SAN JOSE, Calif. — A broken arm will not lead to a broken dream.
“Without a doubt, I will be there playing on Super Bowl Sunday,’’ vowed Thomas Davis.
The resilient Panthers linebacker, against all odds, made it here, to the Super Bowl, despite becoming the first player in NFL history to make it back from three ACL tears to the same (right) knee. Davis fractured his right forearm in the NFC Championship rout of the Cardinals and the next day underwent surgery to have a plate and 12 screws inserted into the arm to stabilize the break.
The Panthers had a light workout Monday and Davis for the first time tested his damaged arm.
“I was excited, just really glad to be back out there with my teammates, running around, moving around, being active, not really feeling any pain,’’ Davis said Monday night. “It was a light day but I took every opportunity I could to hit it up against something, really see how it feels and all in all it felt pretty good. I know it’s gonna be different when we’re actually out there and things are live.’’
There is no definitive plan how Davis will protect his right arm.
“Right now we’re coming up with a couple of different things we’re trying out,’’ he said. “It’s not going to be a cast, it’s going to be more like a hard brace. Some new technology. It’s gonna be something that’s gonna protect it from all kinds of bumps and bangs. It should be pretty good.’’
Given his history, no one is doubting Davis.
“I will say it right now and put pressure on him, he’s gonna have double-digit tackles and he’s gonna make a play in the game that will be one of the four, five plays that determine the outcome of the game,’’ Giants linebacker Jon Beason told The Post.
Beason and Davis were teammates for more than six seasons with the Panthers, Beason the middle linebacker and Davis anchoring the strong side. Beason calls him “my big brother’’ and recalls, “We were the dynamic duo for a long time.’’ Injuries robbed this duo of so many games together, with Davis suffering the ACL tears and Beason’s final years in Carolina ruined by a variety of physical issues.
“I talked to him, the surgery went well, that’s all I’ll say publicly, I think he’ll be fine,’’ Beason said. “He realizes the magnitude of the moment and it’s everything. You’re a guy in your 11th year, come back from three ACLs and playing in a Super Bowl, you win one maybe you kind of be like John Wayne and you ride off into the sunset.’’