The San Francisco 49ers had their offensive assistant coaches meeting with the media on Tuesday, and it is no surprise that offensive line coach Pat Flaherty got some questions about retired offensive tackle Anthony Davis. Flaherty talked about how Davis would have to prove himself, and nothing would be handed to him. The most interesting comment might have been when Flaherty said this:
The conversation that I've had, back when I first got here, was he was acceptable to that. Now, I don't see him. (laughing) I don't know why, so I can't answer that one. I need to talk talk to Drew Rosenhaus about that one.
That indicates some discussion was had at some point between Davis and the 49ers. I think most of us understood that to some extent, particularly given Davis's comment about Trent Baalke giving him a headache. For now we continue to wait and see if Davis will file reinstatement paperwork. It's easiest just assuming he won't be back, and anything that does happen is a potential bonus.
Here's the transcript of Flaherty's comments on Davis:
Do you know anything about or had any contact with Anthony Davis who retired last year?
Early on, when I first got here, you know I'm coming from the Giants, Greg Schiano was my GA at Rutgers a long time ago, there was some familiar characteristics there with Anthony. He knows this, coming from me, if he wants to play, then he's got to come back and prove he can play. It's gotta come from within. You can tell him exactly what I just said, he'll have an opportunity to play. That's all it is. You decided for whatever reason to retire, and if you come back in the game, nothing is going to be handed to you. You're going to have to work your tail off. The conversation that I've had, back when I first got here, was he was acceptable to that. Now, I don't see him. (laughing) I don't know why, so I can't answer that one. I need to talk talk to Drew Rosenhaus about that one.
So, it's kind of out of sight, out of mind?
Yeah, There you go. You know, we're going to be good. We've got a good group of guys to work with, a good young rookie group that in years to come are going to be very good players for the 49ers for a long time. The younger guys, like Trent and those guys, if they continue to have 'the want,' they'll be fine.