Tag Archives: Vernon Davis
Singletary Video: 49ers’ Vernon Davis Still a Prima Donna?
When Mike Singletary was the San Francisco 49ers Head Coach he led his team the way he played. As a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears Singletary wore his heart on his sleeve and played with reckless abandon leaving everything on the field…everything. Arguably the most intimidating middle linebacker to ever wear an NFL uniform, Singletary hoped that his old school approach would translate in to toughness and eventual championship contention for the 49ers. Unfortunately, in the day and age where athletes are often labeled prima donnas, things didn’t work out as planned. Just ask 49ers TE Vernon Davis.
In Oct 2008 the 49ers were playing the Seattle Seahawks. After making a catch in the second half, 49ers TE Vernon Davis slapped the facemask of Seahawks safety Brian Russell in a taunting gesture. Davis’ extracurricular activities resulted in a penalty flag that would cost the 49ers 15 yards.
At the time Singletary, who was the 49ers interim head coach, benched Davis for his actions and sent him to the locker room while the game was still being played. In the press conference after the game Singletary went on a rant to include talking about the benching of Davis.
Fast forward to 2012. After Davis’ heroics in the 49ers NFC divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints, Davis credited Singletary with “teaching him a lot.” Davis displayed emotion bursting into tears after catching the game winning touchdown that would send his 49ers to the NFC Championship. It seemed as if Davis had come a long way from that 2008 game. But that was then, and this is now.
It appeared that Davis reverted back to his old ways of self before team during Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship. Davis was flagged twice for boneheaded infractions. The first was an excessive celebration call for standing on a camera platform after scoring on a 73 yard touchdown reception. The second was for jumping into the Giants’ Deon Grant after a scuffle that had resulted in no penalties between Anthony Davis of the 49ers and Michael Boley of the Giants.
49ers’ head coach Jim Harbaugh argued with the refs claiming that Davis’ platform performance was no different from the famed Lambeau leap done in Green Bay. There was no argument for the second penalty however as it was just uncalled for.
Whether the penalties were justified or not, the 49ers were in the NFC Championship and as one of the star players on the team, you just can’t do that. The plays had no direct impact on the outcome of the game and Davis did score the only two 49er touchdowns, but on the biggest stage of his professional career, he appeared extremely undisciplined on what was an extremely disciplined 49ers team throughout the regular season. Love him or leave him, Vernon Davis is still a prima donna.
Aaron Moon is the CEO for The Penalty Flag. Follow Aaron on Facebook and Twitter @Da_Bear_Truth.
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