Brash. Outspoken. Controversial. Vernon Davis has been all three on occasion, but the Pro Bowl tight end is playing it cool when it comes to getting a long-term contract extension from the 49ers.
Davis was a guest panelist at an Art Impact panel discussion at the de Young Museum’s Koret Auditorium this evening, and the Sac Bee’s Matt Barrows and I were there to talk some football with him.
Most important were questions about his contract. The 49ers recently signed LB Patrick Willis to a five-year, $50 million deal, and the common perception is that Davis – whose contract expires after this season – is next in line for a bump. He said via Twitter recently that he is “100 percent” sure he’ll get a deal done, but seems in no hurry to make it happen.
“I’ll take my time,” Davis said today. “I would love to get it done before the season starts. But like I said, that’s not my deal. And it’s not something I need to be worried about right now. All I’m worried about is getting where I want to go – staying at the top of my game and breaking more records.”
At another point he said, “I leave that up to my agent (Todd France) and the 49ers.”
Asked whether he should be the team’s next priority now that Willis is locked up, Davis replied: “It really don’t matter. It’s not my concern. It’s up to them. It’s all on them, what they want to do. I’m here. I’m still a 49er. I’m ready for the season. I’m focused on things I need to be focused on and ready to get better.”
Davis didn’t take the bait and proclaim that he is seeking to be the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. But he clearly thinks he deserves it. “I honestly believe I’m the best,” he said. “I have a long future ahead of me. I’ve got a lot of things I want to do and accomplish. But I’m very confident about myself, in case you didn’t know. That’s what it takes.”
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