Bills cornerback Vontae Davis left the team and retired during halftime of their 31-20 loss to the Chargers.
‘Pulled himself out of the game,’ coach Sean McDermott said.
‘He communicated to us that he was done.’
‘This was an overwhelming decision, but I’m at peace with myself and my family,’ Davis, who played at the University of Illinois, said in a statement tweeted by the NFL.
Davis said he meant no disrespect to Bills players and coaches.
Bills cornerback Vontae Davis (22) left the team and retired during halftime of their 31-20 loss to the Chargers
‘This was an overwhelming decision, but I’m at peace with myself and my family,’ Davis, who played at the University of Illinois, said in a statement tweeted by the NFL
Davis said he meant no disrespect to Bills players and coaches. ‘I hold myself to a standard. Mentally, I always expect myself to play at a high level,’ he wrote
The Bills players reacted angrily, calling Davis ‘disrespectful’ for walking out on the team in the middle of the game
‘I hold myself to a standard. Mentally, I always expect myself to play at a high level,’ he wrote.
‘But physically, I know today that isn’t possible and I had an honest moment with myself. While I was on the field, I just didn’t feel right, and I told the coaches, “I’m not feeling like myself”.’
That move didn’t sit well with the Bills’ two senior defensive leaders.
‘I think the only thing to say is he’s where he needs to be right now,’ tackle Kyle Williams said.
Twitter users reacted negatively to Davis’ decision to retire, particularly in light of a 2013 tweet in which he wrote: ‘The people who succeed in life are those who don’t quit’
Darren Carr, a Twitter user, wrote: ‘Finish the freaking game. Disrespectful’
One Twitter user referred to the protests of the national anthem, which critics say is disrespectful towards soldiers
Nick Groke had a humorous take, tweeting: ‘Craziest part of the Vontae Davis story is that it takes a lot of effort to get dressed for a football game. There’s a lot of tape and glue and paint and string and stuff. I’d think you’d want to finish the game just for the hassle’
Asked where that might be, Williams responded: ‘That’s not here point blank and simple.’
Defensive end Lorenzo Alexander was equally blunt when asked about Davis.
‘I don’t have nothing to say about Vontae so I’ll give him a little bit more respect than he showed us today as far as quitting on us in the middle of the game,’ Alexander said.
‘Never seen it, ever. Pop Warner. High school. College. Pros.’
Davis was credited with one tackle. He’s a 10-year veteran who signed a one-year contract in free agency in March.
The Bills provided Davis a chance to re-start his career after a dispute with former Colts coach Chuck Pagano led to Indianapolis cutting him in November.
Davis made his Bills’ debut against the Chargers after being inactive against the Ravens last week. He is seen above before the Bills’ preseason game against the Bears in Chicago last month
Davis made his Bills’ debut against the Chargers after being inactive against the Ravens last week.
A message left with Davis’ agent, Todd France, was not returned.
Twitter users reacted negatively to Davis’ decision to retire, particularly in light of a 2013 tweet in which he wrote: ‘The people who succeed in life are those who don’t quit.’
Darren Carr, a Twitter user, wrote: ‘Finish the freaking game. Disrespectful.’
‘And we pay these players who whine and cry just to end up quitting over our hard working troops who never quit to protect our land? Unbelievable!’ tweeted another Twitter user.
Nick Groke had a humorous take, tweeting: ‘Craziest part of the Vontae Davis story is that it takes a lot of effort to get dressed for a football game.
‘There’s a lot of tape and glue and paint and string and stuff.
‘I’d think you’d want to finish the game just for the hassle.’