Davis Says He's Sorry For Missed Practice

Washington Redskins rookie tight end Fred Davis apologized to teammates and the front office yesterday for missing a mandatory minicamp practice earlier this month. Davis, a second-round pick out of Southern California, says he missed the third and final session of minicamp May 4 because he overslept.

There were questions about Davis's maturity and off-field habits entering the NFL draft -- he was suspended for a bowl game in 2005 while at USC -- but Davis says he has learned from the past and aims to make others forget about what he called a "minor mistake" from minicamp.

"I just wanted to let everybody know that I'm apologetic about what happened," Davis said yesterday at Redskins Park in his first public remarks since the incident. "I want them to know that when I come here I'm going to work hard and try to make as much progress as I can on the field and off."

The Redskins were not aware of Davis's whereabouts as the team took the field on the morning of May 4. Several members of the organization have said privately that there were rumors that Davis was partying in downtown Washington on May 3, a Saturday night, but he has denied those allegations to team officials, sources said, and reiterated again yesterday that he did not leave the Ashburn area.

"I didn't even go out," Davis said, adding that he got a private room around 8 p.m. because he wanted to stay on his own without a team-assigned roommate. "I was at the hotel the whole night. Just being on my own, it was probably a mistake on my part."

Redskins Coach Jim Zorn did not have a curfew or bed checks during minicamp, and Davis missed calls from team officials on his cellphone. When he woke up, he called Vinny Cerrato, the team's vice president of football operations, while practice was ongoing (the session began at 9:30, and players were to report to Redskins Park around 7:30). Zorn addressed the issue with Davis that afternoon. Davis then flew home because as a rookie he was not allowed to work out with his NFL team until after his school held its graduation ceremonies. Davis's representatives also investigated the matter, and, like the Redskins, are taking him at his word, said Melvin Bratton, a former personnel executive with the Redskins and the vice president of DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment, which represents Davis.

"I know how this would look with Fred, because I've been in the position of Vinny Cerrato," said Bratton, who has counseled Davis on his misstep and spoke to him again Monday night. "And you don't want a guy who you think is going to be a problem, and that's a signal you're sending to the team and the city, and I've explained that to him and he knows that he's got to go out and prove what kind of person and player he is."

Redskins Notes: Starting wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, who had minor arthroscopic knee surgery early this month, said that his recovery is going well and that he hopes to begin running shortly. . . . The team announced the hiring of Morocco Brown as director of pro personnel.