Browns’ Davis to compete

By Tony Grossi

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

BEREA

Older and wiser?

“Oh, yeah,” Browns running back James Davis says with a wry chuckle. “Definitely.”

A year ago, he was the training camp phenom as a rookie. Averaged 7.8 yards per carry in preseason. Broke an 81-yard run for a touchdown. Looked poised to replace Jamal Lewis as the feature back.

Then Davis had two “welcome to the NFL” moments in the first month of the season. His career was put on a shelf. He spent the year out of sight and out of mind.

The off-season was nearly as cruel to him. The Browns drafted a running back high, Montario Hardesty, and traded for another, Peyton Hillis, to compete with three-game sensation Jerome Harrison. Davis was nudged even lower down the totem pole.

All of which has hardened Davis’ resolve and given him an edge in his second training camp.

“I can’t wait to get to the season,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been working for. I want to prove people wrong, that James Davis is the real deal. I just want my shot.”

Davis’ rookie preseason was almost a dream. He led the team in rushing with 187 yards on 24 attempts. He ran past defenders like they were out of position, leaving them groping at his dust trails.

Davis was warned by coaches and teammates that the speed of the game would pick up in the opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Sure enough, the holes disappeared. He looked overmatched on four carries. On the last one, Davis was leveled to the ground on a hit to his left shoulder by cornerback Antoine Winfield.

But that wasn’t the injury that would make national headlines and launch an investigation by the NFL and the players union.

A few weeks later, Davis was hurt in one of coach Eric Mangini’s “opportunity periods” after a team practice. His shoulder was injured again in a one-on-one blocking drill.

Mangini denied any wrongdoing, and the Browns eventually were cleared.

Blake Costanzo, who put the hit on Davis, said both players were wearing “shells,” the foam padding inside the regular plastic shoulder pads. Players routinely wear them in light practice sessions.