Thomas Davis speaks his mind following Panthers loss to Browns

The Panthers veteran took his frustration to twitter.

The last couple of weeks have not been easy for the Carolina Panthers and their fans. With the losses piling up, this stretch of games seems to have taken a toll on everybody involved. Speaking from a personal perspective, it has not been easy. It seems even in the closest games, the Panthers just cannot catch a break.

After Sunday’s tough 26-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns, veteran linebacker Thomas Davis sounded off on social media. I’ll start by saying this does not sound like a rant. Rather, it sounds like he just needed to get out some frustration. He did it in a classy way, while still making his point. That was perhaps the most impressive thing about this. Quite honestly, he hit the nail on the head with his perspective.

For starters, it sounds like he is calling anybody who he doesn’t identify as “true fans” haters. Secondly, it sounds like he is agreeing with his haters. It’s not that he wants to succumb to their words of him being “too old, too slow” and losing a step. I think he is now beginning to realize that the defense is struggling. I think he was in denial the past couple of weeks because he didn’t want to admit that Panthers were struggling. When you’re on a football team, you never want to admit your shortcomings. As a player, admitting your shortcomings is even harder.

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Davis is taking one for the team here. As a veteran leader, it is nice to see him step up and take responsibility for the Panthers defensive struggles. Of course, they are not all on him. The whole defensive unit has looked terrible the past couple of weeks. Even still, you can pin some of the blame on him. He has looked too old and slow at times. Quite honestly, that is to be expected. He is 35 years old and in his 14th season in the National Football League at a position where you have to play physically. He has 27 tackles and five pass deflections to this point in the year.

I get where his frustrations are coming from. Something has to be done about this defense. They alve too many talented playmakers on that side of the football and they are not getting it done. We saw the Panthers make some coaching changes last Monday. One has to wonder if by the end of the season, there will be more changes coming. In any event, he is taking responsibility for the shortcomings right now and apologizing to the fans. You have to admire Davis for that.

One has to wonder if more Panthers players will speak out as the season enters its final three games. I’m sure a lot is on their minds and the minds of people within the organization. What was once a promising season has begun to crumble right before their very eyes.