SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Vernon Davis frequently has fought with teammates. He's been flagged for excessive end-zone celebrations. And on Sunday he was famously sent to the showers with more than a quarter remaining.

Interim coach Mike Singletary's decision to banish Davis from the sideline widely was portrayed as an old-school coach striking a blow against the modern, selfish player. And moreover, there was a sense that Davis' teammates welcomed the move.

But the tight end's public perception differs from how he's viewed in the locker room where this week players insisted that he's not only well liked but crucial to the team's fortunes in the second half of the season.

"Whenever you're in here on Monday and you're watching the game film, you see extra effort plays from him," quarterback Shaun Hill said. "He's not a prima donna out there. There's been times when he's been asked to block great defensive ends one on one in pass protection. And he's done it. There's not many tight ends in this league that you can ask to do that."

In his first eight games last season, Davis had 30 catches for 307 yards and a touchdown. In the same span this year, those numbers are down: 16 catches, 196 yards and no touchdowns.

"I want to help out as much as I can as far as catching passes," he said after being held without a catch in a game against New England. "That's what I'm here to do — make plays. That's what I want to do."

Frank Gore, who is close with Davis, can relate. Gore said he gets frustrated when the 49ers are forced to abandon the run. When that's the case, he makes himself focus on pass blocking or his role as receiver, something he says he's tried to stress to Davis.

"He's just so competitive," Gore said. "He just wants to make plays. And it hasn't happened yet and it's frustrating. I told him, 'You know, you just have to keep doing what you're doing. And one thing you're doing is blocking your behind off.' It'll come."

The word "competitive" invariably is used when describing Davis. It's the explanation for why he has often been heard complaining about his role in the offense during the last two seasons and why he's been in so many practice-field fisticuffs with teammates. Though they usually involve defensive opponents, in 2007 Davis famously fought with offensive teammate Larry Allen in front of 3,000 fans watching the 49ers' first scrimmage of the summer.

Teammates, however, said that feistiness ends when they enter the locker room.

"I've known Vernon since college," linebacker Manny Lawson said. "I know he's competitive. I know he's going to get after me. But I also know Vernon personally. I know he's an artist. I know things about him that a lot of people don't know. When you get to really know somebody, that changes the perception in itself."

Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich said Davis' competitive streak can be destructive at times. But he also noted that it's precisely that type of fire and intensity that will help the 49ers over the final eight games of the season.

"His competitiveness — I think that's crucial for us to dig ourselves out of this ditch," Ulbrich said. "I think he's one of those guys who can be a catalyst. We've just got to teach him how to focus that energy."

Several players said that Davis may have had spotlight on him after most recent defeat to Seattle, the team's worst effort of the season. But Davis wasn't to blame.

Said Michael Robinson: "Everybody's looking for a reason why we're losing, instead of just saying we're going out there, we're giving the game away, we're messing up. Period."