Thomas Davis - Pro Football Rumors

Thomas Davis Suspended For Violating PED Policy

April 6th, 2018 at 5:42pm CST by Ryan Posner

Panthers veteran linebacker Thomas Davis announced Friday (on Twitter) that he’s been suspended for the first four games of the upcoming season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. This is Davis’ first suspension for violating the league’s PED policy.

“This is by far one of the saddest days of my NFL career,” Davis said in the tweet, which was accompanied by a video. “I never thought that this would happen to me. I’ve worked extremely hard to do things the right way on and off the field. Panther Nation please know that I am not a cheater.

The Panthers have yet to comment on the suspension. Davis said in the video that he was “caught off guard” when he received a positive test for what he said he was an estrogen blocker supplement.

“I’ve taken the same supplements for the last seven or eight years and never had any issues, been tested numerous times over the years while taking the same stuff,” Davis said in the video. “Unfortunately, this is some of the things that happen when you take supplements. I’ve never tested positive for steroids or HGH. This is not one of those situations.”

Davis, 35, had indicated that 2018 would be his last season but said in the video that it might not be due to the suspension. He’s spent all 13 seasons of his career with Carolina, including three Pro Bowl appearances and winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2014.

Davis was set to start at outside linebacker in the Panthers’ 4-3 scheme, with Shaq Thompson on the other edge and Luke Kuechly in the middle. Ben Jacobs, Richie Brown and David Mayo are likely to see an uptick in playing time during Thompson’s absence.

Panthers’ Thomas Davis To Retire After 2018

January 12th, 2018 at 3:36pm CST by Zachary Links

Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis has one more year left in him. The veteran tells Brooke Cersosimo of NFL.com (on Twitter) that the 2018 campaign will be his last.

Davis inked a one-year, $6.75MM extension with the Panthers in August, granting him $2MM this past year plus $1MM guaranteed in the coming season. He is aware that he may be asked to take a reduced role in 2018, but he might not be okay with being relegated to a backup role.

The Panthers’ Super Bowl hopes were dashed last week when they fell to the rival Saints in the opening round of the playoffs. In his swan song, Davis is hoping to capture the Super Bowl ring that has eluded him thus far in his 12-year career.

Davis finished out the year with 76 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. He appeared in 15 regular season games with his lone missed contest coming as the result of a suspension.

Panthers Rumors: Hurney, Johnson, Davis

January 8th, 2018 at 6:42pm CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers’ offseason began on Sunday after a tough loss to the rival Saints. With an eye on the Panthers’ offseason, here’s the latest out of Carolina:

Interim general manager Marty Hurney says he would like to stay on as the team’s permanent GM (via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer). “I love what I’m doing,” Hurney said. Many in the Panthers organization are rooting for Hurney to get the post on a permanent basis. His one-year deal with the team will expire in June.
Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson wants to return in 2018, Person writes. Johnson, 32 in July, has spent his entire 11-year career in Carolina. Last offseason, the Panthers re-upped him on a two-year, $8MM deal that is scheduled to take him through 2018. However, his recent PED suspension absolves the team of any remaining guarantees.
Linebacker Thomas Davis knows he may have to accept a reduced role next season, but did not say he would just accept being a backup, Person writes. Davis has a one-year, $6.75MM deal for the 2018 season, but just $1MM of that sum is guaranteed.

NFL Reduces LB Thomas Davis’ Suspension

December 19th, 2017 at 5:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The NFL has officially reduced Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis‘ suspension from two games to one, the league announced today.

Davis was originally banned two games after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers wide receiver Davante Adams on Sunday. The NFL has seemingly developed a pattern for these type of offenses: an original two-game suspension, followed by a reduction to one game. It’s the same formula the league used for Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan, who coincidentally was also suspended following a hit on Adams.

Now that his ban has been lessened, Davis will miss the Panthers’ next game against the Buccaneers but will now be available for Carolina’s regular season finale against the Falcons. The Panthers, for what it’s worth, are nearly a lock to earn a postseason berth, but have just a 17% chance at winning the NFC South, per FiveThirtyEight.

NFL Suspends Panthers’ Thomas Davis

December 18th, 2017 at 3:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL announced a two-game suspension for Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis. Davis will appeal, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).

On Sunday, Davis leveled Packers receiver Davante Adams with a helmet-leading hit. NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan handed down the ban on Monday, citing Davis’ history of breaking the rules:

“During an interception return, you took a path toward your opponent who was pursuing the play and delivered a violent and unnecessary blindside block to his head and neck area. You have been previously fined for violations of safety-related rules. Your actions yesterday warrant an escalation of discipline, not only because they were flagrant, but also because of your status as a repeat offender.”

It seems unlikely that Davis will get the entire suspension overturned, but he could have the ban cut in half. As it stands, however, Davis is slated to miss the team’s final two regular season games against the Buccaneers and Falcons.

The Panthers have nearly solidified their place as one of the NFC’s Wild Card teams. They still have a 24% chance of overtaking the Saints for the NFC South title, according to the New York Times’ playoff calculator.

Panthers Rumors: Davis, Olsen, Kuechly

October 27th, 2017 at 1:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Thomas Davis provided some clarification about his health this week, making a slight correction to his wife’s assessment of an injury with which he’s dealing. During a TV interview, Kelly Davis said her husband was broken “completely broken ribs” for several weeks. The longest-tenured Panthers player said (via David Newton of ESPN.com) his wife didn’t lie and he is dealing with a broken bone in that area, but only one rib is affected. The 13th-year linebacker added the injury has healed to the point he doesn’t have to treat it any further. The Panthers called Kelly Davis’ comments “heartfelt” but “overstated,” noting Thomas Davis did appear on the team’s injury report for multiple weeks due to a rib ailment. Having started each of Carolina’s seven games this season, the linebacker is not in danger of missing Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.

Here’s the latest out of Charlotte.

Greg Olsen says he’ll test his surgically repaired foot on the field next week, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer writes. That’s when Olsen will first become eligible to resume practicing after going on IR in Week 3. If he’s healthy enough, Olsen could suit up again in mid-November. League rules dictate that players can return from IR after spending eight weeks on the list.
Ryan Kalil has played in just two of Carolina’s seven games this season and is unlikely to see action Sunday, although Ron Rivera said the longtime center could play in an emergency situation. Kalil’s dealing with a neck injury, one he aggravated in Week 7 after returning to the lineup. Rivera said (via Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer, on Twitter) the Panthers are not ready to discuss an IR move for the 11th-year snapper. Tyler Larsen has started in Kalil’s place.
Luke Kuechly is in the final stage of concussion protocol, needing to be cleared by an independent doctor in order to play this week. The All-Pro middle linebacker practiced fully all week, per Newton, and is just more than two weeks removed from the latest concussion he suffered. Signs point to Kuechly playing against the Bucs. Should Kuechly return after missing just one game, it will mark his shortest concussion-induced absence as an NFLer. He missed three games in 2015 and six last season because of head injuries.
Rivera added the Panthers will get Kurt Coleman back after three missed games. The safety missed time because of a knee injury.

Zach Links contributed to this report.

Panthers, Thomas Davis Agree To Extension

August 15th, 2017 at 3:31pm CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers and Thomas Davis have agreed to an extension. It will be a one-year, $6.75MM add-on for 2018, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The new pact also gives him an additional $2MM guaranteed for the coming year plus $1MM guaranteed in 2018.

Davis, 34, started in all 16 games last season and led all Panthers defenders in snaps. He proved that he has plenty of good football left as he tallied 106 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown.

Many believed that Davis would get the extension he was seeking once GM Dave Gettleman was fired and Marty Hurney was brought back in as the GM on an interim basis. Hurney insisted that this time around, he would not allow his emotional attachment to players to dictate his business decisions. Davis and Hurney do have history together, but Hurney believes that this was the right move to make from a football and business perspective.

Davis is coming off of his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. Last year, he graded out the 39th best linebacker in the entire NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. If he can continue to play at that level, the extension will prove to be a win for Carolina. If he declines in 2017, the Panthers can escape the deal pretty easily.

Talks Ongoing For Panthers, Thomas Davis

July 26th, 2017 at 12:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Before his surprise firing, Dave Gettleman engaged in extension talks with Thomas Davis‘ camp. The new Panthers regime led by Marty Hurney has been in place just over a week, but negotiations have apparently picked up again. The linebacker told reporters on Wednesday morning that talks are “ongoing,” (Twitter link via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer).

Tight end Greg Olsen backed off from his contract demands on Tuesday, citing a desire to avoid further distractions for Carolina. Davis’ situation is a bit different, however, since he has only one year to go versus the two years left on Olsen’s pact. Davis’ relationship with Hurney may help his cause, though the interim GM has promised to focus on analytics over emotion going forward.

Davis, 34, started in all 16 games last season and led all Panthers defenders in snaps. He proved that he has plenty of good football left as he tallied 106 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown.

Davis’ current deal calls for an $8.25MM cap hit in 2017.

Panthers, Davis Have Discussed Extension

July 18th, 2017 at 1:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Before his stunning firing as Carolina’s general manager on Monday, Dave Gettleman reportedly wasn’t in any hurry to sign Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis or tight end Greg Olsen to contract extensions. However, speaking with Kelsey Riggs of WCNC on Tuesday, Davis revealed that he and the Gettleman-led Panthers did discuss a new deal.

“We had actually engaged in contract talks. They presented something and we presented something back and we were just in the process of negotiating,” said Davis, who added that it’s “really sad and disappointing” and “unfair” that the contract situations of him and Olsen have been partly attributed to Gettleman’s ouster.

Talks with Gettleman “were going well,” according to Davis, who’s “thankful that the organization is willing to do it.” Given that the organization is led by owner Jerry Richardson, who reportedly counts Davis among his favorite players, odds of an extension seem high.

Despite Davis’ advanced age, the 34-year-old presented a compelling argument for a new contract last season, his 11th as a Panther, when he secured his second Pro Bowl nod. That honor came after Davis logged his fifth 16-start campaign, led Panthers defenders in snaps (1,009) and totaled 106 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown.

While Thomas’ rating at Pro Football Focus was less impressive than his traditional numbers – the outlet ranked his performance a middling 43rd among 88 qualified linebackers – it’s clear he has established himself as both a dependable player and a heart-and-soul member of the franchise. Beyond that, there could be further incentive for the Panthers to extend Davis. By locking him up past 2017, they’d perhaps reduce his current cap hit ($8.25MM).

NFC Notes: Rodgers, Panthers, Elliott, Cards

July 18th, 2017 at 1:07pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Packers have not discussed a contract extension for Aaron Rodgers with his agent, David Dunn, the quarterback told a Milwaukee TV station last week (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com). Given that Rodgers still has three years left on the deal he signed in 2013, the Packers don’t have to work anything out imminently. However, on the possibility of Rodgers becoming the NFL’s highest-paid player again in the near future, team president Mark Murphy admitted to Demovsky, “You need to plan for it.” Unsurprisingly, Murphy added that the franchise regards re-upping the two-time league MVP as a priority. Rodgers topped all NFLers when he signed his five-year, $110MM deal four years ago, but salaries around him have increased significantly. As a result, the 33-year-old is set to rake in just the sixth-highest amount at his own position this season ($22MM).