NFL Notebook: Panthers LB Davis changes tune on retirement

Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, who in January said this would "definitely be my last year," told reporters that he is considering playing into 2019. A four-game suspension that Thomas will serve to start the 2018 season for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance apparently played a role in his change of heart. "It's tough for me to potentially be in the last season of my NFL career, to be faced with a four-game suspension," Davis said. "But I'm just going to take it in stride, take advantage of the time I do have here with my teammates -- OTAs, minicamp process. "We are going to go to training camp. We are going to have a good camp and just looking forward to doing that." The 35-year-old Davis is entering the final year of his contract with the Panthers but has continued to play at a high level. Davis has been selected to play in the Pro Bowls in each of the last three seasons and was an All-Pro in 2015. "It's important for me to come out each and every day and show that I'm still capable of playing," Davis said, via the Panthers' website. "When you look at the body of work over the OTA and minicamp process, I think that I've proven without a doubt that I can still play this game. "I'm still out here running around and moving just as fast as any of our young guys. That's kind of how I judge myself." Thomas spoke to reporters on Thursday for the first time since April, when the NFL announced his suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. --New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles isn't expecting Terrelle Pryor to be ready for training camp, but the wide receiver doesn't share that outlook. "Right now, I'm healthy and I'm ready to get back to form and have a dominant year," Pryor told the New York Post on the final day of New York's mandatory minicamp. "For now, in my mind, I'll be there the first day." Pryor has been sidelined throughout the offseason workouts after undergoing arthroscopic ankle surgery in November. On Wednesday, Pryor had a boot removed from his right foot, leading to Bowles' observation that the veteran wideout could open training camp on the physically unable to perform list. "I can't really tell you right now how he heals fast or slow, so we're just going to take it week by week," Bowles said. Pryor had a disappointing season in 2017 with the Washington Redskins, catching only 20 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown after he signed a one-year, $8 million contract. That was a major drop-off in production after Pryor erupted for 77 receptions for 1,007 yards and four scores the previous season with the Cleveland Browns. The soon-to-be 29-year-old blamed the decline in production to a torn ligament he sustained in the 2017 season opener, an injury that Pryor said prevented him from practicing much. --The Oakland Raiders are bracing for possible disciplinary action against wide receiver Martavis Bryant, according to a published report. Team officials are awaiting word on whether Bryant faces punishment by the NFL, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing sources. Bryant was suspended for the 2016 season because of multiple violations of the league's policy on substance abuse while he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Raiders acquired the 26-year-old Bryant in exchange for a third-round draft pick (No. 79 overall) in late April. Bryant returned from his yearlong banishment and appeared in 15 games (eight starts) for the Steelers in 2017. He tied his career high with 50 receptions for 603 yards and three touchdowns. A fourth-round pick from Clemson in the 2014 draft, Bryant scored eight touchdowns on only 26 receptions as a rookie, averaging an eye-popping 21.1 yards per catch. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound Bryant followed that up by hauling in 50 receptions for 765 yards and six scores during his sophomore seasons. Bryant is expected to be an integral part of Oakland's revamped wide receiving corps that includes free-agent signee Jordy Nelson. --The Atlanta Falcons and Julio Jones are having talks about a new contract for the star wide receiver. Jones skipped the team's voluntary workouts and did not attend this week's mandatory minicamp as he seeks to work out his contract. "The good news is that there are conversations that have begun," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Thursday, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We'll keep those private. I have a lot of faith in the organization and also in Julio that things will get resolved with good communications. I'm sure that'll be a part of it as well." A two-time first-team All-Pro selection, Jones signed a five-year, $71.2 million contract extension on Aug. 31, 2015. The deal included $47 million in guaranteed money. The market for elite wide receivers seemed to change in the offseason after lucrative deals were signed by Tampa Bay's Mike Evans, Cleveland's Jarvis Landry and Kansas City's Sammy Watkins. Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff said last week that the organization has held "productive" talks with Jones and his representatives. --The Arizona Cardinals signed wide receiver Greg Little to a one-year contract, the team announced. Little reached agreement with the team after concluding a tryout during the Cardinals' minicamp this week. A former second-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2011, Little also had a tryout with Arizona last month but sustained a hamstring injury that delayed his signing. "I think he has tremendous talent, but most importantly right here, is just a chance for him to be able to step up and see what we can do with him," Cardinals coach Steve Wilks said before finalizing the agreement with Little. Little has not played in the NFL since the 2014 season with the Cincinnati Bengals, when he had six receptions for 69 yards in six games, including one start. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder had a career-best 61 receptions for 709 yards as a rookie in 2011 and had 155 catches and eight touchdowns in his three seasons with the Browns. To clear a roster spot for Little, Arizona waived wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, who has 18 career catches for 242 yards and two touchdowns. The Cardinals also released linebacker Frank Ginda, who has never appeared in an NFL game. --Rookie linebacker Shaquem Griffin continues to make an impression on Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Griffin, who had a standout career as Central Florida despite having his left hand amputated as a child, is adapting well to the move to inside linebacker. "I just talked to him coming off the field," Carroll said per the team's official website. "What was really positive was how he finished the offseason. Moving back to an inside (linebacker) spot for him was new and he had a lot to learn and a lot to pick up." A fifth-round pick in this year's NFL Draft, it was expected that Griffin's speed would be an asset in Seattle's defensive scheme. The 6-foot, 227-pound Griffin posted a 4.38-second time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. That speed helped Griffin overcome playing with one hand in college. He was named the American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and registered 18.5 sacks in his final two seasons at UCF. Reunited with twin brother Shaquill, a third-round selection of the Seahawks in 2017, it was uncertain how Shaquem would adjust to moving inside. --Former San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Keith Fahnhorst died Tuesday, the team announced. He was 66. Fahnhorst spent all 14 of his NFL seasons with San Francisco (1974-87), appearing in 193 games (160 starts), the second most among 49ers offensive linemen He was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1983 and 1984. Fahnhorst was part of two Super Bowl championship teams (XVI and XIX). He was also a two-time recipient (1981, 1986) of the 49ers' Bobb McKittrick Award, which is given annually to the 49ers offensive lineman who best represents the courage, intensity and sacrifice displayed by the longtime offensive line coach. Fahnhorst originally entered the NFL as a second-round (35th overall) draft choice by the 49ers in 1974. Fahnhorst attended the University of Minnesota, where he was an All-Big Ten tight end in 1973. He finished his collegiate career with 28 receptions for 416 yards and earned his degree in psychology in 1974. --Houston Texans linebacker Benardrick McKinney agreed to a contract extension, the team announced. The deal is for five years and worth $50 million, with $21 million guaranteed, multiple media outlets reported. McKinney had one year left on his existing deal and was due to make $1.16 million in base salary in 2018. The 25-year-old McKinney led the team with 95 combined tackles in 2017, and also had 10 tackles for losses, including three sacks. "Benardrick plays a key role in our defense and has been highly productive, but more importantly he is a core player who has developed into a team leader within our program," general manager Brian Gaine said in a statement released by the team. "We are excited to have him a part of our long-term future here at the Texans." Houston drafted McKinney with the 43rd overall pick in 2015 out of Mississippi State. He has 287 tackles, nine sacks, 25 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles in 46 regular-season games. --New York Giants rookie defensive tackle RJ McIntosh is scheduled for a medical procedure and his availability for the start of training camp is uncertain. McIntosh, a fifth-round pick in this year's NFL Draft who remains unsigned, has not participated in any of the team's offseason workouts, NJ.com reported. "He is going to have a procedure here, but there is no real change in his situation," Giants coach Pat Shurmur told reporters. "We're hopeful (he is ready for training camp)." McIntosh was diagnosed with a thyroid condition at the NFL Scouting Combine, but it's unclear if the medical procedure is related to that malady. --Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Donald Stephenson was suspended for two games by the NFL for violating the league's policy on substance abuse. Signed by the Browns in March, Stephenson will miss the first two games of the regular season and be eligible to return to the team on Sept. 17. The punishment will cost Stephenson $294,117 in salary and bonuses, according to Spotrac. Stephenson also was fined $84,435 by the Browns for missing this week's mandatory minicamp. The 29-year-old Stephenson spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos, starting a career-high 12 games in 2016. A third-round pick of Kansas City in the 2012 NFL Draft, Stephenson appeared in all 16 games in three of his first four seasons with the Chiefs, making 21 starts. Stephenson remains eligible to participate in all offseason workouts and preseason practices and games. --Defensive tackle David Irving of the Dallas Cowboys was suspended for the first four games of the NFL season for the second consecutive year. The NFL announced the four-game ban for Irving, this time for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. Last year, Irving missed the first four games for misuse of performance-enhancing substances. Irving will be allowed participate in all activities before the start of the season, including preseason games, and will be eligible to return to the Cowboys on Oct. 1. The first game he would be eligible for is on Oct. 7 at Houston. Irving will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2018 season. As a restricted free agent this spring, Irving signed a one-year, $2.91 million deal to remain with the Cowboys. Irving has been a sporadic participant in the Cowboys' strength and conditioning program during the offseason and didn't practice in all organized team activities, but he was on hand for all three mandatory minicamp practices. On Thursday, Irving talked in great length with reporters about some of his off-the-field issues, including a custody battle with his ex-girlfriend who made domestic violence claims against him in April but later retracted her statements. --Defensive end Arden Key, a third-round pick of the Oakland Raiders out of LSU, agreed to a four-year contract, the team announced. Key's deal is worth a projected $3.3 million, with a cap hit of $686,594 in 2018, according to figures from Overthecap.com. He was the last of the Raiders' nine 2018 draft choices to sign. In 2016 as a sophomore, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Key set a school record with 11 sacks and it was thought he would be a high draft choice if he could have another big season as a junior. However, Key spent time in rehab for marijuana addiction, gained weight and sustained a shoulder injury, causing his draft stock to drop, and the Raiders got him with the 87th overall pick. Key said after the draft that he learned from his mistakes and believes he is "a first-round talent. ... I'm back to my 2016 (form). I got down, lost the weight." Raiders coach Jon Gruden said after minicamp that Key "has got some special pass-rush ability." In Oakland, Key should learn more from standout edge pass-rushers Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin. --Wide receiver DeAndre Smelter signed a free-agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team announced. The 26-year-old Smelter was a fourth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers (No. 132 overall) out of Georgia Tech in the 2015 NFL Draft. In three seasons with the 49ers, he had only one reception for 23 yards and spent all of last season on the practice squad. The 6-foot-3, 227-pound Smelter was released by San Francisco after last season and signed with the Indianapolis Colts, who cut him on May 11. To make room for Smelter on the roster, the Jaguars waived rookie defensive tackle Mike Hughes with an injury designation. --The Indianapolis Colts claimed wide receiver Zach Pascal on waivers from the Tennessee Titans and waived wide receiver Kayaune Ross, the team announced. The 6-foot-2, 219-pound Pascal spent time on the Titans' active roster and practice squad as a rookie in 2017 but did not play in a game. Pascal was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted rookie from Old Dominion in 2017 and took part in the Redskins' offseason program and training camp before being waived during final cuts on Sept. 2. The Titans signed him to their taxi squad two days later. The 6-5, 223-pound Ross was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Kentucky on May 18, 2018.