I just read this story, even though its old. I hope this kid becomes something special in the team. I followed him through last year with Culver. Good read. From AT&T/Yahoo Sports. Simply the Bess. Dolphins receiver Davone Bess(notes) was promoted from No. 3 to No. 2 and will start Monday’s exhibition opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bess has overcome character issues left over from his high school days in Oakland and also had to deal with being bypassed on draft day last year because of a slow 40 at the Combine. Bess’ promotion isn’t a slight against projected starter Greg Camarillo(notes), but rather a reward for his unmatched work ethic. His former coach at Hawaii, June Jones, would always marvel at seeing Bess hours before practices catching balls from the jugs machines. Now, coach Tony Sparano sees the same kid that Jones told him about when the Dolphins signed him after the draft concluded last year. Run or shoot or not, anytime a player has 108 catches for 1,266 yards and 12 touchdowns—as Bess did his junior year—it’s not by accident. “Bess has always done that. That is why he made the team last year. And to do it practice after practice really showed me something. Then to do it in a game, that’s how I came to trust the guy,” Sparano said. “Both of these guys catch it extremely well. They both have great knowledge of the system, of the coverage. Both play at a high level, so it’s pretty hard to separate them.” Bess might not possess the blazing speed of his counterpart on the other side, Ted Ginn Jr.(notes), the overall ninth pick of 2007, but he knows how to create separation and rarely drops passes. In his rookie season, Bess found a home in the slot with 54 catches for 554 yards and one TD. That was third among NFL rookie receivers behind two second-rounders—Denver’s Eddie Royal(notes) (91) and Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson(notes) (62). His 54 catches was the second most in NFL history for an undrafted rookie, behind only Wayne Chrebet’s 66 in 1995. When Camarillo went down with a season-ending knee injury in Game 11 against the Patriots, Bess became quarterback Chad Pennington’s(notes) go-to-guy in the final five games, grabbing 37 catches in the final seven weeks. “Many days when nobody was around here during the course of the summer, and it was awful hot out, I saw him out here with the Jugs on and the equipment guy pumping balls to him, and see him out here catching punts with the equipment guy pumping balls to him in the Jugs,” Sparano raved. “This guy did a lot of work this summer to get himself prepared. I just hope it continues to show. He was clearly one of the surprises in training camp last year. I hope he continues to grow, but there are more steps that he needs to take.” Bess always has a smile on his face and is the ultimate team player. “He’s been playing great. So he’s got the job with the starting team. That doesn’t mean I’m not still fighting for it. It’s friendly competition,” said Camarillo, who had a career-high 55 catches for 613 yards with two TDs last season. Bess, who married his college sweetheart in October and became a first-time father in November, takes nothing for granted. “I wouldn’t say comfortable but a lot more relaxed and focused on knowing I could be more productive this year and contribute right way versus last year (where I was fighting for a job),” Bess said of his newfound status. “I just take it a day at a time so I could have a long productive career.”
I like Bess certainly, will always have aroster spot for a WR that gets open consistently & doesn't drop the ball very often. the only thing you don't get with Bess is great YAC stats he's a keeper & playmaker
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWHE-wcBqyk"]YouTube - Tina Turner Simply The Best Live 2005[/ame]
Good read, Bess is definitely one of my favorite players on the team. Hope he sticks around for a long time.
Bess deserves it. He's a very underrated WR...it kind of bugs me that the sports media keeps downgrading our WR corps, because I firmly believe that in a year or two, Bess will be considered just as valuable as Wes Welker.
Absolutely LOVE this kid, and thanks for the story Sarge. He is what's right about football. For every Turdell or Ochostinko you have a Davone Bess. I know this kid was down a bad path at one time, but he was able to work through that. He seems to let his hard work speak for him. He is very rrespectful to the game and its history.....just a great kid. Btw, I mentioned often last year that I thought he was far and away our most complete WR, and that might or might not end up being true, but the three names mentioned, Royal, Jackson and Chrebet are pretty damn good company to be keeping
I have high hopes for Bess. I see him becoming our Hines Ward. I figure he'll be moved between the #2 and #3 for a few years but he'll be our most consistent chain mover. He'll also be our best all around WR (blocking, route running, etc.). I can envision some 80 - 100 catch seasons, a few pro bowls and hopefully a SB MVP.
lot to compare between the two but Welker has break away speed Bess does not possess read somewhere that they have developed techniques to improve speed maybe, he's already improved his speed this year then it would be a spot on comparison speaking of speed & agility w/ good hands, wonder what will become of Chris Williams if he continues to play @ his present level?
What's even better is that we may not have to risk injuring him during kick returns with Williams possibly making the team.
That was the play where Ed Reed got tangled up in his jock strap trying to make the tackle wasn't it? Posted via Mobile Device
I was really impressed with his blocking ability Monday night. It seems like he does all of the "little things" well that usually go unnoticed. Love this kid!
Not bad for a then 67 yr old... But back to Bess...I had my doubts, but when Cammy dropped out he really came on and showed me wrong. I had my doubts that he could handle a full season as a WR because he took so many hard hits, given his size...Well, any way he's on his way to proving a bunch of us wrong...
Bess is a footballer. He has the intangibles & will only improve in time. one of the greatest (relatively unknown to this generation) WR of all time was (like Bess) not fast, nor was he big & strong, he even wore glasses in the game to be able to see the ball & was John Unitas's go-to receiver for his entire illustrious carrier, the GreatOne, Raymond Barry of the Baltimore Colts. Barry, like Bess was a footballer with all the intangibles. GreatWR's = consistently get open + consistently catch the ball (they are go-to guys & always dangerous, demanding constant coverage & concern)