FOXBOROUGH – Carlton Davis hasn’t been in New England for long, but the Patriots’ veteran cornerback is very excited to start this regular season.
After signing a 3-year, $54 million contract with the Patriots in free agency, Davis got a late start to training camp. The veteran said the team’s new roster and head coach have him very optimistic about the future in Foxborough.
“It’s about to be lit, bro. I’m excited for the city, for this team,” Davis said. “We’ve been working hard. I’m just ready to go to war with these guys. I’m just excited about what we all can do on that field together.”
A limited practice participant for the first half of training camp, Davis looks recovered from the unknown injury that held him back. He said it’s been fun to practice with his new teammates, noting how good the group looks.
The 28-year-old was part of a large free-agent class that came to New England in Mike Vrabel’s first offseason. Along with Milton Williams, Harold Landry, Robert Spillane, and K’Lavon Chaisson, Davis is one of five newcomers who look like they’ll start immediately in Vrabel’s defense.
He said those teammates are part of the reason why he’s so excited for this Patriots team.
“All the playmakers we’ve got. Everything we’ve been doing, for me, has been something that I’m looking forward to come Game 1,” Davis said. “I don’t want to get into specifics, but I am really excited to play alongside guys like Gonzo (Christian Gonzalez), Spill, Milton – everybody. We’ve just got a lot of guys, a lot of dogs out there. I’m pretty sure it’ll show up on game day.”
The other element to Davis’s excitement stems from the coaching staff. With Vrabel, players know where they stand. The coach will call out those who aren’t within his coaching rules, and his style is appealing to the veteran cornerback.
Davis applauded Vrabel for how he’s running the Patriots organization this offseason.
“The players are part of it, but then, like how the organization and practice are being run. That’s another thing because we can have the guys, but if you’re not running it the right way, it might not work,” Davis said. “I’m excited to play for Mike and how he’s running the show, how he’s holding us accountable for everything, anybody, including myself. I really appreciate that in a coach. I really appreciate how he treats everything the same. When you bring a team like that, you usually have success behind it.”
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