Thomas Davis comments on 2019 return

Thomas Davis again addresses his future with the Carolina Panthers beyond this season…

Thomas Davis has been a part of the Carolina Panthers organization for 14 seasons, entering 2017, and now he wants at least one more. Carolina has enjoyed more years with Davis than without and in a league where turnover rates are extremely high, this is an impressive accomplishment.

Drafted in the first-round of 2005, the Panthers linebacker has enjoyed a remarkable career. Despite three ACL tears in a span of three years, Davis returned to play and has seemingly improved his performance later in his career.

Earning his very first Pro Bowl nomination in 2015, Davis enjoyed three such consecutive seasons to begin this year. At 35 years old and before this season began, Davis announced his intentions to retire as his contract ended with the Panthers.

However, a four-game suspension to begin the 2018 season seems to have the Cam Newton nicknamed, “Mayor of Charlotte” rethinking his decision. Not wanting to endure a shortened season and leave on a bad note, Davis recently addressed his future with the team website following Monday’s training camp practice.

"“If the team is willing to have me back, I’ll be back … I look at the way things transpired this offseason and think back to, really, my legacy and the things that I’ve been able to do as a football player. I don’t want to leave on a sour note. You never want to walk away from the game knowing that you served a four-game suspension. That’s my mindset right now.”"

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One year ago, Davis signed a one-year extension with the Panthers worth $6.75 million for the 2018 season and if he wishes to return it would be interesting to see if he was willing to absorb a pay cut.

Carolina has been preparing for his departure since adding Shaq Thompson to the defense in 2015 and how he plays during the Davis suspension could also filter into both of their decisions. If Thompson proves capable of carrying the load along with Luke Kuechly and either rookie Jermaine Carter or David Mayo then it would make for some interesting contract negotiations.

One would have a hard time finding any Panthers fan who would object to a Davis return, the man has earned an opportunity to finish his career with Carolina under his own circumstances but the NFL is also a business and general manager Marty Hurney must consider the future of the franchise.

Also, it must be noted that Davis concludes his remarks with, “that’s my mindset right now.” Having to acknowledge this could be his final training camp has to be an emotional time for the veteran but he still leaves open the possibility of retirement.

Should Davis and the Panthers bring a Lombardi Trophy back to Charlotte with a Super Bowl victory, the four-game suspension to begin his final season would be an afterthought and he could ride off into the sunset on the grandest stage of them all.

But if they fall short, expect to see Davis continuing his pursuit of a ring back in Carolina next season.