ALLEN PARK — Edge rusher Marcus Davenport knows Lions coach Dan Campbell from their days with the New Orleans Saints. It may be what helped to steer him in the direction of Detroit.
Davenport signed a one-year deal with the Lions this week that has a maximum value of $10.5 million with a base of $6.5 million.
He described his game as violent and physical.
“But that’s even something I want to change. I want to adapt, I want to learn. I was told recently that there’s a lot of young guys that can learn from me and my first thought was we’ve got a lot of guys I can learn from,’’ said Davenport who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round in 2018 and played there for the last five seasons. Last year he signed a one-year deal with the Vikings, but his season ended when he suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 6.
Davenport recalled a story about Campbell from the Covid era when he was elevated to interim coach while coach Sean Payton was ill.
“He gave a speech. I remember it was the first time in a long time somebody gave a speech and my heart was ‘Yeah! That’s what we’re doing!’ I just remember his energy. I don’t want to say not many people have the same kind of passion, but it takes someone that was there to actually understand,’’ Davenport said at a Thursday press conference. “To be able to see him in this position I’d like to be able to help with that.”
The speech?
“It wasn’t like biting knee caps, it was something along the lines that we have grit, that’s the message I took away. Grit, he was being serious,’’ said Davenport who is 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds.
While he knew Campbell, he did his due diligence to learn about Lions GM Brad Holmes.
“He told me something nice, it made me smile,’’ Davenport said. “He said, ‘I watched your games and we can tell you’re one of those guys that really appreciates the game and puts it out there. You’re a physical player.’ He even said in the limited games you played,’’ Davenport said. “After hearing that it helped me feel like I made the right decision. It’s always nice to have some belief especially when I haven’t been able to prove everybody right.’’
Davenport, 27, also knows linebacker Alex Anzalone, a leader on the Lions defense, from their days with the Saints.
“Yeah you know he’s an alpha now. He’s always been a good dude, I didn’t expect nothing less,’’ Davenport said. I’m just happy to see him running around making plays and getting excited.’’
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