SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -Vernon Davis knows that regardless of whether he catches another touchdown pass in San Francisco’s season finale Sunday to tie an NFL record, he has produced a year to remember. A breakout season to say the least.
He’s a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career, a month shy of his 26th birthday. And he will be a starter for the NFC squad in the Jan. 31 game at Miami.
All the accolades aside, Davis acknowledges he’d get a real kick out of finishing with more touchdown catches than New England star Randy Moss, who has 13.
“Just try to get another one, maybe two, stay ahead of him,” Davis said with a grin. “That’d be nice.”
ctory by the 49ers back on Oct. 4 at Candlestick Park.
“It’s been a tremendous season for me,” Davis said. “I’ve been getting a lot of opportunities, playing hard, doing everything I’ve got to do to be successful and just making plays and helping my team win.”
He has said all along he could have this type of year as long as he got the opportunities. It sure has helped his cause being a key figure in offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s tight-end friendly offense.
Davis has made huge strides this season both in his play and how he’s handled himself on the field. He even earned a captain tag from coach Mike Singletary.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Davis was known as much for his volatile nature as his lack of production during his first three NFL seasons. He is finally living up to the hype that convinced San Francisco to select the speedy, athletic Davis with its top draft pick in 2006 at sixth overall out of Maryland.
“He’s just taken one step after the next and just continued to go in the right direction, starting from the end of last season,” Singletary said, “continuing to have the right mindset going forward, doing all the right things.”
Davis was a Pro Bowl alternate last season after making 31 receptions for 358 yards and two touchdowns, with his catches ranking third on the team.
. He did it this year after saying such antics were behind him. Singletary sent him to the showers early during the coach’s debut in October 2008 against Seattle for the way Davis reacted to a personal foul penalty.
Playing for Singletary has helped Davis grow up – and he has repeatedly acknowledged that fact this year.
“Coach Singletary always says it takes time to be great. It takes time for things to happen for you,” Davis said. “You’ve just got to be patient. I feel that you’re always being tested. Sometimes when things aren’t happening someone’s way, they tend to break down or they keep pushing. In my case, I just kept on pushing and waited for my chances.”
He also has been forced to adapt. As the season has gone on and Davis has continued to find different ways to score, teams have begun trying to take away the up-the-middle routes that have worked so well for him.
Davis even had his own pitch for making the Pro Bowl before getting official word he was in Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s hard to score touchdowns,” Davis said. “My performance, the plays I’ve been making, just my overall play. I can block better than any tight end in the conference. I mean, why not? Last year alone I was a Pro Bowl alternate and I only had like 20 catches. If you put all those things together, I’m a complete tight end.”
ption during last Sunday’s 20-6 win over the Detroit Lions.
Smith rolled out on third-and-goal from the 2 midway through the third quarter and flipped a pass to Davis just before crossing the line of scrimmage. Smith could have easily run it in but instead got the ball to Davis for his 12th TD catch.
Davis’ choice for their dinner date? Forbes Mill Steakhouse in nearby Los Gatos.
“I’ll hit him up on that this week,” Smith said.
Davis will even bring Smith to the Pro Bowl if the quarterback wants to go, and if Smith’s wife signs off on such a trip.
There might even be more for Smith if Davis scores another touchdown. Davis will take one more TD in whatever form it comes. Yet Smith doesn’t feel any added responsibility to make sure he finds Davis in the end zone Sunday – though he knows that would sure be a bright spot heading into the offseason. Winning is the most important thing, however, as this team tries to finish 8-8 and end a franchise-worst streak of six straight losing seasons.
“I don’t think we’re going to be trying to force anything,” Smith said. “Let it happen. We’re going to go in and try to win a game. It says a lot about him and the work he’s put in over the last few years as well as this season. And it’s a credit to the guys around him. We all depend on each other, but I’m happy for him. He’s worked really hard to get there.”
Davis’ teammates would like to see him walk away from Sunday’s game with the record for touchdowns by a tight end, especially those in the tight-knit offensive unit.
“We grew up together in Washington, D.C., and I’ve watched him since we were 12 years old all the way up until now,” receiver Josh Morgan said. “That’s going to be big. I really hope he gets it.”
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