Category: Demario Davis

Watch: Demario Davis delivers first Saints pregame speech of 2021

Watch: Demario Davis delivers first Saints pregame speech of 2021

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyahgz6p2j3xp7 player_id=none image=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Alvin Kamara may be the face of the franchise post-Drew Brees, but Demario Davis might be the loudest voice in the New Orleans Saints locker room. Davis began leading the pregame huddle when Brees missed time with an injury in 2018, and he’s taken on that role full-time now that No. 9 has entered retirement.

Davis spoke to his teammates before their Week 1 kickoff with the Green Bay Packers, acknowledging the oddness of playing a home game in Jacksonville, due to Hurricane Ida — and stressing the need to come away with a win for the fans back home.

[vertical-gallery id=49249]

Demario Davis to be inducted to Arkansas State Hall of Honor

Saints LB Demario Davis to be inducted to Arkansas State Hall of Honor

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyahgz6p2j3xp7 player_id=none image=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Here’s good news for Demario Davis: the New Orleans Saints linebacker will be inducted to the Arkansas State Hall of Honor in September, where he’ll join other prominent Red Wolves athletes. It’s a big moment for Davis, who credits the coaching and positive environment he encountered at Arkansas State with turning his life around.

He’s got an argument to be the best free agent signing in Saints history behind Drew Brees. Davis answered a decades-long drought at linebacker after joining the black and gold in 2018, playing at an even higher level than fan-favorite predecessors like Jonathan Vilma. He won a spot on the All-Pro first team in 2019 and has become one of the most popular players on the team in recent years.

He’s also the only player in the NFL to record at least 110 tackles (10 or more of them for loss of yards) and four sacks in each of the last four years, three of which were spent with the Saints. He turned 32 back in January, but he’s still playing the best football of his career.

The ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 3, falling in-between New Orleans’ final preseason game on Aug. 28 and their Week 1 kickoff on Sept. 12. It’s unclear whether Davis will be able to attend with heightened COVID-19 concerns abounding, but here’s hoping he gets to enjoy the moment at some point with those close to him.

[vertical-gallery id=47714]

Demario Davis hopeful Drew Brees returns for 2021

New Orleans Saints LB Demario Davis is hopeful his teammate QB Drew Brees won’t retire just yet, instead returning for the 2021 season.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”KYf7kaKePr-1137332-7498″]

Don’t count Demario Davis among the crowd calling for Drew Brees to retire. The New Orleans Saints linebacker gave his quarterback a vote of confidence on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” program on Thursday, expressing hope Brees will return for another title run in the 2021 season.

“I hope so. Man I sure hope so,” Davis replied when asked if Brees is coming back. “I would feel much better if I could guarantee that he was.”

It’s easy to understand his stance. Davis joined Brees as an elected team captain right away after signing with the Saints in 2018, and they’ve gone 42-13 since then (including the playoffs). His previous quarterbacks have included Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Cody Kessler, and Josh McCown, and his past teams went a combined 34-62. He knows the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

So you have to think he’s hoping for stability. We’ll find out soon what’s coming next for New Orleans; Saints coach Sean Payton expects Brees to announce his decision after Super Bowl LV, and general manager Mickey Loomis is comfortable waiting on Brees to share that news himself. Other leaders on the team like Malcolm Jenkins understand it’s not an easy call for Brees to make, given how many injuries have stacked up for the passer in recent years.

Whatever decision Brees makes, whether to return or retire, it’ll impact everyone around him, including his Saints teammates. You have to think that’s weighing on him, too, along with all the other factors at play. If he does decide his playing days are behind him, the Saints can trust they’ll still have Davis commanding their defense.

[vertical-gallery id=42963]

Demario Davis reacts to Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis thanked the team for his Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nomination during a difficult year.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”qxC6yyv3ni-1068821-7498″]

Demario Davis was nominated for the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award this week, and the New Orleans Saints linebacker took time to thank the team for that recognition from his official Twitter account.

Between his efforts on the field — which earned him an All-Pro nod and a three-year contract extension this offseason — and his leadership in advocating for civil rights and criminal justice reform off of it, Davis has had a busy year and proven how much he means to his community.

The award’s winner will be announced in January; here’s how you can support Davis in the weeks ahead.

[listicle id=41310]

Demario Davis nominated for 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

The New Orleans Saints nominated LB Demario Davis for the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, recognizing him for his leadership.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”fAUNH8iFeB-1066355-7498″]

The NFL released its list of nominees from all 32 teams for the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, with the New Orleans Saints nominating linebacker Demario Davis. Davis, a third-year team captain who earned All-Pro recognition in 2019 and signed a long-term contract extension the night before the Saints’ season-opener.

Nominees will wear unique helmet decals for the rest of the 2020 season and receive a $50,000 donation to a charity of their choice. The award’s winner, which will be announced during the annual NFL Honors event preceding this year’s Super Bowl, will also receive another $250,000 donation in their name.

This honor is awarded to players who have earned it through their exemplary leadership on and off the field, and Davis fits the bill: besides his achievements during games, he has been a champion for civil rights and criminal justice reform in New Orleans and his home state of Mississippi.

Davis’ teammate Drew Brees is one of a few active players to have won the award (doing so back in 2006); each of them is recognized with a gold jersey patch depicting the trophy. Other recent nominees from New Orleans include left tackle Terron Armstead, running back Mark Ingram, and defensive end Cameron Jordan.

[listicle id=41256]

Demario Davis says his 1-year old daughter is cancer-free

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis told TMZ Sports that his daughter Carly-Faith is cancer-free after a battle with retinoblastoma.

[jwplayer ZMnkNgUo-ThvAeFxT]

Here’s some great news: New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis announced Monday that his young daughter Carly-Faith is free of retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. The treatment required surgical removal, and Carly-Faith now wears a prosthetic.

Davis broke the news to TMZ Sports, saying: “I’m a person that just never try to take anything for granted and to know what she’s been through, even to the point of having to lose her eye, but her body is free of cancer.”

It’s obviously big for the Davis family, and they’re all thankful to put this behind them. And it’s impressive that Davis has been able to compartmentalize the situation against his job as one of the NFL’s best linebackers and a team captain, somehow balancing his commitment to his daughter’s health with what he’s been able to accomplish on the field. Just this week, he notched a dozen tackles in his team’s win over the San Francisco 49ers, the most he’s recorded in a game since signing with the Saints back in 2018.

That certainly speaks to the strength of his character. And he sees this as an opportunity to reach out and support others. Davis added, “We’re able to use her story and bring awareness to a lot of families that probably wouldn’t of known about it if it wasn’t for us going through it.”

https://twitter.com/demario__davis/status/1325922714490720259?s=20

[vertical-gallery id=40384]

LISTEN: Demario Davis fires up the Saints before kickoff vs. Bears

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis delivered his signature Sunday sermon to his teammates before kickoff with the Chicago Bears.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”aTvZKfJPyF-1020004-7498″]

If the New Orleans Saints are going to defeat the Chicago Bears in Week 8 at Soldier Field, it will be because linebacker Demario Davis and his teammates kept the Bears offense in check long enough for their teammates to go to work against the Chicago defense.

So Davis made sure to set the tone right away in their pregame huddle, delivering his usual Sunday sermon after warmups. The veteran linebacker is a fiery orator, and it’s easy to see why he was voted a team captain his first year in New Orleans. Having signed a multiyear contract extension just before the 2020 season started, he’s also going to be here for the long haul.

Hopefully it all translates into results. The Saints defense hasn’t played up to its usual standards this year, allowing 17 touchdown passes in their first six games. They’ll have to do a much better job pressuring Bears quarterback Nick Foles and guarding the weapons he’ll be working with.

[listicle id=39658]

REPORT: Saints signed LB Demario Davis to 3-year contract extension

The New Orleans Saints signed linebacker Demario Davis to a three-year contract extension after hammering out Alvin Kamara’s new deal.

[jwplayer miLdPW1A-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints made waves on Saturday by agreeing to terms with running back Alvin Kamara on a five-year contract extension, but they appear to have burnt some midnight oil to work out a second big deal with linebacker Demario Davis. FOX Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews said on the broadcast of their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that Davis signed a new contract late Saturday night, which was confirmed by ESPN’s Mike Triplett.

That checks the most important box off the list of 2021 free agency needs in New Orleans, keeping their defensive captain in the fold for the forseeable future. The terms and value of Davis’s new deal have not yet been reported, but it’s a safe guess that he may have outperformed the three-year, $18 million contract he signed to join the Saints back in 2018.

Update: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the deal between Davis and the Saints is valued at $27 million with $18.35 million in guarantees.

Davis emerged in 2019 to huge fanfare, competing with Seattle Seahawks star Bobby Wagner to be recognized as the NFL’s best three-down linebacker. Davis was an AP first-team All-Pro, and now he’s being rewarded for it. Just 31 and in the prime of his career, he should continue to lead the Saints defense moving forwards.

[vertical-gallery id=37752]

Alvin Kamara on the challenges of practicing against Demario Davis

New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara was quick to talk about the challenges of practicing against All-Pro LB Demario Davis in training camp.

[jwplayer cN6EfAsk-ThvAeFxT]

Survey every NFL locker room around for motivational quotes, and you’ll probably find “iron sharpens iron” as a popular choice. That’s because it’s true, with teammates on opposing sides of the practice field doing their best to improve one another every day.

That said, it might be easier for the New Orleans Saints to step up the degree of difficulty in training camp than other teams around the league. With All-Pro talents like running back Alvin Kamara matching up against linebacker Demario Davis, that’s bound to happen.

Kamara credited Davis in a recent media conference call, praising the team captain for being such a great player — and a challenging opponent in practice.

“Man, first of all Demario is one of the smarter players I’ve played against and with,” Kamara said, careful to point out that Davis has the smarts to match his speed. He added, “He’s athletic, he runs better than some of the guys on offense, honestly. It’s hard, going up against him you’ve got to be on your A-game. There’s not a lazy play you can take against him because he’s going to take advantage of your mistakes.”

Davis was a fine player before he arrived in New Orleans; Kamara recalled facing off with him as a rookie in 2017, when Davis started for the New York Jets. But the 31-year old linebacker has stepped up his game since joining the Saints, and Kamara attributes that to keen film study. The Saints have had great success pairing Kamara with Drew Brees as a mismatch target who can line up all over the field, but Davis has worked hard to neutralize those advantages.

“He’s tuned into alignments,” Kamara continued, “Demario can sometimes in practice, he could tell what I’m running from just like the smallest little split that I take. He’ll call it out like, ‘Oh, he’s wide’ or ‘He’s close to Drew’ or ‘Watch him, he’s looking this way, he’s looking left, he’s looking right’ or just little things like he’s pointing everything out.”

Iron sharpens iron in the NFL, and the opportunity for someone as dynamic and versatile as Kamara to practice and train against someone as intelligent and athletic as Davis should do a lot to make both players better. They’re set up for even more high-energy clashes when the Saints begin practicing in pads next week.

[lawrence-related id=36914,36367,36360,35072]

[vertical-gallery id=36627]

Demario Davis named NFL’s second-best linebacker

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis was recognized as one of the best in the NFL, trailing only Seahawks superstar Bobby Wagner.

[jwplayer ly5nDZMi-ThvAeFxT]

Who are the best linebackers in the NFL right now? The game has seen an influx of young talent in recent years, with stars emerging all across the league like Darius Leonard, Fred Warner, and Deion Jones. But there’s still a strong old guard of household names; consider Dont’a Hightower, Lavonte David, and Bobby Wagner.

According to Mark Schofield over at Touchdown Wire, New Orleans Saints All-Pro Demario Davis is among them. Davis signed with the Saints as a free agent back in 2018 and immediately made an impact, earning a leadership role as team captain. He’s gone on to round out his skills set and erase any weaknesses in his game.

It’s enough for Davis to be listed ahead of everyone but Wagner in Schofield’s ranking, and Wagner’s no slouch — once upon a time he received a vote for the league’s Most Valuable Player award. By impressing in run defense, pass coverage, and blitzing after quarterbacks, Davis has done his level best to be called the game’s best three-down linebacker. Now can the Saints please re-up his contract?

[vertical-gallery id=36071]