NFL star Vernon Davis ridiculed after dropping simplest catch for Denver Broncos

IT DIDN’T seem possible for this star’s reputation to get any lower after being branded the biggest pansy in the NFL, but it has.

DENVER tight end Vernon Davis endured one of the great Twitter witch hunts following his performance in the Broncos’ loss to Pittsburgh on Monday AEDT.

A former teammate of Jarryd Hayne at the 49ers, Davis was trending on Twitter after he produced a bloopers reel stinker that stood out as a decisive moment in his team’s 34-27 loss at Heinz Field in Pittsbugh.

It was just the latest in a string of errors Davis has made in recent weeks, with fans labelling the former Pro Bowl star “weak”, “scared” and “a pansy”.

With his team desperately needing to convert a first down in the fourth quarter, Davis dropped a floated pass that was thrown directly ahead of his running path by second string quarterback Brock Osweiler.

Davis fumbled the ball by letting it bounce off his fingers in a soft effort to apparently keep his body out of the firing line of the defensive cover — even though no one was near him.

Catching a perfect throw is harder than you think...right Vernon Davis? #DENvsPIT #Bronocs https://t.co/f9rR2iycsy

— Bovada Official (@BovadaLV) December 21, 2015

#Broncos Vernon Davis heard footsteps: https://t.co/YH4K6wDFDO

— Shane Richardson (@ShaneNFL) December 21, 2015

His effort did not go down well on Twitter, after he was also accused of pulling out of a catch against the Oakland Raiders last week.

That was allegator arms at its finest by Vernon davis ,missed opportunity at a big play @nflnetwork

— Willie McGinest (@WillieMcGinest) December 21, 2015

Vernon Davis just wimped out.

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) December 21, 2015

New song by Vernon Davis: "I Left My Hands In San Francisco."

— Rob Vanstone (@robvanstone) December 21, 2015

Vernon Davis 6′ 3″ and 250 pounds and running scared out there. Two massive drops in two weeks.

— Matt Brown (@MattBrownM2) December 21, 2015

Vernon Davis...stop being a pansy! Ed McCaffrey would have taken that pass for a TD! #scared

— Michael Von Forell (@MichaelVForell) December 21, 2015

The local Denver media were perhaps the harshest critics of them all.

When Denver traded almost nothing for Vernon Davis I figured, eh, can't hurt. Oh yes, yes it can.

— Frank Schwab (@YahooSchwab) December 21, 2015

Davis heard footsteps, blew snow, alligator armed it, call it what you want, unacceptable, embarrassing, etc....

— Mark Rycroft (@RycroftMark) December 21, 2015

Vernon Davis just pussed out. Wow

— Darren McKee (@dmac1043) December 21, 2015

V. Davis was scared.

— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) December 21, 2015

It is becoming far too common for Davis.

Since being traded from the 49ers to the Broncos last month, nothing has gone right for the 31-year-old.

There was this effort against Oakland last week.

The Vernon Davis is a chocker vine, 4th and 5 with the game on the line, WIDE-OPEN drop @Holdenradio - pic.twitter.com/V6bSTHHYkQ

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_RealUpdates) December 14, 2015

He didn’t help his reputation as a guy that likes to avoid contact when he turned and fled away from defenders in the same game.

Here it is, Vernon Davis just went YAC the wrong way, towards his own endzone... scared of defenders - https://t.co/WqanIw4Idj

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_RealUpdates) December 13, 2015

Fans suggested this bonecrushing blindsided hit by Seattle defender Kam Chancellor in 2012 may have something to do with his current struggles.

Since joining the Broncos Davis has hauled in 20 passes in seven games, but it is his three dropped catches that have defined his move to Denver.

Originally published as NFL star Vernon Davis ridiculed after dropping simplest catch for Denver Broncos