Davone Bess is gaining recognition throughout the NFL as the best slot receiver

OS = Orlando Sentinel


OS Note: "That's the easiest way to explain Dolphins receiver Davone Bess' grassroots campaign to gain recognition as the NFL's best slot receiver. Two and a half seasons into his NFL career, everyone seems to be singing praises for Bess."


Praising Davone Bess, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said:
"Davone Bess is one of the better route runners underneath. The more room Bess has underneath, the more effective he will be. He's very close in my opinion to Wes Welker." (OS)


OS Note: "But most inside the NFL believe Bess — who finished second in the NFL last season in third-down receptions, and is presently tied for first in that category — is giving Welker a run for his money because of his short area quickness, sure hands and level of consistency."


Praising Bess, his teammate Brandon Marshall (who gave him the nickname "D-Best") said:
"He plays big." (OS)


About his satisfaction that his hard work is paying off, Bess said:
"I think I get satisfaction in knowing that I accomplished something. Obviously the money is good, and to have the security from a family standpoint is good. But knowing that all the hard work I put in, the sacrifices and dedication, the determination I put in; everything I wanted to do, everything I mapped out to do came through," Bess said, "I'm thankful. But nothing's going to change." (OS)


About how Bess knows how to get open, QB Chad Pennington said:
"He has a knack for understanding leverage on a defender." (OS)

"He has a knack for knowing when to take a little bit longer on a route, when to speed up a route, and 'Where do I need to be when the quarterback throws the ball?' Some guys just run routes the way it's on paper and if it's not perfect they don't get open. Davone has a knack to run a route and even though it's not run like it's on paper, he gets in that window and he finds a way to get open." (OS)


About how he noticed Bess' ability immediately when he was a rookie, Pennington asked coaches and teammates:
"Who is this guy?" (OS)

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/football/dolphins/fl-dolphins-davone-bess-1023-20101022,0,3792817.story