Demario Davis has started 120 consecutive games, including playoffs. A Pro Bowl selection each of the last two years, the New Orleans linebacker is one of the league’s most respected veterans.
Asked in a Thursday press conference whether he’s read the scouting report on his NFL future from 2012, when he entered the NFL as the New York Jets’ third-round selection, Davis revealed he’s not only read it, he keeps it on his phone and reads it regularly.
“Hold on,” Davis said from the podium, pulling out his phone. “How much time do I have?”
“We’ll wait,” said reporters.
After skimming some of the positive traits written by a scout 12 years ago, Davis got to the weaknesses.
“Against one-cut runners at the NFL level,” Davis read among several negative notes from the report on his device, “he could have a tough time gathering to make a secure tackle on the run.
“Never forget where you came from.”
Davis’ motivation, consistent production and leadership comes from that report, but also from his approach to life.
“A lot of those things they’ve called out as weaknesses, I’ve turned into strengths,” said the All-Pro linebacker. “You have to be humble enough to admit your weaknesses, or hear your weaknesses from somebody else, and be able to make those corrections. Even if I thought they were wrong, it’s something someone else noticed and I could work on.
“Even today, I have things I could be better at. Let me identify those things and be humble enough, if a coach points them out to me, if my wife point them out to me, if a friend points them out to me, or a little kid on the street points them out to me, it’s something that I can work on to be better.”