The prospect of Thomas Davis playing for anybody but the Panthers used to be an unthinkable idea. Heading into the 2019 offseason, it sure seems like it’s about to happen. After waffling on retirement, Davis has made it clear he wants to continue playing, even though this will be his 15th season in the NFL. Carolina has decided to move on though, so if Davis is playing next season it will be for someone else.
Davis has been through a great deal in his pro career, but he believes he still has a lot to offer. Here’s what he said in a recent interview on Sirius XM NFL Radio.
“The passion is still burning inside of me to continue to play this game. As I reflect and look on last season, obviously as a football team, it didn’t go the way that we wanted it to go. I feel like I still have a lot left to offer to this game.”
Davis went on to say that his performance in the 2018 season despite missing four games shows that he still has the ability to play.
While it’s true that Davis is a valuable leader and is balling at a high level considering his age, the Panthers simply can’t afford to give him playing time over guys like Shaq Thompson any longer. Moreover, Davis is not the kind of outside linebacker who excels at getting pressure on the quarterback. As the team moves towards a 3-4 defense or a hybrid, that will be a critical element for their front seven.
It’s anybody’s guess where Davis might end up. Davis has said he wouldn’t mind playing for his home state Falcons. However, they re-signed Bruce Carter earlier this week, making that a less likely scenario.
Whoever does land Davis will be getting a living legend who still has plenty to offer, even if his best days are behind him.
