Leonard Davis
Encyclopedia
Leonard Barnett Davis is an American football
guard
for the Detroit Lions
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals
in the first round (second overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Texas
.
Davis has also played for the Dallas Cowboys
.
After graduating from Wortham High School
(where he led the school to the 1997 boy's basketball state championship), he signed with the University of Texas
, where he achieved first team all-America honors as a senior and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy.
by the Cardinals, and played guard his first three years in the NFL. In 2004, he was moved from guard to left tackle, where he played in 15 games. In 2005, he played in 15 games as well.
On February 17, 2007 the Arizona Cardinals told Leonard Davis that they would not name him a franchise
or transition
player, clearing the offensive tackle to become an unrestricted free agent. On March 4, 2007 he signed with the Dallas Cowboys
for a seven year $49.6 million contract. $18.75 million of his contract is guaranteed. With the move to Dallas, Davis has also moved back to the guard position. He has had an exceptional year in 2007, as he made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. He also made the All-Pro second team along with ex-teammate Flozell Adams
. Since 2005, Davis is the 5th most penalized player in the NFL with 42. His former teammate Alex Barron is the most penalized player since 2005 with 78 penalties called against him.
According to Forbes
, Davis was the highest paid NFL player and 19th overall athlete in the 12 month period ending June 2007, earning $25.4 million.
He was released by the Cowboys on July 28, 2011, due to declining play and the Cowboys' lack of salary cap room.
On November 2011, Davis signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.
and ex-teammate Cory Procter
with guitarist Justin Chapman.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the first round (second overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Texas
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
.
Davis has also played for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
Early years
Davis is the only child of L.A. and Sammie Lee Davis, but has 21 half-brothers and half-sisters (L.A. had 11 children from a previous marriage, while Sammie Lee had 10 children from a previous marriage).After graduating from Wortham High School
Wortham Independent School District
Wortham Independent School District is a public school district based in Wortham, Texas .In addition to Wortham, the district serves students in the town of Kirvin and rural areas of western Freestone County...
(where he led the school to the 1997 boy's basketball state championship), he signed with the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, where he achieved first team all-America honors as a senior and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy.
Professional career
Davis was selected 2nd overall in the 2001 NFL Draft2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
by the Cardinals, and played guard his first three years in the NFL. In 2004, he was moved from guard to left tackle, where he played in 15 games. In 2005, he played in 15 games as well.
On February 17, 2007 the Arizona Cardinals told Leonard Davis that they would not name him a franchise
Franchise Tag
In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag and one...
or transition
Transition Tag
A transition tag is a tool used by National Football League teams to retain unrestricted free agents. It guarantees the original club the right of first refusal to match any offer the player may make with another team. The transition tag can be used once a year by each club unless they elect to...
player, clearing the offensive tackle to become an unrestricted free agent. On March 4, 2007 he signed with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
for a seven year $49.6 million contract. $18.75 million of his contract is guaranteed. With the move to Dallas, Davis has also moved back to the guard position. He has had an exceptional year in 2007, as he made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. He also made the All-Pro second team along with ex-teammate Flozell Adams
Flozell Adams
Flozell "The Hotel" Adams is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State....
. Since 2005, Davis is the 5th most penalized player in the NFL with 42. His former teammate Alex Barron is the most penalized player since 2005 with 78 penalties called against him.
According to Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
, Davis was the highest paid NFL player and 19th overall athlete in the 12 month period ending June 2007, earning $25.4 million.
He was released by the Cowboys on July 28, 2011, due to declining play and the Cowboys' lack of salary cap room.
On November 2011, Davis signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.
Music
Davis is the bassist in the heavy metal band Free Reign with Cowboys' teammates Marc ColomboMarc Colombo
Marc Edward Colombo is an American football offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was originally selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He played college football for Boston College...
and ex-teammate Cory Procter
Cory Procter
Cory Procter is an American football guard who is currently a member of the Miami Dolphins. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
with guitarist Justin Chapman.