Vernon Davis has come a long way since the day that 49ers head coach Mike Singletary banished him to the locker room in the middle of a game.
Not only did Singletary thumb Davis from the field after the tight end had committed a silly penalty, he riffed him up one side and down the other in an instantly infamous postgame screed:
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“I’d rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way when I know that right now that person is not sold out to be a part of this team,” Singletary said. “It is more about them than it is about the team. Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can’t do it. I want winners.”
Most players would never have come back from that. They would forever be branded as the “Cannot Win With Them” guy.
Davis isn’t most players. He grew, personally and professionally, becoming a stellar tight end, helping the 49ers get to the Super Bowl, and helping the Denver Broncos win a Super Bowl. He has spent the past three seasons with Washington, where he recently made his signature play.
According to TMZ Sports, Davis became aware of a teenage fan of the Washington franchise whose world was knocked upside down. Ryan Howey, you see, was diagnosed with brain cancer this past May. Davis caught up with his story last month. TMZ reported that Davis made a two-hour drive to meet the young fan — who had to undergo radiation five days a week for six weeks.
Ryan died shortly after Davis’ visit.
Davis has recently doubled down on his do-goodery, offering Ryan’s parents and sister a trip to the Super Bowl.
“I Facetimed them,” Davis said. “I was explaining to them, ‘Hey, I think it’d be great if you guys can go to the Super Bowl. I have three tickets for you all, and I’m putting you up in a hotel, and you guys get to see a good game.
“I don’t feel like no one was really thinking of them in that manner. It was just on my heart, man.”
Vernon Davis: Winner.
