Tag: Davis

Tom Brady, college teammate lead Raiders’ search for 15th coach since 2000

Posted on | by Field Level Media

If ever there was a doubt that Tom Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders in name only, principal stakeholder Mark Davis set the record straight in kickstarting the search for the franchise’s 15th coach since the turn of the century.

Brady, approved for a minority stake in the Raiders by the NFL last season, was at the team facility to coordinate with the front office as Las Vegas charts a course for 2026. The first step was firing Pete Carroll, who finished 3-14 in his lone season, the league’s worst record.

“Moving forward, general manager John Spytek will lead all football operations in close collaboration with Tom Brady, including the search for the club’s next head coach,” Davis said Monday in a brief statement.

But the message was loud and clear: Brady is driving the decisions in Las Vegas, a franchise with a cumulative 21-47 record since the end of the 2021 season.

Private and public consternation from NFL owners arose when the league signed off on Brady’s ownership with the Raiders while also having access to assistant coaches and players during game-week production meetings for his other job as game analyst for Fox Sports.

Brady also holds sway in the next massive decision awaiting the Raiders: how to invest the No. 1 overall draft pick. Brady has been highly complimentary of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner for the undefeated Hoosiers who is currently the betting favorite to be the top pick in April.

The Raiders haven’t had the No. 1 draft pick since 2007. They drafted LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who was a bust under then-head coach Lane Kiffin.

Davis didn’t have to introduce Spytek and Brady, who were college teammates at Michigan. Spytek, previously assistant general manager with the Buccaneers, was also instrumental in bringing Brady to Tampa Bay as a free agent in 2020.

“We see football similar,” Spytek said. “We don’t see it the same. We have plenty of discussions and disagreements, and I’m not afraid to tell him that. I think that’s kind of why he likes me. But I do believe that we see things similar. We’ve both had a lot of success seeing it that way, and I think we know what we’re after, and it’s up to us now to go find it.”

The Raiders’ head coaches (including interim coaches) since 2000: Pete Carroll (2025), Antonio Pierce (2023-24), Josh McDaniels (2022-23), Rich Bisaccia (2021), Jon Gruden (2018-21, 1998-2001), Jack Del Rio (2015-17), Tony Sparano (2014), Dennis Allen (2012-14), Hue Jackson (2011), Tom Cable (2008-10), Lane Kiffin (2007-08), Art Shell (2006), Norv Turner (2004-05) and Bill Callahan (2001-02).

–Field Level Media

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (concussion) injured vs. Patriots

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Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins exited Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the New England Patriots due to a concussion.

Higgins was injured when his head landed hard on the turf. He was motionless for several minutes before eventually being carted to the locker room with 4:45 left in the game.

New England cornerback Carlton Davis III, who had the coverage on a deep pass attempt, landed on Higgins and drove him into the ground. Davis was flagged for pass interference on the play.

Higgins, 26, had five receptions for 31 yards before departing.

Overall, Higgins has 40 catches for 575 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games.

The Bengals (3-8) have a short week and visit the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night. Higgins is in jeopardy of missing the contest as he will need to clear protocol to be in position to play.

Cincinnati faced New England without star receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who was suspended one game for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey last week.

–Field Level Media

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches a play behind quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Michigan coach holding QB1 announcement for game week

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Michigan coach Sherrone Moore might have the answer, but he’s not ready to share the identity of his starting quarterback for the first game of the season.

Moore plans to let others in on the plan the week of the Wolverines’ first game, which is Aug. 30 in Ann Arbor.

New Mexico visits the Big House that day, and the Lobos are anticipating — like many others — seeing a lot of No. 1 recruit Bryce Underwood, the top-ranked player in the incoming freshman class. Underwood is opening eyes in fall camp and arrived as a household name as a five-star recruit. On the flipside, he’s only 17 years old.

For now, Moore doesn’t want to discuss Underwood without talking about his competition for the job.

“Quarterbacks have been great,” Moore said. “Much improved, playing at a really good level. You know, we’ll see where it goes and how far we’ll go to that. As far as naming the quarterback, I know you guys want to know who the quarterback is. I’ll tell you on game week, before any questions come about that.”

At a position that stood out because of a lack of production last season, Underwood is the marquee name in Michigan camp. Veteran transfer Mikey Keene could get a chance to play given his background with offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, starting experience and the dicey early schedule that includes a trip to Norman to play Oklahoma on Sept. 6 and a trip to Nebraska two weeks later.

However, Keene has been dealing with an undisclosed health issue. He missed spring practice and was reportedly limited in Saturday’s closed scrimmage, though Moore seemed optimistic about Keene’s progress Tuesday.

“Yeah, he’s done a good bit. He’s participating at his rate that he can,” Moore said. “And we’ll see as far as how much he can do and what he’ll do as we go through. But he’s been doing a good job for us and managing everything he needs to do.”

Redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis and Jake Garcia, a well-traveled transfer with starting experience at Miami and East Carolina, are not eliminated from consideration.

“Whoever the starting quarterback is, is to raise the level of the team,” Moore said. “And for (Underwood), for Jadyn Davis, for Jake Garcia, Mikey Keene, to make sure that they put themselves in position to make — that they’re the best quarterback version, or best version of what they can be for Michigan football and be leaders of the offense.

“Obviously, we’ve always talked about the offense is led by and the team is led by the offensive line. But the quarterback has to be the captain of that room, that offense. Whoever that is, that’s who I want them to be.”
–Field Level Media

Nov 10, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) intercepts a pass interned for Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (3) during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots, CB Carlton Davis agree to $60M contract

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Free agent cornerback Carlton Davis agreed to join the New England Patriots on a three-year contract worth up to $60 million, according to multiple reports.

New England also picked up linebacker Robert Spillane (Las Vegas Raiders) on a reported three-year, $37.5 million agreement, according to multiple reports.

Adding Davis addresses the secondary and a focus of the new defense being implemented by head coach Mike Vrabel, who can pair the physical and aggressive Davis with left cornerback Christian Gonzalez in 2025.

Davis, 28, was acquired by the Detroit Lions before the 2024 season but finished his lone season in Detroit on injured reserve with a broken jaw.

A self-described lockdown corner, Davis is a top-end competitor with the size to line up at multiple positions in New England’s scheme.

Spillane is a former Titans linebacker under Vrabel and an ex-teammate of outside linebacker Harold Landry, who agreed to join the Patriots after being released by Tennessee last week.

He led the Raiders with a career-high 158 tackles and had two sacks and two interceptions in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) congratulates wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) on his touchdown score during the third quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. among GTDs vs. Eagles

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis and running back Travis Etienne will be game-time decisions for Sunday’s game in Philadelphia, coach Doug Pederson announced Friday.

Thomas (chest) and Davis (shoulder) sustained their respective injuries during Jacksonville’s 30-27 setback to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. Etienne (hamstring) has missed the past two games.

Pederson, however, said left guard Ezra Cleveland (ankle) is “probably not gonna make it” for the Week 9 contest between the Jaguars (2-6) and Eagles (5-2).

Thomas, 22, leads the team in catches (33), receiving yards (573) and receiving touchdowns (five). The rookie was selected by the Jaguars with the 23rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Davis, 25, has 18 receptions for 217 yards and two scores in eight games.

Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Etienne has rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns in six starts this season. Etienne, 25, has 16 catches for 91 yards.

Second-year running back Tank Bigsby leads Jacksonville in carries (85), rushing yards (493) and rushing TDs (four).

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) leaves the field to the locker room after sustaining an apparent injury during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jags WR Kirk (collarbone) done for season; MRI for Thomas (ribs)

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The Jacksonville Jaguars incurred injuries to all three starting wide receivers in their last-second loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Christian Kirk is done for the season with a broken collarbone and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. will undergo an MRI on his ribs, multiple outlets reported. Gabe Davis left in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return.

Kirk was injured early in the fourth quarter of the 30-27 loss to the Packers. He landed on his left shoulder after laying out to catch a deep pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He was quickly ruled out of the game and was in a sling afterward.

Kirk, 27, had two catches for 59 yards prior to the injury. He has 27 catches for 379 yards and a touchdown in eight games (seven starts) this season. He’s in the third year of a four-year deal worth $72 million. This is his second straight year with a season-ending injury; he missed the final five games in 2023 with a groin injury.

Thomas, 22, had three catches for 60 yards and a score in Sunday’s game. The 2024 first-round pick has 33 catches for 573 yards and five TDs on the season.

Davis, 25, has 18 catches for 217 yards and two TDs. He signed a three-year deal worth $39 million in March.

Backup wideouts Tim Jones and Parker Washington both saw action Sunday. Washington hauled in three catches for 46 yards on four targets. Jones had one catch for 20 yards.

–Field Level Media

Jan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis III (24) gestures after a play against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of a 2024 NFC wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Lions receive CB Carlton Davis III in trade with Buccaneers

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The Detroit Lions acquired veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, according to multiple reports.

The Lions will also receive sixth-round picks in the 2024 and 2025 drafts, while Tampa Bay will receive a 2024 third-round selection from Detroit.

Davis is slated to earn $14 million in base salary in 2024 in the final season of a three-year, $44.5 million deal.

Davis, 27, spent his first six NFL seasons with the Buccaneers and has nine interceptions, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and 324 tackles in 76 games (75 starts).

He had a career-best four interceptions in 2020 when he earned a Super Bowl ring with Tampa Bay.

Davis played college football for Auburn and was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft.

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Kalia Davis (93) celebrates his sack against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

49ers downgrade DT Kalia Davis (ankle) to out for Super Bowl

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The San Francisco 49ers announced Saturday that defensive tackle Kalia Davis has been ruled out of the Super Bowl XVIII matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Las Vegas.

Davis has an ankle injury and was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. He was a full practice participant during the week.

Davis, 25, played in three regular-season games for San Francisco this season. He sustained the ankle injury against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 17 and has since been sidelined.

The 49ers also elevated defensive linemen Alex Barrett and T.Y. McGill from the practice squad on Saturday.

Barrett, 29, last played in an NFL game during the 2020 season for the 49ers. McGill, 31, played in two games for San Francisco this season.

–Field Level Media

Nov 13, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis (13) runs with the ball after making a catch against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Bills WR Gabe Davis on OC change: ‘Behind Dorsey 100 percent’

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis openly defends fired coordinator Ken Dorsey and takes offense to suggestions he was to blame for the team’s downturn in production.

“It’s on us players to go out there and play at a high level and execute,” Davis said Thursday.

Davis said the “offense is the offense” and there are no major changes coming after the Bills decided to move on from Dorsey and install Joe Brady as the coordinator on Tuesday. He said he’s in a “weird space” and is trying to find answers in “harsh truth.”

“If anyone tries to blame one guy, they definitely don’t know what they’re talking about,” Davis said. “He put me in the best position last week to go and catch a runner. It went through my hands. Where in that does that get put on Dorsey? There are things out there that we created. … In reality, we’re just going through a little adversity. It’s just been tough. I definitely have defended Dorsey 100 percent. It takes a team. You ask any of these guys, and we’re behind him 100 percent.

“We’re 5-5. We’ve lost five games (by) 23 points totals. With the amount of bad plays, the amount of turnovers. There’s been games we’ve made a lot of mistakes and yet we’re still in it.”

Quarterback Josh Allen leads the NFL with 11 interceptions and had two picks Monday in a 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos (4-5). Allen said Dorsey would still be the coordinator if he was performing to his own expectations.

“I take that very personally,” he said. “It hurts a lot to see someone you care about go through a situation like that and to know that if I could have done more, if this offense could have done more, we wouldn’t have had to do something like that.”

Davis said all of the questions asked by media and other pundits are questions they’re asking themselves.

“There’s some accountability we all have to take that we are where we are. We all have hands in it,” said Davis, who has 33 catches for 490 yards and five scores. “We all have to figure out how we can do better.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 22, 2022; Berkeley, California, USA; Washington Huskies running back Cameron Davis (22) carries the ball against the California Golden Bears during the third quarter at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Washington loses RB Cameron Davis to season-ending injury

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Washington running back Cameron Davis is out for the season with a leg injury, leaving the No. 10 Huskies to scramble in the days before the season begins.

Davis was injured in practice last week. Washington plans to push more of the load to transfer Dillon Johnson, but will also count on untested ball carriers to balance the workload.

“Cam is a huge part of (our offense),” Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer said. “It’s his second year in the system … works so hard, leads the right way, disciplined guy. He not only does a great job with the ball in his hands but in pass protection he knows everything inside and out.”

Davis led Pac-12 freshmen with 13 rushing touchdowns in 2022 as part of a shared backfield cooperative with Wayne Taulapapa. Entering his sophomore season, Davis had Washington “excited about where he was.”

Johnson joined UW after three seasons at Mississippi State under the late Mike Leach.

“Guys have the opportunity to step up and we want that from them. And they will,” DeBoer said. “That’s what every football season brings is adversity and our team is going to respond in a great way.”

Washington opens the season against Boise State on Sept. 2.

–Field Level Media