Vernon Davis loves how much D.C. changed

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Vernon Davis is a D.C. guy, through and through.

He was born in the city and went to grade school in the district, all the way through. He didn't go far away for college, ending up in College Park playing for the Terps.

For ten years, he entertained fans in San Francisco and Denver before coming home in free agency. It's the sports story of the hometown kid, but with a noteworthy twist.

Instead of dwelling in the past and clinging to nostalgia, Davis appreciates how much Washington changed while he was gone.

RELATED: D.C. celebrates 'Vernon Davis Day'
Asked in a Q&A with the Washington Business Journal on what he loves most about coming back to D.C., Davis was blunt: "I love that the city has changed. The city is totally different because of the people.

"There’s a lot more culture, Amazon is here and there’s a lot more cool restaurants and places to visit."

Davis isn't wrong--D.C. changed a lot while he was gone, and even more since he came back.

In the world of sports alone:

  • The Nationals moved out of RFK into a stadium that revitalized Navy Yard;
  • D.C. United moved out of RFK into a stadium that transformed Buzzard Point;
  • The Capitals went from a walk-up ticket to Stanley Cup champions;
  • The Redskins and Wizards have...well, let's focus on the positives.

It's always refreshing when athletes break from the script. Washington doesn't have to be a perfect city for him to want to come back, and he embraces it for what it is and what it can be.

Given how he has met the team's needs since he arrived, Davis has been one of the best free agent signings of the Bruce Allen era.

Davis works hard, but his mental approach is pretty simple.

"As long as you’re having fun and you enjoy what you’re doing, you can go out there and perform at a high level," he said. "I’ve been able to enjoy the game and still have fun. I really enjoy going out there and making plays."

With another new quarterback in the saddle this season, Davis figures to have a featured role again.

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