Thomas Davis has said that he would have understood if the Carolina Panthers had released him before the 2013 NFL season.

The outside linebacker tore his anterior cruciate ligament for a third time in 2011 and is believed to be the only NFL player to continue his career after three such injuries in the same knee.

The 30-year-old told NFL Media: "That someone was willing to take a chance on me was motivation enough.

"If they had told me, 'Thomas, your knee has not been holding up, we're going to have to let you go', I would've been more than understanding. I would've been okay with that.

"The fact that they were willing to stick by me, that speaks volumes for this organisation."

Davis was one of the team's top defensive players in the regular season, recording 123 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.