skinsngibbs4life Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Written by Len Pasqurelli with ESPN Still rehabilitating from knee surgery, three-time Pro Bowl tailback Stephen Davis will not be ready to practice at the outset of the Carolina Panthers training camp, and the club is expected to place him on the active/physically unable to perform list on Friday. Team officials have conceded that Davis, who played in just two games in 2004 and who underwent the controversial microfracture surgery on his right knee, will not pass the club physical upon reporting to camp. By placing him on the active/PUP list, the Panthers then have the option of removing Davis at any time in camp, once he passes a physical. Carolina reports to camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., Davis' hometown, on Friday and the team's first practice is Saturday morning. "It's something that was anticipated," said general manager Marty Hurney, who said that Davis has not suffered any setbacks in rehabilitation, and is on pace for recovery. "It will give him some more time to rehab." Davis, 31, will not be able to practice with the Panthers until he passes a physical. The team has offered no timetable for when he might be able to return and there remains some speculation that the knee surgery could eventually force Davis into retirement. The microfracture procedure, in which holes are drilled into the kneecap to promote the blood flow to the area, has produced mixed results over the years for other players. It was used on Davis in an effort to curb the severe swelling that plagued the veteran tailback in the early part of the 2004 season. Backup tailback DeShaun Foster, the heir apparent to the starting job and a talented back who provides a different dimension than Davis, also is coming off an injury-filled season in which he appeared in only four games because of a shoulder injury. The speedy Foster, a legitimate outside threat, has suffered through knee problems in the past. The Panthers addressed their uncertainty at the position in the draft, selecting former Louisville star Eric Shelton in the second round. Shelton was still not signed on Thursday but there were indications a deal is close. With the situation so unsettled, the rookie figures to log plenty of snaps if he is in camp. A nine-year veteran, Davis helped power the Panthers to a Super Bowl XXXVIII berth during the 2003 season, rushing for a career-best 1,444 yards. But the heavy workload he has carried during a career that also featured seven seasons with the Washington Redskins has clearly taken a physical toll on him. Davis has carried 1,725 times for 7,326 yards and 53 touchdowns. He has four seasons in which he rushed for 1,000 yards but also averaged 324 carries in the four years in which he started 14 or more games. Given the rules of the physically unable to perform list, Carolina could eventually face a tough decision with Davis. If he is not ready to play by the end of camp, the team might have to move him to the reserve-PUP list which, by definition, would sideline Davis for at least the first six weeks of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 time to hang 'em up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 I agree. Davis had his best years here....but it was very clear even during the Panthers superbowl run in the playoffs two years ago, that something was wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimster Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Originally posted by bubba9497 time to hang 'em up I thought the same thing. - NFL RB's life span is short past 30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redskns21 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 I feel bad for him, I always enjoyed watching him when he played with the Redskins. Those that say that we should have never cut him are simply wrong, he'd not be playing for us either. I agree, time to retire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Tooth Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 I loved watching him play for the skins, but like many have said, he was starting to wind down his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Slammer Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Remember when everyone was castrating us for cutting SD? Yeah, real terrible move in retrospect with that one OK year he had after he left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footballhenry Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Originally posted by The Slammer Remember when everyone was castrating us for cutting SD? Yeah, real terrible move in retrospect with that one OK year he had after he left. 2003 Carolina Panthers 1444 yards (more yards than he had here in DC) real okay:rolleyes: thats a really good year. the man can still play, its amazing how so many people just jump to "retire" whenever an older athlete starts to have a couple injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 he can still play? Do you know what is up with those microfractures? its serious FH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Originally posted by footballhenry 2003 Carolina Panthers 1444 yards (more yards than he had here in DC) real okay:rolleyes: thats a really good year. the man can still play, its amazing how so many people just jump to "retire" whenever an older athlete starts to have a couple injuries. But you even said it yourself: thats A really good year (singular). We were faced with a decision to sign him to a big, long-term contract or not. I don't think any of us would have liked to sign him to a long-term deal even had we gotten that ONE good year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Originally posted by footballhenry 2003 Carolina Panthers 1444 yards (more yards than he had here in DC) real okay:rolleyes: thats a really good year. the man can still play, its amazing how so many people just jump to "retire" whenever an older athlete starts to have a couple injuries. a couple of injuies? :yikes: he has missed one season, and going to miss at least half of this one... and still might now recover. Just like Davis of the Bronco's, even the same surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 I think a Mr. Foster just moved up many a fantasy football draft board... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSteve Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Originally posted by footballhenry 2003 Carolina Panthers 1444 yards (more yards than he had here in DC) real okay:rolleyes: thats a really good year. the man can still play, its amazing how so many people just jump to "retire" whenever an older athlete starts to have a couple injuries. Since when is 2003 the 2005 season? His career is basically over. In retrospect, it was the right decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footballhenry Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 well i never said I didnt agree with releasing him. In retrospect, of course it was the right decision however I am just speaking in general, whenever an older athlete begins to have injuries it seems everyone calls for their retirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avg Joe Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Not surprised at all. Among all the flack the Skins got for letting him go, there was never mention of his frequent injuries. Even when he gave you a good year, he got hurt, and couldn't finish the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingTaylor22 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Ya big stephen is wearing down and needs to cut his losses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoDannyBoy Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 We let him go at the right time, but did not plan for his replacement. Trung? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Davis is another in the long line of players with Brad Johnson that left the Redskins, had quick success elsewhere and then faded due to injury and age. it's funny how Davis thought the Redskins offering him $7 million in bonus was a slap in the face, but he took $2.5 million from Carolina and made it out that they gave him the world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thStBully Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 i hope he is able to play again, i enjoyed him as a skin and wish him nothing but the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grego Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Originally posted by bulldog it's funny how Davis thought the Redskins offering him $7 million in bonus was a slap in the face, but he took $2.5 million from Carolina and made it out that they gave him the world wow. is that all he got? seems like a steal for them- even with him playing well only one season basically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg28daman Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 If he became available, I'd sign him to be a change of pace back here. When healthy, he is a damn good back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 Originally posted by dg28daman If he became available, I'd sign him to be a change of pace back here. When healthy, he is a damn good back. I wouldn't...no need to keep reaching to the past. We have a younger, healthier, quicker version of SD on the roster right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 I always liked Davis. I'm glad he had a chance to play in a Superbowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Slammer Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 Originally posted by footballhenry well i never said I didnt agree with releasing him. In retrospect, of course it was the right decision however I am just speaking in general, whenever an older athlete begins to have injuries it seems everyone calls for their retirement. Did I ever call for his retirement? I mirrored your own sentiments exactly it seems, suggesting that our release of him was timely and a good call based on his salary and his injury history and age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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