Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Vernon Davis is covered with tattoos and muscle. He looks like a professional bodybuilder. So he fit right in at the site of our interview, the 2008 Arnold Sports Festival Expo. With his shirt off at 6′3″ and 252 pounds, it’s pretty obvious he’s carrying single digit bodyfat. That’s why Under Armour has him wrapped in chains dragging heavy tires around in their commercials. He looks like some kind of sculpture.

Vernon also plays football for the San Francisco 49ers, owners of a colossally disappointing 5-11 record last season after being hyped as a team to watch in ‘07. I even predicted they would make the playoffs. Nevertheless, they finished at or close to the bottom of the NFL in nearly every offensive and defensive statistical category. Amidst the turmoil that was a forgettable 2007 campaign, tight end Vernon Davis emerged as the star the Niners thought he could be when they drafted him with the sixth overall pick out of the University of Maryland in 2006. Vernon more than doubled his rookie season totals catching 52 passes for 509 yards and four touchdowns. “I’m a lot more comfortable with the NFL now,” Vernon revealed. “I feel like I’m a veteran now. I know the game. I know what to expect. I know what I should do. And I know that I’ve gotta be accountable and step up and make plays when my number’s called.”

Yet somehow I feel Vernon has only scratched the surface of what he’s capable of. The future is his and the future is exactly where his focus is. Vernon and the 49ers have forgotten last season. “We’ve already put 2007 behind us,” he said confidently. “We’ve already made some nice moves picking up Isaac Bruce and DeShaun Foster. Now we’re just trying to get things rolling. We’re trying to get things together, get to the playoffs and make it to the Super Bowl.”

So much for short-term goals, but such is life in the NFL. Every season begins with hope and every team has a shot at being the best, including the Niners. San Francisco already boasts a talented core with two quality QBs (Alex Smith and Shaun Hill), a Pro Bowl-caliber RB (Frank Gore) and a bunch of good defensive players led by Patrick Willis and Nate Clements. Incoming are a slew of free agent acquisitions (namely the aforementioned DeShaun Foster and Isaac Bruce, as well as Allen Rossum and Justin Smith) that are primed to turn things around. Plus, new O-coordinator Mike Martz brings his wide-open offensive philosophy to the Bay area. “In this system, you have so much flexibility within the numbers that you can be creative with a guy like Vernon Davis,” Coach Martz told the San Francisco Bee in January.

Vernon is entirely ready for the changes and is hoping to contribute even more in 2008. “I’m excited about the new guys,” he said, “but I’m also excited to get more involved in the passing game as I think I should be. I’m ready to help this team win as much as I can. Coach Martz called me when he first got the job and said how he was also excited to get things moving.”

That process begins now and for Vernon, it begins in the weight room. While it might appear that Vernon’s physical prowess is simply good genetics, the truth is he works his tail off all year to stay in the best shape he can. But Vernon’s workout program changes from in-season to off-season. “When I’m not playing football, I lift harder but I don’t run as much as I do during the season,” he explained. “Then I’ll take two days out of the week to focus on my skills — catching the football and things like that.”

Fueling his physique as a member of Team EAS, there are certain products Vernon’s got to have in his nutritional arsenal. “I don’t think I can live without the Myoplex® shakes or Muscle Armor™ because both of them are vital to my health,” he said. “I feel I need those to not only get ahead on the football field but also to get ahead in life.”

Visit Vernon online at his official MySpace site or his Team EAS page.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

EMQB Interview: Vernon Davis

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

The Minnesota Vikings have been very active early in this free agency signing period, adding three projected starters in the first two days.

• The Vikings found a replacement for free agent All-Pro FB Tony Richardson by signing Thomas Tapeh from Philadelphia. Thomas is a native of Minnesota and was a running back for the Golden Gophers in college at the University of Minnesota. I think T2 is a great pickup, but I feel it’s a mistake to let Tony Richardson go. He was a big reason the Vikes had the best running game in the NFL last season. Thomas will not only have to plow a path for Adrian Peterson (like he did for Brian Westbrook), he’ll have to occasionally catch the ball, something TR did quite well when asked to.
• Minnesota added 26-year-old former Cincinnati Bengals free safety Madieu Williams. Madieu is very solid at his position with good cover skills (he came into the NFL four years ago as a cornerback). He had 74 tackles, two picks and two sacks in 13 games last season.
• The Vikings wooed and won over former Chicago Bears WR Bernard Berrian who was considered by many the second best wideout in this free agency class behind Randy Moss. B2 had a breakout season in ‘07 with, by far, the best numbers of his four-year career — 71 catches for 951 yards. Minnesota desperately needs help at the receiver position. They finished dead last in receptions last season. Now with Bernard on one side and the exciting Sidney Rice on the other — plus speedy WR/KR Aundrae Allison — the Vikings have a young and talented group to help take the pressure off the ground game.

Minnesota has not yet addressed their need for a defensive end who can apply pressure on the quarterback. They wanted to bring former Bengals DE Justin Smith in for an interview but he negotiated with the 49ers and never left San Francisco. Titans DE Antwan Odom is a great candidate. Despite his injury history, I still like Jevon Kearse, who is also available. Jags DE Bobby McCray is also out there. Sure the Vikes have a herd of players that could fill this pass-rushing role. They’ve addressed the need in previous Drafts, but none have proven, for one reason or another, that they are capable of the role yet — namely Erasmus James, Ray Edwards and Kenechi Udeze (who is now battling leukemia). The verdict is still out on Jayme Mitchell and Brian Robison.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Minnesota Vikings Active in Free Agency, Bernard Berrian Fills Need at Wide Receiver

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

With free agency just hours away, I still can’t believe the New England Patriots don’t have a deal in place for wide receiver Randy Moss. His record-setting 2007 more than earned him the right to have been signed to a long-term deal by the Pats. He kept his nose clean and was a leader and good teammate. He’s Tom Brady’s favorite target. What more needs to be said? I feel like as soon as I publish this, news will break of his signing … with the Patriots. Still, New England has a lot to consider. They have a slew of free agents and have the difficult task of deciding who they can keep. Remember, this was an 18-1 team last season. A roster overhaul isn’t really an ideal game plan. Who am I to question the mighty Patriots, though. They seem to find a way to make it work.

It’s always easy to assume the teams with the most money to spend will do the most spending in free agency. But what each team must do is look at their needs and decide what holes can be filled best in free agency or the upcoming Draft. And for those teams without a lot of cash to spend, it doesn’t mean they won’t be active. Obviously they have fewer options, but if there’s a player out there they want, they’ll do what they have to to get after him.

Here are my Top 10 free agents heading into tomorrow’s free-for-all:

1. Randy Moss, WR, Patriots
2. Michael Turner, RB, Chargers
3. Alan Faneca, G, Steelers
4. Lance Briggs, LB, Bears
5. Asante Samuel, CB, Patriots
6. Marion Barber, RB, Cowboys
7. Justin Smith, DE, Bengals
8. Bernard Berrian, WR, Bears
9. Tony Richardson, FB, Vikings
10. Derek Anderson, QB, Browns

Other players I really like (in no particular order) are Daunte Culpepper (QB, Raiders); Chris Brown (RB, Titans); Jerry Porter (WR, Raiders); Ernest Wilford (WR, Jags); Donte Stallworth (WR, Patriots); Jesse Chatman (RB, Dolphins); Julius Jones (RB, Cowboys); Atari Bigby (DB, Packers); and Lorenzo Neal (FB, who was released by the Chargers) and DeShaun Foster (RB, who was released by the Panthers). There are a lot of good players that will be available soon.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Randy Moss Leads Top 10 NFL Free Agents