Chad Johnson would do well to be humbled by the Ernie Davis story.
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Jim Brown is arguably the greatest running back of all time. A hall of famer, Brown was voted starting tailback on ESPN’s All-Century team and The Sporting News voted him the greatest professional football player ever. Funny, seeing as he was not even the greatest running back to come out of Syracuse, his alma mater.
That honor belongs to Ernie Davis, a man who shared his position and number, forty-four. When “The Express,” a movie inspired by Davis’s life, premieres on October 10, it will introduce our country to a man whose story carries far less weight than it should in our era of holdouts, strikes and labor disputes.
Born in the wake of World War II in New Salem, PA, he lived in poverty with his grandfather after his parents divorce and his father’s accidental death. He later attended Elmira Free Academy, and moved in with his mother and stepfather. It was at Elmira that his impressive list of accomplishments had its start. In high school, he earned eleven varsity letters, was a three-sport athlete, and led the Academy’s basketball team to a fifty-two game winning streak. These feats occurred in the midst of overcoming a broken family and growing up in poverty, not to mention facing the volatile racism present in our country in the 1950s.
After recruitment from over thirty colleges, the temptation to retrace Jim Brown’s footsteps brought him to Syracuse University. As an Orangeman, he led the freshman football squad to an undefeated season. The following season he led the Orange to a 23-14 Cotton Bowl victory over Texas where he was named Most Valuable Player after two touchdowns, one from a then-record 87-yard reception. In his four-year career, he rushed for 2,386 yards and 220 points, both statistics bettering those of former school-record holder Brown. To date, Syracuse has exactly one Heisman Trophy winner and one national championship. Ernie Davis was the source of both. However, his accomplishments and the obstacles that he overcame are not what make Ernie Davis’s story so significant. It is what he didn’t accomplish that should make us take note.
After becoming the first African-American to be selected #1 in the NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins (later traded to the Cleveland Browns), Davis was sure to mirror, perhaps surpass, Brown as the greatest NFL tailback. In preparation for his NFL career, Davis awoke one morning to a swelling in his neck. Leukemia. Telling Davis it was a blood infection, doctors withheld the truth until October. Davis continued to practice and prepare for his professional debut around the limitations imposed by his doctors. But Cleveland coach Paul Brown, aware of the severity of the diagnosis, adhered to the doctor’s suggestion and refused to play Davis. After his first season in which he was denied any playing time, Davis returned to the hospital with more swelling. On May 18, 1963, he died in his sleep. At 23, he never fulfilled his dream of playing in the NFL.
The moral of the story is summed up by Davis himself. When in remission he wrote, “When I look back I can’t call myself unlucky. My 23rd birthday was December fourteenth. In these years I have had more than most people get in a lifetime.” Here is a young man who knew how good he had it. He realized how fortunate he was to have a God-given talent that opened so many doors for him—as both an athlete and an African-American. He didn’t take for granted his gift; he remained modest, hard-working, and dedicated to fulfilling his dreams. Hell, the guy participated in full practices and drills alone on the sideline while in remission from leukemia!
Fast forward to the present. We have Stephen Jackson recently ending his holdout for a bigger contract because sixty-four million was not enough. Two years ago, Terrell Owens sat in his driveway and threatened to hold out until he was traded. Chad Ocho Cinco does the same. YOU ARE TALENTED/LUCKY/FORTUNATE/BLESSED/GRACED TO PLAY IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE! Do you understand why you can ask for $36 million a year? It is because there are fans that pay hundreds and thousands of dollars to watch you play because they are greener than the new turf at Lucas Oil Stadium with envy! Every touchdown, every celebration, is a chance for fans to live vicariously through your achievement. We didn’t win the genetic lottery. We need your athletic prowess to spend three hours every Sunday so that we may see the embodiment of our dreams.
But they don’t see what we see…they don’t see what Ernie Davis saw. They see a paycheck. Ernie had the talent of a football player but the mentality of a fan. If only he could have played in the NFL and demonstrated to all how lucky those men are.
The Quickies
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Call it addition by subtraction. Mewelde Moore is a worthy addition to your fantasy rosters for no other reason that Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall are injured. Mendenhall suffered a fractured shoulder Monday night against the Ravens and was lost for the season. If Parker is out longer than expected and Moore cannot produce the way Mike Tomlin wants, look for a spike in numbers for Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, and in the passing game. Unfortunately, for Moore, Jacksonville might not be the easiest game to make your first start.
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As an Earnest Graham owner, I am not a big fan of Warrick Dunn. However, this week the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are fortunate enough to play Denver. The Broncos have held an offense under thirty points and let a previously invisible Larry Johnson run for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Expect both tailbacks to have solid numbers Sunday.
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We are entering Week 5 of the fantasy season, a week where owners finally see whether a player is a legitimate starter or streaky third-stringer who got hot early. Do not hold on hope for someone who looked great the first two games but came back to earth as of late. Scour the waiver wire and find someone who has produced consistently throughout the season and will contribute more to your team than a sleeper pick.
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While I rarely, rarely, suggest even looking at free agent kickers, this is the week to do it. We know the Broncos and Cowboys will consistently put up numbers, so if Matt Praeder or Nick Folk are available pick them up. Realistically, the kickers behind the big offenses are gone. So now is the time to look at teams who are settling for field goals. Joe Nedney (San Francisco), Ryan Longwell (Minnesota), and Shaun Suisham (Washington), lead the league in field goal attempts and field goals made (10 each). While the difference between kickers is usually minimal, having a Nedney over a Matt Stover (only 17 points in three games) or a Josh Brown (19 points in four) could be the few extra points needed for a victory any given week.
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For all Le’Ron McClain fans, do not anticipate another 4.1 yard per carry with a touchdown weekend for the Baltimore running back. McClain goes up against the number one defense in the league, Tennessee, whose opponents average less than ten points per game. With a rookie quarterback at the helm, do not expect the Ravens offense to have a typical fantasy week.
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I never thought I would be recommending a Chicago Bears wide receiver, especially with Kyle Orton as their quarterback. Nevertheless, the Bears face a porous Detroit secondary on Sunday and Brandon Lloyd is Orton’s favorite target. Look for Lloyd to have a big day against the Lions. He is a good temporary replacement for the questionable Anquan Boldin, who looks like he will miss at least one week after taking a nasty hit against the Jets.
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As much as Ryan Grant has underperformed this season, he has a great opportunity to reach the end zone for the first time this week when he faces the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta allowed close to 200 yards rushing against Kansas City the other week. The threat of Green Bay’s passing game is more serious than Kansas City’s was, so expect holes to open up for Grant.
Finally, owners do not have to fear playing their Indianapolis Colts’ starters. Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, and Anthony Gonzalez are all rested after a much needed bye week and go up against the Houston Texans, a team that has beaten them only once. Heading into October with most of their injuries healed, look for the Indy offense to regain their pre-2008 form and be the first and second round picks owners thought they would be.
