Panthers' Davis: Blaming me, Olsen for Gettleman's firing is unfair

After the Panthers shockingly fired general manager Dave Gettleman on Monday, most of the NFL world was left to speculate the reason why Carolina made such a drastic move just days before training camp begins.

One theory was that Gettleman's abrasive management style was one of the main factors - especially his treatment of popular veterans like Thomas Davis and Greg Olsen, who are both seeking contract extensions this offseason.

However, Davis denied this was the case Tuesday, calling any such suggestion "unfair" and revealing he'd engaged in negotiations with the Panthers.

"We had actually engaged in contract talks," Davis told Kelsey Riggs of WCNC. "They presented something and we presented something back and we were just in the process of negotiating. That's what you do when you're dealing with contracts and it's really sad and disappointing when you hear all the people that's saying that the reason Mr. Gettleman was released was because of me or Greg. I think that's an unfair statement.

"I think that's something that you guys (the media) are giving us too much credit - we're not that important in the grand scheme of things and intimately Mr. Richardson made a decision and it's something that we're going to live with."

Gettleman reportedly wasn't interested in extending Olsen with two years remaining on his deal, despite the star tight end arguably outperforming his contract by producing three straight 1,000-yard seasons.

Davis is 34 years old and has a lengthy injury history, though, as he confirmed, he was reportedly expected to be rewarded with another short-term deal before the start of the campaign.