Generally, the Patriots postgame show, hosted on the team’s own website, is a gentle affair, one that dodges controversy and sticks with PG-13 platitudes and compliments. For a team on a nine-game win streak, that makes sense. But when outspoken cornerback Carlton Davis appeared on the show after Sunday’s rough-and-tumble 26-20 win over the Bengals, a nerve was touched.
Davis was asked about the defensive pass interference call that was registered against him as he guarded Cincinnati star Tee Higgins on a go route. He said he was trying to be physical with Higgins, who is certainly physical with opposing corners. Davis was “confused” when he saw two flags after the play.
“For me, I am competing at the highest level,” Davis said. “Just trying to get the job done for my team. For them to throws that flag and put them in a position to get a touchdown, that (expletive), it kind of messed me up. It definitely made me mad going into that next possession.”
Carlton Davis: ‘That (Expletive) Was BS’
Davis was even more forthcoming with his anger at his locker after the Patriots win. In fact, he intimated to reporters that the referees are targeting him throughout the game.
“That (expletive) was BS because he’s a bigger receiver, first and foremost, and he’s a physical receiver,” Davis said via Herald beat reporter Doug Kyed. “And if you ever just watch his film, when he’s on a go ball, he’s constantly trying to create slight separation. So I could turn around and play the ball, but once you turn around, that’s his (expletive). As soon as you turn around, he’ll give you a little nudge, and now you’re out of range of the ball. So I just played through the hands, he was tugging, tugging and I just — boom — played physical.”
“And right now these referees and these teams, I know they’re going to the refs telling them to watch (me), to watch (me). And the refs talk to me all game. They’re talking to me all game. ‘You’re doing good. But watch this. Watch that.’ And just by that, I know somebody’s saying something because these refs are coming up to me. And I didn’t agree with that call at all.”
Carlton Davis Fired Up by Call Against Patriots
If you think that is where Davis stopped, well, you may not have watched Davis much throughout his career. The new Patriots cornerback, signed to a three-year, $60 million contract this offseason, has always been forthcoming with his opinions. And he got a bit more R-rated as he went on about the refs and Higgins.
“That (expletive) made me mad as (expletive) because it was already (the) fourth quarter, and I felt like I put my team in a bad position when it was a BS call, and now they’re in field-goal range and they’re inside the red zone,” Davis said.
“And then we give up a touchdown, so I’m just mad about it because I’m understanding the position and what all transpired since that (penalty) And so, that (expletive) really just lit a fire under me. Like, I promise you I’m not going to let this game slip out of our hands.”
Patriots Look Like a Tired Team
It should be pointed out that Davis had a very good day for the Patriots, logging eight tackles and three PBUs. The penalty on the Higgins pass came with 4:50 to play and gave the Bengals a 27-yard gain to the 17-yard line of the Patriots. That set up a Bengals touchdown that made the score 23-20.
But the Patriots added a field goal , and an angry Davis broke up three passes on the last-ditch comeback drive by Cincinnati.
Davis conceded, too, that his team at this point is tired.
“Guys are tired, we haven’t had a bye week yet,” Davis said. “We are relieved, we have a longer week this week to recover, having a longer week, have Thanksgiving with our family because we play on Monday (against the Giants).”
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