Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career

01-11-2019, 09:47 AM

Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career

BY ROD WALKER | RWALKER@THEADVOCATE.COM PUBLISHED JAN 10, 2019 AT 9:20 AM | UPDATED JAN 10, 2019 AT 4:58 PM

Demario Davis and his wife Tamela talk about it all the time.

It's always been a common theme, words to live by, in the Davis household.

When you get your moment, what are you going to do about it?

For Davis, in his seventh NFL season and his first with the New Orleans Saints, one of those moments has finally come.

The linebacker will get a taste of the playoffs.

It's been a long time coming.

The last time Davis played a football game in the postseason was January 2012 when he was a senior at Arkansas State playing in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

So Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles can't get here soon enough for No. 56.

"It's big and I definitely don't take it for granted," Davis said. "I'm just trying to embrace the moment. Not just the game, but I'm embracing the whole thing. The week preparing for it. All of it. But as I embrace it, I understand that it's a big task ahead. The team that's coming in here, they are the world champions. To be the champions, you have to beat the champions."

And for Davis, all he's wanted was a chance to be a champion. He spent his first six seasons in the NFL playing for the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. Each of those seasons ended the same way: with Davis cleaning out his locker after the 16th game of the season and having to watch the playoffs on television.

"You watch it, but it hurts sitting at home," Davis said. "All the other players sitting at home that didn't make it have that same hurt feeling. So I don't take this for granted. Now I want to do everything in my power to make sure it doesn't end early."

Davis, who signed with the Saints during the offseason, is a big reason the Saints' defense has resurged this season. His 110 tackles led the team.

"He's just a tackling machine," cornerback Eli Apple said. "He brings a lot of energy out there and he's very vocal and a big hitter."

His presence in the locker room has been just as important, safety Kurt Coleman said.

"You have all these pieces to the puzzle and you hope they all fit and Demario has," Coleman said. "He has done a great job of being a vocal leader and he's done a great job being a production leader and locker room guy and a family man. That's what you need out of your linebacker."

Davis, who turns 30 on Friday, is the only player in the NFL to record at least 100 tackles, have five sacks and 10 quarterback hits. It was the second straight season he was the only player to post those type numbers. But that stat line means a lot more to him this time around.

"I was always done at this time of year, so it feels good just to still be playing football," Davis said. "I was sitting at home and watching plays be made and seeing guys getting recognition and being celebrated, and you're thinking, 'Man, I can make that play.' But I wasn't there. So it didn't matter."

Davis, who wasn't voted to the Pro Bowl despite his lofty numbers, is hoping playing in the postseason will help casual fans know who Demario Davis is. He's waited a long time to play in January again.

"It's an opportunity to be on the big stage," Davis said. "This is what I always wanted. An opportunity to finally be on that big stage."

AsylumGuido · 01-11-2019, 09:48 AM

Davis was the off-season move that excited me the most! He has been everything I expected ... and more!

K Major · 01-11-2019, 09:54 AM

DD has been as good as advertised all season long. His influence has been HUGE. Money well spent by the Saints front office.

Brandon, MS finest!

Thirty3 · 01-11-2019, 10:21 AM

Said it before, he’s the best linebacker we have had in a long time. Go win it D!

jeanpierre · 01-11-2019, 05:00 PM

Cruize · 01-11-2019, 05:22 PM

When he brings it, he is a difference maker.

homerj07 · 01-11-2019, 05:31 PM

Damn I hope he is even better on Sunday and for the next few weeks.

Wouldn't mind seeing 5 sacks, 5 hits and 40+ tackles in the next 3 games

FinSaint · 01-12-2019, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

Davis was the off-season move that excited me the most! He has been everything I expected ... and more!

Agreed. I was very excited with his signing and coupled with the potential of having Anzalone back healthy for this season - seemed like the LB corps was getting a huge upgrade.

Davis started out kind of slow, but has improved greatly since they finally somewhat settled on who would play what spot in the LB group.

I have to say Anzalone has been great as well, and Klein has been making plays himself.

SmashMouth · 01-12-2019, 02:33 AM

Originally Posted by FinSaint

Agreed. I was very excited with his signing and coupled with the potential of having Anzalone back healthy for this season - seemed like the LB corps was getting a huge upgrade.

Davis started out kind of slow, but has improved greatly since they finally somewhat settled on who would play what spot in the LB group.

I have to say Anzalone has been great as well, and Klein has been making plays himself.

I wonder if Klein was thinking about his past in Carolina... And how glad he is to be out of there?

gulfgambler · 01-12-2019, 07:45 AM

Reminds me of the Jonathan Vilma signing before 2009 season. anchored the middle of Greg Williams defense. He was my choice in 2004 draft. picked by Jets before Saints pick. didn't work out too bad, we got Will Smith and 5 years later got our Vilma.

01-11-2019, 09:47 AM	#1
Threaded by AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,166 Rating: (0 votes - average) Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career BY ROD WALKER \| RWALKER@THEADVOCATE.COM PUBLISHED JAN 10, 2019 AT 9:20 AM \| UPDATED JAN 10, 2019 AT 4:58 PM Demario Davis and his wife Tamela talk about it all the time. It's always been a common theme, words to live by, in the Davis household. When you get your moment, what are you going to do about it? For Davis, in his seventh NFL season and his first with the New Orleans Saints, one of those moments has finally come. The linebacker will get a taste of the playoffs. It's been a long time coming. The last time Davis played a football game in the postseason was January 2012 when he was a senior at Arkansas State playing in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. So Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles can't get here soon enough for No. 56. "It's big and I definitely don't take it for granted," Davis said. "I'm just trying to embrace the moment. Not just the game, but I'm embracing the whole thing. The week preparing for it. All of it. But as I embrace it, I understand that it's a big task ahead. The team that's coming in here, they are the world champions. To be the champions, you have to beat the champions." And for Davis, all he's wanted was a chance to be a champion. He spent his first six seasons in the NFL playing for the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. Each of those seasons ended the same way: with Davis cleaning out his locker after the 16th game of the season and having to watch the playoffs on television. "You watch it, but it hurts sitting at home," Davis said. "All the other players sitting at home that didn't make it have that same hurt feeling. So I don't take this for granted. Now I want to do everything in my power to make sure it doesn't end early." Davis, who signed with the Saints during the offseason, is a big reason the Saints' defense has resurged this season. His 110 tackles led the team. "He's just a tackling machine," cornerback Eli Apple said. "He brings a lot of energy out there and he's very vocal and a big hitter." His presence in the locker room has been just as important, safety Kurt Coleman said. "You have all these pieces to the puzzle and you hope they all fit and Demario has," Coleman said. "He has done a great job of being a vocal leader and he's done a great job being a production leader and locker room guy and a family man. That's what you need out of your linebacker." Davis, who turns 30 on Friday, is the only player in the NFL to record at least 100 tackles, have five sacks and 10 quarterback hits. It was the second straight season he was the only player to post those type numbers. But that stat line means a lot more to him this time around. "I was always done at this time of year, so it feels good just to still be playing football," Davis said. "I was sitting at home and watching plays be made and seeing guys getting recognition and being celebrated, and you're thinking, 'Man, I can make that play.' But I wasn't there. So it didn't matter." Davis, who wasn't voted to the Pro Bowl despite his lofty numbers, is hoping playing in the postseason will help casual fans know who Demario Davis is. He's waited a long time to play in January again. "It's an opportunity to be on the big stage," Davis said. "This is what I always wanted. An opportunity to finally be on that big stage." Crusader, jeanpierre, homerj07 and 1 others like this.
Views: 2551

01-11-2019, 09:48 AM	#2
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,166	Re: Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career Davis was the off-season move that excited me the most! He has been everything I expected ... and more! Crusader, SmashMouth, 73Saint and 4 others like this.

01-11-2019, 09:54 AM	#3
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,618 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career DD has been as good as advertised all season long. His influence has been HUGE. Money well spent by the Saints front office. Brandon, MS finest! SmashMouth and 73Saint like this.

01-11-2019, 10:21 AM	#4
Thirty3 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 1,255	Re: Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career Said it before, he’s the best linebacker we have had in a long time. Go win it D!
Thirty3 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 1,255

01-11-2019, 05:00 PM	#5
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career Twitter

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01-11-2019, 05:22 PM	#6
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457	Re: Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career When he brings it, he is a difference maker.
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01-11-2019, 05:31 PM	#7
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	Re: Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career Damn I hope he is even better on Sunday and for the next few weeks. Wouldn't mind seeing 5 sacks, 5 hits and 40+ tackles in the next 3 games

01-12-2019, 01:09 AM	#8
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,961	Re: Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career Originally Posted by AsylumGuido Davis was the off-season move that excited me the most! He has been everything I expected ... and more! Agreed. I was very excited with his signing and coupled with the potential of having Anzalone back healthy for this season - seemed like the LB corps was getting a huge upgrade. Davis started out kind of slow, but has improved greatly since they finally somewhat settled on who would play what spot in the LB group. I have to say Anzalone has been great as well, and Klein has been making plays himself. Crusader likes this.

01-12-2019, 02:33 AM	#9
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,123 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career Originally Posted by FinSaint Agreed. I was very excited with his signing and coupled with the potential of having Anzalone back healthy for this season - seemed like the LB corps was getting a huge upgrade. Davis started out kind of slow, but has improved greatly since they finally somewhat settled on who would play what spot in the LB group. I have to say Anzalone has been great as well, and Klein has been making plays himself. I wonder if Klein was thinking about his past in Carolina... And how glad he is to be out of there?

01-12-2019, 07:45 AM	#10
gulfgambler Site Donor Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tomball Posts: 1,097	Re: Saints LB Demario Davis ready to seize the moment of first playoff game of 7-year NFL career Reminds me of the Jonathan Vilma signing before 2009 season. anchored the middle of Greg Williams defense. He was my choice in 2004 draft. picked by Jets before Saints pick. didn't work out too bad, we got Will Smith and 5 years later got our Vilma.

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