Proclamations like this are usually followed by severe disappointment but since I’m a fan of Vernon Davis I hope this isn’t the case for him. Â On Friday afternoon All-Pro NFL tight end Vernon Davis dropped by Coolidge High School in the district to speak with young football campers. Â During a very inspirational speech he dropped one of his great aspirations. Â Read more after the jump.
Davis was working the young crowd with the microphone, sharing stories of his personal struggles in high school, and his mischievous ways with the law — he was on probation as a sixth grader.
In the final portion of Davis’ motivational speech, the San Francisco 49er talked about never giving up on your aspirations. Davis even dropped some of his own.
“I will be the best tight end to ever play this game. I have a vision,” echoed Davis to a thunderous applause.
I briefly caught up with the 28-year-old D.C. native following the end of the camp.
KJ:Â That was an inspiring speech you gave the kids today. I was just wondering on how you plan on becoming the NFL’s greatest tight end of all-time?
VD:Â “Hard work. Having a plan.”
KJ:Â Can that really happen though with Alex Smith as the long term quarterback?
VD:Â “It can. It doesn’t matter. Anything is possible. I say that because…what can happen? If I don’t make it, then I don’t make it. It’s as simple as that. Ain’t nothing nobody can do, ain’t nothing nobody can say. But if I do? Then I spoke it into existence.”
KJ:Â Will the Redskins make the playoffs next season with RGIII at quarterback. Yes or no?
VD:Â “Ummmmmm….”
And at that point Davis was whisked away to take photographs and sign autographs.
As much as I root for (and now genuinely like) Davis, he’s entrenched in an uphill battle to become football’s greatest tight end of all-time. Names like Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, John Mackey and Kellen Winslow Sr. are going to be pretty insurmountable to overcome.
