After a breakout year in Washington for the tight end, Vernon Davis expressed his joy in returning to the team he grew up watching.
Echoing his thoughts about how his first season in Washington fared, tight end Vernon Davis couldn't have been happier to re-sign with the Redskins on Wednesday.
"I feel great," Davis said on "Redskins Nation." "It's good to be back with the Redskins and I'm ready to go."
The energy and enthusiasm captured in that brief response encapsulates the reason why Davis felt ready to re-commit to the team that allowed him to keep pursuing football and return to his hometown of Washington, D.C.
"The process is to sit around and just wait patiently, expect the best, stay optimistic and just know that everything that is going happen for you is going to happen for you no matter what," Davis said. "I waited, got the call and went in last night to sign the contract."
The reason for the contract is obviously merit-based, too. Davis, in 16 games, recorded 44 receptions for 583 yards and two touchdowns, spelling tight end Jordan Reed and offering a solid starting option when Reed was unavailable due to injury.
Last season was a bit of a renaissance for the Maryland product, who, in 2015, split time with the 49ers before being traded to Denver, where he helped finish their Super Bowl run. For that entire season, he caught 20 passes for 201 yards without a score, but found new life in Washington.
"The key to my success was just playing within the team," Davis said. "Playing to win and staying the course. Most importantly you just want to make sure you're loving the game and you're doing everything because of the sport."
Davis, a veteran of the league for 11 years, played an important role in mentoring some of the team's younger players, and especially tight ends, preaching good workout habits as well as investing time back into the community.
"I think being a leader is something that comes naturally and is something that develops overtime," Davis said. "It's things you pick up from the older guys and take it. Just being out there catching passes and making plays is also leadership. You have to be able to showcase it when the team needs it, especially when you're on a team with a bunch of young guys."
After being a part of a record-setting offense last season, Davis knows the team's work will be cut out for them depending on how free agency shakes out but has plenty of optimism regardless.
"I think that this team is going to be fantastic," Davis said. "We have all the pieces that we need with free agency near we will have guys coming in. You have a wonderful group of guys in the upper management like Bruce Allen and Coach Gruden. I can only hope for the best with the players that we have and the players that are coming."
