This morning, a rumor began about Chicago Bears right guard Nate Davis. The story contains very specific details, making some people believe there could be truth to it. Many wondered why Davis didn’t attend several practices at the beginning of camp. A Twitter account named “NFL Notifications” seems to know the inside story and posted a lengthy thread. I’ll share the first tweet here, and later summarize and share my own thoughts on it.
Nate Davis Wasn’t Giving Enough Effort?
According to a recent report from NFL Notify, it seems that Matt Eberflus has a strict way of evaluating his players. During training camp, there was a rumor that right guard Nate Davis wasn’t putting in enough effort. He found a note on his jersey in his locker, which basically said that the coaches, Matt Eberflus and offensive line coach Chris Morgan, believed he wasn’t working hard enough and that he was “loafing” — which means being lazy and not giving your best during plays. Davis got really upset and tore up the note in front of his teammates, calling it unfair. The next day, Eberflus talked to Davis and told him that everyone on the team needs to fully commit to the approach they’re taking. Eberflus pointed out how Davis’s efforts compared to another player’s, Cody Whitehair, to show the difference. Whitehair was reportedly giving maximum effort in his reps. Eberflus said they should keep talking until they’re on the same page. They both decided that Davis should take a break from practice until he’s mentally ready to participate again. During this time, Eberflus took Davis out to eat a few times to get to know him better. Slowly, things started to improve. However, he was worried about the negative grades he was getting, thinking they were too subjective and intense.
Eberflus and Davis then reportedly made a deal. They would keep grading his performance, but if Davis disagreed with a grade, he could discuss it with Eberflus and they would go over it together. This made Davis feel better, and he was back on the field the following week leading the offensive line in drills and becoming a vocal leader on the team. Eberflus emphasized that his main focus is on developing the players as people first, and their development as athletes comes after that.
If This Is True, What A Story It Would Be
What stands out to me the most is the specific information provided. However, I’m uncertain whether this reflects positively on Nate Davis. I initially liked the decision to sign him and still think he can make a significant impact. However, I’m bothered by the fact that Flus had to put in so much effort to make sure he gives his best in practice. But it’s certainly possible that this report might not be entirely accurate. While this source has been somewhat successful with breaking news before, it’s best to be cautious about believing it fully until more sources come out and confirm it. Regardless, this is quite a remarkable story. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a detailed account.
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