Colin Cowherd to Fred Davis – “You’re a Slacker”

In the Spring of 2008 there was a lot to like about Fred Davis. He had decent size for a Tight End, and was fast enough to line up occasionally as a Wide Out.  The year before he had been awarded the John Mackie Award. Davis led USC’s receivers with 62 catches, 42 of which resulted in first downs. His yards-per-catch average was just over 14. At the 2008 Combine, Davis ran a 4.76 40-yard dash while weighing 255 lbs. He was also timed at 4.67. With long arms and the strength to have benched 225lbs 24 times, he was quite the athelete.  Still, blocking was a shortcoming for him.

Despite his abilities, Fred Davis managed to underwhelm his teammates and the Redskins’ front office by oversleeping and missing a practice before his first training camp.  Gary Fitzgerald briefly reminded Redskins.com readers of that fact today when he wrote about Davis’ progress as a player. Fitzgerald’s article was informative, but he did not turn my focus to Davis.  Colin Cowherd of ESPN beat him to it.

I listen to Cowherd fairly regularly. We disagree on music (7 months in Seattle was enough for me) and personal ownership of guns. Otherwise, I tend to agree with him. He’s one of those cut and dried ‘what I think and say makes sense’ kind of guys. He’s very forthright, and is perfectly willing to justify his opinions.  Willing to do so or not, he simply can’t justify the label he heaped on Fred Davis during this morning’s show.   He doesn’t know the man or the player. If he did, he would not have lumped Davis in with a group of USC graduates whom he says have underachieved due to a poor work ethic.  To be sure, Fred Davis has yet to reward the Redskins for drafting him 48th overall in last year’s draft.  He only played in 11 games last season, and started just 2. And, he caught just 3 passes, averaging 9 yards.  Davis has a lot to prove.

But, just as judging the value of a draft pick after one season is short-sighted, labeling a player based on one incident from a year ago is lazy and irresponsible.  Fred Davis has grown up.  Jim Zorn, given his quote in Fitzgerald’s article, certainly thinks so. As for Davis, he described himself in the article as hungry and as someone who can get on the field if he keeps working hard. He has a goal, he acknowledges hard work is the path to achieve it, and he’s working hard.  It doesn’t sound to me like he has a work ethic issue.

My real problem with Cowherd’s characterization is that labels have a way of sticking.   Sure, he didn’t invent the “Fred Davis has a work eithic issue” comment.  He just regurgitated it a year later to make a point about USC.  Regardless of his purpose, he’s wrong about Davis.  So, here’s an idea Colin. (I can call you Colin, can’t I?)  How about interviewing Fred Davis?  Ask him about his work ethic, his progress, his goals, etc.   I mean, you did effectively trash him to a national radio audience.  You could always interview Jim Zorn and ask him about Davis.  If you do, you might just learn that the label you applied to him so easily hasn’t fit him in many months.  Display a little professional pride – talk to the man.

One more thought, Mr. Cowherd sir.  Please, please don’t let your Producer lead in with Soundgarden.  Nirvana was okay, but having seen the Black Hole Sun video, I think the guys in Soundgarden were just plain weird.