Veteran Davis pleased with ‘talent level’ of Carolina
Thomas Davis believes Carolina Panthers can reach the Super Bowl this season…
Veteran linebacker Thomas Davis has been a member of the Carolina Panthers since 2005, his rookie season. Playing for over a decade, the Panthers captain has seen down years and successful ones but only a single trip to the Super Bowl.
In 2015, Davis and the Panthers enjoyed a 15-1 regular season record in route to the big game which saw their season end with a disappointing 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos on the biggest NFL stage of them all. Despite breaking his arm just two weeks prior in the NFC Championship game, Davis almost immediately underwent surgery and rebounded to play in the game.
He has not only paid his dues, but earned the respect of nearly all Panthers fans for his commitment to the city of Charlotte and this team. The broken arm wasn’t his first bout with an injury – not in the least, Davis has also recovered from three ACL tears and seemingly is only improving with age.
He earned a first Pro Bowl nomination in 2015 and each season following, won the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2014 and has served as captain of the Panthers for seven consecutive years. He’s seen the good, bad and ugly of the NFL and believes Carolina has the talent for returning to the Super Bowl this season.
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Davis, who will be sidelined for the first four games of 2018 due to a failed drug test, offered the following comments to ESPN staff writer David Newton about why the Panthers will be successful during their 2018 campaign.
"“The talent level … When you look at the talent level on this team across the board, I feel we’re much further ahead now than we were last season at this point.”"
The Panthers worst season with Davis was 2010, when he missed the entire year after suffering his second torn ACL in the spring. For any year where Davis has been on the field at any point, Carolina has won a minimum of six games.
Entering the final year of his contract, Davis has hinted at the possibility of returning, not wanting his career to end on a sour note with his first suspension for taking an illegal supplement. An obvious talent, if the Panthers fall short this season, his return should be something general manager Marty Hurney works hard to secure.
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However, if Davis is correct and Carolina ends their year by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy expect him to retire with the suspension serving as an afterthought to his legacy.