This is a tale of the Tortoise and the Hare, but the protagonists are two former Terrapins with Hare-like speed and Tortoise-like wills.
Sunday, they will run into one another once again when the Seahawks host the 49ers at Qwest Field.
Davis is 6 feet 3, weighs 250 pounds and was the 49ers’ first-round draft choice in 2006. Wilson is 5-9, 192 and was the Seahawks’ first draft choice the following year – the 23rd pick in the second round.
So, who wins the race in this NFL twist on the Aesop’s Fable?
“Back then, Josh might have had me,” Davis said this week of their days at Maryland. “But right now, I think I got a little faster.”
Wilson greets that assessment with a wait-just-a-minute expression, and the following explanation: “Come on now. Tell Vernon to be honest with himself. If it’s 100 yards, he might have got me because I’m going to probably lose some speed. But under 60 (yards), there’s no chance.”
Remember, it was Davis who almost caught Wilson on a 75-yard interception return at Candlestick Park last season. Yes, Wilson did get into the end zone. But he also took his share of grieve from teammates.
“When I talked to him, I said, ‘Josh, you’re getting slow, man,” Davis said.
Wilson does give Davis his due.
“Vernon is a freak of nature,” he said. “You’re not going to find too many people his size, height, weight that can fly like that, that can lift the way he can lift. He’s a heckuva man, let alone a football player.
“I don’t know what he’s got in him. I think he’s mixed with a little bit of horse.”
So much for their speed issues. But what about that resolve?
Wilson worked his way into the starting lineup last season, only to have the job taken away when veteran corner
“Compete, man,” Wilson said when asked for a one-word description of how he went after the challenge. “It doesn’t really matter, whatever happens is going to happen. But I’m going to go out there and compete, no matter what. Whatever they’re going to do they’re going to do, and I’m going to go out there and compete and show that I feel like I’m the best player on the field.”
Wilson returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown in last week’s win at St. Louis and also ran one back 61 yards for a score in the Week 9 win over the Detroit Lions. Despite missing two games with a high ankle sprain and another with a concussion, Wilson leads the team with 12 passes defensed – twice as many as
“Josh was challenged,” coach Jim Mora said. “I’m sure he was mad. I’m sure he was upset. But he was challenged, and he rose up and accepted the challenge. He has played well for us.”
Ask anyone about Wilson and one of the first things they mention is his competitiveness. No, the first thing they say is how competitive he is.
“All my life I’ve been this way,” he said. “You can ask my family, my cousins. I try to win everything. We play basketball with my little cousins – girls, they’re about eight and 10 years younger than me. I let them get nine points. But if we’re going to 10, I’m going on a 10-point run right here.”
Davis’ low point came in that same game against the Seahawks at Candlestick Park last year, when coach Mike Singletary banished him to the locker room during the game and then launched into his infamous “Can’t win ’em” tirade after game.
Now? Davis was selected as a team captain by Singletary this season, leads the 49ers with 57 receptions and shares the NFL lead with nine touchdown catches.
“I’m glad coach Singletary sent me to the locker room,” Davis said. “It helped me out. It helped me to understand how critical a silly penalty can cost you the game. I mean, if you’re trying to go to the playoffs, and playing in the Super Bowl, you can’t commit silly penalties like that. You have to be aware, and know that you’re not the only one on the field. You have to look behind you and see that your teammates are out there too. To get a penalty, that really hurts you.”
Asked about being named a captain, Davis offered, “That was all Singletary. He just called it out in front of everybody. He just called out who the captains were for the year. He appointed me as one of them, and I just took it with a grain of salt.
“I was happy, and surprised at the same time. But it’s definitely an awesome reward.”
Just the latest in this tale of two Terrapins who have Hare-like speed and Tortoise-like resolve.
