Vontae Davis spent 10 seasons (9.125 if you’re being picky) in the NFL, plus the length of time it takes to compose a tweet to become a punchline.
You might not have known much about Davis before Sunday, given that he was a cornerback who played for mostly unremarkable teams, the kind of guy that gets little attention even when he takes his helmet off.
You’ve heard about him know, surely, ever since news trickled out that — gosh! — an NFL player had walked out on his team during a game and immediately retired.
Cue the jokes. The Buffalo Bills were so bad, a popular variety went, that players were now quitting in the middle of games. By Monday morning, Davis’ name was being substituted for any situation where a player might want to stop playing, such as Eli Manning after being on the receiving end of a crunching tackle. Thanks for that one, Shannon Sharpe. Radio talk show hosts were asking listeners to share their stories of when they walked out of a job.
Blowhards like Rex Ryan — “get the hell outta here” — and Damien Woody — “I … want to fight this cat” — spluttered through furious indignation and said Davis had let down his team.
All of which is why what Davis did might have been the bravest thing that happened last weekend.
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This wasn’t someone checking out of their part-time job as a gas-station attendant and not being able to show their face to buy a six-pack there ever again. Davis knew the firestorm was coming, and he did it anyway.
Going out when your heart, and body and mind are no longer in it is not cowardice. It is the opposite. Davis felt it deep within, a sudden realization that he was done, washed up, not mentally ready for the challenge anymore. A lot of people feel it. Few have the guts to act on it, especially when it means leaving money on the table.
But what about the team, you say? He abandoned his team!
Firstly, please explain how an outfit, even one as awful as the Bills, could possibly benefit by using someone on the field who has no wish to play even one more down?
Yes, he left the stadium. Would it have helped if he’d stood there on the sidelines, or taken up residence in one of those empty seats left behind by disgruntled fans, who also left early?
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