49ers' Davis confirms comeback plans: 'I will play ball'
San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Anthony Davis has strongly suggested he still plans to return to football after retiring at age 25.
After stepping away from football just over a year ago, Davis announced his intention to return after taking at least one season off:
I'll be back in a year or so.. I'll be 26 or 27 years old. Im taking this time to allow my Brain and Body time to heal and recoup.
— Tony (@BamDavis_) June 5, 2015
One year later, it appears that's still Davis' plan, though his timeline for a return remains unclear.
In a tweet from early Sunday that has since been deleted, Davis responded to a follower's question about playing:
(Courtesy: CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco)
Davis has yet to file for reinstatement and it's rumored he will want out of San Francisco once he does. The team still holds his NFL rights and offensive line coach Pat Flaherty recently made it clear that nothing will be handed to Davis should he return.
"And he knows this, coming from me, if he wants to play, then he's got to come back and prove he can play," Flaherty told reporters, according to Maiocco. "It's got to come from within. You can tell him exactly what I just said, 'Listen, you’ll have an opportunity to play. But that's all it is. You decided for whatever reason to retire. If you come back in the game, nothing is going to be handed to you. You’re going to have to work your tail off.'"