Eddie Davis
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leaxder-Post files
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leaxder-Post files
REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Lance Frazier dished out a tear-inducing hit Thursday.
The victim was fellow DB Eddie Davis, who announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the CFL without a watery, Brett Favre-like media gathering.
"I held it together for a while and then I got a voice message from Lance Frazier," Davis, 37, said from Calgary. "He expressed what I meant to him as a player and to the organization. That got me; I got teary-eyed for the first time.
"I knew this day was going to come and I'm glad that the negotiation process took this long because it gave me time to sit back and reflect on everything and how my life is going. I knew it was time for me to be here with my family ...
"I woke up this morning and saw my kids' faces, the sun was outside shining and I knew it was time for me to step away from it and do something else."
Davis spent the past nine seasons with the Roughriders before becoming a free agent Feb. 15. After some give and take with the team, Davis retired.
He suggested he didn't like the pace of the negotiations or the offer he received from the Roughriders. It's believed the sticking point involved the signing bonus he was offered.
"I'm not bitter," Davis said. "To me, if you really want a player, then you put your best foot forward right away and get the player. I definitely don't feel that they did that from the first offer. But it is what it is. It's over, it's done with and I'm happy with this decision."
"I'm not bitter," Davis said. "To me, if you really want a player, then you put your best foot forward right away and get the player. I definitely don't feel that they did that from the first offer. But it is what it is. It's over, it's done with and I'm happy with this decision."
Davis said he's in a place financially that he doesn't have to keep playing. Of greater concern is the family he's raising with his wife, Debbie.
"My daughter (Imani) will be six years old this year and my son (Eddie III) is one now," Davis said. "Just seeing them and being here and enjoying the time that I'm spending with them, I'm really enjoying myself.
"I haven't had the opportunity yet to spend a summer with my family. It's going to be great to be able to do that and just do something different."
Even though Davis has long been considered a coach on the field, he vowed he won't get into that racket "because that's me losing my family again." He plans to take some time off and travel before possibly finding employment in the oil and gas industry.
Davis' CFL career began in 1995 when he was signed by the Birmingham Barracudas. After the CFL's U.S.-based teams folded, Davis joined the Calgary Stampeders and stayed with them
until signing with the Roughriders in 2001.
He retires having amassed 801 tackles, 112 special-team tackles, 111 pass knockdowns, 34 interceptions and 16 quarterback sacks in 236 regular-season games. He was named a CFL all-star three times and a West Division all-star five times and won Grey Cups with Calgary in '98 and the Roughriders in 2007.
"He's the best player and the smartest player I've ever played with," Saskatchewan cornerback Omarr Morgan said from Los Angeles. "It's going to be rough for me because I've been playing with him for almost a decade. But I think we'll be all right.
"I've been getting calls all morning and lots of players are sad. But we've got some good coaching and some quality players who can step up. Life goes on. The (NBA's Chicago) Bulls kept playing without Michael Jordan."
Possible replacements include Chris McKenzie (who filled in as a rookie last season) and Tad Kornegay (who moved back from linebacker last season after Davis suffered a knee injury).
Morgan said Davis was successful into his mid-30s not only due to his intelligence and guile, but also because "he worked harder than everybody. Period."
Morgan said Davis was successful into his mid-30s not only due to his intelligence and guile, but also because "he worked harder than everybody. Period."
"I've tried to mentor a lot of guys and I've tried to be the best player that I can be," Davis said when asked about his legacy. "I think I've done a good job of erasing teams' best receivers when we play against them. I think I've had a great career."
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