In an interview with NFL Network, 49ers coach Mike Singletary confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in the pre-draft process.
Singletary said that Ball State quarterback Nate Davis, picked by the 49ers in round five, has a learning disability.
Specifically, according to Singletary, Davis has dyslexia.
"It's just one of those things where we know that we can deal with that," Singletary said.
Davis at one point was considered as a guy who might not be drafted, after generating a lot of buzz during the 2008 college football season.
ohh man that stinks. i hope he somehow has some success in the nfl...
my best friend has it...so best of luck and wishes
Man. There are a lot of haters already. If you're making a dyslexia joke in the comments, f--k you.
Who the hell is Singletary to come out in public and talk about this kids disabilities? Talk about a breach of privacy.
Wasn't that an episode of Charlie Angels? The case involved a girls' football team and the Angel playing quarterback (of course), drew the play ont he ground so the dyslexic receiver would run the wrong route, but the cheating linewoman would signal the drawn play?
Could be worse. He could have Tourette's. That would be something in the huddle...
@misterj . . . .
shouldn't that be yuck fou?
Nate already talked about it in public so get off Singletary's ass.
He'll be fine, all the 49ers have to do is start renaming plays so they are the same things read both forwards and backwards
Dad 77 Dad, Mom 11 Mom, Boob 33 Ma'am 33 Boob, etc...
misterj says:
April 26th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Man. There are a lot of haters already. If you’re making a dyslexia joke in the comments, f–k you.
I agree.. That stuff is not funny at all..
I think there's a little bit too much to overcome for Nate "Throws without laces" Davis.
http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers/2009/04/niners-take-qb-nate-davis-at-no-171.html
Matt Maiocco posted that Nate admitted to the dyslexia and cited that as one of the big reasons he slid.
I'm sure he'll do just fine for the FS 94ers.
Nate is a very good player and will be fine. I just wish he wasn't playing for
San Francisco.
I hear that he has no problem with the o's and x's of the game.
Good thing the Browns did not take him . We already have one Stooooooooopid QB In Anderception .
Dyslexia isn't a problem only if your parents aren't divorced.
There are plenty of learning specialists out there making $40-50K in the public school system who'd love to make $75-100K as the personal consultant to a professional football player.
I like Nate Davis and I think he has some real potential. Give him some time and he'll be at least as good as any of the QBs the 49ers have now. Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence, football or otherwise.
There's no denying it.
I have it on good authority that Davis' Mom was even one of the founding members of "DAM" (Mothers Against Dyslexia).
I feel for the kid and wish him all the luck and success in the world. Unfortuneatly, having that imbecile Singletary as his coach just made his quest all the more difficult.
From what I have seen of him, Nate Davis has a lot of heart. He also had a lot of success as a college QB, so there is no reason to think he can't overcome whatever disability he is facing and become a successful pro QB. I wish Denver had taken him as their project QB. Give me someone with heart and a determination to make it....
Besides, don't roughly 80 percent of PFT commentors have some form of dyslexia?
Mike Florio, from hell's heart, I flash my bum at thee.
Davis has at least been up front about his condition. If people ever wonder why people are less than forthright about these types of issues, look no further than the comments here.
It amazes me how people who happen to be lucky enough to be born without a disability cop a superiority complex and think it's cool to make fun of.
Hell of a pick niners. At least he already has a helmet that fits well.
I think Frank Gore has the same condition (I know he has a learning disability, and I'm pretty sure that's the one), which was the reason he had the lowest Wonderlic score in his draft class. Considering that he's found a great deal of success with San Francisco - all while learning different playbooks every season because the team keeps losing or firing its OCs - I think the team has successful experience when it comes to accommodating dyslexic athletes. Davis has some other things he'll need to overcome, but I'm confident the Niners will help him minimize the difficulties that will arise from his condition, and I'd be interested to see if Gore takes an active role in shepherding him along in the locker room.
He's not the first mentally challenged QB to be drafted by a NFL team and I'm sure he won't be the last.
Seriously what's wrong with you people? Dyslexia isn't a freaking death sentence. Both my brother and sister are dyslexic and they're perfectly fine. You have to learn to cope with it and it can take you a bit longer to digest information from a piece of paper, that's about it.
It's not like he can't read or otherwise think in a perfectly concise manner. The organization that drafted him might want to put a few extra visual diagrams in the playbook if you're scared.
Players should come clean with their problems.
Dexter Manley
Will he understand whats going on if Singletary pulls his pants down again in the lockerroom?
so what? Singeltary has DIXL ASSHOLE IA... "Can't do it." Dumb ass...
I love how all these self-important IDIOTS who comment here are like "Seriously, this isn't funny. F-you if you crack a joke about this".
It's just dyslexia, people. Not freaking leukemia.
He is now an official member of DNA, which is the 'National Dyslexic Association'.
The QB is dyslexic? Next you're gonna tell me they have a coach who pulls his pants down at the drop of a hat...
it aint like he was fighting dogs.
I'm waiting for the Florio blog post that confirms that Lance Bass is gay.
.dyslexia having with wrong nothing is There
He should fit in with the rest of the leagues 98% with disabilities... Uhmmmmf, We is be goin to da supa bowl!!