Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Buccaneers David Excited About Reuniting With Whitehead
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers focused on keeping their high value free agents this offseason. But it’s the signing of safety Jordan Whitehead that has star linebacker Lavonte David excited.

“Man, that might be the biggest one back,” David said recently. “Whitehead was a guy who, obviously, I built a personal relationship with. Just having him behind me on the field gave me a whole bunch of confidence, knowing that I could count on Whitehead to do his job. For whatever happened, he didn’t have a chance to come back, but still he was communicating with us about how much he missed us and stuff like that … He wanted to come back here – that was his first priority, so I’m glad [they] were able to get that done.”

David talks about Whitehead’s value off the field.

“Whitehead, he is a special guy, not only on the football field, but as a person,” David stated. “For me, I’m all about energy and seeing the good in people and stuff like that. I’ve kind of got a sixth sense for that and Whitehead is one of those guys that is a joy to be around as a man and as a teammate. He just brings that type of passion to the game that you love. When you are playing with a guy like Whitehead, you can just look him in the eyes and know that he is ready to play, so you don’t even need to worry about him. Off the field, the way he carries himself and goes about things, he’s a pro’s pro and [those are] the [type] of guys we’ve got to have in this locker room.”

Whitehead’s return to Tampa reunites him with Antoine Winfield Jr. Look for the pair to pick up where they left off in 2020. As David said, having Whitehead back there gives him and the defense “confidence”.

This article first appeared on Bucs Report and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Packers rookie could miss time after suffering injury in training camp
NFL

Packers rookie could miss time after suffering injury in training camp

The Green Bay Packers offense was dealt a bit of a blow early in training camp. Friday, third-round rookie wide receiver Savion Williams was a spectator for practice after suffering a concussion. Williams, chosen by the Packers with the No. 87 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, is aiming to climb the depth chart at a crowded wide receiver position this summer. At 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, Williams ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.48 seconds during the NFL Combine and has the profile of potentially becoming a reliable possession receiver and after-the-catch weapon for quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense. Reaching those benchmarks and climbing the depth chart will have to wait, though, as Williams works his way through the concussion protocol and back onto the field for practices during training camp and the preseason this summer.

Ryan McMahon Trade Helps Yankees Fix a $218 Million Problem
MLB

Ryan McMahon Trade Helps Yankees Fix a $218 Million Problem

The Yankees didn’t make a flashy move Friday. They made a smart one. By acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Rockies, they sent a message: it’s time to start protecting their most expensive assets. That starts with providing Max Fried with the defense he deserves. Why This Trade Starts With Fried New York spent $218 million this winter on a groundball artist. Fried has done his job, generating weak contact and keeping the ball on the dirt. But the defense behind him hasn’t held up its end. The Yankees have committed 52 errors this season, tied for 9th in the American League. In Fried’s 21 starts alone, the team has committed 15 errors, including two by Fried himself. That’s the most defensive miscues behind any Yankees pitcher this season. Games that should’ve been shut down have been extended. Outs that should’ve ended innings have turned into rallies. For a team built around starting pitching, the leaks have been costly. What McMahon Brings McMahon isn’t coming in to carry the offense. He’s here to clean things up. The 29-year-old has made over 90 starts at third base this year and ranks among the league’s best in Defensive Runs Saved since 2021 (17 DRS). He brings steady hands, quick reads, and the kind of routine-play consistency the Yankees have been missing on the left side. Offensively, McMahon isn’t a star (.217/.314/.403, 16 HR), but his lefty bat offers a little juice. There may be more there, especially at Yankee Stadium, where that short porch has saved more than a few lefty swings. Help at Shortstop McMahon has played all over the field in the past—but never shortstop. Rockies broadcaster and former teammate Ryan Spilborghs floated the idea that McMahon’s presence could help Anthony Volpe settle back into form. But the Yankees will still need to carry a true backup shortstop on the roster. Bottom Line With the season tightening and the margin for error disappearing, the Yankees are making sure their most important investments, like Fried, aren’t left hanging. McMahon may not be the star of this deadline. But if he helps prevent a few more innings from unraveling, he’ll be worth every bit of the trade.

Seattle Storm Get Big Boost for Sky Game Amid Unexpected Angel Reese News
WNBA

Seattle Storm Get Big Boost for Sky Game Amid Unexpected Angel Reese News

The Seattle Storm are looking to make things right after Tuesday’s 87-63 blowout loss to Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings. They get a chance to do so on Thursday when they return to action against the Chicago Sky in a road game at Wintrust Arena. The Storm got a big boost ahead of the Sky matchup, which comes in the form of seven-time All-Star Skylar Diggins returning to action after a one-game absence. After registering the first triple-double in WNBA All-Star Game history on Saturday, Diggins was unable to suit up against Dallas on Tuesday due to personal reasons. The 5-foot-9 guard was not listed on Seattle’s injury report for the Sky game, though, which means that Diggins should be back in the starting lineup come Thursday. This is a crucial development for the Storm, who will be looking to improve on their 14-10 record. In 23 games played this season, Diggins has produced averages of 17.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.5 triples per game. Chicago Sky List Angel Reese as Questionable to Play Against the Seattle Storm While the Storm got some good news ahead of Thursday’s clash, the same cannot be said for the Sky. This is after two-time All-Star forward Angel Reese was added to the injury report with a back problem. The silver lining is that Reese, who missed Chicago’s last game before the All-Star break with a leg injury, is listed as questionable to play, which means that there’s still a chance that she’s able to suit up against Seattle. Reese looked fine on Tuesday as Chicago suffered a 91-68 blowout loss to the Minnesota Lynx, posting an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double. It is unclear exactly when Reese sustained the injury, but it has now placed her status against Seattle in jeopardy. It is worth noting that Michaela Onyenwere (knee) and Ariel Atkins (leg) have also been ruled out for the Storm game, as they continue to recover from respective injuries. This only means that Chicago will be significantly shorthanded on Thursday, especially if Reese also ends up sitting out.

Knicks, Warriors Could Make Blockbuster All-Star Trade
NBA

Knicks, Warriors Could Make Blockbuster All-Star Trade

The New York Knicks are a team that has been thrown around in trade rumors all offseason long. The Knicks were eliminated in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers and are looking for any way imaginable to get back in the thick of things for next season's playoff run. Sporting News analyst Tyler Rourke suggested a trade that would send Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns to the Golden State Warriors for Jimmy Butler and Quinten Post. "Towns could be holding Jalen Brunson and the rest of the roster back with his high volume of shots, which is why the front office may be willing to deal him to another team — despite just landing him ahead of the 2024-25 season," Rourke wrote. "If that is the case, the Golden State Warriors would be the perfect option, and all it would take is his former teammate, Jimmy Butler and Quinten Post." "The Knicks have built a tough defensive identity with players like Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson. Adding Butler to that group would solidify the best defensive unit in the league." "While Post doesn’t have the name value as Towns, he does have the ability to stretch the floor as a big man and will require less usage." The Knicks have uncertainty with Towns coming up in the final three years of his deal, so getting him out in favor of Butler would give the team more flexibility down the line. That being said, Towns can still be one of the best players in the NBA, especially at the center position. The Knicks made a big trade for Towns less than a year ago, so dealing him would not be something that the team should take lightly.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!