CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It was tough enough for Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis that he had to miss the first four games of the 2018 season for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing drugs.
Then his mother had emergency surgery -- twice.
Then his father died on Saturday, two days before the suspension ended, after a month-long battle following a heart attack.
Davis, 34, didn't know how much he would miss being able to communicate with the coaching staff or his teammates during the suspension until having to deal with unexpected personal issues.