Carlton Davis: “I Had Times Where I Would BS In Practice”
March 26th, 2025
New Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis has a fresh three-year, $60 million contract in New England and memories of half-assed practicing as a young player.
Joe’s not slapping around Davis here, but Joe always is interested in nuggets that could tie to Bucs history and the malaise of The Lost Decade of Buccaneers football (2009-2018).
Before Davis became the Bucs’ No. 1 cornerback for their Super Bowl glory in the 2020 season, he was a Tampa Bay rookie in 2018. That was a sad team that opened its season with a backup quarterback because the lead guy was serving a three-game sentence for groping an Uber driver in a fast food drive-thru lane.
Man, things have improved a lot at One Buc Palace. Hallelujah!
During a recent visit to Patriots Unfiltered, Davis said that as a young player it took him a while to realize how critical practice is.
Was he talking about his rookie year in Tampa playing with Brent “You Don’t Pay Me Enough To Cover Antonio Brown” Grimes? That’s unclear. But in the context of the conversation, it sure seemed like Davis was talking about his early NFL days.
“You know, when I was younger, I didn’t appreciate practice as much and I didn’t, like, understand how important it was until I had times where I would BS in practice and try to cut it on in a game. And it does not work,” Davis said. “Like you can’t do it, like even if you tell yourself mentally I’m going to do this. You’ll get in a game and you’ll just kind of freeze up.”
Pretty stunning to hear a Super Bowl cornerback and the Bucs’ former No. 1 guy talk about dogging it as a young player. At what level of football did Davis fail to learn practice is critical?
That’s why Joe thinks Davis was referring to his rookie year with the Bucs. Davis probably got by, in part, on talent as a college player and realized too late in his rookie Bucs year that practice is key to NFL success.
There’s been so much talk in recent years about the Bucs’ incredible culture that is all about work ethic, winning and good citizenship. Joe suspects whatever Davis tried to get away with as a 2018 rookie wouldn’t fly for a rookie on Todd Bowles’ Bucs. It would be snuffed out fast in spring practices.
March 26th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
AND FOLKS WANT TO BLAME BOWLES AND HIS DEFENSE LOL
GO BUCS!!!!
March 26th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
Practice? Yeah we all know that quote….but it showed when it wasnt practice. Thats why you practice…..to rise to the top of your game. Look i get it, cant go 110 all the time. But unless theres an injury, just push yourself as much as you can. It will show come game day when its not practice.
March 26th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
That’s just a case of somebody overestimating his skills. This is why you need veterans at every level. It felt like McMillan came into the season thinking it would be easy too
March 26th, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Lol what are we doing? I guess it’s that time of the season not much to talk about . Hurry up training camp lol
Would you prefer Joe ignore a former Bucs star player talking about his early experiences? Joe writes about what Joe finds interesting.–Joe
March 26th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
How old was he as a rookie?
I’m not surprised. It happens a ton. It’s why drafting the guys that love football and have a passion for it as work, as their career will work better than drafting the most talented guy.
Strong leadership, from top to bottom, GM, coaches, veterans also is key. If they can get the talented kid who thinks he’s got it made to turn into a professional, you have a solid franchise.
I was a pro hockey player for 5 years before I figured it out and by then it was too late, because of a health emergency not being too old. But that’s the risk, not everyone has time to figure it out.
March 26th, 2025 at 4:35 pm
Ancient history, he’s on his 3rd team, don’t care about NEs loafer.
March 26th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Oh I’m sure he was talking about his rookie season.
And like you said, look who was the elder veteran in that position group: Brent I-Need-More-Money Grimes.
Makes total sense.
BTW, did Grimes ever get paid that #1 CB money after he left the Bucs? 🤣🤣🤣
March 26th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
America’s Groper. lol
March 26th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Love how Joe and others automatically assume his “younger days” only referred to his rookie season and this NEVER happened under Bowles’ watch lol.
March 26th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
“Joe suspects whatever Davis tried to get away with as a 2018 rookie wouldn’t fly for a rookie on Todd Bowles’ Bucs.”
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Not sure what you’re basing that on. I point to the inconsistencies in this defense evidenced throughout the season which is precisely in line with a defense that is not disciplined or properly coached. Which falls directly on the shoulders of that same DC and current HC.
March 26th, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Never wanted him or Dean in the first place. Can see why now.
March 26th, 2025 at 5:44 pm
Injuries and a rotating line up cause more inconsistency that anything else, hence the term inconsistent as the opposite of consistent. the same set guys, ie our offensive line for the most part last year yields better results. Nothing new to see here folks, move along…..
March 26th, 2025 at 5:47 pm
@ Mike: how is this story not entertaining to you???
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@Durango: The Bucs had everybody from 3rd string D.B.’s to hot dog venders rotating in and out all season long, continuity can never be good under those circumstances.
March 26th, 2025 at 5:51 pm
I knew he was done when after a ROUTINE pass breakup in the first half of a playoff game he took his helmet off like it was the end of the game, after winning a Superbowl he and Devin White’s cockiness went to their head! Both gone! Imagine that. That’s the culture a COACH has to bring bc even with TB12 there those 2 were not on his offense! So yes, blame Todd for NOT running a tighter ship!! Belichick was never wrong if you look at the amount of rings!
March 26th, 2025 at 6:49 pm
I had forgotten the name “Grimes.” Came to the Bucs to begin early retirement.
March 26th, 2025 at 7:04 pm
Mike Says:
“Lol what are we doing? I guess it’s that time of the season not much to talk about . Hurry up training camp lol”
Please no.
Been going through enough already this year. I don’t want the stress of football being added to it just yet.
March 26th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Curse of Gruden,
Grimes found out that didn’t cut it here too.
March 26th, 2025 at 7:06 pm
Tony Says
“Never wanted him or Dean in the first place. Can see why now.”
Oh please. Davis was good…maybe the best in man coverage since Talib.
Dean? He’ll make an excellent backup and trade bait after this draft.
March 26th, 2025 at 8:02 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai
Both of them could never stay healthy in the first place. Even with Dean coming out. He was coming off a knee injury.
March 26th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
I kind of felt like Davis was dogging it at times in games. Glad he is gone.
March 26th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
Looks like the Bucs traded the wrong cornerback but Joe won’t admit that.
March 26th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai
They’re both excellent at keeping the carts at the games busy. That’s for sure.
March 26th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
@AllBuccedUp
They should both be gone. Even if Dean does stay this year it will probably be his last year.
March 26th, 2025 at 8:24 pm
And Todd allowed this guy to get away with it! Even had him extended to a terrible contract.
March 26th, 2025 at 9:42 pm
^ uh, Todd Bowles was not even on the coaching staff when Davis was a rookie.
For the next 3 years he was the DC while Arians was the head coach. Licht signed Davis to a 2nd contract in the 2022 offseason right around when Arians retired and Bowles became HC. A year later they traded Davis to the Lions.
It’s amazing how uninformed so many of you are
March 26th, 2025 at 11:33 pm
Dean came in with the reputation of a fast — very fast — man corner with an injury problem. How has that changed?
He is who we thought he was.
March 27th, 2025 at 12:08 am
buc4evr: I had the same thought! There were times where he would BS in games! Although I swear it’s hard to blame these guys to some extent. I don’t think many guys enjoy playing bowles’ scheme. Edge guys dropping into pass coverage, CBs playing charmin soft zone coverage, bleh. It’s not playing to their strengths, it’s not successful, who would enjoy that.
March 27th, 2025 at 5:14 am
A guy getting an NFL paycheck saying things like that really and i mean really ticks me the heck off Joe. I played this game and endured countless practices mostly in the Florida heat. I was one of the nut jobs who liked practice because I loved hitting people. I went 100% every single snap and every single drill rep. I have seen people do the slack off thing Joe. Most of the time they found themselves injured BTW. Teammates notice this crap. Our Bucs have had leaders in the past who very bluntly took care of it. See Sapp and Brooks.
I would love to be able to strap on a helmet and take just one more snap!
Go Bucs!
March 27th, 2025 at 8:47 am
Its starting to seem like the great culture from the Bucs is all on the offensive side besides Lavonte David. At least Dungy was a defensive coach who jad bad offenses. The defense is Bowles specialty but he’s gotten to O.C. head coaching jobs in the past 2 years. Who from the defensive staff is even remotely viewed as coming up great innovative mind. Iys just starting to feel like the standards are not only a little bit but much higher on the offensive side of the ball. This defense has been historically bad. Pass after pass after pass after pass after pass complete.Bowles needs to feel like he could be fired. I rhink he’s way way too comfortable. He freaking fell asleep while we were all watching that game. No anxiety or excitement. He just seems content. If your content then what’s your motivation to do anything different?
March 27th, 2025 at 9:01 am
Garro you probably sucked that’s why nobody remembers you
March 27th, 2025 at 11:51 am
LD is the epitome of what it takes to have a long and storied career in the NFL: never-ending conditioning and practice. Simply said, being “all in”. Im feeling that with this team.
March 27th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
813bucboi,
Bowles seems like a good dude. But his defense was trash last year. Lots of bad tape that you can go review and educate yourself on NFL+.
March 27th, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Well, didn’t he say that he was “gonna wreck sh1t!”.
March 29th, 2025 at 7:49 am
There were a LOT of rumors at the time (never confirmed) were he was more interested in toking than working. Can anyone confirm or was this BS?