Vernon Davis' winning touchdown catch Saturday against the Saints undoubtedly was the defining moment in his six-year NFL career. It certainly was a better situation than the last time everyone was saying his name.
Davis received his first real taste of the national spotlight in 2008, when then-49ers interim coach Mike Singletary banished the tight end to the locker room in the middle of a game for selfish conduct. After the game, Singletary went on an infamous rant, expressing his desire to have a locker room of winners.
That didn't put Davis in a good light, but he believes Singletary's guidance helped him become the player he is today.
"Just Singletary. Having him around. He taught me a lot," Davis told KNBR-AM on Monday. "I actually learned a lot from Coach Singletary. I'm glad he was aboard from the start because I learned so much from him and not just about football, but about life, about team, being a part of a team, and I take my hat off to him. I learned so much from him."