49ers Training Camp: Vernon Davis fisticuffs.....again

by David Fucillo on Aug 15, 2008 12:10 PM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

Word came out yesterday that Vernon Davis got in another fight in camp, this time with Larry Grant. Apparently Davis was doing some blocking on a DeShaun Foster run and Grant took exception. Maiocco is reporting that after Jonas Jennings came over to calm them down, some swings resulted and Grant may have been punched in the stomach. After things calmed down, Nolan took the Duke aside and had a man-to-man talk with him.

This is not the first time this training camp Davis has gotten in a fight, and I'm wondering if a troubling pattern is emerging. I figure there's good and bad in the fights. On the one hand it seems like it comes as a result of him sticking up for teammates, which is certainly admirable. On the other hand, he's always been a bit of a smack-talker and we certainly don't want his head out of the game because he wants to beat up an opponent.

I've seen Davis talk smack during games but I don't think he's ever come to blows with an opponent. Of course if he had been the one Romanowski spit on several years back (instead of Stokes), he probably would have tried to take his head off.

We certainly want emotion and energy in practice, so if it takes some punches to fire the team up, so be it. However, considering how much talent Davis brings to the table, we don't want him alienating the rest of the team. I don't see this as a TO situation in the slightest. If TO had just gotten in some fights in practice that would have been one thing. When he started using the press in his war with Garcia and others that was a little more of a problem.

So what do people think with Vernon Davis?

EDITOR'S UPDATE 12:10PM - Not sure if anybody has seen it, but the 49ers have a somewhat new "official" blog run by Chrissy Mauck (more on that later today either on the front page or in a FanPost). Apparently there have been some attacks on Vernon Davis in the sf49ers.com message boards (which I hoped to avoid in this post). So Chrissy had some interesting comments about Davis:

I’d like to make a quick comment in defense of the attacks on tight end Vernon Davis over on our message boards. Yes, Davis tends to mix it up in practice, but Vernon truly is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. He gets under the skin of a lot of the guys on defense, particularly in the run blocking game, because he’s so physical. He doesn’t take it easy, or let up just because it’s practice. He’s not the jerk that some people think he is over on the boards. Granted, I did tell him yesterday that if he breaks his hand getting in a stupid fight in practice that I’d kick his butt, but he had an answer even for that. “I will yell and shove, but I’m not going to ever swing first. I’ll swing back, but watch me, I never make a fist. I keep my hand open like a slap.” See, he is using his head.

Take it for what it's worth, but something to factor in I'd imagine.

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I don’t really see it as that big of a deal, it doesn’t seem like he gets too violent. Things get heated, especially when your pushing and pulling and bumping into someone, tensions heat up and things happen without people thinking first. As long as he’s not punching guys during game time and causing us silly penalties I don’t think it is that serious

Simply by pulling on both ends, Patrick Willis can stretch diamonds back into coal

by 49erLou on Aug 15, 2008 1:01 PM PDT reply actions

Chrissy is one lucky, lucky girl. I envy her.

by Indiana Jim on Aug 15, 2008 3:38 PM PDT reply actions

Vernon Davis has the mother of all "Bitch Slaps"!

by StrictlyFootball on Aug 15, 2008 5:25 PM PDT reply actions

Vernon Davis

Two Saturdays ago I was planning to write a fan post regarding Davis after reading an article in the Chronicle focusing on him that literally turned my stomach. I ended up deciding against it because I’m optimistic in general for this year and didn’t want to focus on the negative.

Here’s the link to the article (I hope, sorry never used this before).

Here’s a quote:

“…Comparing himself to Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten and other top NFL tight ends, Davis won’t back off. "They’re OK,” Davis said. “They’re all right. I believe I’m up there too at their level, maybe even better. I’m saying I’m going to have a great season. An awesome one.”

Okay, a bit presumptuous, I was a little uncomfortable. I’d also say that Gonzalez’s number prove that he’s better than “alright” but I gave Davis the benefit of the doubt, he’s looking forward to a successful season.

Here’s another quote:

“At times last season, Davis looked like a bystander. In six of the 14 games he played, Davis had three or fewer receptions. "Was it upsetting? Yeah. Very upsetting,” said Davis, who declined to offer his thoughts on 2007 offensive coordinator Jim Hostler. “I was trying to figure out if I’m here to be a blocker or what. I thought I was here to make plays as far as catching the ball. "That’s how you get to the Pro Bowl and all those other things by catching the ball, I never heard of a tight end going to the Pro Bowl by blocking. It’s about making catches.”

Okay, stomach getting a little jumpy. This guys sounds like he’s just got a bad attitude. Shouldn’t the focus be on team goals, then personal goals? Okay I’ll give him a break, Hostler was truly awful, that’s gotta be frustrating.

And here was the kicker:

This season, Davis is pleased with Martz for a simple reason. “My role is going to increase big time,” Davis said. “Way more touches. This is a new beginning. This is a breakout season.”

ONE REASON! ONE REASON?!?! This guy has no concept of the team. The simple truth is that for all his skills, he hasn’t had a knack for getting open. Could any of you 9er faithful picture the athletically challenged yet perennial pro bowler Brent Jones spew this garbage? No, because he saw the big picture; on the field to get open, in the locker room to be a leader and on the practice field to be the bigger man when somebody starts to cross the line.

Now look, he made me get all negative. Oh well… Go Niners! And thank you football gods for Patrick Willis.

Tinman

by Tinman17 on Aug 15, 2008 8:55 PM PDT reply actions