonte David]

you backtested against the S&P 500.

[Will Compton]

Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public

[Lavonte David]

Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc.

[Will Compton]

Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and

[Lavonte David]

is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures this

[Will Compton]

is Bethenny Frankel from Just Be with Bethenny Frankel. Let me be blunt. Most dog food is junk. It just is.

[Lavonte David]

And I'm not feeding junk to Biggie and Smalls.

[Will Compton]

That is why they eat just food for dogs.

[Lavonte David]

It's real 100% human grade food with ingredients I actually recognize, not mystery pellets pretending to be healthy. And once I switched, the difference was obvious. Better digestion, better skin, more energy. Dogs who actually feel good instead of just surviving dinner. Here's the thing. You care about quality.

[Will Compton]

You make an intentional choice to be healthy.

[Lavonte David]

So why are you gambling with your dog's health?

[Will Compton]

So let's think about our furry babies.

[Sherm]

Go to justfoodfordogs.com right now and get

[Lavonte David]

50% off your first box. No code. Just try it because once you see

[Will Compton]

the difference, you're not going back.

[Lavonte David]

All right, we're good. Busing with the boys, hanging with the fellas, betting on a game. No woman's gonna tell us what to do and I've been over here just drinking beer and making that noise baby I'm hanging with the fellas bussin with the boys bro.

[Will Compton]

Welcome to another episode of Bustin with the Boys. We are always proudly Presented by the FanDuel Sportsbook. Baseball fans, big hits get even bigger with dinger Tuesdays on FanDuel. Customers choose their own reward every Tuesday to use on home run bets. How will you play your game? Option one the bet reset. Use this on your wager and you'll get refunded in bonus bets if your bet loses. Option 2 a 50% profit boost. Make your bet, make your bet, activate the profit boost and if it hits, that's extra winnings at no extra cost. Make your choice and the reward will be ready to use on your next home run bet. Just visit FanDuel.com to choose your reward for home run bets. Every Dinger Tuesday, play ball with the home for home runs on FanDuel. An official partner of the MLB. Everybody, thank you for tuning in to another episode of Bustin with the Boys. We're going to we have a very special interview later in this podcast with the one, the only Levante David Terra Lawan is not on the bus right now. He had to go make. He had to go catch a flight. A couple housekeeping things, house cleaning, housekeeping, whatever we want to say that we will have in order for everybody who's tuned in the last couple of weeks, everybody who dropped in the comments section for the Cam Jurgens podcast or the Cam Jurgens episode. Brilliant. We are featuring our audience throughout our episode from two weeks ago. Moving forward, essentially, there's three ways to connect with us to be featured on the show. We'll have callbacks or reminiscing on last week's episode. On this episode, there's Tear Talk where every Sunday on Twitter we drop a tweet, see if anybody has a hashtag tear Talk, what they would like to ask us. We will feature those on the back half or the second part of the intro. We also have Tear Talk for now. You will know the guests coming in each and every week. This week, you guys knew it was Levante David. So you can drop in questions for our guests every week. When we tell you guys who we're going to have on the bus to where you use hashtag tear talk, we feature those questions. We feature your comments throughout the episode. Continue to drop comments. We love the comment section. While you are looking at the comment section, while you're looking at us on Spotify, Apple, Google, YouTube, wherever it is, make sure you're subscribed to the boys. Guys, I have a. I have a co host on the bus with me and I'll just let the cat out of the bag. It's Levante David. Levante David is co hosting the Busting with the Boys intro. We'll Whip for about 10 or 15 minutes. We have a two and a half hour hour interview that we did with you. We're on the bus the majority of the time with. With Taylor. Taylor ended up having to catch a flight, so we had to leave for the last, what, 30 minutes? Or it's just me and you reminiscing on some old times. But you're co hosting with us.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Do you know what that means?

[Lavonte David]

I'm going off you.

[Will Compton]

It means you're. We're talking. We got the audience engaged right now. Right. That. We're talking with the audience. We're going over some clean takes.

[Lavonte David]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

Some callbacks from last week.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Talking about what's going on in our world. I'll tee up for this one. I had a. I had a comment that I left in the YouTube section last week before we played Iowa Huskers are going to the Elite Eight. That didn't happen. Are you a basketball guy?

[Lavonte David]

Yes, I'm a basketball guy.

[Will Compton]

You keeping up with March Madness?

[Lavonte David]

Yes, I am. And they should have gone to the Elite Eight. Honestly, they played a really good game. I thought they was going to make it. But some mishaps in that game kind of like stopped those guys from going to the Elite Eight, which is, you know, for their first time actually being in a tournament or not being in it, but actually getting that far, I thought they pretty played pretty well.

[Will Compton]

First time ever, we talk about the year that the Huskers had. First start where we've had. We started 20 0. First time we've had a win in March Madness. First time we've ever been to the sweet 16.

[Lavonte David]

Yep.

[Will Compton]

A lot of records being broke. What?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. First time around to the 32.

[Will Compton]

First time around to 32. Hang the banners. You can't have four guys on the court.

[Lavonte David]

You can't have four guys at the

[Will Compton]

end of the game.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, can't. But that just goes to show, you know, if they, you know, more experience being in there, that may not. May not have happened.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Next year we. We're gonna. So let's win the whole thing.

[Lavonte David]

Right?

[Will Compton]

Let's just win the whole thing.

[Lavonte David]

They can. It could happen.

[Will Compton]

Here's a Kevin's Natural Foods clean take. And what a Kevin's Natural Foods clean take is. Shout out our partner. Kevin's Natural Foods.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

But a clean take is ultimately like, you just have a thought that you feel like is a clean take to set this one up. Clean take. You should have five guys on the court at the whole. The whole time. Clean take. Right, Right. That's a clean one.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Clean take. Right. Here we have it. Somebody who commented on last week's episode when we're looking at those Comments, Luke Green Street 7003 didn't know much about Cam Juergens before the episode other than he was Kelsey's replacement. After watching this, I with this cat. So heavy. Just a true dude's dude. Big fan and look forward to seeing him do good things next season. That's a clean take. Clean comment.

[Lavonte David]

Clean comment. Sure.

[Will Compton]

I have. You know Cam Juergens.

[Lavonte David]

I know Cam Jurgens. I mean, obviously I keep up with a lot of guys coming out of Nebraska, bro. I like, I still watch Nebraska football. Like I know something.

[Will Compton]

I know you do. I just don't know if you knew if you.

[Lavonte David]

I mean, we played Eagles a lot these past couple of years, so I forgot you started.

[Will Compton]

I forget you guys still both play in the league?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. So I got a chance to actually, like, meet him a couple times. But you know, he started at guard before he moved to center.

[Will Compton]

Bro. He came in as a four star tight end for Nebraska.

[Lavonte David]

I didn't know all that.

[Will Compton]

Well, you can find it out. You check out last week's episode. Yeah, but came in as a tight end. Had to make a switch. Ego death.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

Obviously, he. He carved his way into being a second round pick for the Philadelphia Eagles. Played on a broken back in the Super Bowl.

[Lavonte David]

Yes, he did.

[Will Compton]

That's a crazy story you can tune into busting with the boys for. There's another clean take that I got on here. That is just Kevin's Natural Foods a clean take. This is from I, Alan I Alan Wade on YouTube. Kevin's Natural Foods Clean takes has got to be the biggest bang for their buck marketing has ever spent. That's a clean take. That's a clean take. This one's from Alex J. Mary. Man, I love this comment section. Let's get it, boys. No one can stop a moving train other than the conductor. Muscle emoji. Yeah, I gotta. There's some things to teach you now that you're in this world.

[Lavonte David]

I see.

[Will Compton]

Like you're co hosting right now.

[Lavonte David]

All right, you. You leave me on pretty good. I like it. Yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

We got to get the personality going. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

This is where we just have fun, right? With the people in the comments section. Man, being a truck driver. This is from tpezi87. Man, being a truck driver, I needed these three plus hour episodes back. Well, good news for T Pezzi. If we go here for about 20 more minutes, you got another three hour band with Levante Davis.

[Lavonte David]

My boy is a close friend of mine, is a truck driver. So, you know, if he tuned into this, I think he'll make his day go better too.

[Will Compton]

Know how he can tune into it?

[Lavonte David]

How's that?

[Will Compton]

By. If you reach out to your boy and send him the link and you say, hey, I think you might mess with this podcast on your. Your long drives.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I think you should take a watch, take a. Take a look at it.

[Will Compton]

What do you want to talk about, man? Entertain the fans. We're live.

[Lavonte David]

What could we talk about? Let's talk about like. I don't want to talk about football, man. Sometimes I get tired of talking about football.

[Will Compton]

Well, we just talked about it for two and a half hours.

[Lavonte David]

That's what we're supposed to do, so. Yeah, but let's move on from that. Like let's talk about. Are you into fishing? You out here in Nashville?

[Will Compton]

I can. I can. I can throw a rod. You'd have to hook it for me. Like, if there's worms, like, hey, get me right on the worm.

[Lavonte David]

I mean, that's about the most I know how to do, though. I'm not into fishing like that. But, like, I'm.

[Will Compton]

You're just saying, let's go fishing today. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

What about golf?

[Will Compton]

I don't really golf, man. My below back.

[Lavonte David]

So I told myself I'm gonna get a month worth of golf lessons, and I'm gonna go out of golf. I think I want to get into golf.

[Will Compton]

So you can try to get into golfing now.

[Lavonte David]

I want to try again just as a hobby. Like, I never had a hobby.

[Will Compton]

You're retired. You're wealthy.

[Lavonte David]

I never had a hobby, bro. So I think I need to start getting. Getting a hobby and doing something. Being outdoors a little bit.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Did you see Tiger woods over the weekend when he brought up gold?

[Lavonte David]

Yes, I've seen Tiger woods over the weekend. And it happened, like, right before the Masters.

[Will Compton]

It was just like, yeah, it's a tough beat, man, but what are we doing?

[Lavonte David]

What are we doing? Yeah. Like, your Tiger was like, you should have a driver or something.

[Will Compton]

Like, that's what blows my mind is dog you are so wealthy.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. All of the accidents he's been in already. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

The resume you already have that you've rehabilitated or tried rehabilitating over the last however many years. Like, even if I take the mindset of if you're going to be under the influence and you still do that.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Why would you just not have a driver at all times?

[Lavonte David]

Right. I don't know. Like, I. When every time I see, like, those top athletes, like LeBron James, for instance. I don't think LeBron James drive. I see Steph Curry. I don't think Steph Curry drive. I think all those dudes have, like, personal drivers and stuff like that when they going out about in the town and things like that.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. You got to have a driver, man. Just again, it. To me, it's what we doing. Like, get your boy.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You know what I mean?

[Lavonte David]

Did you see y' all see Tigers, like, dating a Trump? And, like, there was an executive order place that, like, Tiger's not allowed to drive around, like, Donald's nephew or niece or whatever it is. Damn.

[Will Compton]

Like, that is in.

[Lavonte David]

That is a law.

[Will Compton]

Is. Yeah. Is that real? Are you sure that that's a law?

[Lavonte David]

That's what I Saw I may on.

[Will Compton]

On. On X. Yeah, I saw it on. He said, that is a law. Did you. When you saw the tweet, did you get in the comment section, say, hey, Grok, is this real?

[Lavonte David]

I went through and somebody already did that and Grok approved it, so. Wow.

[Will Compton]

Oh, then I. It's gotta be true.

[Sherm]

That's a law.

[Lavonte David]

I think you have to look at Grok now. Like every time something come out, you have to look at Grok to see if it's true or not. Because every time I look at those social media stuff, I always think about that clip with on Training Day. Yeah. Denzel Washington talking to Ethan Hawke. Like 90% of this is bullshit and entertains me.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

So like, now you want to interrupt. So now you entertain me. So I look at it like that too. People get horny with Gro.

[Will Compton]

Oh, yeah, people do.

[Lavonte David]

Grock switched these outfits. Yeah. Put this outfit on.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

When. I mean, I've been horny. Remember when I came after Clay after the Bears beat the Packers? Yeah. Hey, Grok, put him in a bikin.

[Sherm]

Sherm.

[Will Compton]

Your meme was funny to get up.

[Lavonte David]

One love.

[Will Compton]

Anytime. I can get a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms meme in there. Yeah. Somebody team me up perfectly. The Chimerian pervert. Ain't no pun intended.

[Lavonte David]

You a Game of Thrones guy?

[Will Compton]

Oh, bro, am I a Game of Thrones guy? I love Game of Thrones. Yo. You're a Game of Thrones.

[Lavonte David]

I love Game of Thrones. I've been watching Game of Thrones. I know it started like in 2011, but I started watching in 2013 and I've been.

[Will Compton]

Have you watched Night of the Seven Kingdoms?

[Lavonte David]

I watched Night of the Seven Kingdoms.

[Will Compton]

So you get the meme?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, that's what I was looking. Yeah, I get it. I watched 97 Kids. I like House of Dragons. House of Dragons and all that stuff. Yeah, yeah, I'm big on those things. I like those. Like, I'm a big Lord of the

[Will Compton]

Rings guy, big TV show guy, big

[Lavonte David]

movie guy, big TV show, big movie guy.

[Will Compton]

You're a body that you dive into.

[Lavonte David]

And Nebraska. I used to go to the movies by myself all the damn time.

[Will Compton]

I know, I know, but we're doing the show together. Like, I can't just. Ah, you're right. I have to like get you. You ask some questions to get you talking. I can't just sit up here. Hey, you like doing this?

[Lavonte David]

Hey, you love doing that, right?

[Will Compton]

We're co hosting together, right?

[Lavonte David]

You're right. You gotta get favorite show of all Time. It's a loaded question. That is a loaded question. Favorite show of all time. I cannot not watch the Wire. I love the Wire.

[Will Compton]

I haven't either, but everybody swears by the Wire. Are you. I did have a note during the podcast. I didn't want to throw it out

[Lavonte David]

to get off on a tangent, but

[Will Compton]

y' all were talking about Bopa Polini. Yeah. And in my mind I was like, bo Pellini is. Stannis Baratheon could have been king. Yeah. But he didn't want to do the Game of Thrones. Yeah. That's a great reference. Yeah. I really like that fight. Yeah. We dive into some great. We dive into some great Bo Polini stories. We do.

[Lavonte David]

That's a great one.

[Will Compton]

You a Harry Potter fan?

[Lavonte David]

Not as much. Mike Evans is a huge Harry Potter fan, though. But I'm not a Harry Potter fan fan. I watched all of them, but I can't really get into them. Like, I like them. I just watch them just to watch them. Like, I ain't get excited or nothing about watching them. Nothing kind of like got me going by watching them, but.

[Will Compton]

Really?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I wasn't really, like. Maybe because it wasn't enough action. My type of action, I guess. Yeah. And then you.

[Will Compton]

Do you like violence?

[Lavonte David]

Kinda, yeah. Did you see the. They coming out with the TV series?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I saw.

[Lavonte David]

How you feel about that?

[Will Compton]

I think it's gonna be amazing.

[Lavonte David]

You think so?

[Will Compton]

I think one thing that is absolute bullshit is Professor Snape. Because when you look.

[Lavonte David]

I agree.

[Will Compton]

When you look back at all the books and all the movies and everything else, like, not at any point. Is he wearing something with a zipper?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, not only that, but let's call it space. He's not black. Oh,

[Will Compton]

I was thinking the.

[Lavonte David]

Like, no, I can't. I can't go. I can't rock with like. Honestly.

[Will Compton]

Oh, so you hate that they got. Snape is black.

[Lavonte David]

I mean that too, but, like, that's a part of it. But, like, no, I can't rock with it, bro. It just don't.

[Will Compton]

It just don't fit the character where I'm sitting. Like, I rock with that.

[Lavonte David]

I rock with that.

[Will Compton]

But I'm saying, like, I'm not going to say nothing like that.

[Lavonte David]

And then my whole thing about the

[Will Compton]

Harry Potter thing, like, see, if Mike Evans say, do you like the new Professor Snake?

[Lavonte David]

He said no. Oh, he said he is? Yeah, he said no. He don't like the casting. Well, not the casting. He just said he don't. I ain't say nothing about the casting. But he said he don't like it.

[Will Compton]

You see what they're doing now? They're gonna redo Black Panther. Ryan Gosling is gonna be Black Panther.

[Lavonte David]

We gotta ask Groke that. I don't think that's gonna happen. But my thing about the whole Harry Potter thing is, like, instead of doing the whole, like to just redoing and putting in a TV series, I think they should do like a backstory, like on the parents or something like that. Or just like. Yeah, something like that. Like, they should. Definitely should have did that. Right. Like how Game of Thrones is doing the prequels and everything.

[Sherm]

I feel like.

[Lavonte David]

I think that'd be cool.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Like, because they. All the people that have read the books have said the movies. There's stuff that happens in the books. It doesn't happen. So I think each book is going to be a season for the show.

[Will Compton]

They could do what he's saying. It's like ultimately, Harry Potter is starting the. The Game of Thrones playbook where they're diving in all of the books. Right?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And then now that once they have the Harry Potter show established, from there, you can have all of these, you know, side quests. Parents.

[Lavonte David]

I think the movie.

[Will Compton]

Snape.

[Lavonte David]

I think the movie. I'm sure, like, I'm sure, like, this dude is a great actor, but I don't know, like, my image, Professor Snape is.

[Will Compton]

Listen, we're on the same page, but here's what I'll say if HBO is pouring all this into Harry Potter, like, if you're revamping Harry Potter based off how successful.

[Lavonte David]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

The movies and everything else was, you're taking a leap to do it now as a tv, I'm assuming that this dude is going to crush.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. For sure.

[Will Compton]

Toward a. Put every. You know.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Everybody's got their takes.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I always think. I mean, he's a zipper. I just want to make sure, like, just to be clean.

[Lavonte David]

Like, oh, stuff like that. Like, my image of that professor. Like, that dude did a great job and that. I mean. And like, I seen, like, I feel like a guy, pale skin, dark hair, similar to him. Should have been the character.

[Will Compton]

I mean, you're speaking facts. Yeah. People, like, why wasn't Adam Driver casted?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. That's a perfect.

[Will Compton]

What is this right here at Sherm?

[Lavonte David]

That's the zipper at like, four.

[Will Compton]

Oh, zoom. You zoomed in. Yeah. Well, it's good to know you don't like it. Mike Evans doesn't like it.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Okay.

[Lavonte David]

But Mike Evans is a huge Harry Potter fan.

[Will Compton]

I believe you.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, he got a hair.

[Will Compton]

I like Harry Potter.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Tattoo. You'll get a Harry Potter tattoo.

[Will Compton]

No, no, I'm not a sicko like that. Some people are.

[Lavonte David]

He's not. Don't call my guy sicko. You call him a sicko?

[Will Compton]

No, sicko, like obsessed. Loves. Just my fault. Clean, clean. Take Mike Evans. Not a sicko. I ain't no nerd. I could have sworn. Oh, where was I going with that? What else is new, man?

[Lavonte David]

This is new. I'm retired.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, we dive into that in the podcast. I mean, something we didn't talk about on the pod. We're talking about Bo Polini, Nebraska journeys. Like, hilarious, by the way, the juco stories.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But just to. If people caught your audio episode. Yeah. Where you kind of had the broken audio.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Or if they didn't, is you, when you got to Nebraska, taking my job.

[Lavonte David]

I did not take your job, bro. Stop saying that. Listen, like, I look at it as me taking your job. Like you being healthy and me actually like coming in and taking your spot. That's me taking your job.

[Will Compton]

I only got.

[Lavonte David]

I only. I only got put into the job because you got hurt.

[Will Compton]

They broke my foot.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, you broke your foot. So, like, in any sense, like what is called. What's the.

[Will Compton]

When I got healthy.

[Lavonte David]

Nah, man, it's. It's a thing. It's. It was a baseball player that he ended up. Oh, what's it called? You know what I'm saying? People say it all the time. Wally Pip. In a sense. Wally Pip.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. So, yeah, I got healthy and then my job was nowhere to be found when I got back because you had just taken the team by storm, which, I mean, you're obviously 14 years. We're arguing for you. But.

[Lavonte David]

But we got a chance to play together, me and York.

[Will Compton]

We had some good times.

[Lavonte David]

So that was really good.

[Will Compton]

Michigan State, Penn State.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, Penn State was good.

[Will Compton]

Penn State was good.

[Lavonte David]

You was my, my, my crash dummy on that.

[Will Compton]

It was.

[Lavonte David]

What was it?

[Will Compton]

Fourth and short. Yeah. They're on game winning drives. Trying to be on a game winning drive. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Maybe third and one, then fourth and one. Third and one fourth game winning drive.

[Will Compton]

We run a cross dog. I'm the first blitzer, so I basically eat up the blocker. Levante comes around tied off the hip. Silas Red hits him in the back. Him. Yeah. We win the game.

[Lavonte David]

Really cool. That was a cool moment. Top tier moment.

[Will Compton]

People are going to forget, man. Yeah, they shouldn't. They're going to. But yeah, when I I'll never forget, like, the. The. The Me. The ego, mental battle I was in when that job wasn't there when I got back. For context.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I break my. Levante comes to Nebraska. We have a great time in the off season.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

Levante's working on the second field with, like, the backup. The backup to the backup.

[Lavonte David]

Y. I was, like, fourth.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Fourth. Fourth linebacker.

[Will Compton]

Sean Fisher was actually the starter in the dime pack because we ran a lot of one linebacker, one off the ball linebacker. I was the two dime. Sean Fisher tears his ACL from friendly fire in practice. Somebody gets blocked sideways. I want to say now it's Paul block. Dijon goes into Sean Fisher's knee. Sean tears his acl.

[Lavonte David]

Was that. Wait, was that a third dime or the fourth dime?

[Will Compton]

You were the third. Third dime. I thought, yeah, unless it was Zoe. And then they were just like, we're just gonna play Levante. Yeah, but you were third or fourth on the depth chart. You were starting on the. The low end, on the tunnel pole, like, on the other field.

[Lavonte David]

Correct.

[Will Compton]

Levante would flash and practice, but Sean Fisher tears his acl. I go up to starting dime. I was the starting backer in our dime package. And it is the Thursday before opening game for the season.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And we're just in, like, a jog through, and I plan on this stick ride and break my foot. It feels like a gun went off.

[Lavonte David]

Off.

[Will Compton]

A gun went off of my foot. I'm, like, limping around. I'm, like, hoping it calms down so I can. We can either tape it. I can get back in there, whatever it is, again. We're going to opener, so redshirt sophomore, excited, ready to go. And I broke my foot. I was out for, like, eight or nine weeks.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Levante. I'm up in my scooter during the first game. I forget who we're playing.

[Lavonte David]

Western Kentucky.

[Will Compton]

Western Kentucky comes to town. Levante has 13 tackles, knuckles, and disintegrates one of their receivers over the middle. They catch a pass, Avante murders the dude, stands up, throwing the bones. Him throwing the bones. That was. That being, like, your first start, first game, whatever. Well, that was basically on a card. That was your card was that celebration.

[Lavonte David]

Me hitting a receiver was that same year. But it wasn't that game. That was against North Dakota State.

[Will Compton]

Those first couple games.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, it was one of those first couple of games. The first game against Western Kentucky. Like, I had. I had some pretty good hits, but it wasn't that hit.

[Will Compton]

Okay. Okay. Yeah. I might have got those mixed Up.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But Levante goes, and he's just dominating, bro. Like, doesn't know a whole lot about the defense. Like, he knows enough clearly or they wouldn't put him in.

[Lavonte David]

Right?

[Will Compton]

But he's like his learning curve. Like, he's like learning on the run because we do so many checks, so many tendency oriented things, and the dude's just like, unblockable, like a savage. We go out to Washington and he dominates. He's slipping through blocks. You're able to blitz him. Coaches kind of learn. Like, I'm sitting with EK on the plane ride back, and he's talking up about how good Levante is. And in my mind I'm like, fuck, man, is there a chance that, like, I'm not even gonna be the guy when I get back healthy? I'm doing everything I can to get healthy, but you can't, like, rush a broken bone. And then we play Kansas State. Kansas State national game, Thursday night game. You're wreaking havoc.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

All these things to where when I come back and I'm healthy, I'm sitting in the linebacker room and coach just ain't talk. Like, he's not. Not talking to me, but Levante is the focal point. And I'm just thinking like, damn, like, nobody sits you down. Nobody says anything. Nobody talks about the changes that are going to happen. Like, it's just, this is Levante's defense. This is Levante's spot. And obviously looking back, Levante's Levante. But I remember that time and like, there were frustrations, but it was like, just because again, nobody. You're not communicated. Like, all my spots gone.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, but the thing about that is, bro, you was upbeat towards me the whole time. Like, you stayed the same the whole time. And like, that's kind of like what I really respected. Like, he was like, man, I can't wait to get out there with you. Man, I can't wait to get out there. Which I remember when it first happened and I came to see you and you was crying and all that. You remember in the training room, I'm

[Will Compton]

like, damn, I was broken, bro.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Because it was like a Thursday, bro. Like a couple days before a game you hyped up, you aside. And then that.

[Will Compton]

That we had a hell of an off season again. I, like, spot started my freshman year, but I wasn't like the guy. Yeah. And you're kind of motivated going that second one. Like, this is it like starting in Nebraska sophomore year. And we did. We ran a lot of one linebacker stuff, but you opened the open.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You kind of opened the gates for the two linebackers. Yeah. You could play in two linebackers. Like, Levante's good enough. He could play cover the fast cover.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Man to man.

[Lavonte David]

And that's one thing that kind of like I told you like that off season, I went and talked to them. I'm like, no, I want to be the only linebacker on the field. No more. I want to be two linebackers. And that's when they moved me to the dime backer and you with the mic, so.

[Will Compton]

I know, but we had so many good times, man. We dive into a lot of it in the. In the episode. But yeah, we forgot to. Not like for God, but it's almost like kind of wrapping a bow on your entire career.

[Lavonte David]

I remember when y' all used to pick on me when. When I used to call the scratches and used to pick on me about this.

[Will Compton]

As we're going. As we're going through the interview and everything that is ST R is SK and structure. I would go up to Boogie was his nickname in college to us. And I would go up to Boogie whether after practice or in the locker room, and he would obviously make me laugh. And I would just like, put my phone up to record on my back. Hey, yeah, See, just do that a lot.

[Lavonte David]

Like, what.

[Will Compton]

What are you doing? See, Stretch, scratch. Matter of fact, I want to take a pause. I want to see if I can find it.

[Lavonte David]

You do all this type of stuff. Just record me for no reason. Like, bro,

[Will Compton]

So many.

[Lavonte David]

While he's searching for that. Levante, do you have any other Will stories that whether it's in the locker room at chilling at his house that are safe. Will was a wild guy. I remember one time the. The party thing, he was throwing a house party at his house and like, he had this big ass cooler, you know, like, I'm like, what you doing with this cooler? And he got a bunch of ice and just started mixing all the alcohols and stuff in it.

[Sherm]

You remember that?

[Lavonte David]

Mixing up all the alcohols and the juices and stuff like that. And like, I don't even remember what happened that night, but I know it was probably a wild night. Like, that was my first time ever seeing that you got all this alcohol just like it we for to hang out tonight. I'm like, damn, Will, this how you hang out, man.

[Will Compton]

Man, Willy White boy.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

First ever recorded voice memo. You still got that? Yeah, bro. October 28, 2010. Listen to this.

[Lavonte David]

No, no, come here, come here, come here.

[Will Compton]

All right, here we go. So you gotta say it loud.

[Lavonte David]

Stretch, scratch.

[Will Compton]

That was the voice of him all.

[Lavonte David]

He's a man.

[Will Compton]

I'm gonna come here, man. We had so many good times, bro. So many good times. A couple things we got to hit before we get into the interview. Spring tour, we're rocking. We're going to Texas Tech this week. Next week we are going to Notre Dame in Miami. There could be a couple more schools in the works right now, but the boys are going to be hitting the road. We'll be doing interviews. We'll be basically immersing ourselves into the team's culture while we're there. Teams are already setting stuff up for us. If you want a great look of what that vlog or what that content is going to be like, the best example to use is Oregon last year, bro. We go. Yeah, we go. And I'm aware.

[Lavonte David]

Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm aware.

[Will Compton]

You checked it out.

[Lavonte David]

I did.

[Will Compton]

We go. When we sit in the meetings.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

We go and participate in the weight room. Like, we, you know, we get a little fit. Can't hang with the young cats anymore.

[Lavonte David]

We go.

[Will Compton]

We get involved in the practice field. You saw my one on one, I'm sure.

[Lavonte David]

I think we talked about it after.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I'm sure. You hit me up like your old man. Talking about angles.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look real like, you know, a running back's first route on the linebacker and one on ones. Like, you should know that you and you've been in the league for a while. Like, you should know what's going to happen.

[Will Compton]

The problem was I did know. I even told the fellas before the rep started. I'm like, he's going to want to beat me in front of all the team. He's going to want to shake me and get to the inside. So I just got to sit low, hip inside, stay sturdy.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Not let my base get wide. Base got wide.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I started reaching.

[Lavonte David]

You reach. You definitely reach. I think you should just let him go after he beats you.

[Will Compton]

But you, you, when you reach and

[Lavonte David]

trying to hit him and like slow him up and kind of like.

[Will Compton]

Because I'm still thinking maybe I can grab his hip. Maybe I can still get back in the game. Maybe I can still get back in the rep. Yeah. But maybe I'll get mine.

[Lavonte David]

I'll say like, that's what a 19, 20 year old kid you, 30, 30 plus. So like, I'll give you the edge on that. Like you, you try. You touched them. Yeah. So it's pretty cool. Pretty good.

[Will Compton]

I am washed like That's. You're washed now.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You still do it just literally right after a season. Like we're out there waving the flag.

[Lavonte David]

You look good. You always look the part, I tell you that. You always look like a ball player.

[Will Compton]

I appreciate that, man.

[Lavonte David]

Man, you had some good swag, but keep going. That right there is. No, not much. And you like.

[Will Compton]

What are you doing? I'm looking for a flag.

[Lavonte David]

Why?

[Will Compton]

For what?

[Lavonte David]

A flag on you.

[Will Compton]

I forget. PI. Push off.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

Look, I got dusted hips. Look at. Look, I got my muffin top. Hips were never that great, man.

[Lavonte David]

You embarrassed Taylor that day.

[Will Compton]

Just talking through the pain. Yeah. Where else? Oh, yeah. Merchandise. BWTV.com. you got a clean take. You've heard me talk about a couple clean takes. Like, it's not.

[Lavonte David]

Just give us a clean takes. The who.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Hey. Or as we get into the interview. Hey. Shout out Kevin's Natural Foods. A clean take.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Being a homebody.

[Lavonte David]

Shout out Kevin's Natural Food. A clean take. Everybody go watch Harry Potter. I think it's gonna be a good series.

[Will Compton]

Clean tank. Clean tank. Everybody in the comments. Clean take by Levante.

[Lavonte David]

Sure.

[Will Compton]

And will shout out Form Energy and Kevin's Natural Foods for the spring tour. Form Energy, Kevin's Natural Foods. You ever had Form Energy?

[Lavonte David]

No.

[Will Compton]

It's okay if you haven't. We'll get you on it.

[Lavonte David]

And.

[Will Compton]

And as always, for any energy drink in the game.

[Lavonte David]

I've never been that guy, you know.

[Will Compton]

You've never been an energy drink guy? No, he's just straight water.

[Lavonte David]

Straight water and go play.

[Will Compton]

I know.

[Lavonte David]

I took one year. One year. I mean, I took a Red Bull. Not a Red Bull, but a five Hour Energy when it was popping.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

And I said never again.

[Will Compton]

Five Hour Energy with the four Loco.

[Lavonte David]

No, never that. But one year. I took it in the first. After the first quarter, I was dead, rest of the game. And like, I was kind of like, terrified because I could barely breathe. I was extremely tired. And I was like, I would never do this again.

[Will Compton]

So she's dragging ass.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. That's why, like, I. I would never take an energy drink or nothing like that again.

[Will Compton]

They had to run there for a second. Now this. This is clean energy. This is from Green Tea. Okay, so this is some good stuff.

[Lavonte David]

Gotcha.

[Will Compton]

So you like it? You like it? We do have. I know you're retired, so looking into your future. We have an internship program that just got announced. We're taking on two production interns, two social interns, a graphics intern.

[Lavonte David]

Gotcha.

[Will Compton]

I'M sure we'll have this stuff on the screen. How you can apply put your. What you're looking to do, what brand in our ecosystem you're looking to work with in the subject line for the dads busing with the boys locker room. You got the eyes right now, Mitch. Inside the bus. Inside the bus. Inside the bus. But maybe we'll bring in a talent intern. Yeah, maybe I'll get you that. It's a summer internship program. Yeah. Be here a couple months.

[Lavonte David]

I like my summer, so. I don't know.

[Will Compton]

Get to work with the best. Yeah. You can stay at my house, be around you.

[Lavonte David]

I think that'll be cool. Kind of relive the old days, me come to your house and stuff like that.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I took care of you.

[Lavonte David]

It was okay.

[Will Compton]

It was good at times. Yeah, it was good. I looked out for you.

[Lavonte David]

I. Your spot was my getaway.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, that's gonna feel good. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, that's. He's speaking facts.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

He want to stay focused. The straight narrow. Let's get around some Willie C. Unless we got the jungle juice popping. Then it was. Yeah, then we had.

[Lavonte David]

We would have a night talk ball, get ready for the season. But it was fun, bro. It was fun. College was fun.

[Will Compton]

I really do think.

[Lavonte David]

I wish we could have took some trips together, though, in college. Like those breaks, spring breaks and stuff like that, bro. Memorial weekend, things like that. I wish we could have did that.

[Will Compton]

But it kind of made us. It kind of made us operate the way we operated.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You know what I mean? Because I never did, like. We never did the spring break trip. Guys would take the bus and go there to Panama City. There are some FOMO that I had that where I look back, like, man, I wish I would have been a little.

[Lavonte David]

I think you mentioned Nixon Ozarks before, remember? I think so. Like when they used to do the boats and stuff down there. Yeah, Yeah, I think you did mention that before.

[Will Compton]

So I had a couple of buddies that did like Bachelor where I got away.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But none of. Where it was like, get some. Some of the Nebraska boys.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Let's go out to the lake for the weekend.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

We would do like cookouts and stuff.

[Lavonte David]

We did that. Yeah. We went to X crib before.

[Will Compton]

X crib. That's like a linebacker. That's like within the team, Right. Tim Marlowe would put something together. He'd get out in them American Speedos. USA Speedos.

[Lavonte David]

Oh, we did do that before. That's my first time trying to. The links. Sasha Links.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

What are they called? Brats.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Those is really, really good. And my first time playing cornhole with the guy, that was pretty cool. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Because we go out to. What was it? CJ Zimmer's house?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Was it CJ Zimmer? I can't remember, but yeah, we had some good times, man. This interview is awesome, fellas. Anything else that we need to hit before we dive in? This interview with Levante is awesome. Against me, Levante and Taylor, we're ripping for about two hours. Taylor has to make a flight boogie, and I kick it for another 30 minutes. We talk Nebraska. We talk career. We talk snubs. We talk everything. I feel like we dive in deep. Buccaneer fans, you're gonna love it. Nebraska fans, you're gonna love it. Back to back weeks. Cam Jurgis. Now. Levante, David, FaceTimes in. Keithley, Luke Keakley. FaceTimes in. We talk about 2013 Defensive Player of the year. Yeah, it's a good time. Make sure you subscribed. I encourage you all to subscribe. Go. Big red, big hugs, tiny kisses.

[Lavonte David]

Proud of this guy right here, man. I ended with that. I'm proud of this guy, man. Love your. The success you've been having. Really, like, really enjoy watching you, bro, outside of football, your life as a dad, as a husband, it's pretty good

[Will Compton]

to see we dive into fatherhood.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Not to shy away from your compliments. I appreciate you. I love you, bro. Yeah, I love you, too. There's a lot of love on this pod. Yeah, a lot of love on this pod, man. Just some young jits now. We're growing. Start off as young jits in Nebraska, man. You know what I'm saying? Oh, watch the interview. Watch the interview.

[Lavonte David]

That's good.

[Will Compton]

All right, before we get into the interview, we got to shout out one of our partners, one of our sponsors, Jim Beam. So you'll just. You'll do this top part. You can read it from the thing, but just have a little bit of enthusiasm.

[Lavonte David]

And I'm looking at this camera.

[Will Compton]

You can look at which. Any camera you want, bro. This is. This is. We're all Jim Beam fans right here.

[Lavonte David]

Gotcha.

[Will Compton]

You're up.

[Lavonte David]

Listen, guys, as you all know, we have entered the. Could be the worst time of the year. That's right. Football is over. What are we supposed to do on Sunday or Monday or Thursday? So so much time, so little football.

[Will Compton]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy now. Just because football is over, the hang doesn't have to stop, because believe it or Not. There's still a ton of stuff to be excited for. Basketball, hockey, tennis, baseball, and soccer. Right here in the good old US of A. All to be enjoyed with a crisp, delicious, and oh, so refreshing Jim Beam and lemonade.

[Lavonte David]

I get it. It's like you're talking to the lemon of football being over and turning into lemonade.

[Will Compton]

Correction. I'm taking the lemon of football being over and turning it into Jim Beam and lemonade, baby. Because Beam and lemon is always the right call. It's light flavor, it's refreshing and so, so delicious no matter what you and your boys are watching.

[Lavonte David]

You're so right. Because at the end of the day, no matter what sport you're pivoting to this offseason, it'll be the best enjoyed together.

[Will Compton]

Drink smart Jim Beam Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, 40% alcohol. 40% alcohol per volume. 2026 James B. Beam Distilling Company, Clermont, Kentucky. Get into the interview. You crushed it, guys, as always. This interview is brought to us by Bud Light. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy, Bud Light is always brewed with four simple ingredients for a clean, crisp taste. Anything for the clean, crisp taste of Bud Light. Bud Light is the official beer sponsor of the NFL, the NFL draft, USC or ufc, which is now on Paramount plus and Bud Light. Partners include Peyton Manning, George Kittle, Baker Mayfield, Emmett Smith, Shane Gillis, Post Malone, Dustin Poirier, Bruce Buffer, the voice of the usc, and of course, busting with the boys. Stock up now on Bud light. Head to www.budlight.com locator to find a store near you, ladies and gentlemen.

[Sherm]

Hey, take a deep breath. I need something out of here. How you talk about Bruce Buffer. I need you. This introduction to be.

[Will Compton]

That's what. That's what I'm saying. Like I was telling you before Levante got on the bus. Like, Levante, as far as surface level accolades, as far as those go, it's not like the deepest list. Like, like, if you're going to be in the woods of Levante, David going to the hall of Fame. It's all of these details inside of statistics that you would need from which I did last time he came on. Which, by the way, you guys could all check out the episode when we had him on Zoom. You've been on. What time is this for you coming on the bus total?

[Lavonte David]

Probably about four.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Third or fourth time.

[Lavonte David]

Probably about four.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Yeah. Because he was in person, though. Yeah, in person. He was. We did a one on one.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, One on one. I came on here with Leonard. I think that's right.

[Sherm]

That's right. I was there for that.

[Will Compton]

And then the zoom. And so, yeah, this would be his fourth appearance, but for that particular episode that you're talking about, like, there's. It's almost like. It's like getting in the gutter. Yeah. Of what makes Levante David great.

[Sherm]

Well, people say when the casual fan goes, well, he shouldn't be in the hall of Fame, that's the stats you're gonna look at and be like, yes. No, hey, let me tell you why you're dumb for even saying that.

[Will Compton]

Yes.

[Sherm]

And then you point out all the stats why he should be in the hall of Fame.

[Will Compton]

Yes.

[Sherm]

That being said, let's pretend like he wasn't sitting here just talking to a second ago. Please introduce our guest.

[Will Compton]

So the guest that we were having on is a very special guest.

[Sherm]

Future.

[Will Compton]

There will be a. A group, a circle that will be pushing Levante David to the hall of Fame. He played at a Miami Northwestern, at a high school. Predominant. An alpha dog in high school football. One of nine, 13 guys that got scholarships to the University of Miami. Not Levonte David. Levonte David went to JUCO route. Went to Fort Scott in Kansas for a couple of years. Played Cam Newton in the national championship. Was one of the best recruits coming out of juco, Got offered, picked up by the Nebraska Cornhuskers, played there a couple years. Number two on the all time leading list in tackles, right behind Barrett Root, who played four years at Nebraska. Levante would have smoked it had he played four years. No disrespect to Barrett Root. He is the king, but kind of

[Sherm]

disrespect to Barrett Root.

[Will Compton]

Draft in the second round of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when everybody thought, could this guy Levante, he always wanted to play 10 years in the NFL. Now 14 years later, one of the most respected defensive players in the history of the NFL. The most underrated defensive player that will ever play in the NFL. Everybody give it up for Levante Davis.

[Sherm]

I know this podcast has been for a minute, we've had this kind of dialed in. Like, is he retired? If he does, he'll come on then. But for this to get kind of done the last like 72 hours and you get a flight to come up for you to come up with that. That no notes, no nothing. Incredible.

[Will Compton]

Just wait till I have the notes. You know, last time when I was ripping through, when there's one category where it was like, what was it? Tackles, interceptions, tackles for loss. Three players ever, Ray Lewis, Brian Erlacher and Levante David. Right like, you get into the weeds, it's. Yeah. People are going to be battling for Levante David come five years from now.

[Lavonte David]

That's an amazing intro, man. I got to give you a lot of credit. A lot of props on that. That was great. I appreciate you, bro.

[Will Compton]

Do you. Let me ask you, do you. How proud of yourself are you before I start talking about how proud everybody else is?

[Lavonte David]

I don't. I. You know me well. I don't indulge in that stuff. I don't. I don't really think about. I'm not a. I'm not that much into myself as far as, like, the accolades and what I've done, you know, when I'm in it. But now that I'm actually out of it, I can kind of, like, sit back and kind of, like, see and, you know, really, like, understand what I've done, because it's getting thrown at me all damn day, all the damn time. So now it's like, I could just sit back and, like, bask in what I actually done. And it's pretty cool, bro. I ain't gonna lie. It's pretty cool. Like, I can really sit back and say, the years that I played in this league, I was pretty dominant when I played the game, so definitely, like, pat myself on the back for that dog.

[Will Compton]

Like. Like, legitimately. I was thinking about it last week when I'm just seeing the timeline of everybody. You know, you have your press conference, you're seeing any writer, anybody that's known you come out and have this write up on, like, the man you are, the teammate you are, or the teammate you were, like, how you played the game, all that stuff that you just alluded to, how dominant you are on the field. And I'm like, sit back. And I remember I'm driving home last week, and I'm just smiling, thinking, like, bro, you did it.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Like, for real did it. Like, we are.

[Sherm]

We're.

[Will Compton]

We're all fired up. Like, we all played out our dream. Right, Right, right, right. But you sitting there, it's like, when I was a teammate with you for those couple years at Nebraska and knowing, like, we talked about the NFL.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I remember asking you, like, how long with me, you, Zoe Whaley, Sean Fisher, shout out the boys. We're talking about how long we'd want to play if we got to play in the NFL. You saying 10 years. And you saying it with, like, this. This confidence but no ego. Just, like, this innocence about you of, like, oh, I'd love to play, like, 10 years in the NFL. And I know, like, US and EK and Ls, and people just being like, oh, this dude could do it.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

It just depends on opportunity situation. Because you were like an undersized cat for sure. And then you get drafted in the second round. And knowing you've played 14 years, bro, at the highest level.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And what everybody responding the way they are about you, it's like you're just sitting back knowing. Like, we got to. We were in the circle. Like, we were in those trenches together in college, being like, man, he really was Levante the whole time. Like, we'd always joke about you. I'll call you like, you know, Ed Reed, you never. You never cared about all the public perception, anything. You just wanted to play football. Now you'd have the nappy hair. You have everything that just said, like, this dude's just all about ball. Yeah. And to know that you play 14 years, seeing the way everybody speaks about you, like, dude, I'm so proud of you. Everybody's so proud of you. Husker fans. Tampa Bay fucking loves you. Like, bro, bro, you're going to have a statue. I'm sure at some point. You know what I mean? Like, you're cemented in football. Eternity at Fort Scott.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Miami, Northwestern, at Nebraska, at Tampa Bay. Whether or not it happens. Like, everybody's gonna be arguing for you about the hall of Fame. But, bro, you did it. And everybody's so proud of you. And you were. You got emotional talking about your parents.

[Lavonte David]

And. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I was telling Taylor when I was just like, I'm just so fired up for Levante. I was like, dog. I just remember his dad. Like, we were in the hall, and I want to know, say, you. Your portrait went up for the All Americans. Your sister, your, like, everybody was there. Your nephew that you love, that you were all about, that you protected or looked out for. Your dad was there. And I just remember talking to your dad about. I was talking about the things that you were really good at, stuff that, like, I'm like, I. These. These are the areas where I need to prove whether it's tackling in space. Cover one on ones. Like, you could do it all. And your dad would just say, like, you know, he, like, pulled me aside. He's like, it's all angled. Like, we'd be in the backyard. We'd be working angles. Like, it's just, you know, it's a math problem out there. You're just working on an angle to get there. And, yeah, I'm sitting there thinking, like, just Smiling because it's like, yeah, yeah, I'm with you. Like the angle is still hard. Still hard to do. But you could just tell he was just so proud of you. And dog, I'm just fired up for you, man.

[Lavonte David]

Appreciate you, man. Yeah, that was my guy. My dad. You talking about my dad, man. He one kind of got me started in football after, you know, just watching my cousins play and things like that. And that's really true. True. Like really, really. Like every time I miss a tackle, he'll come down. Angle, take the proper angle. You're not taking the proper angles. And it stuck. It stuck. Like that's how like every time I'm in, like not playing football, like I'm. If I'm in space and stuff like that, I really do think about my angles.

[Sherm]

Let me ask you this. We, all of us being in the space of football and kind of like anytime you have an accomplishment, individually or as a team, it's like a 24 hour rule where you're like, you sit there like, hey, that was awesome. Look what we did. Look what I called whatever it was. And then as athletes, you're just like, how do I like, either replicate that or do better than that.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And now you get to the end of the tunnel.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

You're sitting there, you're doing a press conference.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

You're getting emotional over your daughter, which I think anybody with a daughter sits there and watches you and clearly gets emotional as well. Just watching the clip.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Sherm]

You leave. That's been like a week.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

What is the first thing that came into your head of like, hey, it's pretty dope that this happened.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Because there's you like all the things that Will's talking about, your guys relationship being in the trenches, Tampa Bay being cemented in all these other spots. Like, what was one of those first things that hit you? Like, I'm retired. And it's so sick that if I didn't do this or if I didn't accomplish it, maybe it wouldn't have gone the way I wanted or just like some sort of reflection that, hey, this is like the first time I'm kind of staring at like, this is awesome.

[Will Compton]

Yo, I am him.

[Sherm]

Yo. I not only I am him, but like, dude, it's like the, like there's tall people, there's. There's athletic people, there's strong people. Is like everyone's got white people, but yeah, exactly. Like everyone has like certain attributes that can get them to the place that we've all been able to like, Be grateful enough to get to.

[Will Compton]

Right.

[Sherm]

But very rarely is it. Is it, you know, getting there, sustaining a career and then having the career that you did.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And so, yeah, dude, like, you. You fucking. You did it. And so, like, what was like one of those first things, you sit back after the press conference, you're like. Like, I can't believe I did this.

[Lavonte David]

Oh, man, Bro, I could take you back to juco. To be honest. Like, after everything ended, like, I test. My juco coach told him, like, you know, I don't have a great relationship with my juco coach. You know, the stories about me and juco and stuff like that. And, you know, I just kind of sit back and think, like, damn, like, I went through a lot in juco and it's been times where I quit when I was in juco and because of the stuff that we was going through. But, like, as it all unfold and everything plays out, the stuff that I went through in juco, I feel like cold hardly got me to where I'm at right now today. Just because, like, the. The discipline, the drive, the determination, and just hearing my coach all the time cursing me out and stuff like that. I think that's what really drove me to, like, it was. In a sense, it's like trying to pull. Prove to him that no, I'm. I'm a. I'm a bad on the field and stuff like that. And then like. Like, just like the story, like when. When we had done. We did a conditioning test and I'm on the ground crawling. He called me all type of names, calling me soft and this and that. And at the time, you know, I'm pissed about it, obviously, but like, that right there really, like, drove me to, like, literally, like, just be the best every time I'm out on the field. Because this one dude called me a soft mf and I like. And it's like that kind of like stuck me the whole way, but. And they like, I really appreciate him for, like, man, coach Jeff sims, like, he was on last chance. You. If you guys watch it, he's one of those hard, tough coaches. And like, I told him, man, I agree. I really appreciate you, man. You. You show you got something out of me that I never thought I had in me in a sense, because, like, playing at Miami, northwestern, you know, we was always praised. We was always hyped up and stuff like that. Never really got yelled at as a. As a player and stuff like that, because I was always, you know, a good. I guess I would say, but that Moment right there kind of like told me like, oh no, like, nah, this is something like you gotta, you gotta pick your. Pick your up and like, go bro.

[Sherm]

Like you gotta, you got nothing else just to prove this, Coach.

[Lavonte David]

In a sense, yeah. I don't want to say that, but in a sense it was like that.

[Sherm]

I feel like we've all got, we've all got situations where it's like one guy said one thing.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And it might have just been another day to him, but like that was the one thing that's like, like, oh, I'm 10 years from now, he's going to realize how dumb he sounded from that moment right there.

[Will Compton]

But.

[Lavonte David]

But it was all coming from like a good place, you know, knowing if, you know, if you get a chance to know him. Like, he does that to all, like almost all his plans. But I just took it personal just because like, I guess I wanted to take it personal. Like I didn't want to be there in the first place. Like, I was jealous, obviously, because all my boys went to bit schools. I felt like I was good enough to go to a bit school. And I'm here stuck at a juco and you know, at like, like just being there and just going through that is just kind of like draw me to a different level.

[Will Compton]

Of all the things that it's like what was like a reflective moment after. Yeah, bro, you retiring everything else, like all the things you accomplished. And what goes into Levante's head is I proved that. Yeah.

[Sherm]

Which I feel like is like one of the best mentalities you can have.

[Lavonte David]

But the thing is like, bro, he's one of my biggest fans, you know what I'm saying? Like, he's one of my biggest fans. Like, I got a lot of respect for Jeff Singers, man. He's definitely a respectable guy. And like I was one of the leaders on that team. It's like he just drove me out of my comfort zone. And me being an 18 year old, 19 year old kid, I didn't, you know, my first time out of Miami, like, I didn't, you know, I was one of the, you know, the best players on the team. Like, and it's just like he just drove me to a different level and that just stuck with me throughout, you know what I'm saying? Obviously, as I got older, I went through college and stuff like that. I learned different things, but that kind of was like one of the most driving forces that wanted me to like, get out there and be able to make it.

[Will Compton]

What was some of the. That you Were going through in juco Because I. I get it. Like he. He woke up something in you. Yeah. That you kind of took personal. There are a multitude of ways of, like, coaching and getting the most out of guys without just being a straight up. Yeah, but like, what were some of the stuff or the. That you was going through in juco? Are you in the. You know, BK went there. Yoshi went there.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Stanley.

[Will Compton]

Stanley.

[Lavonte David]

It just. Bro, like the food. The food wasn't. Wasn't good. Like, we barely ate. You know, the town was small. You know, it was probably like three, four, maybe four restaurants and things like that. And then just the main thing was just like the whole rule. The. The main rule in juco is like, at the time, you can only have 12 out of state players on the roster. And I didn't notice. And they bring land, like, like 50 plus players from out of state. So I got to compete in battle with all these guys and then like some of my training and stuff like that. It used to be like a little rodeo arena in there. So sometimes he's going there and have to wrestle guys in your position group and things like that. And.

[Sherm]

Hell yeah, dude.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

You had to wrestle down.

[Sherm]

Just open the gates and two guys in, like, whichever one comes out, it's got a spot in the team.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, man.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, it was really eat very much food. They just had us, like in this room. We had to wrestle.

[Lavonte David]

It was. It was brutal, bro. It's a. It's a bunch of stories, man. But it. It is definitely.

[Will Compton]

What's the craziest, bro?

[Lavonte David]

The craziest.

[Will Compton]

Now that you're out of it, like, are we talking? You got me thinking it's like a dark night where he breaks a stick. He's like, all right, one of you guys are going to walk out of the joker. Yeah, bro.

[Lavonte David]

I remember one time we. In spring and we had. We were doing conditioning the spring, we had to run five miles. Like, we just thinking it's regular condition, right. The whole team running. And we had to run five miles to this, like, this little lake or whatever. And you know, we get to the lake and we like, okay, we. We here and we think everybody's just gonna, you know, get a ride back or we're gonna find our way back. And we get there, he give a little speech and it was like, okay, now here we go. I'm gonna point out each guy, you gotta battle a certain guy, you gotta wrestle a certain guy, and that guy gets a ride back.

[Will Compton]

Something like, what, the five miles? Yeah, five Miles. Yeah. Everybody gets there, he gives a speech. Yeah. All right, now we're gonna go one on one.

[Lavonte David]

One on one. And whoever wins get a ride back on the truck.

[Sherm]

No.

[Lavonte David]

Yes. Yes, bro.

[Sherm]

You know, there's one kid on that team that was like a Allstate wrestler. He's like, I'm getting this right back. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yes, it is. And I. I remember this guy for his last name was Sanchez. He played safety for us, and he was a wrestler. And you could tell, like, he was ready for it. And he. He played safety. He. He ended up winning. He ended up getting that ride back. And did I win in my group? Did I win? I don't know.

[Will Compton]

And it was kind of weird, cuz,

[Lavonte David]

like, you going against dudes who, like, you're really, like, you tight with your homeboys?

[Sherm]

You know, he didn't win. You know, he telling this story. If he would have won, he would have.

[Will Compton]

He knew I got that ride back.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I believe I did win. I mean, I hit up Coach S to ask him, but I think. I think I did win, bro. It's just so much stuff.

[Will Compton]

What happened to the guys who didn't win. They had to walk back.

[Lavonte David]

You had to walk back. We'll meet you back up at. At the facility.

[Sherm]

You remember that walk?

[Will Compton]

But, yeah, bro, I'm just thinking about some of these. The stories that you'd hear in juco and stuff that people like, you know, that. That, like, stuff like that's found out in real time right now. Like, that's. That's. Yeah. So viral.

[Sherm]

Even like, last chance, you. You'd watch that and be like, jesus Christ.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Like somebody had their phone out when. When coach was giving the speech. When they're at the lake. We just ran five miles on this with this, right?

[Sherm]

Exactly. Someone's on live. Yeah, exactly. That would be absolutely nuts. Was that when you first got there?

[Lavonte David]

This is my second year there.

[Sherm]

Second year there.

[Lavonte David]

That spring.

[Sherm]

That spring. So you kind of understood what the expectation was at that point. You knew what these coaches were going to do.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I kind of, like, had a good freshman year and I became like, emerged as a leader or whatever. And then, like, from then point that point on, it's like all eyes on me. Like, what I'm. What I'm doing, what Vontae doing, and stuff like that. So it's like I was expected to win. Like, I was expected to do certain things. And, you know, Coach Sims pushed me that way, so I got a lot of respect for that, man.

[Sherm]

How do you feel when a Coach and a team has an expectation on you because clearly playing 14, 15 years. 14, 14 years in the league. Got 15 would have been nice.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Brooks, for your all time tackles, you

[Sherm]

can't just go get one more game in. But when you're young and whatever happens in high school that makes you have to go the juco route and you're kind of being thrusted into a position because you came from a high school that had a lot of great players, or it's like, this is the guy everyone needs to watch. The expectation is on him. The coaches expect it. And the players are. Now there's players that are watching, watching you and admiring you. But there's also players that are watching me like, man, Lavonte, I am just as good as him because there's always that, like, yeah, you know, the, the. Was it. The thief of joy is comparison.

[Will Compton]

Comparison.

[Sherm]

And so like when you're going through that, which essentially is like the first time, right. What is it like for you going into your second year with all those expectations on you? Was that level of anxiety or you're like ready to answer the bell?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

You knew this was like, I, this. I just need to get through this period of my life so I can get to essentially in Nebraska.

[Lavonte David]

Honestly, bro, I needed to get through it. So it's like one of those, like, I need to do whatever, whatever it takes to get through it. Like, I remember when, because, because the success I had my freshman year, I knew it was going to be a lot of like, knowing coach Sims and the staff that he put together, I knew it was going to be a lot on me. So I remember like going through that summer, that first summer, and I was crawling, you know, bawling my eyes out, couldn't finish the condition test. Like, the first thing I did as soon as I got home during the break was just ran. It was a block of how I stayed on the street. So I ran a block like five miles every day. Like, I ran not five miles, but I ran around the block maybe like four times every day. And you know, my homeboys could attest to this. Like, I was running just so I wouldn't go through that no more. And you know, when I got back that summer to do the same test, like, it was kind of like Sims looking at me like, okay, let's see what he got now. Let's see if he went home and did what he's supposed to do to, you know, kind of like kick this test ass. And bro, I did exactly. I was coming in first on everyone. I was, you know, killing it. And, like, mind you, as a freshman, you couldn't drink water while you're doing the test. So this time I was able to get my. So this time I was able to get my water bottle and be able to, you know, kill a test. And, like, from that point on, he kind of, like, knew that I was, like, really dedicated and focused. So he kind of, like, put that leader role on me. And, like, I kind of, like. I feel like I handled it well because just. Because, like, I wanted to get. I wanted to get in and get out of it. I didn't want to and, you know, hear his nagging, hear his bugging, you know, just be a great leader. Like, make sure everybody doing what they're supposed to do to be able to just, you know, get the. On from this man.

[Sherm]

Yeah, it's like, almost at that point, like, I gotta do. I gotta do what I'm expected to do so I don't have to hear any noise from anybody.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Sherm]

Which essentially is just breeding into a better leader.

[Lavonte David]

Exactly, exactly.

[Will Compton]

Probably feels like you're just in prison. You're just like, I gotta get the.

[Sherm]

Sounds like he's prison. All right, here we go, fellas. We're gonna fight.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, you have a wind.

[Sherm]

Gets. Gets a ride home. Dude's like. He's in holes.

[Will Compton]

Hey, we got our condition test, freshman. If you're a freshman, you get no water.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Like, giving everybody the heads up before

[Will Compton]

just to go to Nebraska and. What? You failed the beep test, right?

[Lavonte David]

Shut the hell up. But, yeah, I did feel it.

[Sherm]

Hey, that's crazy.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Fail the beat test.

[Lavonte David]

I failed the beat test, bro.

[Will Compton]

It's so funny, too. Like the. The. The brain firing on this episode right now. We talked about this on the. When we were on Zoom last time.

[Sherm]

Yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

Oh, no.

[Sherm]

But we didn't talk to this much depth because I'm just trying to really, like, I'm trying to reflect.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sherm]

It's trying to reflect and have fun.

[Lavonte David]

The beat, like.

[Will Compton]

Because I failed that too.

[Sherm]

Did you really?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I didn't. I know.

[Sherm]

You said that on the Zoom.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. I didn't know what the beat test was.

[Lavonte David]

I didn't know what to expect. I just thought, like, beep, Just go take them. I didn't know it was a strategy behind it. Like, once I'm doing it, like, I'm looking back at guys, I'm like, why the jogging? Like, I gotta, you know, get. Coming from Juco. What I went through, I'm Like, I gotta kill this. But that's not the perfect. That's not the great strategy when you're running the beat test. You gotta start off slow, have a good pace, and, you know, I kind of like overthought it and, you know, next day I had to do it again. And I killed it that time, so I was good.

[Sherm]

That anxiety, though, when you don't do well on a test and you have to do it again or when you do a test the first time, you know, it was just. It was a. And when we would do 300 tests at Michigan.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Like, I knew I would pass the test. But the day we're doing the test, like that morning, you're like, yeah, 300. 300 yard shuttles with Rich Rodriguez. We would do 25 and back, which kills murder, bro. You do two of those. So then when we had. Because that was Mike Barwis and then it was Aaron Wellman, and we would have the test, but it'd be 60 and back.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

So it'd be down, back, down, back down. That's how I was it in my head. I was like, down, back, down, back, down. That last three is easy because you say it faster.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And that's like how, like, my brain would, like, process it. Like, down, back. That's the hardest part. That was down. It's way faster. But, like, it would be like, they would give you a longer break, like a two and a half minute rest. And you would think to yourself, like, oh, my lungs feel great. But that last, that second 300, your leg is. Because of the break, your legs are just dying or dudes are falling out. And then I had this. I mean, it clearly was ego, but, like, I am not gonna let these guys know that, like, my legs hurt.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And I would walk over to guys, I'm like, what the are you doing? Stand up. Like all the things. But in my brain, like, I would do anything to lay down right now.

[Lavonte David]

I remember I did that one time. My boys had it in the league. They had it for their condition testing league. And I just did it with them just to do it. And they was doing 50 and back. And I'm like, bro, this is. Y' all got. Bro, this is crazy.

[Sherm]

Yeah, bro.

[Will Compton]

Some of the conditioning tests out there are wild. Like, we would have it either be three three hundreds or six one hundred fifties on the shuttles.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And like, this would just be in the part of our workout program. And then, you know, you know when you have like the four hour window in OTAs. Yeah. When you're in kind of phase one.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

But we would do all of our stuff on the field. We do our field work, then do conditioning, where. Let's just say it was the six 150s. You do six 150s with 25 yard back increments using the NFL. Yeah, bro. Our first strength coach was a psychopath.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And then they called it, they coined it, they made this up. Like now that I've talked with like all the boys back in Washington, like this was made up, but they called it, it Russian volume training. To where say we do all of our on field workouts, we do our conditioning of like the six 150s would be the conditioning or three 300 yard shuttles. And then you know, you have that window of like 20 to 30 minutes to go back in the locker room, pound a shake, do whatever. And then you're in the weight room to do weight room stuff. And then right after that we'd have like a Russian volume training day to where you're squatting and It'd be like 12, 10 sets of 12, 10, 8. Then you go back up to 10, down to 8, down to 6, 6 sets of squats. Like volume training.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And where you're, you're not like when you. We came from Nebraska, like Dobson, you had everything kind of mapped out. Like what you want one RM was.

[Sherm]

Dobson's a hell of a coach.

[Will Compton]

Everything mapped out to where there's a, there's a science, there's a goal for everything that you're doing with. When I was in Washington my first year, there was no, there was no, none of that. You basically just get on the rack that has 315 or work out on the rack that has 225. And then you and the, a few of the boys would add whatever you want to add. So you're just in there dying, bro. Yeah, first year I got like tendonitis in both knees at Achilles tendonitis. Later in the year I bet like we. And on practice squad we'd have Saturdays where you go in early in the morning. Yeah, early in the morning, bro. And we'd be having to push heavy ass sleds carrying stuff over our head, head like row the boat type. It was brutal. Our conditioning test for that particular strength coach, I won't out his name but,

[Sherm]

but you can look it up.

[Will Compton]

Our conditioning test was, it was like 10 to 12 full gassers and in between each gasser you'd have a minute rest. But 45 seconds of the minute rest, you'd have to plank. So you'd run the gas and then you get on the sideline, you get down in a plank position for 45 seconds. Then he lets you know when it's 15 seconds up, you stand up and get ready to run a gasser again. I'd be in Missouri with my brother Wyatt. Wyatt would be timing me because I was so stressed about this condition test. I'm thinking this is it. You don't, I mean, you guys know you don't make the condition test. Like they'll weed you out, right?

[Lavonte David]

For sure.

[Sherm]

Especially in college when you first get to college. Like that winter conditioning.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

That's just. Hey, all the new introductory guys that came in for winter, like the freshman, they're going to find out who really wants it and happen to just be a stray that's taking place as well. Like you're like a junior. Like what the is happening?

[Will Compton]

Would there be like 350 or there'll be all these plates on the prowler. And we get in and this is a Saturday morning one for the P squad guys. You start in the end zone, you go all the way down the, the goal line, like the hash line, all the way from one sideline to the other and you do a snake. So every five yards you had to like take a plate off and you're pushing the prowler all the way till you get to the 50 yard line and then you like lighten something. I would do something, something to where you come back and it was this the league. This is the league, bro.

[Sherm]

That's just crazy.

[Will Compton]

One Saturday morning was called 14 different ways to pass out. So then it'd be stuff with belt, with the belt on you where you're doing the, the little, the weight behind you where you're running or you're back pedaling or you're lunging with 135 pound bar. Yeah, pushing the prowler.

[Lavonte David]

That's the rest of my juco.

[Will Compton]

Like you get the 135 pound bar after you. Like you did lunges all the way. 50 yards. Yards, yeah. These sit on the ground, you have a little bit of rest, but then you have to situate yourself to do four floor press. And we're on the Astroturf, but get it up on you. You're doing floor press for an amount 14 different ways to pass out.

[Sherm]

Was that harder than Nebraska? Yes, to me there was telling me like legit. Like I remember that in college, like those insane over the top like, like admission we would do winter like during our winter conditioning, when we just came back from winter break or the bowl game or whatever, we would have the 5AMs and you'd walk outside, and the anxiety of the whole team would take place because there'd be cones in there. They had, like, stations.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And there'd be cones in one area. You don't know exactly. Like, you see a bunch of cones, you don't know exactly what you're doing. Then there'd be, like, mats, which is the towel and tape around it, and another mat with tires.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And you would literally go. And they're like. You and I would lay next to each other, and we would both hold the towel, and it's like, they're gonna blow the whistle, and whoever comes up with the towel is the winner. I remember being a freshman, and, like, we were on our. We were on the side. There was, like, a redshirt junior. Like, he was a man. All right. I'm like, I'm 18 years old, fresh 18. This kid's 21, 22. He can legally drink. He can serve our country. He can do all the things. And we go on the mat, he comes up, he, like, picks me up and elbows me in the temple. And I woke up later, and the trainer's like, yeah, you got. You were knocked out. Multiple dies on purpose. I don't know. I really don't know. But I do know that, like, that winter conditioning was. You just be dead after it, bro.

[Will Compton]

What's your knockout? Knockout number? Three.

[Sherm]

Four.

[Will Compton]

Four, though.

[Sherm]

I've always had that.

[Will Compton]

I personally, I feel like. Because with Dobson. Yeah, like, we'd have you. Whether it's called county fair gpp, like, yeah, there'd be those days for sure. Yeah. But I feel like in the NFL, the, like, science and structure behind it was. There was no real science behind it versus just, like, killing the guys, like, in college. I feel like there is a method to that madness with having those hard days, especially in the winter time. Because we wouldn't condition with Dobson throughout winter training.

[Lavonte David]

We'd start conditioning with the coaches and stuff, right?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah. We do, like, drills, like, football drills with the coaches. But as far as, like, quarters, all the conditioning stuff, that was mainly the summertime where you'd ramp up, up. There would always be. Again, there would always be a goal to something. Whereas when I'm experiencing this for my first year in the NFL, I'm like, yo, this is different, bro.

[Sherm]

Right. Trying to scare you out of it.

[Will Compton]

And I'm thinking, yo, this is stupid. You know what I mean?

[Sherm]

No, I'm with you.

[Will Compton]

Like, as somebody who goes through a program, like you have somewhere with all, like, okay, you're gonna get. You go from college to the NFL, we're gonna get even better trainers, we're gonna get even better strength and conditioning program. Then you find out fairly quickly, like, it ain't like that at all.

[Sherm]

No, not all strength coaches are created equal.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Yeah. What were you saying about your rookie year?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, my rookie year was in a sense, like we had a new head coach coming in. It was like we kind of like our rookie class was kind of like test dummies in a sense.

[Will Compton]

Oh, you had Shiano that year? Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

So like our rookie class was kind of like a test dummy in a sense. So it was like essentially like, it just felt like I went from college and can, like, continue on my college career when we came in and like this, the things that we did. Like this. When I first ran a 300 yard shuttle, everybody failed, which was. It was crazy. And then I remember we had to do gassers. Did gassers. And then at the end, we had to get a 45 pound plate and push them, like, push them across the field, like plate pushes and stuff like that. And then it was in that same little area. We had to do lunges across, like, we push it to the hash, then we get the barbell and we got to do lunges across to the other half. And bro, like, when I say brutal, like those stuff was brutal, but it's like, I'm coming straight out. So it's kind of like it felt like, okay, this is what the league was supposed to be. You know what I'm saying? Like, I would say probably like my. Until. Until B.A. got there, until B.A. got to the Bucks, I would say, like, that's the first time I really felt like it was a NFL vibe. You know what I mean? Like, from what I hear from you,

[Will Compton]

you're saying when BA Came that with BA you felt like it was a real NFL.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, like, that's in a sense, like when I. All the stories used to hear about how I used to be, like how practice used to be and how things used to be and stuff like that. That's when I felt like when people was telling me those stories, like, oh, this house supposed to be in the league. You know what I'm saying? And I remember, like, people used to come to our team, they were like, bro, I hope you go to somewhere else, but you'll get a chance to feel how it is to be in an NFL locker room or NFL team and stuff like that. I'm like. And then I essentially got that feeling when BA came.

[Sherm]

Yeah. Isn't that crazy, though? Because a lot of people tell me that at the time, fight ensued. My first few years, they'd be like, man, if you just go somewhere else. Yeah, it's the real NFL.

[Lavonte David]

Right, right, right. This is.

[Sherm]

This is. This is the NFL. Because the experiences you guys had your rookie year. Like, I remember going to my rookie year so stressed out about rookie mini camp and all that stuff. And then we get to him like, this is the easiest thing ever. Like, we would do conditioning.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And like, during OTAs, like that Thursday, Steve Waterson, we played like, ultimate football where we, like, we would draft teams and then we would just have some food. Yeah. We'd have a blast. You'd be like, obviously tired after, like, you got conditioning.

[Will Compton]

Right.

[Sherm]

But I was like, the NFL kind of. And then you go 2 and 14. You're like, maybe we should do something different. Maybe we should lift more.

[Will Compton]

Maybe we're. We weren't doing the wrong.

[Sherm]

Because. Yeah. Everyone's like, I remember being like, my rookie year in the media. Be like, what do you. How do you think this team's gonna be this year? I'm like, I think we're gonna be great. And I literally have no idea. But looking back, like, we were gonna suck always. We never had a chance with a team at all.

[Lavonte David]

You had a 214 season.

[Sherm]

2 and 14 my first year, 3 and 13 my second year year. And I called the tackle before me, Michael Ruse, and I was like, dude, how did you do this for 10 years?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

This is miserable. I want to be done now. It gets better. You just got to win.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

The next year we went nine and seven and it was like, well, you. I thought I won the Super Bowl. I was like, the NFL.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Is the best. So that's why I really started to enjoy it.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

But you're. When I'm listening to you talk about, like, lifting and coaches and, like, programs, your and I's brain are similar. Like, the coach is going to tell you what to do, and you're not. You're just going to go do those things.

[Will Compton]

Just don't do it. This dude's brain over here is like,

[Sherm]

what is the method? Like, how. What's the process in which. Why am I isolating the glutes here? I remember doing. Because Dobson, obviously, I trained with him for a couple years, Right. And they're like, Rex was into the French eccentric work and Will. Will would essentially break down the things for me. And I'm thinking to myself, like, just put the weight on the bar. Like what are we gonna do? We're doing GPP today. It sounds like I'm gonna die today. I'm gonna earn a burger after this. Because I was like about like I was always in the camp of if you just die in the off season, you'll be fine. You'll be fine.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

So all the methods and we got to ramp you up. Like dude, just kill me so I can be born again.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

That's what I want every single year. Because we would do the gpp.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And I think my biggest claim to fame was beating Dobson's ass in gbp.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Because we would do the gpp, which I hated. I always argued against it.

[Sherm]

Will low key would always try to find a way to get out of it. And I'm like bro. Or this is it.

[Will Compton]

This is my knee swell though.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Like the good thing about I had one year gpp. So I only had one spring in Nebraska. So I only did it one time. So yeah, that was good.

[Will Compton]

But we were doing the gpp. Dobson's gpp. Not like the team like not like when do would have the guys out doing gpp.

[Sherm]

Cuz that's quarters. Right.

[Will Compton]

You do quarters. But they also had the one where it was like, I forget. General, general physical preparation is the gpp. But he had something. Remember when you like you, you'd sprint. But then there would also be a prowler station. There'd also be a, a pulling station.

[Sherm]

That was my fault because we did that with van.

[Will Compton]

We did that.

[Sherm]

There was that one like kid that was mouthing off.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. And so you were running next to him.

[Sherm]

Yeah, but they were like quarters.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah. There's also quarters involved.

[Sherm]

But that's what I do.

[Will Compton]

Striders, you do 20 yard get outs. Like you do all this where we did it with the team, but we would also do GPP with Dobson. Like Dobson would just come up with whatever his workout is that take him like an hour.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

So I never want to do anything over like 25 minutes. I'm like, that's just way too.

[Lavonte David]

That's the thing. You know when like, like when the screen coaches throw stuff at you and you're like damn, they just throwing stuff at me. Just throw us, throw stuff at us. But Darby, they actually used to do it themselves before they actually had us do it. So that's what I really like is respected about those guys. So like so in my Mind, like, if they did it, you know, I know I can do it.

[Sherm]

Right.

[Lavonte David]

I'm saying stuff like that.

[Sherm]

It's all about. Yeah, because it's all the football. It's all like ego posturing. There is that level of it that takes place. There's a great question for sure. For listeners that don't know what GPV is. What is gpp?

[Will Compton]

GPP is general physical preparation. It's foundational training designed to improve overall work capacity, strength, endurance, flexibility, preparing the body for more intense, specific training.

[Lavonte David]

That's exactly what I felt.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, man. There was one coach that I know did when you said that they would try run the gpp. Yeah, there was one coach. I forget who it was, but remember he was puking and shitting at the same time in the bathroom. They was all laughing about it like they was just. Was they was dying over the fact that I'm drawing a blank on who it was. But apparently he was in the stall afterwards puking and at the same time

[Lavonte David]

from how brutal it was.

[Sherm]

The coach.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah, he's on a staff.

[Sherm]

No, Dobson would never.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, Dust would never. Just got the bucket hat on and he'll just. Yeah, he's just ready to die.

[Lavonte David]

Rex used to kill it. Darby used to kill it. Because it was one time we walked out there early and saw them doing. Doing it.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, because we're trying to get a look.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah, I remember that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I don't know exactly who it was though.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, that's gonna drive me crazy.

[Lavonte David]

What would have been? Was it weight?

[Will Compton]

Wade never did it. You had Wade in Tampa? Yeah. Wade never did gpp. Okay, okay. What was it like with Shiano? That first. Now, I know you went through how many head coaches? Five,

[Lavonte David]

Six.

[Will Compton]

Six head coaches.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I know. Lovey, Dirk. Five.

[Will Compton]

Shiano, Lovie and Dirk. Like, what do you think about when you look back at those 10 years

[Lavonte David]

with them respectable guys? I would say for sure. Shiono. I learned. I learned a lot of football with Xiang. I'll tell you that. Shiano was one of those detail oriented coaches and like, you know, and I had to be on point just because like coming in as a rookie, I didn't find out I had the. The green dot. I was going to be the mic wearing the green dot until the Saturday before our first game. So, you know, obviously I had to be very detailed and stuff like that. I really had to understand things like that. So I learned a lot of football with Shiano and, you know, I remember like every time teams to come out in certain formations and stuff like that. We used to check to certain things to, you know, stop. That's how I kind of like understood like, like personnel and stuff like that. That's when I really try to start to understand that. And then, you know, getting Lovey going from Sean to Lovey, you know, Lovey was a, as a, as far as a coach, you know, pretty like standard, your standard coach. But like his defense, you know, what he ran was just, you know, basically cover two all the time, things like that. And it was more so like player led type thing, whereas Shiano is more so like, like his way of the highway type thing. And then Lovey was kind of in a sense the same way. But you had your certain leads to kind of like control the team and things like that. But as far as personalities though, those who's was just night and day, you know, Levy didn't curse. Levy was, you know, you know, more so chill, level headed guy. Whereas Shiono, he's, you know, fiery and things like that. And then going from two defensive coaches to an officer coach with dirt, Dirk, you know, Dirk, we had a great relationship. It was cool. But he was more, you know, offensive, you know, orientated, you know, so. So I can't. I didn't really have that day to day thing with him as much, but. And then going from those three guys and then going to B.A. it was like, damn. Like, you know, B.A. was just a dudes, a. A guy's guy, you know what I'm saying?

[Will Compton]

Like, what do you feel like BA Was so good at these, that the other ones, not that they weren't good at it, but what do you feel like BA Brought that you hadn't seen from the other ones?

[Sherm]

Tom?

[Lavonte David]

I think I would say with BA it was like BA Was more so like a player's coach. I'm saying, like, it's like his first me was like, this is your team, you know, this is you guys team. Everything that, you know, the success that we have is going to be based on you guys. Whereas the other guys are just like, like more so. Like, nah, it's going you're gonna do it my way and you this how we're gonna win. But BA Was like, it was just more so like, you know, this is your team, you know, whatever opinions you got, whatever ideas you got, run it by me. And we could, you know, make it work. And you know, that's when I say it felt like I was in the NFL. It's like BIG had an open door policy. Whatever you want to Talk about. He talk about it. Like if the players have a problem with some. We have a little, you know, a little pow wow and talk about it and, you know, get. Get everything changed. And, you know, that's what I, you know, felt the most from BA Man. Like, and he was like, like a real, like, you know, role model in a sense, you know what I'm saying? Like, he was a guy who you could go to for advice about anything, you know what I'm saying? He had all that football knowledge. BA Coached for, like, so many years. And, you know, he played in the Super Bowl. He not played, but he coached in the super bowl and things like that. He won coach of the year when he was at the coach that one time. So, you know, he just had a lot of football knowledge. And then he just was like, very old open man. It was just something that I wasn't used to, you know, being there for those first, you know, eight years. And he was just more so like a really, like a player's coach. And that's what I really like. He kind of remind me of, you know, Bo in a sense, you know, you know, how like, Bo was like, open with us and, you know, kind of get our ideas and things like that and, you know, always joking around us and things like that. But when it came to football, he held you to a certain standard, and that's what I really respect about him.

[Sherm]

Can you guys both explain to me a little bit more about Bo Pelini? Because I heard. I mean, clearly I have a Nebraska sicko that sits to my right every single week. But, like, you hear the stories about Bo and I'm hearing players coach, but I also hear him about the refs he's done. He, like, there's a lot of stuff that happened with the fan base and all these things, but you guys love them.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

So explain Bo Pelini to me in a nutshell.

[Will Compton]

You know what?

[Sherm]

Don't nutshell. There's a long form podcast. Do whatever you want.

[Will Compton]

I mean, Bo obviously, what people see, he had a screw loose like Dan Hurley. That clip's going around him kind of just getting like, going head to head with that. Like, when I see that clip, I'm like, oh, that's some. He's got some polinium. Bo just had that fire. But I think with Coach Bo, you just knew that he cared. Yeah, a lot. Like, you know what I mean? He never cared about the politics game. Now it's like when I look back on Bo as a head coach at Nebraska, some things that he didn't do well. That you kind of need to do as a head coach is when you're, like, connecting with the fan base, connecting with boosters, going to all the dinners, like, doing the kind of like a political game you're gonna have to play.

[Sherm]

Dude was truly just ball.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, Bo Just love fucking ball. And you knew he'd. He'd die for you. Yeah. And everybody kind of felt that even though he was hard on us. Yeah. Like, he held this. The standard was always a standard. Right. But the dude was just always about process. He was about going to class. He was a. You're gonna have your shirt tucked in. You're gonna do all these little things. But there's a. He would always explain why he's doing right, right. Right to where. You always just kind of knew that, like, looking back on all the head coaches I have, like, having him as our. As our college football coach, you just felt like he went about the right way. You kind of look back and you're like, damn. There. There was a. He always had, like, a method and a standard laid out for everything. So when he was losing his mind or was doing all this stuff, like, yeah, he kind of black out during games and go off on you. But you always knew that it was coming from the right place.

[Lavonte David]

And it's like this right here. He defended. It's like, I look at it like he defending us.

[Will Compton]

Us.

[Lavonte David]

You know what I'm saying? Like, he's cursing people out and stuff like that, but it's on our behalf, like. Like, you know, taking our side, taking having our back and things like that, and. And, like, it showed, you know what I'm saying? Even like, outside of football, you know, the way he used to holla at you, talk to you, say, what's up with you? You know, just, you know, actually about your family and things like that. So like most cultures, you know, when you come in, they'd be like, okay, you hear like, that's it. Like, you don't really hear from him, from stuff like that. But, yeah, with Bo, man, it was. It was bigger than that. You know, I got a lot of respect football.

[Will Compton]

It was like Coach Bar, I remember one time, because he'd lose his. Over people missing class. Yeah. He called people out, they stand up. He kind of embarrass them. But I remember, like, going into the facility one day, and I was, like, walking next to him, you know, I had kind of that fear, that anxiety.

[Sherm]

I feel like every head coach should have.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

And I kind of mess with him like, why you always get so worked up over class? And I'm kind of, like, laughing. But he kind of joked, but he. He stopped and he, like, turned around and had a conversation with me. And he was just like, look, man, you don't just show up on Saturdays. Like, you're either all the time person or you're none of the time person. There is no sometimes, like, if I have to hold your hand to go to class, when I'm here, we're here to coach and win football games. He's like, it's never about the result. It's not about. He's like, wins and losses. Do we want. Yes, we want them. But in my brain, if you go about the process the right way, the win column and everything else will take care of itself if you focus and dive into the little things.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And so to me, if I feel like I have to babysit you guys to go to class, like, I'm doing a disservice for everybody that's in the room. And he was like, when I know that everybody's going to class and doing the right thing, I know that we're going to get the most out of practice that day. I just remember it kind of being like an aha moment. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I'm like, okay, he's not just some sicko class. Like, he's like, there's like, thought behind it. There's the why. Like, there's all that stuff to where he always had it.

[Lavonte David]

It. You kept that to yourself. That's something good to know.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Dude. Is that something that, like, your perspective above both of yalls perspective above. Would the majority of the people that played with you guys, would they have the same perspective of him as well?

[Will Compton]

I think so.

[Lavonte David]

I would. I would say so. And there's some people that he was really, really hard on who may think otherwise. But, you know, just outside looking in, man, just understanding the process, what he was trying to do, what he was trying to get out to. Like, what he said. Like, that. That.

[Sherm]

That.

[Lavonte David]

That means a lot. Like, I didn't know that. Like, he said that. I'm like, yeah, damn. Like, that mean he really care about. You know what I'm saying?

[Sherm]

Yeah. When he's breaking it down, you're kind of like, yeah, he is right.

[Will Compton]

Like, when he was su. Like, he might have done it on the. When he was with us on the bus, but he was super hard on me for a lot of different points. And on the pot, he was saying, like, I knew I could be hard on You. Because you would take the coaching.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And I'm thinking, like, yeah, I mean, I would internalize it, but he'd keep me up at night because something. I'm kind of failing or, like, letting you down. I remember those. But he'd be like, if I knew if I could be hard on you in front of other guys, and other guys saw you being receptive to it, it would help me coach other guys a certain way.

[Sherm]

Right.

[Will Compton]

And I'm thinking to myself, man, if I would have just known that I would have you, I would have slept easier at night. But it's like, unless you go and have a conversation with them about it, I guess you can kind of build up your own assumption of, like, man, why is he being such an.

[Lavonte David]

And that's what a lot of guys, like, kind of shy away from. Like, even today, like, when guys, like, get. Get yelled on, that. Yelled at about a coach and stuff like that, some dudes kind of, like, shy away and like, oh, this coach. Don't mess with me, man. And just run away from.

[Will Compton]

Instead of taking personal.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, taking it personal. Instead of going out there, having a conversation, okay, Yelling at me. What do you see that I'm not doing right? You know what I'm saying? And I feel like if guys do that more often, I think they have a better perception of their coach and things like that. Because, like, I honestly feel like there's no coach out there that's not. That don't want you to succeed. You know what I'm saying? Like, some people may have the other opinions, but I feel like if a guy's coaching, he wants you to see because, like, your success is his success.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Like, I feel like, you know, when you actually, like, sit down and talk to a coach and just try to understand, like, what it is that I really need to be doing to, you know, get better and stuff like that. How can you help me? I think dudes have a different perception of coaches because it was a long time I didn't trust coaches right? Until, like. Until honestly, like. Like, eck kind of like, got me out of that shell. And, yeah, going from egg to Ls, like, those dudes was really, like, you know, pretty cool, good dudes. You know what I'm saying? So that's when I kind of really, like, understand, like, okay, we all in this together, right?

[Will Compton]

And Coach Bo would also address, like, when he come into the team, obviously, I've told the story about him coming to the team meeting after the Michigan game. If everybody had half the heart that Levante David did, because you had 17 tackles that game.

[Sherm]

It was more.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, probably more. 20 something. But Bo would also come in, and again, this kind of played to his Achilles heel of everything. But he would know what's being said. He would know that it could affect guys. Maybe not at the level that guys kind of scroll their name and see all the stuff being said about him, but he would know people are saying to where he'd be like, everybody outside of these, like, he'd have more of like a. A rallying speech for everybody who's sitting in that room. If we just had a bad game, like, one game, we lost to Iowa State. We shouldn't have lost to Iowa State. We lost, like, like 9 to 7 or 13. 9 or something. Rex might have had a fumble. I want to say maybe Niles. I remember Niles was getting, like, death threats from fans, and Bo would almost talk about it out loud and then talk about, like, up all of them. Like, it's us. It's us versus everybody else. Which, looking back, you. You see all the games that get played for head coaches, it's like, okay, I can see how he kind of. Fans had a. Now everybody, I feel like, in the fan base appreciates him, but when he was leaving or when he got fired, there was kind of a. A. A division between, like, the team and the fan base at times, because it'd be like, Bo would also be on the podium, be like, you want to fire me? Fire him? Yeah.

[Sherm]

He'd be like, yeah, he won the Dabo Sweeney game.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, he's just got that Youngstown Mafia vibe to him, bro.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, man.

[Sherm]

Like, yeah, but you can pull that guy over and be like, hey, I love all the things you're saying about this, the team, like, and I love it. Keep that up. But, like, you also have to play the game out here, right?

[Will Compton]

And he. He never gave a fault.

[Sherm]

He never gave a fuck.

[Will Compton]

He just. He cared about ball. He cared about the guys.

[Sherm]

What you said a little bit ago, like, I used to not trust coaches.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

What? Like, where. Why was that a starting point for you as a player? Because a lot of us, you kind of thrust in, whether it's your parents saying it to you or you just see this authoritative figure. You're like, this person knows more than me. Kind of like being a kid, like, you think your parents know everything. Then you get older, be like, oh, they have issues. Just like we all have issues.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

So for me, as a kid, like, I would look at my coaches and. And be like whatever they say, essentially they're the word of God. Essentially. Why for you was it like, I didn't trust coaches until, until this, this Nebraska coaching staff because I just thought

[Lavonte David]

like, they was out when most coaches like, be out for themselves, you know what I'm saying? Instead of just like, you know, like, like when coaches get on you and stuff like that. Like, that's when I really, like, I didn't care, you know, I didn't care for coaches and stuff like that. But when you like actually like sit down and, you know, talk to them and kind of like get an understanding of like what they doing, why they going by where they go, why they going by what they doing, kind of like and skid a real like, idea of, you know, why they doing what they doing and you know, why they want to. Want you to be successful so bad and stuff like that. And then it's like, sometimes you'd be like, you know, you're just doing this because it's your job. Yeah, your job. That's your job. You have to be my coach or whatever. But do you really care? You know, I really want, like, I didn't know they really cared enough. Not.

[Will Compton]

Some coaches don't. Yeah.

[Sherm]

You know what I mean?

[Will Compton]

Like the hard part.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

If you like, you're asking that question. I wonder why you don't trust coaches. I'm just thinking when I watch the documentary Year of the Bull, which is Miami, Northwestern, some of the coaches operate. I'm like, yeah, I can see how there could be some trust issues.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Or you hear about some of the, you know, I don't know, Coach Sims, but I'm thinking of all of the stories that I'm hearing. It's like, yeah, there's, there's so many ways that you can inspire and motivate guys where it wouldn't come off. Like, hey, maybe you could, could do it this way.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Versus like kind of just making all the boys fight.

[Lavonte David]

Right. I mean, as an 18, as an 18, 19 year old at that time, you don't know, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, this could just be an, you know what I'm saying? But from afar, just outside looking, as you get older, you understand, like, you kind of see, okay, like this dude was trying to push me to be my best. And that's why like now, like, I kind of finally got over all that stuff. And like, you know, as I got older, I finally got over and I'm like, yeah, I respect that guy. Like that, that's, that's good. Like, he, in a sense, helped me get to where I'm at right now, so.

[Sherm]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

Having that perspective, but also it's like, would you take some of these formulas that you learned back then? Would you use them if you were a head coach?

[Lavonte David]

No. No.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Because in your brain, you can. You think. Like, there are ways that you can inspire, motivate without. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Like, as like playing football. You know, I learned how to become a certain type of leader. You know, I learned how to. To adapt to certain players. I learned how to talk to certain people. And that's something that I kind of, like, learned throughout. Like, coming in as a rookie, you know, I was quiet, honest, like, trying to learn and, you know, just being. Doing what a rookie does. Just sit back and stand behind the scenes. But I was kind of, like, thrust in that role because I was. Had the green dot and guys had to listen to me and guys had to talk to me, and guys have to, you know, kind of like, understand the same page that I'm on and stuff like that. So I was kind of like. So what I did was just kind of like, get a sense of, like, knowing, you know, each player, each guy who I, you know, work with and stuff like that. So, you know, that's why I always say, man, like, it just. Me. It always just thought about being a great person first. You know, that's how you can, like, get to know people and then kind of like, understand how to, you know, communicate with them on a different level and stuff like that. Because, you know, this league, man, you. You. You. You meet so many different guys, you know, different types of, you know, different walks of life. And, you know, some dudes used to being taught to this way, some dudes used to being taught to this way. And, you know, that's why I just make it my, you know, make it a. A personal emphasis. It's really just get to know people because, like, I'll try. I'm gonna need you. I'm a leader. I'm gonna lean on you when we on the field. So, like, that's the way I can, like, hold you accountable and you can hold me accountable as well. Like, if I know you're not doing what you're supposed to do, I could talk to you a certain kind of way. Some dudes like to get yelled at. Some dudes don't like to get yelled at. But whether I'm yelling or not, you could really understand. I mean, when I'm saying that, I'm like, like, you kind of like, feel a sense of like, okay, now I gotta get. I gotta get my together because Vonte's depending on me.

[Sherm]

You know what I'm saying?

[Lavonte David]

Stuff like that.

[Will Compton]

Throughout your career, was there because how many losing seasons did you have for. Started to turn around for you?

[Lavonte David]

Eight.

[Will Compton]

Eight seasons. Was there ever a moment in those eight years that you're kind of like, I need to go somewhere else or I maybe I don't want to play as long as I'm 1 2. Because of how just. Just much the losing can weigh on you or from the organization or culture standpoint, like all the coaching changes, like, ah, maybe I need a different. I need a different scene.

[Lavonte David]

For sure, bro. After the 2018 season, we went 5 and 11. It was dirt Cutter was our head coach. They ended up finding dirt and it was about to be, you know, this is going to be my fourth head coach. And I'm like, where were you at on your deal? What was I. I signed my deal in 20. It was on my. My fourth year of my deal. Third or fourth year of my deal.

[Will Compton]

Was it the last year?

[Lavonte David]

It wasn't? No getting more guaranteed money. I know that.

[Will Compton]

Okay, so.

[Lavonte David]

Okay, yeah.

[Will Compton]

All right. That's what I'm trying to fit.

[Sherm]

Okay, so the only thing that mattered, right?

[Will Compton]

So, like, if you wanted to make a move, this would be a time. Yeah. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

So I remember I hit my agent up and Jason, like the gm, I'm telling him, like, maybe it's time for me to move. I think you guys probably should just release me a trade because I don't want to go through a. Another culture change. And, you know, past history shows that, you know, that hasn't been pretty good for this organization. But they ended up hiring BA and, you know, Jason Compton is like, man, I know you want to, you know, do these things, but, man, just give it a try. I think you'll love this guy. I'm like, I don't know, man. Like, it's a new coach coming in, it's a new defense. I played four through my whole career. We move into a three, four. So I don't know how fit in and that, you know, I'm not the ideal 43 linebacker. You know, stuff like that. And then I ended up talking to BA he was like, man, you know, we want you to stick around and we want you. We know we. We're going to turn this thing around for you and we want you to be the foundation piece of this turnaround. And, you know, and then I'm like, man, I don't know, coach, man. Like, the defense stuff. The defense stuff. I don't know if I'll be able to, you know, grasp that. I'm used to being, you know, a 4:3 defense. I know how to play in the 4:3 and stuff like that. And he was like, man, trust me, you're gonna love coach bowls. He's the type of. Type of coach that you want. And I talked to Coach Bowles, he said, man, like, ain't nothing gonna change. You still going behind three technique, you attacking style. And the first meeting, fell in love with it, bro. I was like, oh, this might work for real. So I loved it, but that's the time that I really thought about, you know, really leaving Tampa.

[Will Compton]

But when you're having those initial meetings, things in your brain, how much were you mentally, like, I'm going somewhere else? Like, were you close? Were you having conversations with other teams?

[Lavonte David]

No, because I was still on the contract. I didn't have a chance to, so. But, like, when I.

[Will Compton]

But anything with your agent?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, no, not with my agent. He tell me, like, he was just saying, like, you know, Jason, them. They want to talk to you. They say this would still be. This would be a good, you know, change. Like, this is what y' all need. I'm like, man, I don't know. I don't know if this, you know, it's gonna work for me and stuff like that. But he ended up, you know, convincing me, and it all worked out, bro. So. But it's like, I didn't have a chance to really, like, talk to other teams or hear him talked about other teams, stuff like that, because they ain't let it get that far. Yeah. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

When you're going through your first free agency, were you ever close to going somewhere else?

[Lavonte David]

My first free agency, for real, was 2023 or after 2022 season.

[Will Compton]

Damn. They locked you up?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, after the 2022 season.

[Sherm]

And then for a while.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I was gonna say 2000s.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. That's what I did. Kind of, like hear from other teams for the first time. Like, I was trying to go to Miami, to be honest, like, I wanted to, because I felt like I was finishing up my career. I had retirement on my mind back then, and I'm like, you know, it would be great if I could go home and play for the dollar. And I had a conversation with those guys, but the money wasn't. They wasn't talking about the right price. So I was like, nah, I'm okay. And then it was a point where the San Francisco reached out, Buffalo reached out, Cleveland reached out. So probably more teams. But, you know, once, honestly, like, once, like, I didn't have a chance to, you know, go back home and play, I was like, fuck it. I go back. I'm going back to town. Tampa.

[Sherm]

Did the money ever get to a certain point with these other teams like Cleveland, San Francisco, or Buffalo?

[Will Compton]

Or, like, Buffalo, he's Levon, these guy. Like, why are they offering?

[Sherm]

Was there anybody that was offering you more than essentially the bucks were offering you?

[Lavonte David]

Nah, nobody was offering more. I think nobody wasn't really offering more because they really didn't believe that I would leave Tampa. You know what I'm saying? So they'll just probably, like, throw out a dollar amount and, like, just see he. See what he's going to do and stuff like that. So it really never got to a real negotiating type deal, but really, like, when Miami, you know, they threw. They offer out, like, oh, hell, no. I'm not. I'm not doing.

[Sherm]

Can you say what it was?

[Will Compton]

It's over.

[Lavonte David]

It's over.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, it is over.

[Lavonte David]

It was around vet minimum.

[Will Compton]

Vet minimum. No way. Like a one year, two year.

[Lavonte David]

Like a one year, one year, two, three million dollar deal.

[Sherm]

And now was that. Was that. Hold on now. Was that like a starting price? And you were just like, I'm not even having this conversation.

[Lavonte David]

I'm not having this conversation.

[Sherm]

That was the first number they threw out. And you're like, no, no, no.

[Will Compton]

We're not disrespecting too much. You're just like, all right, we're done with that.

[Sherm]

I want to go home, see my family. Like, okay, cool. How about vet minimum is like, go yourself?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, it was one of those type things. I'm like, nah, I can't do this no more. Like, God, I'm going back home, going back to Tampa.

[Will Compton]

Did you ever get close to retiring before this year?

[Lavonte David]

Yes, to be honest, I talked about it on my press conference. 2016, you know, the year my mom passed, I thought about giving it up. You know, I thought about saying just effort because, like, at that moment, it was like, my biggest source of motivation, my biggest support was gone. So it's like, what's the point of playing football anymore? You know, there's no. Like, my whole sole reason to plan was just to, like, kind of, like, get her. Get her a life that she deserves. So, you know, like, it was one of those relationships. Like, if my mom was alive, she'd probably have my whole bank account info like that. Y' all ever seen that. That clip with the soccer player and his wife divorced him and she. She couldn't get none because everything was his mom's name. No, no. I think it would have been that since with me and my mom, like, so it was like it was one of those type relationships. But it was like. Like at that moment, I'm like, man, f football, I didn't care. And like, the crazy thing about that is, though, bro, like, I had one of my at to that point. I had. That year was my worst year, but I made second team all probably, which.

[Sherm]

Really?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

That's wild.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

How long was that thought process for you in 2016?

[Lavonte David]

Oh, yeah, bro. Like, I didn't, like, kind of didn't want to go to training camp. It was like the first year that Dirt Cuddle became my head coach because 2015, we had love. We went 5 and 11. And then the next year, 2016, dirt came in. That was like the first winning season I had on it. We went 9, 7. If the new playoff rule was in at the time, we'd probably been the seventh seed. So, like, we had a chance to make the playoffs that year. But, like, I didn't care, bro. Like, I didn't even want to play football no more. For real. Like, I was just out there doing what I'm supposed to do just because I'm supposed to be doing this right?

[Sherm]

And I ended up essentially muscle memory at this point. There's some years out there.

[Lavonte David]

So, like, at the games, I'm going home, don't want to do nothing, you know, don't want to spend time with the family. Just go home. You know, usually sometimes I take the family out to eat, but I'm like, like, nah, man, we stay home, we having peace. I don't feel like doing this and this and that. So at that point in my life, you know, my career, I was kind of like really contemplating retirement and giving football up.

[Will Compton]

What turned it around?

[Lavonte David]

I'll probably say just understanding, like, my family, I have, like, you know, my family, man. Like, we have a real strong bond, like, in my. In that time, like my dad, you know, seeing him have. Going through that struggle too, and him like, kind of like just still, still, you know, being supportive of me and, like, just picking me up, being a positive role model in my life. And then my siblings, you know, them, you know, keeping me uplifted and seeing them how they're handling everything, you know, they've been positive, they've been upbeat about the whole situation. Just having them in my ear and understanding that like, you know, this is her dream for me to be able to do something that I love. And, you know, that kind of like, clicked back in my mind. Like, nah, my mama wouldn't like it if I quit. So I'm gonna just, you know, I'm just go ahead and just. Just, you know, suck it up and just find a sense of new motivation, which was, you know, it wasn't essentially a new motivation, but kind of like, moved it over just to, like, my family and my support system.

[Will Compton]

Did that come from, like a. Like a singular conversation, or was it something just over time?

[Lavonte David]

Just. I would say it was over time. Throughout the season, just seeing they still coming around, still keeping that same energy. Like, it's like. It was like, it Keeping the energy like it never happened, like my mom never passed. Just keeping that same. Same atmosphere, that same love, keeping everybody comfortable and stuff like that. So that's when I. That right there is like, when I realized, like, yeah, man. Like, you know, nobody's really, like, beat up about it. Nobody's torn apart about it. They probably have their own grieving process, what they going through, you know, personally and stuff like that. But when he used to come to the games, they just talk to me after the game. They just keep that same good energy. So that's when I kind of, like, felt like, yeah, like this would, you know, having support and having family, having love, when you go through losses is really all about. So that's how I really kind of like stuff.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Yeah, there was. Now that you're. You were mentioning that that year, you had, like, your worst year and still got second team all pro. Yeah. Now that you're on the other side. Yeah. Were you able to objectively look at your career and think, like, about how often you got snubbed?

[Lavonte David]

A lot, man.

[Will Compton]

That's.

[Lavonte David]

I'm pissed off about that.

[Will Compton]

Like, every chance.

[Lavonte David]

Every chance that I get to talk about it, because I'm in a 43 defense. I used to have to go against three, four outside linebackers, dudes who rushed the passer. And, you know, at the time, like, I ain't, you know, I ain't really care about it. I used to think, like, I just gotta be better. I gotta be better. These dudes better than me. But I remember Thomas Davis. Me and T.D. used to talk and, you know, T.D. was a 43 outside linebacker. And I remember him one time getting on the media and just talking about that stuff, and I'm like, yeah, man, you got a point, bro. Like, we be doing all this, you know, we cover. You cover. We got to make all these tackles. We got to do all these things. We play in space and stuff like that. And like, our job is hard as hell for us not to get no real recognition. It's like a. Like a true linebacker. We got to go against, you know, Von Miller and, you know, Brian Iraqpo and Ryan Kerrigan and all those guys every week. Clay Matthews, like, yeah, those guys in the nfc, man. Like. Like, I'm like, bro. That was like. I'm like, bro. They're like, that's not fair. You know what I'm saying? It's not fair at all. And, you know, I really hope they change that at some point, you know, for real, for. They need to change that. Even in the All Pro. I remember one time All Pro, TJ Watt made All Pro as a edge rusher and as a linebacker, I'm like, what the. Like, how is that? Like, that's. That's messed up.

[Sherm]

You know what I'm saying?

[Lavonte David]

Like, what about, you know, ah, us, the off ball guys? Like, like, come on. It should be different positions, bro.

[Sherm]

Same thing ever. Climack too. Clue, didn't it? Clue. Mac was like a off the ball All Pro and Edge.

[Will Compton]

Edge. Yeah, man.

[Sherm]

Like, he made the Pro bowl and All Pro for both.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Two slots.

[Lavonte David]

And the thing is, like, when they get to the Pro bowl, they not trying to be standing up late night. Like, nah, I rushed the passes. It's like, bro.

[Sherm]

And then you get to the Pro bowl, and sometimes Von Miller is in a four, three, Sam, and you're like, yo, what are you doing? I don't.

[Will Compton]

I don't know exactly.

[Lavonte David]

So it's kind of like. Is brutal, bro.

[Sherm]

How would you change the rules?

[Lavonte David]

I would probably just say stick edge. Strictly as edge. You know what I'm saying?

[Sherm]

Like, make it more. Yeah, more of a vague concept.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, vague. Just edge. If you got. If you get 10 plus sacks a year, you are strictly an ash guy. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, that's it.

[Will Compton]

Or just name it. Pass rusher. Pass rusher.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Yeah. Off the ball linebacker. You're like, bro. Like, nah. Like that is it need to be. We need to start some type of petition for that because it's crazy.

[Sherm]

I already see a flaw in your argument, though, because if you're talking about pass rushers because defensive ends are reaping the benefits of what's hurting you.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Because they're getting all pros. And because they're like, Von Miller's not. He's getting The Sam.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

He's getting a linebacker.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And these DNS that are probably have like seven, eight sacks are getting all pros. They're like, yeah, keep it going.

[Lavonte David]

I remember one year, I don't know who it was, but somebody had to kind of like sued the lead because they was considered a linebacker. But there really was a pass rusher. It was kind of like, it was

[Sherm]

kind of like the same thing happened with Jimmy Graham. What are you talking about?

[Lavonte David]

The money standpoint.

[Sherm]

Yeah. He was a tight end.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

But he was basically the number one pass catch. He's like, no, I would be paid like a wide receiver.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. The same thing like this dude was getting, getting paid or franchise as the, as a linebacker was like $12 million instead of getting paid as a pass rusher. And the pass rusher get like 18, 19 million dollars. So it's like.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Is he gonna do it like that?

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Make him a, a pass rusher and not off the ball backer.

[Will Compton]

So I thought you meant like sued the league because they were just categorized for like all Pro Bowls. Yeah. Franchise tag. Like, oh, no, you're a linebacker. Like, bro, I get double digit sacks. Exactly.

[Sherm]

That's such a wild thing to say because as an offensive lineman, you're just a left tackle.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

So. And then you see all the, the Jimmy Grahams or whoever this other individual is, it's like.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

It's crazy. You have to like kind of fight for your money.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Based on what position they're trying to put you in.

[Lavonte David]

Put you in. Yeah.

[Sherm]

Nuts.

[Will Compton]

Do you think about the hall of Fame conversation a lot?

[Lavonte David]

I think, I mean, being realistically, bro. Of course. Yeah. I deserve, I should get some, you know, some type of, you know, votes to get in. But the way it is looking like the way it really is, like they gonna go off the Pro Bowls and all pros and stuff like that. But. But if you really just sit down and watch football and study film, I really think it should go off that

[Will Compton]

and even the stats too, bro.

[Lavonte David]

That's what I'm saying. Like if you sit down.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. You can watch the tape. But even like, yeah, accolades. I, I fully get that. That's where it's like you got like busting with the boy Gerald McCoy. He's big on getting on the, on the table for you. Right. A lot of people are.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But you look at just even right outside of tape. Is even the stats on the stat sheet.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

It should feel like a no brainer. Yeah. I'm not sitting here saying it's like first bout whatever. Like as long as you're wearing a gold jacket.

[Lavonte David]

And the thing is too, though, with that though, like my guy, London Fletcher, he hasn't got no nods in it either, but I feel like.

[Will Compton]

Has Zach Thomas gotten in yet?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, he went in two years ago.

[Will Compton]

Okay. Because there are some cats, London Fletcher being one.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. So, you know, it's going to be, I mean, it's going to be a tough conversation, but I definitely feel like I should be up there because, you know, my stats speak for themselves. Like the one stat that I'm really, really proud of and it's being talked about a lot. Not like now it's the tackle for lost that like that my tackle for lost. That goes to show like, I'm a real, like, I really understand football in a sense. Like I. My instincts included to include it into like really like understanding, you know, football when to, when to attack and when to play downhill and stuff like that. And like me being the top fourth in tackle floss in the history of

[Will Compton]

the NFL, history of the games as

[Lavonte David]

they started, and being the only off the ball linebacker in the top 15, I would say, and I want to say the Nets guys, Brian Erlacher and he had like 130 something so like, it might not be touched for a very long time, you know, you never know. But like, for me to be tied fork with nothing but pass rushes and defensive tackles, I think like that definitely should be considered in that too as well.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Because in the modern era of football, like the one person they talk about having the best instincts is probably Luke Kuechley, who was a friend of the show.

[Will Compton]

Friend of the show.

[Sherm]

I love Luke. In my hand right now, I have. What is this, the 2013 NFL season comparisons between Levante David and Luke. Yeah, Both individuals played 16 games total tackles. Keakley Outdidge, you got 156. You had 145 solo tackles. You had 107. He had 102. Assisted tackles, he had 54. You had 38 sacks, you had seven. He had two tackles for loss. Luke Eagley had 12. In the 2013 season, you had 21. Quarterback hits, 11 to four. You win that. Interceptions five to four. You win that. Past defense, fat passes, defended seven to seven. Force fumbles, you had two, he had zero. Fumble recoveries, you had one. Didn't finish that other one. He had zero. Defensive touchdowns, you had two, he had 0. Both. You were first team all pro. Only one of you were a Pro Bowler.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And that was Luke Keakley.

[Will Compton]

And Luke Keakley. We got a question here from Hashtag Tier Talk West Philly Tuck. Ask him if he truly felt that he deserved the Defensive Player of the year award in 2013 when they gave it to Luke Keakley. Luke is a hell of a player. Again, friend of the show, great friend of the show, great friend of the show and had a great year, but LVD stats were ridiculously better. Had they recognized his greatness early in his career and rightfully given him that award, it would have kept him from being so criminally underrated all these years. Go look up his stats versus Luke's in 2013, which Taylor just laid out.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, that's crazy.

[Will Compton]

But is that a year you think about?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, it's definitely. I definitely think because even though I made first team all Pro, like, it's not like I didn't even get no recognition, bro. Like, I didn't get like, oh. Like, I didn't get a chance to be, like, talked about it, like, in enough in a. In a defensive player voting at all. And like, that's something that, like, now that I think about, like, damn. Like, that. That's messed up. You know what I'm saying?

[Will Compton]

Like, you weren't even in the running, like, running.

[Lavonte David]

I wasn't in none of that. So, like, like, it was like, that's kind of like, you know, kind of crazy in the sense to me maybe, because, like, that year, I want to say we went 4 and 12 that year, and we started out the season like 0 and 8 and something.

[Sherm]

That's the problem right there.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, we started out 0 and 8 and they actually was pretty good that year. I want to say they was like 13 and 3 or something that year. So they was, you know, really good, decent team, you know. You know, you talk about Luke, man. Luke. I'm a fan of Luke. You know, Luke is my guy.

[Sherm]

We're all a fan of Luke.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, we all love Luke. Great, great person. He just has to be know you using this example because he's one of the best.

[Sherm]

Unfortunately, he has to catch the hands right now about him.

[Lavonte David]

But, you know, as far as, like, me winning, you know, obviously it comes with other stuff, team success as far as winning. But the fact that I didn't get no recognition, didn't get no, like, no votes to become like, zero votes or not even talked about to be defensive player of the year, it's kind of like, you know, messed up.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, dude, it's so fascinating because it does feel like, like Pro bowl all the, like, player of the Year accolades. They get on such a pedestal where it's like All Pro. That's like. For players, like a. It's like a peak thing. But it seems like it always just kind of gets dropped and goes under the radar a little bit.

[Sherm]

Like evaluate Pro Bowl. They evaluate the NFL honor player of the Year. It's like All Pros, like technically better than Pro bowl, but people just kind of like, all right, it's a list

[Will Compton]

we all want to be on. And then it drops pops. But I feel like All Pros doesn't get used until you're being explained or like intro it on a podcast or intro on a show like all the old pros they got. So I feel like Pro bowl just gets such shine when all that stuff goes out because popularity plays into it.

[Lavonte David]

I think All Pro matters more, way more than Pro Bowls.

[Sherm]

Hold on.

[Lavonte David]

Sure. You know what I'm saying? So.

[Will Compton]

So take away from Pro Bowls, let's

[Sherm]

not take away from footballs. Let's keep those.

[Lavonte David]

You know, it's pretty cool to have a Pro bowl, but you know, the All Pros is really like. Because it's like you're the best of the best.

[Will Compton]

But promos, hey, listen, you're right and all.

[Sherm]

My only argument would be like, it's voted on by the media.

[Will Compton]

Levante doesn't know that he's. He's sitting across from a three time Pro Bowler and 0. 0.

[Sherm]

I was. I was good, not great. You're telling me right now.

[Will Compton]

You were elite.

[Sherm]

Thanks, buddy.

[Will Compton]

You were elite.

[Sherm]

I appreciate that.

[Will Compton]

Should we. Should we try and get Luke on the phone?

[Sherm]

Oh, yes. Yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

Just FaceTime him. Try and FaceTime.

[Sherm]

Hey, don't even say Levante's here. Just ask him how he feels about

[Lavonte David]

Test Message as my retirement man. I really respect that from Luke.

[Sherm]

Luke. Luke's the man, dude.

[Will Compton]

Liability in that flag football game, but obviously one of our goats.

[Lavonte David]

Obviously not a goat he gonna send you.

[Sherm]

That's crazy. While you're sending out that text, I got one from Francis Ku Cho. Ah, Junior 78. How much fun was it to little bro Will Compton every day at Nebraska?

[Will Compton]

Oh, who said that?

[Sherm]

You don't make me want to say that again. Francis Francis said that.

[Will Compton]

Come on, Francis Francis, Come on.

[Sherm]

Be nice, man.

[Lavonte David]

Will was boys, man. We used to hang out. We did a lot together, bro. Like, we did everything.

[Will Compton]

Who's big brother?

[Lavonte David]

It was like twins. It wasn't big bro.

[Will Compton]

Liberal bro.

[Sherm]

I have several videos going on right now. Can't you see that's my brother.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lavonte David]

In a sense, you were like. When you really think about. You was the annoying little bro. Yeah, the. The. I'm trying to do my homework. You want to send, you know, selfies and stuff like that. Do videos, record me all the time. I'm like, bro, why are you bothering me?

[Will Compton]

You talking about the one you was at my house?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

And he was doing your homework on the laptop.

[Lavonte David]

Laptop.

[Will Compton]

And I was like, oh, Levante loves when I take naps on him.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, you laying on my lap like, what you doing, bro?

[Will Compton]

Because we'd be roommates in the hotel together, too. And Boogie would always sing R B. And I always just catch him video recording me. He'd, like, stop and look over to, man, what you doing, man?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, that's not. So that's.

[Sherm]

That two things about. That is wild, though. Like, you recording him is kind of crazy, but you just randomly singing R and B.

[Lavonte David]

I was R B.

[Sherm]

Is that what you're gonna do after football?

[Lavonte David]

Not. I'm not going to venture in that. But, you know, I used to always, like. You know how people, like, find a little hype or whatever? Like, no, I used to listen to R B probably because I, like, I had, you know, old school parents that kind of, like, stuck with me. So I used to listen to R B a lot. And you put it on a little YouTube on this laptop. I used to use wheel laptop a lot, if y' all don't know.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, but it comes out where. Who's big bro in that situation? Situation. Levante didn't have a license, so guys had to drive him everywhere. I had to go take him. He'd be like. He'd be like, hey, big bro, can you. Can we. Can I go get my Sonic? Can I go get my Sonic now? Man, you really eating that? Like, man, I just want my chili cheese dog. Get in the car. I drive him down. He'd get his Sonic. Get his hat.

[Lavonte David]

You stay close. You stayed close to it.

[Sherm]

You let him sit in the front seat or have him sit in the back seat.

[Will Compton]

He'd be in his. He'd be in the car seat.

[Sherm]

I got. You gotta keep him safe.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, buckle him in.

[Sherm]

Yeah, okay.

[Will Compton]

Let's get you safe. Let's keep you safe. We need you this year.

[Sherm]

So no car crazy.

[Lavonte David]

No car.

[Sherm]

Do you have a license now?

[Lavonte David]

Yes.

[Will Compton]

And, bro, I even tried the big bro and be like, let's go to a parking lot and I'll teach you how to drive. And he was just too nervous to. To drive. He's just.

[Lavonte David]

And I got Comfortable with him driving me around, so. Yeah, you did.

[Sherm]

Yeah. You show. You got him to be your chauffeur.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, exactly.

[Sherm]

Were you really nervous about learning to drive in college?

[Lavonte David]

Kind of was, yeah, in a sense. Just because, like. Like I really didn't care for driving, you know what I'm saying? Because, like, all I was doing was just going from my dorm to the football facilities and class and stuff like that. Walk around and things like that. But I really got scared when they used to snow and you had that little black ice and stuff like that. So I'm like, oh, hell no. I would never drive out here, so there's no point. I'm gonna just milk old wheel over here and continue to use him, you hear?

[Will Compton]

He's like, no, I was, I wasn't scared. I just. Yeah, I never cared.

[Sherm]

I never cared.

[Will Compton]

Like, it'd be a sunshine day and I'd be like, bro, you want summer? Bro, you just want to go practice driving? Like, we'll go to a parking lot. No, no, I'm good.

[Sherm]

God, so funny.

[Will Compton]

So who was it?

[Sherm]

Have we decided who little bro was? You don't have a lot.

[Will Compton]

We can let the crowd, we can let the audience, but I think the, the record shows. But you had a nice spin. I was his chauffeur.

[Sherm]

That was his spin. I just, I just laid it out.

[Lavonte David]

I was telling him what to do too.

[Sherm]

Yeah. Hey, take me here. Take me to something now.

[Lavonte David]

Exactly.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I wouldn't want to, but then the coach would get on the phone with me. They'd be like, we need him. Are you for real? No, no, for real. Eck was the. I mean, Eck was the man. Like, Eric took care of all of us. Ls too. Else is all the time.

[Sherm]

I got another one here from Chris Low Grosso. Being a part of Winston's 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. What was being said around the locker room? Personal thoughts and then getting Brady. What was the reaction then? So it's a two parter.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Let's put the Brady one to the side real quick. I'll re ask that in a little bit. 30 and 30.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. The thing with James was you knew what you was going to get. You know, James, don't go out there and sling the ball and throw that. And it was going to be a touchdown or interception. Just so happened that year. It was a tough year for him, you know, as far as like throwing a touchdown, interception ratio and stuff like that. But. But the thing that was like really stood out to more is like us defensively like it got to a point in that season, we were just like, offense, get the ball. None of us used to sit down. We used to stand up and wait to go on the field.

[Sherm]

No way.

[Lavonte David]

We used to stand up, wait to go on the field. And when he throw the intercession, like, okay, he got out the way we go out there, ball, give him the ball back and he starts slinging again. It was like we kind of looked at it as like, you know, let him go out here, go out there and do him and do what he do. You know, he's throw it around his touchdown, you know, throw it in the session. But we gonna motivate him. We gonna try to give him the ball as much as we can. Yeah, you know. Cause sometimes he going like, it's gonna be good, but then sometimes it be on the other end. But you know, it's just the way it happened, bro. It's just like we was always just like motivated and just like, you know, we was. We actually had a solid defense, like a pretty good, you know, year that year. Like, like not a pretty good year, but we went 7 and 9.

[Sherm]

I feel like your defense was always solid, especially in the one game.

[Lavonte David]

But we went 7 and 9. But in a sense, like a lot of those interceptions that we threw kind of like put us on the back burner a little bit. But if he, if Jameson comes, like, if he knock out half of those, we definitely a winning team.

[Sherm]

Was what was the coaching staff like with Jameson that year? Because you watch him. Yeah, he was on our show two years ago at the super bowl in New Orleans and we brought up the 30 and 30 and he's like that, that that record will never be broken. He was like proud of it. And he's got this like energy about him. How can you ever get mad at the kid?

[Lavonte David]

And what were the exact thing, like it was that like it was. James is an authentic guy, man. Like, you gonna get what you get out of James. Like there's no faking, no facade. It's him. And you know, the coaches, you know, when they got a chance to know him, they saw that like James is a, a football player and he's a quarterback. He's a gun slinging quarterback. And, and sometimes with being a gun singing quarterback, bad things happen. And that year, you know, he was like, he threw 5,000 yards and he had what, 34 touchdowns, I think. Yeah. Or something like that. And you know, you gotta know look at the game within the game too. Like some of those stuff probably wasn't his fault, you know. You know, guys probably, you know, not running the right route and he expecting people to do B certain areas and, like, the other team, you know, unfortunately capitalized off those. But, you know, I don't think nobody. Honestly, like, bro, I don't think nobody was really, like. No. Pissed off about it or getting on him about it. I mean, he probably has your own private conversation, stuff like that. But from a defensive standpoint, bro, like, it really was a point where, like, once they took the ball, like, we wanted to receive the ball first, it's like, okay, let James get his, you know, intercession out the way, and let's go out there.

[Sherm]

That's so funny.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Just going to a game plan. All right, boys. We'll let him get his first one. Because ever we play. We played you all that year.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sherm]

And you. I think you threw, like, two or

[Lavonte David]

three in that game.

[Sherm]

Like, this dude really just keeps giving it back. And the game was still tied at the end. Defense was like, nice.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, bro.

[Sherm]

Like, about you guys are being okay. I'm like. Kind of like, you guys are a menace to go against.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, he did it. He had that. We played yo too and came back the Kirk Cousins. You like that game?

[Lavonte David]

I wouldn't blame him on that.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. I mean, obviously it's a full.

[Lavonte David]

It was.

[Will Compton]

But having to come back that game.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. The prime Kirk Cousins hate that game because, like, Kurt, my guy, you know, we Kurt good peoples or whatever, but no way. That shouldn't have happened, bro. That shouldn't happen. But I think we got a little passive on defense. Like, we went, like I told you, man, that year, that's when we had, you know, Lovey Smith. We were strictly cover two. So, like, once you, like, you can Only run cover 2 so many times until somebody start, you know, like, I feel like cover two nine in today's game. You should throw it out here, throw it out there, here and there and give it different looks. But we lined up with COVID tool, and you knew what we was playing, so you guys kind of, like, exploited that.

[Will Compton]

That whole second half, we ended up beating your ass.

[Lavonte David]

Not being our ass, y'. All. Y' all beat us in overtime. No, the last play, last couple seconds, y' all beat us.

[Will Compton]

We won, we came back, we were down. What it was being in the second

[Lavonte David]

half, it was 24.

[Will Compton]

It said as being the second half, you know, it was 24 to 3. You know, an adjustment we made in the second half.

[Lavonte David]

What was the adjustment?

[Will Compton]

That's when I Started.

[Sherm]

Can't start second half of a game.

[Will Compton]

That's when the transition, see, started getting on the field. Remember we were watching some of those plays.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And I was out there tired.

[Sherm]

Is that the one where Buddy kind of broke you off on the side?

[Will Compton]

That was what, 2015? Yeah. Yeah, dude. Yeah.

[Sherm]

Sometimes Will and I will just get kind of banged up. We've done this a couple times. We'll just put old games on and watch each other. Play your senior year, Nebraska, Michigan game.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

What was. Dude, what was the energy like when you saw that the goat, Tom Brady, was coming to Tampa Bay?

[Lavonte David]

It was incredible, bro. I remember that thing like it was yesterday. Like, obviously, y' all remember the hype behind it. It was, like, so first and foremost, at the exit meeting, I'm talking to BA or whatever. He was like, you know, we will. It was a point where we might have signed James back, and it was just talking about, like, you know, we just got to get him on board, get him right, get him together, because, like, we could win games with Jameis if he just, you know, cut down the interceptions because it's short that season. And then he was like, but there is a chance we might have a shot at what he said he called him at. We got. Oh, we might have a shot at the big guy. I'm like, who's the big guy? He was like, tom. I'm like, what? Like, Tom. Like, tom ain't leaving New England, man. What are you talking about? So that went in one end, not the other. And then as the off season progressed, you see Tom is really not going back to New England. And then stuff started. Like, once he. Once they said he's not going back to New England, I think the Bucks would. Went full throttle. Went full throttle at it. And then, like, you kind of see, like, they talking about teams, like, potential teams, and the bus wasn't a team on there, so I'm like, okay, well, yeah, it might not actually happen. And then that actual day, I remember I was sitting on the couch eating my cereal, Captain of Crunch, Crunch Berries. And, bro, it came across the ticker. Tom Brady agrees to terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And, like, I like. Like, I literally, like, like what? And, like, my phone was right here, like, sitting on the couch next to me, and my Was just blowing up, going crazy. And I ain't even want to answer because I'm like, nah, this can't be real. Like, nah, I don't believe it. And I'm talking to people. I'm talking. I'm Talking. I'm talking. And then, like, a couple days later, he ended up calling my phone. He's like, hey, Levante, man. You know, this is Tom. Like, I'm. I'm excited to be a guy against you. Against. Decided to play with you and not against you anymore. And I can't wait for you guys to welcome me in the locker room. And he's just started talking about, you know, this is you guys locker room. You're the leader of the team. So, you know, just, you know, don't treat me no different. You know, treat me like all the other guys and stuff like that. I'm like, I don't know the hell you talking about. You Tom Brady, you getting whatever you want. You know what I'm saying? This is your team now. And then, like, actually, like, actually meeting him from the first time, bro, it was, like, incredible. Like, from a guy with his status, with his superstar status, you would think, you know, what comes with that. Like, outside looking in, obviously. You know, when people have lots of sense, you kind of judge people and stuff like that. Like, you'll think this guy's a, you know, a hole prima donna. He's a egotistic guy, but the complete opposite, bro. Like, he's a guy's guy. He's a great dude, man. He talked to you. He actually get a chance to sit like, like, know you and kind of, like, understand where you come from, what you. You know, what, like, what you like and stuff like that. And, like, when I saw that and he treated everybody like that, from the top player to the last player, bro, Like. Like, I thought. I thought it was amazing because I ain't never seen nothing like that. Like, he honestly. He earned the right to not even act like that. You know what I'm saying? But to see him actually, like, do that, bro, it was kind of pretty cool to see.

[Will Compton]

Was there ever a moment where he, like, stood up and spoke to the team? Like, say, you guys are having your run or you're in the playoffs, or you just have that moment where everybody on the outside might hear stories, but you're sitting there, you're like, oh, yeah, that.

[Lavonte David]

Is that the only moment? Like, honestly, bro, he didn't even have to say nothing. Like, the way he practiced, the way he carried himself, like, his competitive edge, like his predator nature. Like, he was competitive as hell in practice. Like, he not. Like. Like, no, I want ones on ones. You know, something like, we need to compete. We need to do this and that and that. Like, I need to get. Get actual looks and things like that. And then the first time he actually stood up and spoke was the super bowl in the locker room, bro. And you know, you kind of hear guys talk about it, but like, to actually, like, be there and be in the moment when he stood up and said, like, like, somebody else is about to talk. And he just stepped in there and like, he moved dude out the way and just started talking. Everybody like, oh, Tom talking like, this is real. So everybody just kind of like gravitated to it. And he just thing he said was, like, this moment right here, you're going to be remembered forever. Like, your last name gonna be remembered forever. Ten years from now, we're gonna come back and celebrate this moment and your family gonna remember forever. And it's like, it all like, kind of like came down. Like, for me personally, it was like, I'm thinking, like, damn, like, bro, I went eight years, like, people know. Nobody not knowing me, you know, people, you know, not know who I am. Nobody know about my game and stuff like that. But if I win this game, this moment, people gonna know who I am. And, like, that's what I was thinking about. And, bro, that really happened. You know what I'm saying? Like, everybody, like got like that point from that point when he started, like, after he started talking, it was no doubt in my mind that we wasn't gonna, you know, win that game.

[Will Compton]

That's Tommy's juice. Then you go out and lock up Travis Kelsey.

[Lavonte David]

I did my job against Travis Kelsey.

[Sherm]

I was saying, friend of the show.

[Will Compton]

Great friend of the show.

[Sherm]

I like to hear that.

[Lavonte David]

Because he said locked up. I was like, when I was. I did what I was supposed to do. I did my job.

[Sherm]

How many catches on me? Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Like, when I'm actually guarding them, probably like three.

[Sherm]

How many yards?

[Lavonte David]

I don't know how many yards. I didn't even look at the stats. Honestly, after that didn't matter. It didn't matter. It didn't matter.

[Sherm]

What's that locker room like?

[Will Compton]

Like, when you.

[Sherm]

After you guys win the super bowl, the parade, the confetti, everything the public sees, and now you're in the locker room.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Like, are you just running to Tom? We did it, huh?

[Lavonte David]

To be honest with you, bro, I did all my celebrating on the field. Like, I. When I went to locker room, people was gone by the time I got in the locker room. Like, I was really, like out there celebrating all the guys, you know, celebrating my family, you know, to the point I went to the motherfucking stand, started talking to people and Stuff like that. Just. Just. I was just embracing the moment, bro, because, like, that eight years prior, I never thought I'd be in that situation, you know what I'm saying, and actually do it in your home stadium. And that fashion, like, it was a. Like, one of the best moments in life, honestly. And what kind of fashion. Dominating fashion. Ass beat fashion as being fashion.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

And the crazy thing is, like, we played. We played them earlier that year, and they kicked ass. You know what I'm saying? And then the second time, second half, we kind of, like, had a little, you know, adjustment period. We played better. We ended up losing that game 27, 24. And we saw, like, the media, like, how they was, you know, saying, talking about the Bucks ain't gonna. You know, that's it for the Bucks, you know, if they not going, they. They might go to the wild card, and that's as far as they're gonna go. And they're kind of, like, putting a chip on all our shoulder. And I just remember saying, like, like, we gonna play these dudes again probably in the super bowl, and we can't wait. And it showed. That game,

[Sherm]

you guys dominated.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Like, that poor offensive line for the Kansas City Chiefs. Like, Pat had no chance to breathe the entire game. Even some of the throws that that man was making, though, like, falling down. I was like, oh, my God, he's still kind of still going low key doing it.

[Lavonte David]

It was no quitting that dude. And, like, we knew that back, you know what I'm saying? Like, when we was up, I want to say we was up 21, three and a half. It was like, you know, they got Pat Mahomes over there, so you guys better still, you know, be ready. And, like, I. Honestly, bro, our whole game plan was like, our front four, stop the run and get at the quarterback, and everybody on the back end, do what you're supposed to do. Be where you're supposed to be in coverage, lock on guys when he starts scrambling, and everything has to take care of itself.

[Sherm]

What. When you're up 23. Three at half is Tom Brady getting up, being like, we've been here. I've been here before.

[Will Compton]

Tell us more. Tom Brady.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I'll tell you another good one. At the half. I don't remember exactly at the half because honestly, bro, I was a weekend fan, and the weekend was performing, so I kind of, like, was outside locker room trying to peek. That crazy.

[Sherm]

It's crazy.

[Will Compton]

And trying to peek and hear the

[Lavonte David]

weekend, but Tom Brady, Tom Brady story. We were 7 to 5 off going to the bye week, and before we let everybody broke for our little break or whatever to go, you know, go out different ways, I remember walking in the hall and Tom grabbed me. It was like, you know, man, how's it going, man? How's it going over the defensive side? I'm like, yeah, we're gonna be all right, man. We just got to fix a couple things. Gonna be better. And then he said. And then I was like, how about offense? Like, how's it going over there? He's like, you know, still some stuff, like getting used to, but, you know, we getting there. We're gonna. We're gonna. We're gonna dominate this second half of season. And he was like, look at me. I promise you, when we come back, we not gonna win. We're not gonna lose another game. I promise you that. I'm gonna make sure of it. And never lost after that. So I'm like, damn.

[Sherm]

I'm like, damn, dude farts rainbows.

[Will Compton]

He just does it, all right?

[Lavonte David]

This guy's the man. You know what I'm saying? And then my mom, like, yeah, whatever. And then, like, as it happened, it's like one of those moments, like, you ever seen a water boy when the girlfriend told her, like, like, we're gonna win this game, but that's what it's gonna be.

[Will Compton]

That's what it's gonna be.

[Lavonte David]

It was like that, like, as it happened, I'm like, damn, this is what it's gonna be. We're not gonna lose another game. So that was. It was pretty cool, bro. Like, he was the most, like, dominating, like, for a guy to not be, like, athletic as he was, but, like, he was a, like a problem on the field. Like, he just kind of like, damn, bro.

[Will Compton]

Like.

[Lavonte David]

And then I picked him off in Pratt one time, and I thought that was the highlight of my life life, you know what I'm saying? Getting intercessed, you let him know. I mean, you know, I'm celebrating stuff like that. But like I said, man, it was a real competitive bro. Like, he talked trash talk. We trash talk with him, and, like, we made an emphasis, like, you know, mess with Tom and, you know, obviously Mike, too. Like, just mess with those guys. But that little era, the Tom Brady era, man, that was pretty, pretty. Pretty dope to be a part of.

[Sherm]

How was.

[Will Compton]

What do you smell like?

[Sherm]

Gotta be nice, right?

[Will Compton]

Like, smells bad when you're in the hall. All right, man. Then you. You're like, damn, he smells pretty good.

[Sherm]

You know, when he walks by, he says, Good morning.

[Lavonte David]

Like, all right, think about, you know,

[Sherm]

he finished practice and it was like, he didn't shower. You didn't have to.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I never seen Tom eat. Like, I never seen him eat nothing. All he had was his little TB12, little water bottle. He always drink. He always, like, taking care of his body, getting worked on. Never really saw him in the weight room, but I always just seen him working, doing stuff to better himself. You know what I'm saying? So. So, you know, gotta respect a guy like that.

[Sherm]

What was like when Gronk came in that locker room?

[Lavonte David]

Man, I love Gronk, man. Like, Gronk energy. Gronk is the same way. From the time he come in the building to the time he leave the building, it's like, full of energy. Happy, happy, go lucky. And, like, it was. Sometimes I never. I didn't even think, like, Gronk knew the playbook, knew the offense, but, like, he always knew what the hell to do. And that kind of, like, was kind of, like, weird to me. You know what I'm saying? Like, bro, I feel like this dude

[Sherm]

doesn't know what he's doing, but he does it right every single day.

[Lavonte David]

He does everything right. Because, like, you know, I used to, like, ask a lot. We, you know, I used to play again, go against the tight ends a lot. I used to, like, always, like, mess with him and joke with him and stuff like that. So I kind of used to, like, picking a room and stuff like that. And, like, he being that bullshitting, not, you know, not paying attention to stuff like that. So I'm like, you know, growing just a talent. But when it really, like, see, like, him and Tom had this thing, man, I don't know, man. Like, they was always on the same page and everything. Like some type of telekinesis type thing, bro, Like, I don't know, like. And, like, you know, we put our ME board, you know, we put up the Emmys and stuff like that. And, like, Grunt never was on there. Like, and then the whole team. Yeah, like, the whole team. Like, after a practice, you gotta. You got the board for, like, mas and stuff like that. And I never really seen his name on there. And then, like, what I think what I really loved about Grunt, like, bro, he used to know how to reblog, like, most tight ends, you know, kind of, like, get thrown in bush or whatever. But, like, nah, Grunt used to really, like, like, block his tail off. And, you know, he used to get rewarded for, you know, for. For the blocking and stuff like that. But it Was fun having him, bro. He was always energetic, hyping, hyped up, dancing around, you know, listen to the rap music with us, you know, around there, just chilling, hanging out with the guys in the locker room. So, you know, like, those two dudes, bro, like, you would think the complete opposite, but, you know, you'll think more opposite with Tom. But Gronk, you kind of see it in the media, but. Yeah, that's exactly.

[Sherm]

But is he really like that as well? A lot of people that, bro, he's

[Lavonte David]

really like that, bro. I really like that in the locker room, dancing around, playing around. And, like, him and Leonard Fernet had this pretty cool relationship, and they used to always see each other, like, they used to see each other get hyped up. Hey, what's up, Lenny? Like, it's the same. Like, he's like that all the damn time, bro. It was pretty good to see, dude.

[Sherm]

Lennon Burnett, too.

[Will Compton]

How was your vantage point during the Antonio Brown moment with the Jets? Because you're. You're defensively, you're on the sidelines, so, yeah, the offense is a little farther down from you, but the offense, being on the field, hearing everything go down, go down. What was your vantage point like on that day?

[Lavonte David]

So I was on R at that time. That's, like the second game I missed. I didn't travel. But I tell you this, bro, leading up to that, you saw it stirring up. You saw it brewing. Just because, like, he came one day, like, we was in there, whatever, we was in the locker room, you know, we'd be chilling in the locker room. He came in there, like, complaining about something or whatever. And I think we played the Panthers prior, the week before or whatever, and he complaining. He was complaining about how. I don't think he scored a touchdown with him. Like, bro, like, you had over 100 yards. Like, what you talking about? And he's just, like, pissed off. And, like, you can see, like, damn. Like, it's like he. He might snap. Like, he might snap soon.

[Will Compton]

And then he was just going off about something small.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, just something small. And then it was another point. Like, I wasn't there. But, like, one day I came back, back for meetings or whatever, and I was like, vonte boy, we needed you, man. We need you to come a B. Now I'm like, a B. We're like, what happened with AB? Like, his first. His first. Like, he was coming off the suspension. I think at that time when he got suspended for the fake Copa test or whatever, but he was coming off the suspension. It Was like, bro, AB was having and practice going crazy, like, and it was a walk through present. He just sprinting, catching the ball, throwing it at people, like cursing people out. And like, damn, what he snapping for? Like, he going off on coaches like, like, give me the ball, like, going off and stuff like that. And like. And we're like, damn, what's going on, bro? So that game is kind of like. I wasn't surprised in a sense, but the way he did it, like during the game, I was like, damn, ab. Like, why you doing that, man? And then like, to be honest with you, man, AB kind of messed up our chances going to the second Super Bowl. It's like he was that. He was that dude, bro. He was really, really a really, really good football player. And, and like, it just. When you rub him the wrong way anyway, he's going, you gonna get AB or you gonna get Antonio Brown. And that day, that mother was A.B.

[Sherm]

really?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Did you ever speak to him after that? Like, was there ever like a conversation like, hey, man, you gotta come back, figure it out?

[Lavonte David]

Nah, I didn't speak to him, bro. The next time I seen AB was the, like that offseason I saw him at a Heat game and we was talking like nothing ever happened. I ain't even wanna bring it up. Cause it might trigger him again and I don't wanna trigger him or nothing like that. Stress.

[Sherm]

Dumb basketball fans.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah, stressed. That's nuts, man. He just wanted the ball more.

[Lavonte David]

I think he wanted the ball more, but I think it stemmed from something much deeper. Some people got their own, you know, their own, you know, opinions about it, but one that's going around just like that off season, he didn't get paid how much he wanted to get paid. And, you know, so he probably wanted to be like a higher paid guy, but he didn't get that. And then I think they ended up giving Gronk more money than him or something like that. So I guess he felt some type of way about that, that.

[Will Compton]

Oh, that's right. Because he did start, whether it was Twitter or something, talking about kind of. I don't know if he was saying Gronk's name maybe, but I do kind of vaguely remember that.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I mean, that's the story kind of like behind it is one of them that I kind of like know about.

[Will Compton]

But yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Great football player, though.

[Will Compton]

Great football player. One of the best of all time.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I. I could honestly.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah, for sure.

[Sherm]

He could have clearly. Could have clearly been one of the

[Will Compton]

best AB at his Peak like one of the greatest receivers to ever touch the grass.

[Lavonte David]

And the way he worked, you could see it like, everything was full speed, bro. Full speed.

[Sherm]

That's what I heard, man. I heard even like, in walk through full speed, bro.

[Lavonte David]

And running through the end zone after he catch the ball, full speed. And he's another one of those guys, like, damn. Like, do he know the playbook? But he's doing everything.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

I'm like, damn. Like. And actually, like, knowing what you're supposed to do. And then like.

[Will Compton]

And he was a low round draft pick, too.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, he was sixth round. Yeah, six round.

[Sherm]

We went to Central Central Michigan.

[Lavonte David]

Central Michigan. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Crazy. I don't know what was his first play with the Steelers was a kick return for a touchdown.

[Lavonte David]

For a touchdown.

[Sherm]

Like, the dude was just. Him. He's little too.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sherm]

We'd see him at the Pro Bowl, Pro bowl, and he'd have, like a squad of like 20 people with him at all times.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sherm]

And he just. He was always, like, in a good mood, it seemed like. But this is before I. I never saw him act a certain way. I just knew, like, he had a lot of people in his camp. And I feel like, like, anytime I would see somebody rolling around with, like, more than five people, like, anytime you got to like, the 10 range.

[Lavonte David]

Right?

[Sherm]

Like, man, he kind of. I think he had too many people around.

[Will Compton]

Right, right. Because it's like you knew the lore of AB all the way basically, up until the Raiders.

[Sherm]

Right?

[Will Compton]

Raider year.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Then he went once.

[Sherm]

The Raider thing, because it started with, like, a helmet and then the feet and then all that.

[Lavonte David]

I think he just wanted out of there.

[Sherm]

I think so, yeah. I mean, who knows? He's more than welcome to come on the show and talk about it.

[Lavonte David]

More than welcome to.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. That sounds crazy. Was there ever, like, who's a player you think about that you were just frustrated with because they had so much talent.

[Lavonte David]

I can't really, off the top of my head, really think about no guys. Oh, man. Some guys who I would say probably had a lot of potential, but certain things probably, like, derailed their career, maybe. Damn. What? I say rojo. I say rojo. I really like Rojo. Ronald Jones running back, he's really good. Really good football player, but I just think, like, running back in his league, man, is pretty tough. It's like. Yeah, it's a different life. Like, obviously when we were brought Leonard in, it kind of. He obviously felt some type of way and things like that. But that same year he almost had a thousand yards, but obviously, you know, Leonard started getting the ball more. And so like, like they kind of like just, you know, it's one ball and you only can play, you know,

[Will Compton]

Ego gets a little way. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Like, I feel like if he stayed on the right track, he'll be, you know, probably been, you know, a dominant guy. Who else, bro? Who else? Vernon Hargraves, bro. Vernon corner. Yeah, yeah. Vernon was the most. One of the most talented, athletic dudes, bro. And he had some solid years, but I just think like some stuff kind of like derailed his career too. But, you know, I got a lot of respect for Vern, but I feel like he could have been an all pro level player, you know, whatever happened, you know, off the field, whatever the relationships he had with the coach and stuff like that kind of like I think may have messed him up. I don't know exactly. Just like outside looking in, just giving my opinion about. I think some stuff kind of like veer himself off track from Ashley Little being. Focusing on football. Yeah, yeah.

[Sherm]

It sucks when you hear about dudes that seem like they have all the town in the world and yeah. For whatever reason, like, other distractions get them. Like, you hear that about Trent Richardson all the time. He was like thinking third overall and.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sherm]

Throughout the guys that were the Colts or the Browns, whichever one it was made both. He, like, he'd get off the field, he'd be on his phone the entire time. Like he always had a game. No, no, no, no. I practice as soon as practice is over. Like, he'd be on the phone. Like, he always seemed like he was dealing with something to where, like, clearly he needed somebody in his camp.

[Lavonte David]

Right, Right.

[Sherm]

To be like, hey, these issues, man, like these things can be focused on a different time. Like, you have to be focused on this right now because I'm, I play with that kid in the Under Armour game my senior year and he was legit. Like, this man's 30. Like, he was a grown ass man.

[Lavonte David]

Like.

[Sherm]

And you see what he did. Alabama, like, you hate seeing that type of stuff. Dude's all the town in the world.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

And it's like, how do you not just put, put it together, man, Put it together.

[Lavonte David]

I think it's just all about discipline, bro. Come down to discipline. Like you, you've got to focus on the main thing. Like, that was my whole thing, bro. Like, football is gonna be, you know, gonna be my way out. I want to, I want to live a certain lifestyle, so I'm gonna focus on football. And I'm gonna, you know, get all I can get get out of. I'm gonna get all the benefits out of football, like, but I'm gonna do what I got to do until, you know, I can't do it no more. And then I'll worry about that stuff, you know, after the fact. And I think if the guy just, like, be disciplined, like, you know, you, you, you got an off season where you can hang out and stuff like that, but when it's time to lock in, you gotta lock in. You know what I'm saying? Like, I always tell people, bro, like, you can't cheat the game, bro. Like talent level, everybody got the same type of talent. But it's certain small things that you gotta, like, just focus on and kind of like separate you from different people. And I think being disciplined throughout the game is one of those things.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Could you play another year?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I could have played another year.

[Sherm]

Is there any chance.

[Lavonte David]

No, no.

[Will Compton]

What was that conversation like? Like, when did you know it was

[Sherm]

actually before you answer that, I do have to go catch this flight.

[Will Compton]

Do you think I got.

[Sherm]

I gotta roll, dude. Yeah, I know Views are not into the podcast, but seriously.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Your career is incredible. Hearing the stories.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

From Will, like, extremely happy for you, your family, that little girl you get to be around all the time now. Dude, I'm fired up for you.

[Lavonte David]

Appreciate it.

[Sherm]

Appreciate everything, man. Continue to absolutely love to do it again. I'll see you.

[Will Compton]

All right, fellas, we're going to interrupt this interview to bring you Form Energy. Form Energy delivers best in class taste with natural flavors and zero sugar. Form Energy has natural caffeine derived from green tea. Form comes in a variety of flavors like Screaming Freedom Rocket Pop Inspired Grape Smash Blue Blitz Orange Fury. Perfect for those who put in the work. So if you wake up early in the morning, get a workout in full day work and still gives it your all when you come home, you are a Form Energy guy. Form Energy. We do the work. We are also brought to you by Neutral. Do you want to. Hey, do you want to do neutral? You could do. You could do a little bit of neutral. Neutral tastes great. It tastes so much better than what else is out there. It's made with real vodka and real juice. Say that's what makes it taste great.

[Lavonte David]

That's what makes it taste great.

[Will Compton]

You're damn right it is. Boogie. Neutral comes in a variety of flavors like pineapple, watermelon, orange. Their new flavors, peach and blueberry. Say it's perfect for those and say it's perfect for social occasions because it's such a crowd pleaser.

[Lavonte David]

It's perfect for social occasions because it's such a proud crowd pleaser.

[Will Compton]

You're damn right it is. Boogie. And it's the perfect time of year to grab a 12 pack of neutral for the game or grab a bucket, deal in your favorite bar as you root on your favorite team. And then we'll. We'll go. I'll say 1, 2, 3. And then we'll both go. Neutral. Keep it tasty.

[Sherm]

Gotcha.

[Will Compton]

That cadence. Okay. Okay. All right, Here we go. 1, 2, 3. Neutral. Keep it tasty. Back to the episode. Hey, what were we just talking about? You were saying, yeah, we talked about football. Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. When did that decision come about for you?

[Lavonte David]

Oh, man, let me see. I talked to the Bucks. So part like 2 weeks before I actually announced it, I just remember just, you know, just one day, you know, like, you know me, bro. Like, every time going to the off season, I just kind of like, I gotta have a plan for myself. I'm saying I gotta have a plan. I gotta know what I'm gonna do and, you know, I gotta start, you know, mapping out. I'm a structure guy, bro. Like, I love a structured life, so, like, I have some type of structure. And since I was going back and forth with the returning and. And retiring, it was kind of, like, hard for me to kind of, like, plan out certain things that I wanted to do so.

[Will Compton]

Well. Are you able to share those certain things?

[Lavonte David]

Just, like, as far as, like, my training strategy and, you know, as far as, like, what I'm gonna do about my diet and, you know, what I'm gonna do about my knee fits in my knee and stuff like that, and, like, just get myself prepared for, you know, the next season. And once I kind of, like. And then obviously how I'm gonna spend time with my little girl and stuff like that. Like, once I kind of, like, kind of, like, kind of, like, didn't have a clear thing on what I wanted to do. That's when I knew, like, yeah, this probably time for me to retire. Because, like, if I really wanted to play football again, I would have had all this mapped out and already said already. Yeah. So that's when I kind of, like, really, like, understood, like, nah, like, and then, like, I just sat down, you know, look at myself in the mirror. Like, bro, like, do you really, really want to play? Is it worth it to play another season again? Will you be motivated? Will you. Will you, you know, be all in with it. And I thought to myself, like, nah, I probably won't. So that's when I really decided, like, yeah, it's time for me to give it up.

[Will Compton]

What was the conversation like? Like, the feeling going into having those convos with the Bucks.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

The family.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Was it difficult talking to the Bucks? It was difficult. Dope, for the most part, just because, like, the relationship I built with those dudes and, you know, talking to Jason, talking to Todd, and then with my family, not so much, because my family always been supportive of what I wanted to do and stuff like that. And, you know, obviously, they're gonna have their questions, like, are you gonna regret it, or is this certain? Like, does the tackle thing. The tackle working thing, do that mean anything to you? Like, are you gonna look back at them, tell you, ask yourself, like, dang, I should have did it just to. To, you know, kind of, like, cement myself as the, you know, in the Bucs organization history. Then, like, I thought, I'm sound like, no, it really don't mean that much to me. So that's when I kind of, like, knew, like, yeah, you know, I'm pretty. Pretty. Pretty good with that from, you know, my family standpoint. And then talking to, you know, Jason for the first time to tell him, it's like, man, it's gonna be one of the hardest conversations I had. And, you know, we. We both kind of, like, had a little sad moment, and we just went reminiscing because, you know, Jason. You know, Jason, Nebraska guy, he's a Nebraska fan, and he's been talking about, man, like, and he talking about my dad and stuff like that, and he was like, man, we gonna miss you around here, and stuff like that. And then talking to Bo, the relationship we built, you know, that was kind of, like, tough. And, you know, hearing him talk and tell me how he felt about me and how in the past seven years, I kind of, like, helped make his job easier and stuff like that, so. So that was probably. That was probably one of the toughest moment. And obviously, like, just the press conference, man, like, I got a lot of respect for that organization, bro. They showed me a lot of love and, like, the support I had when I, you know, talking and stuff like that. It was pretty. Pretty cool to witness. And it just goes to show, like, how I impacted those people and how they impacted me as well, like, how they came to support me and stuff like that. I thought that was pretty dope.

[Will Compton]

It is nuts, man.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Like, even the time where it was, like, how long ago was It a couple years ago where they came out with like, the type of guy. Yeah, the type of guy they want as a buccaneer. It's essentially your silhouette or a painting of you in the. In the draft room 20, 23.

[Lavonte David]

The I am that man. I guess it was something that they had prior to that, but that's the first time I heard about it. And then when Jason was talking about it in the press conference, he was like, man, like, we have a silhouette of a guy who we kind of want to mow our next. Yeah. Next generation football player behind it. And that guy is Levante. Does he have these certain qualities and attributes and stuff like that? And I was like, damn, that's how y'. All, you know, that's how y' all feel. You know that. And then that should kind of like made me choke up a little bit. Like, bro, professional organization, you know, all the history that they have, all the players that came in and out of this building, y' all got me as a guy who y' all want to mow y' all next great player after. And I'm like, like, damn, that's an NFL organization. An NFL organization.

[Will Compton]

Like, you grow up just as a kid, we all want to be like, yeah, you know, you create your player. You do all the things you want to be. You want to be the best of the game's ever seen.

[Lavonte David]

No thought in my mind that that crossed my mind that that they. That's how they felt about me. Yeah. And no, that's why, like I say, like, I have a ton of respect for them and obviously it showed they didn't want me to leave. And, you know, they kind of like put the ball in my. My court every time after. Every year, the past couple years, like, well, I want to come back or not. I have a contract. They got a contract ready for me and whether I'm assigning or not and you know, decision is all based on me. So that's what I thought that, you know, pretty cool, bro. Like, sick, man.

[Will Compton]

That the impact that you've got, you've made on. On just football.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Yeah, bro. Pretty cool, man.

[Will Compton]

What's. By the way, I am that, man. Is that your documentary, is it?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, it is. I have a. Yeah, they film film. My guy, Steven lynch filmed me just throughout this whole. From the off season, all throughout this whole season.

[Will Compton]

Kind of like kind of damn decision makers on. On who would be featured, who would be doing the interviews for it. Was it you?

[Lavonte David]

I mean, I had some input on it. Yeah, you kind of like, jealous about it.

[Will Compton]

No, I. I don't care. But, like, you with the driver.

[Lavonte David]

I really was in the driver.

[Will Compton]

I'm not a. I'm not a. You know, I'm not a clout guy. I'm not, like, you know, want to be on stuff. Fame. I hate when people put the spotlight on me,

[Lavonte David]

but to protect myself, you know, they just, like, throw ideas at me. And I like, whether I agree. Like, I don't really have no real, like, ideas of who to interview and stuff like that. But, you know, I mean, if I was really into that stuff, you know, your name would have been brought up, bro.

[Will Compton]

I figured. Hey, what I was telling you, I was like, I'm sure there's a good reason. I do want to bring something up that Levante said when he came through and he was looking at the set.

[Lavonte David]

Oh, yeah.

[Will Compton]

Do you want to let Will know?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, for sure. You know, all these years, bro, that. I know you. I don't have a Will Co. Jersey. Or do I?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, you do.

[Lavonte David]

We did.

[Will Compton]

We did a jersey swap.

[Lavonte David]

I literally.

[Will Compton]

Sorenex is coming into my gym tomorrow. So as people listen to this podcast today outfit getting the whole thing. It's getting painted right now as we speak. Your frame jersey. Long Mason Foster Quincy. No, I. I do need to go around and get some more jerseys from guys, but yours is. Is been in its frame. Like, yours is framed.

[Lavonte David]

Do I have one of yours? I don't think I have one of yours.

[Will Compton]

Will, did we not exchange jerseys when we played? Oh, I do.

[Lavonte David]

When we took a picture with Ben.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. When Ben was. Yeah. I think you should have a Washington one. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I think I.

[Will Compton]

It must be at the bottom of your closet.

[Lavonte David]

Must have lost it.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, you must have lost it. You got a bunch of frame jerseys hanging up.

[Lavonte David]

I do have a bunch. I think.

[Will Compton]

Hey, it's all good.

[Lavonte David]

I got. I got. Hey, we'll cut that. We'll cut that part.

[Will Compton]

You know, he's gotten to do a lot of things over the years. I know.

[Lavonte David]

You know?

[Will Compton]

I know. I know what I mean doing.

[Lavonte David]

I think. I think because I looked at the Tennessee Titans ones and, like, that's what, like, you know, you, like, was prominent here as a Tennessee Titan, so I

[Will Compton]

was prominent, so it's like, that's respect. You should have a Washington one.

[Lavonte David]

I think. I do.

[Will Compton]

I mean, you do have Washington.

[Lavonte David]

Maybe I do.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Was that your first year or second year?

[Will Compton]

That was. Was that the 2015 game?

[Lavonte David]

Was that game?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

So you have a. You. You should have a Good one. Like that was.

[Lavonte David]

I probably was pissed off and threw it out and threw it through it somewhere that you like.

[Will Compton]

That game was like the start transitional.

[Lavonte David]

That's probably why I got lost. Because, like that game, like, I was pissed off after the game and I, like, got your jersey. Probably just threw it somewhere.

[Will Compton]

It's just a game, man. Like, come on, we run deep. We should run deeper than that.

[Lavonte David]

But at that time. At that time, you was like an opinion playing, and then I had to hear from you, and you know how you are. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So it's like, damn.

[Will Compton]

That's what probably big bro beat little bro. Oh, man. Where do you even go from here? That's tough to hear. I do have yours. It's ready to get hung up. It's. It's actually the first time because of course I have my jerseys hanging up, but where I. I'm hanging up all the other fellows that I got.

[Lavonte David]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

You're one of them. I got a Levante David Tampa Bay Buccaneer jersey.

[Lavonte David]

You got the. The one. The ugly uniforms.

[Will Compton]

It was your way. Jersey.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You could hook me up with a nice one. We can do a proper.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Exchange now if you feel like you lost it, which, you know, that's tough

[Lavonte David]

to double check because that jersey was

[Will Compton]

like, I would love to have that

[Lavonte David]

jersey because I remember I used to give it like I used to have. Get all my jerseys at the end of the year. I put it in a bag and I used to give it to my people. Hey, frame this. So.

[Will Compton]

So there was something that you said. Get framed. Don't worry about that one. That's my boy Comp. We have enough room on the wall.

[Lavonte David]

Did you sign it? Did we sign it? Did I sign yours?

[Will Compton]

I don't think so. No.

[Lavonte David]

See, there we go right there. Now, I need to know something signed.

[Will Compton]

I'll give you something.

[Lavonte David]

I'll give you one sign.

[Will Compton]

Where y' all headed is the quote I put on it. And for people who don't know what I'm saying there, you'll have to listen to the Zoom podcast. God, the brutal audio. You got to fix your audio system when you're doing stuff from home. You're on the different side now you're in retirement. Yeah. Not sure we'll talk about your future, but if you get in anything media related, you got to have a more.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You got to have a better setup at home. So I listen to you on. Obviously on ours, it was tough audio. I listened to you on Pat McAfee last week and I'm just like. As I'm trying to listen to you, like, my aunt's got to fix his sound setup. So what do I need?

[Lavonte David]

So I'm. I'm. I'm doing it off of a. A Mac imac. So, like, what type of system do I need?

[Will Compton]

Like, you're just doing it off the Mac.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Well, listen, we got some guys. We got some quality guys back there.

[Lavonte David]

Okay, Gotcha. Gotcha.

[Will Compton]

Well, we give you a. Introduce you to, like, a. Just a travel system.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Because the Bucks media team told me that too. It's like, hey, you got to be better on the. Yeah, the sound side.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Like, it's a. It's a good interview, but, like, bro, it's hard to listen to.

[Will Compton]

It's hard to listen to. It's just because from the audios, you're just using a laugh laptop.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

And we'll get you. Right. What is first question. How's the last week been? How's the first week of retirement where you're like, you know, I'm sure there's a transition. I am done playing football. Yeah. Like, I have nothing to. I don't have OTAs to think about. I don't got nothing to think about in the football world.

[Lavonte David]

Honestly, like, when I. The next day I woke up, I'm like, damn. Like, I'm really done with football. Like, I'm retired, and it's like, I gotta figure out life now. But the good thing about it is, bro, like, I feel like. Like I had a successful career, I earned some good money throughout my career, so I feel like I have a chance, like, I have time to, like, enjoy myself a little bit. Like, take some trips, enjoy life, do certain things.

[Will Compton]

What's on the bucket list?

[Lavonte David]

On the bucket list? I want to do. I want to take a trip to Egypt. That's something I really want to do. I'm like, I'm into history, so I want to, you know, kind of like, in, like, do the history of Egypt, you know, look at the pyramids and stuff like that and, you know, go to the beaches. Cairo, Got a nice beach out there. And then I kind of, like, want to go back. I've been to Italy before, but I want to go back to Rome. I never. I didn't go to Rome, so I want to look at the Coliseum and kind of like, look at all that stuff and look at the, you know, the history of that. And another place is on my bucket list is probably Bali or, you know, like some. A place that's really, like. Like, Beachy and nice and stuff like that. It's another place that, like, what's that place, man, everybody be going to? Obviously. All celebrities.

[Will Compton]

38.

[Lavonte David]

Florida. Is it Bora Bora, like Lake of

[Will Compton]

the Ozarks in Missouri?

[Lavonte David]

Nah, not Lake of those arts.

[Will Compton]

Are you doing these trips this year?

[Lavonte David]

No. Eventually I'm gonna get to them, though.

[Will Compton]

Are you doing any of these? Are you doing Egypt this year?

[Lavonte David]

No, I'm not doing Egypt this year. Year.

[Will Compton]

So what do you got on the docket this year?

[Lavonte David]

This year, I don't really.

[Will Compton]

You talking about looking at your funds and looking. I can travel and do this and that, and right now we're sitting. It's. It's March 30th. You got the entire year.

[Lavonte David]

I mean, the good thing about it is, like, if I want to do it, I could just go ahead and holl at my travel agents, just do it. But, like. But honestly, bro, like, I just want to, like, just unwind and relax for the most part.

[Will Compton]

Just at home.

[Lavonte David]

Just home.

[Will Compton]

You are home.

[Lavonte David]

You know, I'm a loner. You know, I'm a home bike.

[Will Compton]

Just.

[Lavonte David]

Just take my ass home and just wake up when I want to wake up. Get to stuff when I want to get to stuff.

[Will Compton]

Like just chili cheese dogs.

[Lavonte David]

Just have free will.

[Will Compton]

Captain Crunch.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, bro. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Are you so homebody in my brain, I'm thinking it'll be a few weeks. You'll just be. Get. Maybe get a little stir crazy. Yeah, but what are you into at home?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I'll be playing a game. I play a game a lot, but I'm not one of those gamers in a sense. Like, I don't like playing against people in the game just because, like, I'm competitive and like, I see how people talk to people on those video games. And, like, I know I get pissed off and I want to do some physical stuff to people, the way they talk and it's like, I can't get into it. Like. So what I'm doing right now, I play my career on ncaa. I got about four players. I got a quarterback, a receiver, a running back, and a corner. No, in a linebacker corner. Not a receiver, but a linebacker. And I'm like, like one of them. The linebacker. I got drafted fifth overall to the Patriots.

[Will Compton]

What's his name?

[Lavonte David]

What the hell? What's his name? King Expert or some shit like that. I just make stuff up. And then I have a corner right now that I got with the Bucs. His name is Benny Sparks. I have a quarterback. My quarterback is my Nephew name Junior Nelson. And the running back. I don't know the running back name, but that's what I'll be doing, bro. For the most part, bro. And then like I love taking my daughter to school. Picking up from school. I think like that, that right there is like the highlight of my day, honestly. Picking her up and taking her.

[Will Compton]

How old is she now?

[Lavonte David]

She's three. She turns four in May.

[Will Compton]

Rue turns four this Friday.

[Lavonte David]

This Friday?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Rue was born like, like a month before.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Logan. Damn.

[Will Compton]

Isn't it crazy how they just tell you, you know, they're like update you on the day. They're all emotional.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You gotta dial in the emotion. It completely changes you inside and out.

[Lavonte David]

Inside and out, bro. Like, I didn't know I was the type of person I am with her. Like the patience, the vulnerability, the. The love is like crazy. Like yesterday we was in the car and she said something. She like had a full blown conversation with me. She was talking and like, I don't know what the hell she talking about. And I just looked back, I'm like like, what? What are you saying? She's just like, don't worry about it. And I just started laughing like, what

[Will Compton]

the got sassy with you. You ain't listening to me. Even worry about it.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. It's just crazy, bro.

[Will Compton]

What you got to do, bro? I'll have to send you the video that I made of r go walking into the Coliseum at Rome. You guys remember the.

[Lavonte David]

I think I saw that. I saw that like her just kind

[Will Compton]

of while her little self walking in. Cuz Scotty, now Scotty's 16 month, 16 months old. She's a spark plug. Yeah, but it is. It's the best, man.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. I need some girl dad hats.

[Will Compton]

We got you.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

It's basically for the dad spot now.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, for sure.

[Will Compton]

Go watch. Go check out for that. You have to come back and get on and do for the dads.

[Lavonte David]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

You'll essentially guest host with us. We won't just be sitting there interviewing you. You'll be engaged.

[Lavonte David]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

You'll be talking about papa Team six. Yeah. Milk Team six. The blowouts.

[Lavonte David]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

The struggles.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

The frustrations, the love, the vulnerability.

[Lavonte David]

There's a lot of frustration.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But bedtime. How many books to read?

[Lavonte David]

How many books are you on like right now?

[Will Compton]

I got Rue. I have a nice operation of two books.

[Lavonte David]

Two books, okay.

[Will Compton]

Scotty will go through seven or eight. Okay, I'll start reading one. She'll hit it.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Out of mind. She doesn't Want it. She wants a different one.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But Rue, I have her locked into two books. You gotta brush your teeth.

[Lavonte David]

Right, right. So starting with Logan, we started out with three books, and then I'm down to two. Sometimes one depending on.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lavonte David]

How she. Like, if she passed her bedtime. So I got like, hey, like, it's past your bedtime, so I can only read you one book.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lavonte David]

So stuff like that. Like, it's really, like, a negotiation process, which is crazy. Like, and, like, when she want to have a little extra time playing, like, in the tub, she, like, playing with her toys in the tub. So, like, can I have five more minutes? I'm like, five more minutes now, Is that a deal? And we're like, you gotta say deal. Because if you don't say deal, she'll kind of like, like, nah, nah, you said deal. We said five minutes, so we got to get out now.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

So stuff like that.

[Will Compton]

Shake my hand, you know it means something. Yeah. I'm gonna start the timer right now.

[Lavonte David]

Exactly. And then when I bring in the time when it's going off, I make sure I see that it's going off.

[Will Compton]

Like, showing her.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, like, it's going off. She'll be like, okay. And like, okay, we good? We good for the rest of the night. Then, like, it's just funny, bro. It's crazy. Like, the party stuff, like, like, so she have this little thing, like, when she. She's in her big girl bed. So she could get out her bed anytime now. Like, her room is upstairs and my room is downstairs. And like, the past couple of nights, like, I wake up, I turn around, she's dead in my face. I'm like, yo, like, what are you doing? Like, you don't supposed to be like, you got to stay in your bed. You know what I'm saying? Because, like, we got this little thing. It was like, it's a sound machine, but she don't like the sound. So once the light go turn green, then you can get out of bed. So she get out of bed before that. And she'd be coming downstairs like, like, saying, like, just talking. I'm like, yo, like, the light didn't come on, so, like, what are you doing? Or whatever. And sometimes she'd get out of bed because she'd be scared to go pee. But when I take her back to her room, walk her back to her room, I look in the bathroom, she don't pee already. So I'm like, yo, like, what are you doing? Why are you getting out of your Bed. And then she just started making up these excuses and stuff like that. And it just be. It just be hilarious, bro.

[Will Compton]

She's trying to get in some dad time.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. But no, dad is sleeping. It's two, three in the morning. It's time.

[Will Compton]

Oh, it's two or three in the morning when this is happening?

[Lavonte David]

Yes, bro.

[Will Compton]

I thought you were just saying, like, maybe wake up times like seven and she's in at like six o'.

[Lavonte David]

Clock. Nah, man. Like two, three in the morning. She done went to the bathroom, already peed, and then come downstairs. Like, she can't go back to sleep. Like, yes, you can. Like, she got her little sleep mask and like, put your sleep mask down and just go back.

[Will Compton]

She got a sleep mask?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. She liked having a little sleep mask on there to cover her eyes. So it's. So she. She kind of like, don't go to sleep without it. But it's pretty cool, bro. It's dope. I love it. I love it, man. Just those little stuff.

[Will Compton]

We will stay in her bed until we come upstairs.

[Lavonte David]

Really? Yeah. I gotta tell a little talking about that. Like, Rue. You want to talk to Rue. You only got a FaceTime. Like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, Rue stay in her bed until you guys. Her parents come up and get her, so you need to do that too.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. So. Because obviously you have the monitor on. And she gets like, a little stir crazy. She's like, mama, dad, dad, come up and get me.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

You know, we'll be like, doing our thing down in the morning about, oh, we gotta go up and get Rue. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

She kind of cursing me out sometimes.

[Will Compton]

Like when she got a sleep mask on, of course she's up. They're cursing you out.

[Lavonte David]

She screamed, daddy, dang, you know me. Like, damn, I don't want to walk upstairs unless I have to.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

And I speak to her through the thing. I'm like, what's wrong? She's like, come here. I need you. Like, what's going on? And I walk up there. She like, I'm scared. I'm like, come on, man. You know what I'm saying?

[Will Compton]

Like, sheesh.

[Lavonte David]

Like, it's crazy.

[Will Compton]

R got a problem with falling off the bed while she's sleeping.

[Lavonte David]

Really?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

She.

[Will Compton]

I don't know if she's, like, having dreams or moves around. You'll hear a big thud and you'll kind of look and. And she'll just be sitting. She'll be sitting next to her bed. Back river, you can get back in bed.

[Lavonte David]

But we. We got this little Some little bumpers on her bed so she don't roll over.

[Will Compton]

That's what we're thinking about doing.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Is getting some bumpers. Because she'll go down multiple times throughout the week. She actually has in the last week. But she'll go through these. It feels like phases where she's just falling out of the bed because she got too many stuffed animals on the bed.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But, hey, we gotta stop sleeping now. Actually. So many. You got 10. Let's cut. Let's cut the roster down.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Put two down at the end of the bed. Yeah, but they're particular ones that have to be in, like, an order next to her.

[Lavonte David]

Does she sleep with the book? When you're done reading the book, does she want.

[Will Compton]

Sometimes, like, there has been times where she wants to read the book after we leave.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

It's like, hey, Daddy can only do one book, or dad is only doing two books. If you want to stay up and read due to your little nightlight that you have.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

You can stay up and read it if you want.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, it's pretty cool, man. Man.

[Will Compton]

Bro, it's crazy.

[Lavonte David]

It's like when you. Then when you go downstairs, you start looking on the thing and she start she reading the book by herself, and then she put herself to sleep and stuff like that. Yeah, that's pretty. I love those moments.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. So what's next for Levante David?

[Lavonte David]

What's next for.

[Will Compton]

In your career? I'm assuming you can't just stay home and play NCAA career.

[Lavonte David]

I mean, obviously, throughout that time, I'm kind of like, brainstorm, kind of, like, figure out what I'm going to do. You know, obviously, I'm doing a lot of, like, media stuff, so. So, you know, throughout my career, I wasn't big on media, but in a sense, it's like, man, you love football. You still want to be around the game. So, you know, I could easily, you know, you know, kind of, like talk football, you know, do certain things and kind of like, give my little endpoint some insight from, you know, from my perspective. You know, fans love that stuff. Former players talking about football, giving ins and outs, things like that. So things like that. And then, you know, something else that I thought about is getting to, you know, in the business side of football, you know, getting scouting, you know, maybe, you know, maybe become a GM one day. Who knows? But there you go.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, we got Kikly calling back. Luke, what are you doing sitting on the bus right now?

[Lavonte David]

My boy, David, my boy.

[Will Compton]

What would you do? What was you doing Earlier. I. I appreciate the text responses. I also appreciate that you saw the videos and did take. Didn't take it personal.

[Lavonte David]

You know what?

[Will Compton]

You know what you call that?

[Lavonte David]

You just call that honesty.

[Will Compton]

Sometimes the brand's gotta call the brand out. Yeah. It's like, you're my guy. I gotta be hard on my guy. You know what I mean? You're just being honest.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Like, oh, they got my boy. Look at what he said. He's a liability out there. Getting. Get him off the.

[Lavonte David]

I walked off the side and I

[Will Compton]

walked up to saw him like, hey,

[Lavonte David]

bro, this ain't it.

[Will Compton]

My dog.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

G's moving a little too fast for me now. You know what? I was pedaling, dude. I was moving. I was feeling good. They ran like a post.

[Sherm]

Corner post on me.

[Lavonte David]

I was like, bro, that ain't it.

[Will Compton]

That just seemed fun, though. It was, dude. It was freaking awesome. I'm hearing that you started training. You were. I thought. I want to say Greg Olson was breaking down saying you were training for this. I was legit training.

[Lavonte David]

And I thought I was. I thought I was killing it. And I was.

[Will Compton]

I went and trained with these guys that were training for the combine, and they were running 10 yard sprints, and I was like.

[Lavonte David]

I would say. I would say, you look good, man.

[Will Compton]

You do look good. He was moving like, he was still that good, bro.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, you look good. Your physique still the same.

[Will Compton]

Hey, man, I might look good, but it doesn't mean I'm moving good. We were having a conversation earlier, and it was. In your opinion, Luke, who do you think deserve the 2013 Defensive Player of the year?

[Lavonte David]

I mean, he's sitting right next to you.

[Will Compton]

You better gas him up.

[Lavonte David]

Levante's gonna. Levante needs to be in. Yeah. And my. My whole thing about that, Luke, was just like. I didn't get no recognition about like four. Okay, you. I'm going to tell you is I

[Sherm]

talked when I was.

[Lavonte David]

We played you guys in Tampa this year, I was talking to your guys beat writer and so your beat writer

[Will Compton]

is the guy that like bangs the table for you. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. And I said, when you get up

[Will Compton]

there in five years and you talk about Levante.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

The only thing that needs to get

[Lavonte David]

talked about is what if his position

[Will Compton]

didn't say OLB and it said mlb?

[Lavonte David]

I told you. Yeah, that's.

[Sherm]

Dude, that's real, though.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Because let's be honest, the guys that get selected to go to the Pro bowl in. In all pro.

[Lavonte David]

Are not off the ball linebackers.

[Will Compton]

It's like DeMarcus Wear and like, when everybody looks and it's like, oh, DeMarcus worth 12 sacks.

[Lavonte David]

They don't.

[Will Compton]

They don't look at. Literally look at nothing else.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

So that's, that's what I told your guy in Tampa was like, the argument

[Lavonte David]

needs to be super bowl champ. Would you play 14 years? 14? Yeah, he played 14 years.

[Will Compton]

These are all his numbers. Played with one team, was a captain for this many years.

[Lavonte David]

And they're gonna be like, well, he

[Will Compton]

doesn't have this, this and this.

[Lavonte David]

And I would be like, that doesn't matter.

[Will Compton]

He played. The only thing that was different was what his position said.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. So I, I was telling them, you know how td Me and TD used to talk about the same thing because we Both was considered OLBs. And then I remember one time TD was like, going hard about that because he was getting. He got snubbed for the Pro bowl some years because the ol. The outside linebacker thing with the edge rushing and stuff like that. But that's a good point, man. I ain't like, if my position probably said MLB or regular LB instead of olb, I maybe would have been saying something different right now. The other thing too is think about like, this is another argument too, is you got.

[Will Compton]

When you got paid, you got paid as an off the ball linebacker. Outside linebacker.

[Lavonte David]

Right? Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You should be making 46 and a half. We were talking about how some dudes, somebody like sued the league because they were like an edge rusher. But yeah, I mean, you're, you're 100. Right. Because everybody will lean on, like accolades and pro Bowls, all pros, not all the times that you got snubbed.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But even you being you were first ballot. Right. Second ballot. And then Bobby Wagner's gonna get in and people always use those grass where you're like next to them.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

Like, that's the table that everybody always stands on because you were just in a bad media market. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. You know what's insane about that? Luke obviously should have been first ballot. Him and Pat Willis, in my opinion, should have been first ballot. But they probably got snuff for being first ballot because they only played eight years, which is like, which is like, crazy. But, like, in those eight years, those dudes was dominant guys in the league. So it's like, what are you guys really voting on? Are you really, like, you knocking people because they didn't play a certain amount of years? That's why they're not first ballot. And Stuff like that. So that's kind of like. It was like.

[Will Compton]

It's just weird, you know, there's just so many games that go on.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Because obviously, Luke, your first ballot in my heart.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, right, Exactly.

[Will Compton]

It's only what you think. Yeah. Yeah. You know I care about you the most.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But we're just calling the bus balls. We had a fan quarter question. They're. They were asking Levante if he felt like he deserved the 2013 Defensive Player of the year. When you got it and there's a side by side, and I was like, let me give Lucas shout.

[Lavonte David]

Michelle. I think. I think it was Bobby. Bobby was in the running for it too, I think.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. And Boogie's point, he was saying, what was your stat line that year? I know you know what it was.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, it was 145 tackles, seven sacks, five interceptions, us.

[Will Compton]

That's pretty. That's pretty strong.

[Sherm]

Pretty strong.

[Will Compton]

Two force fumbles, two defensive touchdowns for loss, 21 tackles for loss. Will, that's what you need to talk about with.

[Lavonte David]

With Avante, too, is all the production he had behind the line of scrimmage.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, he. He was even alluding to it when they have the list since they've kept track of the tackles for loss since, like, a certain period. He's the only inside backer to be in the, what, top 15?

[Lavonte David]

Top five.

[Will Compton]

Well, top five, but only top 15. Yeah. The next one was what, Erlacher? Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Oh, we're gonna. We're gonna be pounding the table. We'll have you. Like, we'll have us. We'll have you within the media. Then we'll have a lot of people. We're gonna get the gold. We're gonna get the gold jacket. Oh, yeah, he's a baller. Do you think. Do you think Taylor ever blocked him? Taylor ever block you? He never got hands on.

[Lavonte David]

I never felt Taylor before.

[Will Compton]

Like, Taylor probably had, like, okay, I gotta go up to five' four. But, you know, Boogie probably slipped him. He probably. He probably made a line called make the guard go get him.

[Lavonte David]

He said, no, we'll switch real quick.

[Will Compton]

Oh, you're the man, Luke. I appreciate you getting back to me. It would have been a tough look. See you, bro. A great dude.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, he's great dude, man. I've been a fan of Luke since college, bro.

[Will Compton]

We got to call him back after, see what he was going to say. What? Trim that part out.

[Lavonte David]

But yeah, man. Like, Luke, Bobby. Talk about line back in class, bro. Like, it's a strong class. Like, it's it's being brought up now.

[Will Compton]

But who got drafted ahead of you? Your class?

[Lavonte David]

So it was Luke, it was the Dante Hightower stud. Michael Kendricks, Zach Brown, Bobby, and then me.

[Will Compton]

Damn, that is a strong class.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. And then we had. Demario was in that class.

[Will Compton]

You had Demario Davis?

[Lavonte David]

Demario Davis, me. Demario and Bobby played on the same Senior bowl team. Me and Bobby was roommates in Singing bowl. So that's how our relationship started.

[Sherm]

Stud.

[Will Compton]

He's a stud, too.

[Lavonte David]

He's a stud too, man. That's my guy. Like, great dude, bro.

[Will Compton]

Because he's about to do 15, isn't he?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, he about to do 15. I want him. I think he should do 50. I want him to break that record, the tackle record.

[Will Compton]

I mean, he's like, he's built like an action figure. He's built like inside.

[Lavonte David]

He's been built that way since his rookie year. Like, nothing don't change.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

You know, he got them long arms like, damn, Bobby, like, what you be doing all season?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, we were talking about you maybe diving into some media.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, Yeah. I think, you know, just to be around the game of football still, just because I generally love the game of football. I love sports in general. But for me to like, actually been a player and play at a high level and actually like play 14 years at in the game and kind of like give a little insight of, you know, what I see and stuff like that, I think it'll be pretty cool for, you know, me to kind of like continue in that aspect. And then I said, I mentioned going to scouting and maybe, you know, working in the front office role and stuff like that. I think it'll be cool.

[Will Compton]

Oh, as far as the business side that you're talking about.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Business side.

[Will Compton]

See, if you like the. The scouting.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. People say you don't think you'd be a coach. I don't think I get into coaching, bro.

[Will Compton]

Why not?

[Lavonte David]

Ah, I don't know. I don't know. I like my time, honestly.

[Will Compton]

Because that's gone once you get into that.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I like my time, but couldn't

[Will Compton]

scout scouting be the same way? I think I feel like it would if, like, if you're in the. If you're in the machine.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I.

[Will Compton]

Football.

[Lavonte David]

I feel like with scouting, bro, I feel like if you a college scout. I don't know. I mean, I could be correct on it. I feel like if you're on a college scout, I think it's more busy than being a pro scout. Because college scout, you Actually have to, you know, travel out and scout certain regions, scout all these teams, have all these draw ups to certain players. But I think in pro scout and I'm not sure there's just, just. But I feel like in pro scouting they just give you a list of guys when it comes up to free agency and stuff like that. Just study these guys and see who fit. Fit what? I fit our scheme and stuff like that.

[Will Compton]

But what would you. If you're say you want to get into pro scouting, what would be the end goal if you want to get into.

[Lavonte David]

I want to be a G. I want to be a gym.

[Will Compton]

That's what I'm saying.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

There goes your life.

[Lavonte David]

I mean I'll be a little older by then. I'll be, you know, I probably wouldn't

[Will Compton]

care, but the climb.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

To get there, like think about the time commitment you had to be one of the best of all time. Think about the time commitment of anybody who's trying to be great at their craft in football. Like all the time you have to put into it.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Like it'd be no different really in any job if you're trying to get like to the job.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Like if you're really trying to be the best, like you sacrifice a lot more than just whatever the structure is. Let's just call it 9 to 5.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Like the 9 to 5 of being a pro scout.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

That if you're trying to eventually be a GM, like you're not looking at a 9 to 5 job and then you're just going to get promoted to one day be a gm.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You'd be pouring into it in such a way to where all of your hours are dedicated to one day becoming a gm.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. I think that that talk. I have to. Have to talk. Have a talk with my family when that time comes.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Lavonte David]

So I really think of it that deep, but it just. But it's something that I may venture into.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. I feel that you got to think about the next five years, man.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I was just talking to Wyatt about this. He's the new head coach of north county football. You got to think of what you want to be in five years. You know what I mean? So you didn't think about it that deep, but you got to think about it deep.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, you're right.

[Will Compton]

Just before I get going, man. Come on. You gotta media wise though, you know? You know somebody that's got a few different shows you could spot on too.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I can, I can, I could pop out of Nashville. A couple. Couple times out the year. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You say, well, we get a Nebraska recap show going.

[Lavonte David]

I, I.

[Will Compton]

Tomorrow.

[Lavonte David]

You know, that's what. That's what. That's what I need to go. I need to go back to Nebraska.

[Will Compton]

You need to pour into the Husker fans, bro.

[Lavonte David]

I do.

[Will Compton]

They love you.

[Lavonte David]

They do. And it was a point in my career. Like, you know, on Sunday Night Football, you say, or like, your high school, your college, whatever you say. And it was a. It was a time, like, I never said Nebraska.

[Will Compton]

I know. Why?

[Lavonte David]

It was just no reason. Like, I just. I wanted to say my Little League. Like, I wanted to say my high school. Yeah. Like, I wanted to say those things, and, like, I didn't know it was because I'm. I'm not on Twitter. Right.

[Will Compton]

So are you back on. There's been people that tag you.

[Lavonte David]

That's not me.

[Will Compton]

Okay?

[Lavonte David]

That's not me.

[Will Compton]

That's breaking news. That is not Levante.

[Lavonte David]

That's not me. So, like, I see, like, little stuff. Like, people send me stuff, and I see, like. Like, some people I figured out on Instagram, dudes, you know, comment on some of my pictures. Like, do you hate the Huskers? Like, why? You never said any of them. I'm like, but damn, I didn't think it was that. That deep or whatever. Yeah. But I got nothing. Blood for the Husk fans, man. I rep those guys every time.

[Will Compton]

Do you want us to win a national title?

[Lavonte David]

Yes, I do.

[Will Compton]

You got to understand the role that you can play into helping Nebraska out.

[Lavonte David]

You think me speaking could help Nebraska win the national? Yeah, to Nebraska.

[Sherm]

Really?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Well, I wouldn't say I got him to Nebraska, but, like, like, you carry an influence.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You can bring eyes and attention to Nebraska. Like, you're one of the best to touch the grass on defense, bro.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. I mean, we got a couple Miami guys on the team right now. Vincent Shavers. I'm really tight with Vince.

[Will Compton]

He's a stud.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, he's a stud. I don't know Jacob Barney, but he from down that way.

[Will Compton]

Barney's a stud.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, he's a stud. So.

[Will Compton]

But imagine, like, we're trying to recruit a guy, and they hear from Levante Day. David, think what that would do to your psyche if you were the recruit.

[Lavonte David]

You're right. You got a point. You got a point.

[Will Compton]

So when you were boosting them, like, all the young athletes who's like, yo, I want to be like. I want to be like, Levante, David, all the backers, defensive players, you Who. Whoever you inspire.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

As a young athlete. You. You are this young athlete.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Who. Who was somebody you looked up to

[Lavonte David]

growing up. I'll probably say Patrick Willis.

[Will Compton]

Patrick Willis. Let's just use him. But the way Patrick Willis moves, if he's literally on the. If he's on the hill talking about Ole Miss all the time, and Ole Miss is in front of your face all the time. Through his influence on social.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

Through.

[Will Compton]

When he speaks about it, you think

[Lavonte David]

like, damn, I want to be.

[Will Compton]

I want to be next Patrick Willis.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You're in that spot.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

For any of this younger generation, like, we're trying to win a natty. You might not be able to be on the field with them and make plays and impact the game, but you impact the game in another way that goes beyond the field, bro.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. See, just me being outside of football now for a couple weeks. I understand that now. I ain't know that.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Which it all funnels to the impact being made on the field.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Okay.

[Will Compton]

Because we can land a couple guys.

[Lavonte David]

You got a good pitch. Come on.

[Will Compton]

Hey, that's legit, though.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

I've been watching them. Been doing a really good job. I. I love that they got you on the. The Jumbotron when you coming out and stuff.

[Will Compton]

I appreciate that. That could be you.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

There's a couple times you fly in this year to Nashville to do busing. It'll be me and you making a hype video.

[Lavonte David]

I think I could do it as

[Will Compton]

good as you, though, when you got guys like this behind you. Yeah. They'll get you to do anything great. Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Did a really good job, bro. I'm proud of you on that, man. But I will say this. I always seen Will doing something like this just because your personality, like, when people would be like, man, you know, they asked me, like, will, your boy in college, like, yeah, man, that was my guy. And, like, honestly, that's no surprise that he's, like, doing stuff like this. You know, you're like, you being genuinely you. You know what I'm saying?

[Will Compton]

I appreciate that, man.

[Lavonte David]

I'm glad you didn't switch up a change. Only thing you change is your teeth. But that's cool.

[Will Compton]

I had to. You already know I had to to. At first, it's like, everybody's like, damn, why'd you change? Why'd you get the fake teeth? And now that we've gotten years removed, we're now like, seven years removed.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

You look back at some of them photos, I'm like, God damn. I was telling the boys, I forget who was in there, but I was like, Levante was there when I gave, like, my first, like, speech in front of the team before that Iowa game. Stood up. Like, my hands were sweaty. I was, like, shaking internally. But we had some good times, bro.

[Lavonte David]

It was some great times, bro. It was. That was. That was a fun time to be like, college locker room. Ain't nothing like an NFL locker room.

[Will Compton]

No. And you're just in it in a different. In a different way. Like in the NFL, like, when you're young, you're assuming there's going to be, like, the groups of young guys stick together. Guys are all dying for ball. Like, it's the best. Yeah. Then you learn about vets who have families, and it's just not like they

[Lavonte David]

can't get out with you all.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Because you. You got to become unc. You got to become the. The OG or the old head who has a family or other priorities. You can't partake or run around with the fellas. Yeah. Whereas in college, like, you're all doing the same thing all the time together.

[Lavonte David]

Every. Everywhere we go, we always together. That was pretty. Pretty good moment.

[Will Compton]

Are you down? Do you live close to the University of Miami?

[Lavonte David]

About 45 minutes away.

[Will Compton]

We're gonna be down there for the spring tour.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, man.

[Will Compton]

Next week, right?

[Lavonte David]

I might. I might. When you down there? I might pop out. Down. Down there.

[Will Compton]

Eight. Yeah. Like the seventh through ninth range, I think we're on because. Yeah, because we're on a Notre Dame. And then we'll go down to Miami.

[Sherm]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

So next Thursday, you know, all my homies, all my homeboys, they play down there, so sometimes they go out to the spring practice and stuff like that.

[Will Compton]

So.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I kind of like. I. I like. We kind of like. Like past couple years, we've been going down there to kind of like watch a practice or whatever. So now I'm true there and, you know.

[Will Compton]

Pop out. What, to get you going on this media. On the media side.

[Lavonte David]

Ain't trying to jump in.

[Will Compton]

I know you're not. I'm not saying you need to jump into it.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I'm just saying there's going to be a war coming five years from now.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And then the years all following after that, and there's only going to be. There's. There's going to be my war.

[Lavonte David]

A war.

[Will Compton]

Levante David in the hall of fame.

[Lavonte David]

Oh, gotcha. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

That's what I'm saying. Listen, I'll be the guy that thinks

[Lavonte David]

down the Road, you know, you and Gerald been going really hard.

[Will Compton]

We go hard, bro. I see Joe. I respect his game. It's good that he does because he got to play with you.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Gerald, my God, man, he. Gerald took me on his wing as soon as I got there. Him and E.J. biggers, you know, bro.

[Will Compton]

Because I play with you. Yeah. In Washington.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

I love dj.

[Lavonte David]

My guy, man. Great dude, bro. Like, ej, kind of like, he got me founding my masseuse, found my house cleaner, you know, stuff like that. So that's my guy, man.

[Will Compton]

Is he coaching still? I know he was in coaching.

[Lavonte David]

He's coaching. I believe he's coaching at his alma mater, North Miami beach, and he do kind of like a little bit of training on the side.

[Will Compton]

Got you. So I love dj, bro.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Great dude, man.

[Will Compton]

Great dude.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

How you feel about Mike Evans? He's still going.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Did that play into your decision at all, teammates coming back if the team was going to stay together?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

To play a 15th year for you, knowing that Mike was gonna go and do, you know, be with a different team?

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I mean, I would say no. It didn't play no effect in my decision at all. And going to last season, I told Mike it might be a chance that I, you know, retire at the end of the season. So he texted me back and said, man, let's make this one a great one. So at first it started out great, and then it kind of like ended a different way, but it was already in my mind that retirement was gonna be, you know, a possible thing. And, you know, and then as far as the mic thing, you know, kind of surprising, I would say, but in a sense, it's like knowing Mike, man, you know, the competitive guy he is and, you know, how he is as a person. I think, you know, Mike was probably looking for a different challenge, you know what I'm saying? Like, honestly, obviously, you know, he did above and beyond with Tempe and communion for the team, so maybe he just wanted. Was looking for, you know, different out and stuff like that. You know, I told him congratulations on whatever it is that he, you know, his decision and stuff like that, but to actually understand and know what he did, I didn't get into that because I ain't wrong. You know, I don't want to bother him, and he probably already taken a lot of slack and stuff like that. People kind of like some people, which is crazy, looking at him like. Like, dang, man, you. You switched out on us like that. But you can't really, you know, you don't really. You don't really know what came into the decision of him actually, like, wanted to let just, you know, get away and, you know, try a different experience.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. And as a player, too, like, I'm sure with, like, Mike playing for the 49ers, it had to be, like, a certain situation that he wanted to go into.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

We feel like all this team could. Could go the whole way. Not that he's saying, like, oh, we suck, or we're not gonna go the whole way.

[Lavonte David]

Right.

[Will Compton]

But as a player, when you're making some of those decisions, especially late in your career, you're like, man, I really don't have a whole lot of time left.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And then you just get in the right. You see the right situation.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Sherm]

It's like.

[Will Compton]

It's nothing personal.

[Lavonte David]

No.

[Will Compton]

Like, he's gonna love being a bucket. He's gonna probably come back and retire a buccaneer.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, exactly. And then the thing is, too, like, it's not like he left the Bucks in a terrible place. Like, the receiver room is a very, very talented receiving room. Like, you still got Chris Godwin there. You got a Mecca who emerged. You got. You got Tess Johnson, you got J. Mac still there. You still got a good core guys who can, you know, still, you know, keep that standing in that room.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's a beast, too.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Have we covered everything, boys? Do you feel good? We got a Bud Light question for you. It's the same Bud Light question you had last time. People do anything for an ice cold Bud Light.

[Lavonte David]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

And then all you have to answer is, now that you're retired. Yeah. Now that you're on the other side of it. What. What would. What would Levante do anything for?

[Lavonte David]

What would Levante do anything for? That's kind of like a. A crazy question.

[Will Compton]

Can't say family. Taylor. That's a stipulation that Taylor has in there, because you can't say your daughter.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. What would I do anything for? For what?

[Will Compton]

Like, it can be anything, bro. Last week, Cam Jurgens, Husker. Yeah. He was just a Sonic breakfast burrito.

[Lavonte David]

He'll do anything for a Sonic breakfast burrito.

[Will Compton]

Brock Bowers was a steak.

[Lavonte David]

George said a Bud Light.

[Will Compton]

George K. Said a Bud Light. Some guys get deep, some guys I'll do.

[Lavonte David]

I'll do anything for an authentic Italian dish. Italian meal.

[Will Compton]

Oh, okay. You were talking some Italian cuisine out in Italy.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, I. I love Italian food. And, like, all. Like, when we went. When I went to Italy, like, I was Looking for those authentic Italian spots. Spots. And like, the ones I did have was pretty good. So, like, experience those. I love experiencing those.

[Will Compton]

Levante David, a man with range.

[Lavonte David]

Come on.

[Will Compton]

Come on. You guys got anything for him? Good. I was just, I, I saw Sherm's eyes were kind of off on the side. Like his brain was going for a second it was thinking it was singing.

[Sherm]

I just love LD's vibe.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And both of these interviews have been really, really cool. Really fun. Even, Even so closely, back to back. You think, oh, man. Maybe we covered everything in the first one. Not at all. Like, the, the story is super compelling. You're very fun to talk to.

[Lavonte David]

Appreciate you.

[Will Compton]

You're awesome.

[Lavonte David]

Thank you, man. Appreciate you, bro.

[Will Compton]

You're the best, man.

[Lavonte David]

Appreciate.

[Will Compton]

Thank you for coming on, especially the week after Shout Out.

[Lavonte David]

Buddha, I know you wanted me to come on and announce my retirement on here too, but I tried to talk to you about it too. I think one day I test you. Was you going to the spring game a couple weeks ago? You did test back, but it was late, so I was, I already had my mind made up.

[Will Compton]

What were you going to text? Cuz if you're saying, hey, me asking if I'm going to the spring game, My relationship, it was going to lead

[Lavonte David]

into that because I thought about going to the spring this past weekend. Right?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

Because I thought of like, hey, would you gonna go to the spring game? And stuff like that. And then like, I was. Because I wasn't initially gonna say like, my retirement to the end of the month, but like, my mind was kind of like made up already. I was like, it, I just get out the way. But I was going to ask you and talk to you about it.

[Will Compton]

Like, hey, what would the optics be? Yeah.

[Lavonte David]

But then I probably was gonna shoot you down anyway, though, to be honest,

[Will Compton]

that's, honestly, it doesn't surprise me. You gave it to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over busting with the boys. You did well, I felt like I, I, I was really, I had you where I wanted you. When you asked for those tickets at the Cincinnati game with Buddha.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, you did.

[Will Compton]

That was one. Well, I didn't think about it until after the fact.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But I was like, oh, I kind of did him a solid right here. I didn't ask no questions. We'll get you the tickets to booty your agent.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

I knew nothing other than you're my boy. You're seeing if I can can get you a ticket for your agent. Let me see if we can make it happen.

[Lavonte David]

Capitalize on that. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And then once it happened and I was riding in the car the next day after we had a tight win, I was like, I need to spin this because this could be Levante's last year. And I texted Levante. I was like, you know, you're in my hip pocket now. Whenever you retire, you have to do it on busting with the boys. But we got you a week after.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, man. All love, man.

[Will Compton]

I appreciate you, man.

[Lavonte David]

I appreciate you, bro. You know, it's all love, man.

[Will Compton]

Always and forever.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. How Big Bill doing?

[Will Compton]

Big Bill's doing good. Big Bill's jacked.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

Big Bill's jacked.

[Lavonte David]

Okay. Okay.

[Will Compton]

He's proud of you. He loves you. Right away. Why? And Cody? They're both good. Cody's gearing up for a bachelor party.

[Lavonte David]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

White is now the head coach of north county or old high school.

[Lavonte David]

No way. Remember I used to always mess with Wyatt?

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Now he's the head coach, bro.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

So we've been talking.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

We've been strategizing.

[Lavonte David]

Yeah. Tell him I say, what's up, man?

[Will Compton]

I will. I will, bro. But love you. I appreciate you. Big hugs, tiny kisses. Thank you everybody for tuning in. This is Bustle with the boys. We will see you next week. 21 plus and present in select states.

[Lavonte David]

For Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star

[Will Compton]

Casino or 18/ and present in D.C. opt in required bonus issued as non withdrawable profit boost tokens.

[Lavonte David]

Restrictions apply including any token expiration and max wager amount. C terms as sportsbook.fanduel.com gambling problem, call

[Will Compton]

1-800-gambler or visit rg-help.com call 1-888-789-7777 or

[Lavonte David]

visit ccpg.org Chattincut Hope is Here gambling helpline ma.org or call 800-327-5050. For 24.

[Will Compton]

7 support in Massachusetts, visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org.

[Lavonte David]

in Maryland, call 1-877-8-HOPE NY or text Hopeny 467-369.

[Will Compton]

In New York, the postseason is upon us and there's really nothing like it. But the postseason can be stressful. Crushing losses, wild upsets, your unhinged six game parlay falling apart at the literal last second. Things can get rough and it can leave you feeling a little sour. But you got to look at the bright side. Once your team is out and headed to decompress, you can finally relax. Now you can actually enjoy the postseason with all of the heart pounds, palpitations. That's why we're partnering with Jim Beam. We want to help you turn that lemon of a loss into delicious, tasty Jim Beam and lemonade because it's really the perfect bevy for the offseason. It's refreshing, it's got the perfect sweetness and a little bit of tang on your tongue. Best paired with stress free watching when your team is out. So gather the boys and grab some Jim Beam and lemonade to make the rest of the postseason just a little bit sweeter. Refresh your season with Jim Beam and lemonade. Best enjoyed together. Please drink responsibly. Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 40 alcohol by volume 2025 James B. Beam Distilling Co. Clermont, Kentucky hey, it's Ryan

[Lavonte David]

Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway.

[Will Compton]

It's Stock up Savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for store wide deals and

[Lavonte David]

earn four times the points.

[Will Compton]

Look for in store tags to earn

[Lavonte David]

on eligible items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, Post Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app

[Will Compton]

for automatic event long savings.

[Lavonte David]

Stack up those rewards to save even more.

[Will Compton]

Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for

[Lavonte David]

easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply.

[Will Compton]

See website for full terms and conditions. This is Bethany Frankel from Just Be with Bethany Frankel.

[Lavonte David]

Let me be blunt.

[Will Compton]

Most dog food is junk. It just is.

[Lavonte David]

And I'm not feeding junk to Biggie and Smalls.

[Will Compton]

That is why they eat just food for dogs.

[Sherm]

Dogs.

[Lavonte David]

It's real 100% human grade food with ingredients I actually recognize.

[Will Compton]

Not mystery pellets pretending to be healthy.

[Lavonte David]

And once I switched, the difference was obvious. Better digestion, better skin, more energy. Dogs who actually feel good instead of just surviving dinner.

[Sherm]

Here's the thing you care about quality.

[Will Compton]

You make an intentional choice to be healthy.

[Lavonte David]

So why are you gambling with your dog's health? So let's think about our furry babies.

[Sherm]

Go to justfoodfordogs.com right now and get

[Lavonte David]

50% off your first box. No code.

[Will Compton]

Just try it because once you see the difference, you're not going back.

[Lavonte David]

If you're looking for more flexibility in how you pay for everyday purchases, meet Klarna.

[Sherm]

Klarna lets you decide whether to pay

[Will Compton]

now, pay later, or spread payments over time.

[Lavonte David]

All managed right in the Klarna app.

[Will Compton]

Download the Klarna app today or visit

[Sherm]

klarna.com to learn more. Terms apply California Resident Loans made or

[Lavonte David]

arranged pursuant to a California Finance law license NMLS number 1353190 Klarna balance account required to be eligible for cashback points.

[Sherm]

Limitations, terms and conditions apply.