Vontae Davis, a two-time Pro Bowl selection at cornerback, signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills Monday to shore up Buffalo’s secondary.
Davis’ signing, along with Tre’Davious White, who enjoyed a stellar rookie season, should give Buffalo an outstanding secondary in 2018. In 120 career games over nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins, Davis started 112 games, making 395 tackles with 22 interceptions and 106 passes defensed.
Davis, a former first-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins, played in only five games in 2017 before the falling out over his injury. He apparently suffered the injury during the preseason and was absent from the Colts’ first three regular-season games before returning to the starting lineup for five straight games.
Davis, 29, was released by the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 9 over a disagreement concerning an injury to his core. Davis sought additional medical opinions and opted to have season-ending surgery to deal with the injury. The Colts felt strongly that Davis, who reportedly had been cleared to resume football activities, should return to try and help the team’s lackluster secondary.
When the Colts prepared to travel to Houston for an AFC South showdown with the Texans, they did so without Davis, who was left at home for the Nov. 5 game. Head coach Chuck Pagano announced at the time that the team’s decision to travel without its star cornerback was not due to an injury, but rather because of poor play, a claim Davis disputes.
”It was a disagreement [between me and the team] because I feel like I was demoted because of my health instead of my ability,” said Davis, who played through a sore groin all of 2017. “That’s the disagreement. The agreement is I take full responsibility.”
Davis said he felt “disrespected” by how the Colts handled the situation.
“It should be more about the respect,” said Davis, who was the league’s second-best cornerback in 2014 according to Pro Football Focus. “I’m a professional. I’ve been in [the league] long enough. When I look at the situation, I feel like there was no respect. Knowing Chuck, I figured it would come from him. It really bothered me.”
Earlier this month, ESPN football analyst Adam Schefter reported that Davis had been cleared from his core injury surgery.
The league’s free agency period officially begins March 14, but because Davis was released, he was free to sign with any team before the 2018 league year officially begins. Davis opted for Buffalo after also making free agency visits to the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and the San Francisco 49ers.
Pro Football Focus ranked Davis 24th among cornerbacks in 2015, 113th in 2016, and 84th in limited action in 2017.