New Orleans Saints fans are experiencing some serious "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened" energy that will surely continue for the next few days. While Cam Jordan's future is up in the air, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that Saints team captain and future Ring of Honor member Demario Davis has officially left the bayou, agreeing to a deal with the New York Jets.
As the signing became official at the start of the new league year, Davis took to social media to thank New Orleans and Saints fans for supporting him.
"It’s hard to find the right words for what this city has meant to me. I arrived in New Orleans with a dream and a deep belief that if I worked hard and trusted God's plan, everything would unfold the way it was meant to," he said in an emotional Instagram post. "What I didn't know then was just how deeply this organization and community would shape me."
Davis then separately thanked his teammates, coaches, and the fans for embracing and believing in him. But after a lot of prayer, reflection, and conversations with family, he says that he believes this next step is where he's being called. "It was the honor of a lifetime to represent this city and this community. You embraced my family as your own, and for that, we are forever grateful."
Saints will miss Demario Davis just as much as he'll miss them
What makes the departure even more painful is that the Saints will miss Demario Davis just as much as he's said he'll miss them. Throughout his time in New Orleans, his production on the field has been insane, never having a season fall below 100 tackles. Davis has actually managed to average 119 tackles a season while with the Saints, something that might take some time to replace.
For the past eight seasons, Davis has been a freak of nature and arguably the face of the defense. However, it seems that the Saints will miss the man just as much as the player, something no one might know more than general manager Mickey Loomis.
"We (The Saints) are grateful for the contributions of Demario Davis to our football team," He said in a press release. "Demario gave everything from both a performance and leadership perspective to this team for the last eight years, and for that we are extremely grateful... Demario will always be looked at as one of the most impactful players to wear the Black and Gold."
Even Gayle Benson felt compelled to make a statement, saying that not only did he bring the defense to new heights, but he also had a significant impact on the city of New Orleans. "His dedication to greatness and leadership resulted in him being voted by teammates as a captain, immediately becoming a fabric of our organization," She said in the same press release as Loomis. "His outstanding character and commitment in the community made a significant impact in New Orleans."