Lions boot Yonus Davis after drug charge

He was a small man from a troubled background given a chance to become a big star with the B.C. Lions in the Canadian Football League.

That ended when the Lions made the decision Tuesday to terminate the contract of Yonus Davis because the running back and kick-return specialist is facing drug charges in California.

The cold facts of the case made the decision almost inevitable. It was the human element that made the choice difficult.

"It's a sad day," said Wally Buono, the Lions head coach and general manager. "The CFL is a league of opportunity. I think it's given Yonus Davis an opportunity. It's a sad day today that we have to take this opportunity away from a young person."

An exciting returner, the five-foot-seven, 190-pound Davis was the West Division finalist last season for the CFL's outstanding special teams player.

The 26-year-old from Oakland, Calif., was arrested April 9 after more than 27 kilograms of ecstasy was delivered to a home he was renting.

He has been charged with one felony count of attempting to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.

Davis is free after posting US$150,000 bail. His case has not gone to court.

'Not Passing Judgement'

"We are not passing judgment on anybody," Buono told a news conference at the team's training facility. "But obviously the association and the implication is not something we as an organization, as a league, that we want to be involved with."

"We are severing ties for that reason." Dennis Skulsky, the Lions president and chief executive officer, said the club waited to gather as much information as possible.

"We certainly weighed the factors," said Skulsky. "As an organization we clearly have a high standard that we hold our players accountable too. Unfortunately, in this case we feel we are in a position of having to make this decision today."

Buono, a devote Christian who lost his father at an early age, has a history of giving players second chances. "Yonus is a person I can relate to," Buono said. "I grew up fatherless and Yonus did too."

"The thing I also preach is your choices affect the opportunity you have. Unfortunately for all of us we were put in the position to have to make a choice because of what's occurred."

Buono said he has spoken with Davis and his agent. "He was quite sombre," said Buono. "I would be shocked if he wasn't expecting this."

"He appreciated that we were sensitive about trying to make it all work. When you start looking at all the information that is available…there is no choice."

Davis was entering the option year of his contract and the Lions had discussed giving him an extension with a raise. He earned $43,000 last year as a rookie.

Buono said the Lions had spoken to Davis about him staying in Vancouver over the winter. "I believe if he had made that choice, I don't think this would have ever occurred," Buono said.

Davis's first name, pronounced YO-nus, means Greek King. In an interview last year with a Vancouver newspaper, Davis talked about his father, uncle and another family member all being murdered in separate incidents near his grandmother's house in east Oakland.

Davis had the build of a fire hydrant but possessed blazing speed. He could catch a football then explode through a tiny opening.

He started last season on the practice roster and didn't made his first appearance until the Lions' fifth game of the season July 30 against Edmonton. Davis was an instant hit, returning a punt 88 yards for a touchdown.

The former San Jose State star led the West with 1,642 all-purpose yards. He had 64 punt returns for 761 yards and two touchdowns. He returned 32 kickoffs for 800 yards.

As a running back, Davis rushed for 213 yards on 34 carries with three touchdowns and seven fumbles. He had seven catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Court document from Davis's arrest show DEA officials were informed that Federal Express personnel had opened a package in Seattle that contained the ecstasy tablets. The package was to be delivered to a Jane Davis in Milpitas, Calif., a suburb of San Jose.

Undercover DEA agents delivered the package to the address. Yonus Davis opened the door and signed for the parcel. Davis was detained. A search of his BMW 745i found US$7,000 in cash.

Davis told police he was expecting 40 boats, a slang term for approximately 1,000 tablets of ecstasy. He had bought the ecstasy for US$1.50 a tablet and was expecting to earn US$20,000. Davis said he only sold ecstasy to his acquaintances.

The Jane Davis listed on the package is Davis' girlfriend. The couple have a daughter. Davis said the girlfriend does not have any involvement in selling ecstasy.

Calls to Davis's lawyer were not immediately returned.  Also arrested at the house was Robert Jordon. A person by the name of Robert Jordan played with the Lions last year but was released to make way for Davis.

Davis and Jordan were friends who hung out together in Vancouver. Records show Davis has a criminal history for probation violation on Sept. 29, 2009, plus convictions on misdemeanour charges for possession of marijuana for sale on Feb. 13 and May 200, 2008.

Buono said like any CFL team, the Lions try to research the background of any player they sign. Davis also received permission from Immigration Canada to come into the country.

"Most CFL teams understand there is a standard to which we want our players," said Buono. "We also understand there are past indiscretions in a lot of people's lives."

"At the end of the day I don't believe we have the resources to know every mistake that an individual makes. As an organization we inquire, we ask about it. If we know for a fact that a player has a federal offence that's a felony, we understand that situation isn't probably going to work out."