Did Peach Bowl Confusion Help The Bucs?
May 6th, 2018
Bucs rookie cornerback Carlton Davis ended his college career early.
The Buccaneers hope they landed their new long lockdown cornerback in second-round pick Carlton Davis.
Joe hopes so, too. And many draft gurus wonder how Davis even lasted to the No. 63 overall pick.
Former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik was among them, stunned on national radio when Davis fell to the Bucs.
Davis is a breed of cornerback the Bucs haven’t had since Johnthan Banks was drafted five years ago and battled through a MRSA infection his rookie year to start every game, get three interceptions and look better than Vernon Hargreaves did two years ago.
So how did Davis fall to the Bucs? He was the sixth cornerback taken in Round 2 last week. The Bucs also grabbed the second corner chosen that day, M.J. Stewart out of North Carolina.
Perhaps Davis’ fall had something to do with the shenanigans surrounding Davis not playing in the Peach Bowl.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn went public before the game saying Davis was sent home with an undisclosed illness that wouldn’t improve in time to play. Auburn players later came out and said Davis skipped practices and opted out of the bowl game because he wanted to turn pro and not endure more risk.
Then Davis was a little vague about it all at his March Pro Day, per Montgomery Advertiser.
Davis told them he was dealing with a lot of things at the time, particularly recovering from a concussion suffered during the SEC title game against Georgia and trying to deal with a serious sinus infection.
“I just wasn’t ready to play my best game, so I just decided to sit out,” Davis said. “I’m a passionate guy for the game. I’m a hard worker and someone that’s going to be consistent emotionally and physically, on and off the field.”
Joe doesn’t care that Davis missed the Peach Bowl. Can’t blame the guy. More and more college players are doing it. But it certainly is odd that the cold truth was covered up.
If that led to teams backing off Davis, then it’s the Bucs’ gain, unless there’s more to the story. Or perhaps the concussion was considered exceptionally severe?
It’s certainly interesting, and Joe is curious to see what outspoken Davis has to say about it at rookie minicamp.
Auburn lost the Peach Bowl by a touchdown to undefeated University of Central Florida.
May 6th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
As my GF says UCF Knights Fight Fight Fight !
May 6th, 2018 at 8:21 pm
If a concussion was the primary reason, that’s some unfortunate news.
It’d also be a shame if he fabricated or exaggerated illness (or concussion) and bailed on his teammates in the name of bubble-wrapping himself ahead of the draft.
I guess between the two, I’m hoping his draft-fall points more towards the doubts cast by a poorly communicated decision, and not any actual medical (concussion) concern.
May 6th, 2018 at 8:24 pm
Our Defensive Back Field is about to become TRANSFORMED, there will be TURNOVER, and we will have a TOP-10 DEFENCE!! CONTINUE TO BUILD THE WALL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BAY!!
May 6th, 2018 at 8:42 pm
The why should be irreverent to everyone accept those who have to write about the bucs for a living. Don’t really care why he didn’t play his last game and I understand anyone not playing unless it’s for the national championship.
Just be an impact player for the bucs, don’t care for Auburn anyway
May 6th, 2018 at 8:43 pm
I think the trend in the future will be more players skipping the bowl game when they aren’t playing for the national championship.
May 6th, 2018 at 8:57 pm
Can’t blame him for missing a meaningless bowl game and risking an injury that could impact his draft stock. If the team is not in the running for a national championship the rest of those bowls are for consilation prizes that’s definitely not worth the risk.
May 6th, 2018 at 8:58 pm
He fell to 63! Imagine sold he had blown and ACK. Or or his meniscus l. Round 12?
May 6th, 2018 at 8:59 pm
Let’s hope he can be “developed”
May 6th, 2018 at 8:59 pm
Imagine if he had blown out his ACL.**** thanks autocorrect
May 6th, 2018 at 9:20 pm
Somehow, in the background I can hear Tom Cruise (as Jerry Maquire) screaming “Show me the money!!!” Wonder if this is what it’s come to … bailing on your teammates because you’re afraid of getting hurt before the NFL ‘shows you the money’. So what happens when it becomes obvious to a player(s) that his team is gonna have a losing year? Does he bail then too out of fear of getting hurt in meaningless games?
Sorry, but a player is either ALL IN or ALL OUT. Fence straddlers need not apply. Kinda wonder now if THAT’S the reason he fell as far as he did. Wish you hadn’t run this story Joe. I’d rather be naive.
May 6th, 2018 at 9:41 pm
Losing to ga ended auburns season.
When motivated they were a top 4 team.
This is coming from a bama fan.
May 6th, 2018 at 9:59 pm
Don’t care if he skipped his bowl game. How does he play in September?
May 6th, 2018 at 10:04 pm
I’m with you, Defense. Not a very good display of loyalty to an organization (not to mention the teammates) which gave you the opportunity to get to the point where you find yourself now.
If still actually suffering from concussion symptoms, I can understand; but this sounds like a bunch of hmming and hawing with the word “concussion” thrown in to help his case. Don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to seeing him succeed as a Buccaneer, but as a teammate, I wouldn’t be looking to get too close to someone with questionable loyalties.
May 6th, 2018 at 10:18 pm
DR for most college players football fans is fun, a way to pay for your education and make memories. If it’s your job for the rest of your life you don’t throw that away.
May 6th, 2018 at 10:32 pm
I just hope the young corner can ball. …we need him as a day one starter.
May 6th, 2018 at 11:29 pm
It happened, it’s over and nobody but Davis knows his intentions, unless it was a medical issue. Otherwise, if he was playing it safe and preserving himself to be healthy for the NFL – who can fault him? His school wouldn’t pay him a dime if he blew his ACL in a meaningless bowl game.
Kids have been exploited by big time programs for decades, why fault them for thinking of themselves once in a while? Think his teammates are mad? If they were it was because it wasn’t them in his shoes.
May 7th, 2018 at 12:12 am
This guy will ball out this season as a rookie trust me. He will start opposite to Grimes and be efficient enough to allow Hargreaves to play nickel and closer to the line of scrimmage which is where he is better suited. Stewart seems fully capable of being a rotation player in the secondary. Think about it a rotation in the secondary something we didn’t have before. Stewart, R. Smith, K. Tandy will be nice reserves that switch all over the secondary as well as J. Whitehead.
May 7th, 2018 at 4:14 am
Louis,
You make a distinction between bowl games, meaningful or meaningless. And from the outside view it’s a good point. But from the inside it’s not as simple.
You may not believe it but for many guys playing for the national championship is meaningless. The idea that a national championship game is more important than a belks bowl, Is a fans view more so than a player’s view.
May 7th, 2018 at 6:38 am
@
Loyalty?
You think he owes Auburn University anything? Haha!
I went to Auburn. I graduated in 2006 with a degree in Anthropology.
The majority of Auburn frat-boy fans are RACIST!
My brother was a Sigma Nu. I used to hear those “hypochristian” racist frat boys drop the “N” word everyday!
Carlton doesnt owe AU anything! How much money was Gene Chizek paid? Or Tommy Tuberville? Millions of dollars!
99% of Auburn players will never make a million dollars!
And if they get hurt, they lose their scholarship!! Heartless!
Carlton Davis dont owe Auburn University nothing!!
May 7th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
UCF!!!!!!!!
May 7th, 2018 at 3:03 pm
Great rant teacherman!!! As far as more players skipping the Bowl games…they should organize and simply boycott the bowl games until they get remunerated for putting their freaking careers on the line for good ole moneybags U.
It would be an easy enough place to start. Winners and losers get shares…they go into trust funds that the players can access as soon as they give up college eligibility. If they want to play a year or two longer they simply postpone cashing their trust check.
May 7th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
@stpetebucsfan
Thx dude!
Don’t get me started on the “hypochristian” football fans of the SEC!
How you gonna cheer a bunch of baddass black athletes on Saturday, pray to Jesus aka the God of Love on Sunday, and then call your fellow human a nasty term like the “N” word on Monday?
It ain’t right!
“I’m not on the black man’s side, I’m not on the white man’s side. I’m on God’s side.”- Bob Marley
Go Bucs!!