Great reports on Bess, both about his background and his good job in Miami's mini-camp

MN = Miami Herald
PBP = Palm Beach Post
SFSS = South Florida Sun-Sentinel

About how he regretted what happened that led to his 15-month sentence, Bess said:
''Everyone knew I was getting ready to go to college. And here I was, away from my family, not knowing what was next.'' (MH)

MH Note: "Bess knew only what was over. He had been arrested for possession of stolen weapons, a situation he said occurred when he gave a ride to a few friends who had lifted the goods when he wasn't present. What happened in the months after his arrest, however, didn't just put Bess on a fascinating journey that has led him to an opportunity to make an NFL roster. It also humbled a person who realizes a second chance completely changed his life."

About the film taken of him in 7-on-7 football in the youth rehabilitation facility, Bess said:
''I wasn't even in football shape. I hadn't been doing much of anything at the time.'' (MH)

MH Note: "Serving his time at the facility in Byron, Calif., Bess' turnaround began when he earned a spot on a 7-on-7 football team that played squads from other rehabilitation centers in the area."

MH Note: "But apparently, his athletic ability was still impressive enough. Bess didn't know it, but a friend of his high school coach had video taped of Bess' games. The person, Keith Bhonapha, was working as a graduate assistant under Hawaii coach June Jones. Grainy footage of Bess resulted in immediate interest."

About how UH was interested in him after seeing the film taken from him while he was incarcerated, Bess said:
''He liked what he saw. I guess he saw potential.'' (MH)

MH Note: "When Bess finished his sentence, he immediately scheduled a trip to Hawaii, where he not only proved to the staff that he was athletic, but also revealed a personality that was far different than the one painted by his arrest. He enrolled at the school, something his former college teammates said was the best thing that could have happened to him."

About how going to UH helped Bess start his life over again, RGM said:
''I think Hawaii was a really good getaway for him from his old lifestyle, from all of that stuff. When you go to Hawaii, you get away from everything. It was a way for him to start new, and he made the most of it. He was a real humble guy when he got there. You could tell he just loved the game, and he seemed to feel really thankful and blessed to be in the situation he was in.'' (RGM)

MH Note: "When the NFL Draft advisory board projected he'd be a third-round choice this year, Bess decided to leave school early. But a slow 40-yard dash at the combine caused his stock to slip, which also caused him to slide on draft day. The Dolphins, however, called in the fifth round to make sure Bess knew they were watching him closely. When he went undrafted, Miami pounced on his potential. And at this weekend's minicamp, Bess has begun to reveal why."

Praising Bess, Miami coach Tony Sparano said:
''I see a player that has pretty good ball skills right now. He certainly needs to do some things from a conditioning standpoint. But the one thing with him is, he has been in an offense where they are running a bunch of routes every game. I think that is a positive.'' (MH, PBP)

MH Note: "The curious thing about that is Bess played at Hawaii and they threw the ball on practically every down. So he should be used to running route after route after route without losing his breath."

PBP Note: "Following Saturday's morning practice, Sparano questioned all the rookies' conditioning. But Bess showed his endurance during a strong practice in the afternoon. Bess, 22, can run pass routes all day. He had no choice in Hawaii's high-scoring passing offense, but he left school a year early when coach June Jones bolted for SMU and quarterback Colt Brennan headed to the NFL."

MH Note: "For an undrafted free agent to make an NFL roster takes both chance and opportunity. But given a thin corps of wide receivers and the Dolphins' decision to go without drafting any other players at the position -- Bess might be in a good situation. If indeed he manages to make the team, Bess said, he will remember his past as he plans for his future."

Thankful for his opportunity to make an NFL team, Bess said:
''I'm really thankful. I owe several people a lot for taking a chance on me. First, at Hawaii. Now, in Miami. I'm just trying to work hard and make this team.'' (MH)

About Bess' chance to make Miami's roster, SFSS wrote:
"Of the five receivers in camp Davon Bess looks like he has the potential to be the best. He's quick, catches everything with his hands, and has a stout frame. He's short (5-foot-10), but has a super thick lower body. His quads are huge. Kind of reminds me of a quicker version of Darnell Jenkins, who the Dolphins did try to sign by the way.

Please do remember that quick and fast are two totally different things. There's something called short speed, which helps you get in and out of cuts, creating separation. And then there's long speed, which helps receivers make big plays down-field. I personally would rather have quickness."


PBP Note: "Offensive coordinator Dan Henning, a veteran of 28 NFL seasons, likes what he has seen from rookie wideout Davone Bess. Sure hands. Sharp routes. Nice dreads. Henning, 65, looked to narrow the generational gap when he complimented Bess' signature blond-tipped dreadlocks during Saturday's practice. Henning, who even asked Bess for the name of his hairdresser, may have been joking. But for Bess, it was nice to be noticed again. During last weekend's NFL draft, Bess was ignored for two days."

About why he chose to sign with Miami, Bess said:
"They didn't have any receiver that was contributing." (PBP)

PBP Note: "no one on Miami's current roster caught more than two touchdowns or had more than 425 receiving yards."

About leaving for the NFL instead of returning to UH for his senior year, Bess said:
"I decided I was ready to move on to the next phase of my life." (PBP)

About how they are looking for a slot receiver for their offense, which already has 3 WRs that are 6'2" or taller, Bess said:
"For us it was just a combination of finding enough big receivers out there and certainly some guys that can create a little bit." (PBP)