Thomas Davis has played the entirety of his 15-year career with the Carolina Panthers. He's made three Pro Bowls, two All-Pro teams, been named Walton Payton Man of the Year, missed an entire season due to injury, and has become the team's all-time leader in tackles since the Panthers drafted him in 2005.

Understandably, then, Davis isn't exactly feeling comfortable as he enters free agency for the first time at 35 years old.

“I’m a little nervous about it, but looking forward to it,” he said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “For me, I’ve been around this league a long time, and I understand that this is a business. Guys don’t really last that long on one team anymore. Ever since the whole free agency thing started back in the ‘90s, guys don’t really stay on the same team for the duration of their careers unless you’re a quarterback.”

Davis was told last month that Carolina wouldn't be bringing him back in 2019. He finished last season with 79 tackles, starting 12 games after missing the first four after he violated the NFL's policy on the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Many assumed Davis might call it quits after being released by the Panthers. While admitting that he was taken aback by the team going in a different direction, though, Davis clearly still has the competitive fire necessary to play football at its highest level.

“The passion is still burning inside of me to continue to play this game,” he said. “As I reflect and look on last season, obviously as a football team, it didn’t go the way that we wanted it to go. I feel like I still have a lot left to offer to this game.”

Davis has 28.0 sacks in 176 games during his NFL career.