Panthers LB Davis preparing for surgery, offseason

Nov 18, 2009 - 11:19 PM By MIKE CRANSTON AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C.(AP) -- Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis hopes to remain with the Panthers next season, regardless of the rules surrounding his upcoming free agency.

Davis was in the locker room Wednesday, preparing for surgery on Nov. 30 to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Davis was injured in a loss to New Orleans earlier this month, ending his most productive season as a pro.

"I can't sit around and be sad about it and dwell on it," Davis said. "I have to take the necessary steps to recovery and make sure I'm back for next season."

But Davis is one of many players facing an uncertain offseason depending on what happens with the collective bargaining agreement.

Under the current deal, Davis would be an unrestricted free agent next season because he has five years of service. That would allow him to seek a deal from any team.

But if the two sides don't agree on a new labor deal and the owners decide to go ahead and make 2010 the final year of the CBA, it will be a year without a salary cap. Plenty of new rules would then go into effect.

The biggest change for Davis is you'd need six years of service to become an unrestricted free agent. So Davis - and cornerback Richard Marshall - would become restricted free agents.

Carolina would then make a qualifying offer for far less than he'd likely get on the open market. Any team wanting to sign Davis would then have to give the Panthers a first-round draft pick in return.

"It's out of my control," Davis said. "Whatever happens I'm excited to be a Panther player and whatever happens I hope to continue to be one after this CBA deal is done."

The speedy Davis was thriving in new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks' system. He had 71 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions in seven games and teammates were mentioning him as a Pro Bowl candidate.

Davis is hopeful he can work out a long-term deal with the Panthers regardless of the free agency rules next spring.

"This is where I want to spend the rest of my career and I'm very content being a Carolina Panther," Davis said. "With the CBA the way it is and the possibility of it going to an uncapped year the team has the right to place a tender on me. It's understandable. It's business and it's part of this game.

"I'm not disappointed in it, but like any player I would like to be signed to a long term deal and finish my career here."