The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Catching up with Leonard Davis
04.06.2005 | Football
On playing with the Cardinals: The NFL has been going well for me. I have been having a lot of fun. Of course I would like to win some more games, but next season is going to be a good year. Everybody is excited. We have some new free agents and I think it is going to be a big year for the Cardinals. My personal goals are pretty much the same every year. Of course I would love to make the Pro Bowl. But being a team player is a big part of that. When you work with your team and do well together, that's when everybody gets ahead.
On the best part of playing in the NFL: I have fun. There is a lot of networking. Everybody knows everybody. A lot of people have perceptions about what it is like to be out on the field from watching it on TV. From my experience, you can talk to a guy on the field and give each other a hard time during the game. But after it is all over, you go out and shake each other's hand. It's nice to know everyone and be able to have those relationships. The best part of my job is that I get to go out there with a bunch of grown men and have fun.
On changing as a player: I would say I am more intelligent on the playing field now that I have some NFL experience. Comparing NFL football to college football, it's just a different kind of play. In college, you are tempted to take a few plays off when you get tired. In the NFL, you have to play every snap.
On his home life: I married my wife Amanda last year. We have a 20-month-old daughter, Mia, and my wife is expecting another daughter in July. I am kind of surrounded by women right now. I am very happy at home. I can go home every day and have somebody to talk to when I feel like talking and I love sharing that with her.
On his memories of Texas: Camaraderie is what stands out most from my time at Texas. Some of the players went all the way through our careers here together and we have a lot of great Memories. Shaun (Rogers) and I were suitemates every year, so I remember my time with him the most. We used to wrestle in Jester. We would push all of the furniture aside in the study lounge and about 20 guys would stand in front of it to make sure nobody got hurt. I called Shaun out one time, and then he beat me pretty bad. Now, we don't get to talk as much, but every now and then we call each other to see how things are going.
On Pro Timing Day: For some of these guys, it can either make or break them. It gives the players who worked out at the combine a second chance to show what they've got. For the players who were not at the combine, it gives them an opportunity to show their skills. That is all you need in the NFL, an opportunity.
