Players and the Media: Let's Give Props to Vernon Davis

If you attended, like, one high school history class in the United States, then you know Teddy Roosevelt popularized the phrase, "speak softly, and carry a big stick." This is coming from the man who out-pontificated a bullet. Seriously. He gave a speech with a bullet in his chest, saved by the fact that the bullet hit the papers of his speech - which was fifty pages thick. Single-spaced, according to Wikipedia.

So, the ideology of speaking softly is not as easy in practice as it is in theory. This is okay. I think some of the smartest people in the world are quiet, and whenever they talk, you should darn well listen. Moreover, some of them are quite loud. Vernon Davis is apparently one of the latter.

Recently, at a High School in his hometown of Washington DC, Vernon Davis asserted that he will be "the best Tight End to ever play this game." He said it with confidence, because he had "a vision." Bold words from a bold player.

This is somewhat in contrast to Jim Harbaugh's style. Same with Alex Smith and even Frank Gore. These men aren't afraid to speak passionately and honestly. Not by any means - but the vast majority of their interviews are conducted in languid and unrevealing ways.

Vernon Davis seems to be on the opposite end of the spectrum. He is always good for a sound bite or two. Since he is clearly so smart, those little chunks of info are usually well thought-out and intelligently conveyed. I have a lot of respect for a man who can so effectively use the media's short attention span to convey articulate information instead of out-of-context jumble and junk.

So in a sort of "contest" between the players who are increadibly outspoken, like Vernon and, well let's be honest, Anthony Davis and the more soft spoken gentlemen, I sort of like the former's style. I'll let our favorite Tight End speak for himself:

Anything is possible. I say that because ... what can happen? If I don't make it, then I don't make it. It's as simple as that. Ain't nothing nobody can do, ain't nothing nobody can say. But if I do? Then I spoke it into existence.

Man, that last part. "Then I spoke it into existence." What an awesome what to approach the game of Football. It's not about saying it just to say it. It's about saying it in order to do it.

I don't know if Vernon will ever be the greatest TE to play. I doubt it, just because such an achievement is near impossible. But, that doesn't mean I won't be pulling for him at every step.

And that last part about speaking it into existence? That I can respect.

Conversation starter: what type of player do you prefer: the reticent or the loud one? I think both obviously have their pros and their cons. I mean, Mike Singletary was pretty reticent, unless it was about checking the game film or Yahoo! rats. On the flip side, well, I think Anthony Davis' twitter pretty much speaks for itself.