Years ago, the 250 lb TE was often called self centered, juvenile and someone countless felt was certainly not living up to his expectations or potential. Worried more about his own statistics than his team winning or not.
Then of course, we all remember the Mike Singletary rant, that will forever sit in my mind as one of the paramount rants ever spit out by a head coach, “Can’t win with ‘em, can’t do it” when Vernon wasn’t playing with the heart the then-head coach felt was required. He may not have been a real successful head coach (18-22 in 3 seasons) but he surely made a lasting impression on them, and absolutely toughened them up as a whole.
When Davis was drafted 6th overall in the 2006 draft, coming out of Maryland, he had the amazing body, an overall tremendous athlete, but he has been prone to having a bad attitude with teams, arguing with teammates at practice and an overall obnoxious teammate in general.
Over the last 3 years, he has accumulated some pretty impressive numbers, 2671 YDs, 201 recpt, 26 TDs, and an outstanding blocking tight end as well, and has certainly built a very good chemistry with 6 year QB Alex Smith, even defending him as a good teammate ought to recently after their electrifying win over the New Orleans Saints.
He dominated the field with 7 grabs and 180 YDs including 2 scores, including the grasping, curling 14 yard dart with 9 seconds left in the game, which was the game winner. Putting itself immediately into the chronicles of historical catches in San Francisco history. Dwight Clark in 1982, Terrell Owens in 2003, and now Vernon Davis in 2012. When I watched him running off the field, eyes overflowing with tears streaming down his cheeks, I could do nothing but smile…that is what winning should mean.
Obviously no receiving skilled player poses a bigger danger on offense than Davis, and now the Giants get to deal with him.
Naturally there is some trash talking going around in the game from players. Biggest from NYG DB Antrel Rolle, with no fear, feels he can shut down the new hero in San Fran.
Be careful what you ask for Antrel Rolle, the TEs the Giants have faced, mostly have lit them up relatively successfully, Jason Witten for 69 YDs, Jimmy Graham for 84 YDs, and Jermichael Finley for 87 YDs. They have struggled all season long guarding them. And now they get a team on a roll with all the confidence in the world pulsating through them.
Now I think Vernon gets it, after 6 years, he realizes, the team looks to him for leadership and to make the big plays when needed, sometimes it may be plucking a 15 yard pass from his QB, or pancaking a LB for RB Frank Gore to break out around the outside. Vernon Davis has arrived…in a big way.
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