Bills Vontae Davis explains why the half-time retreat was "therapeutic"

"Leaving was therapeutic, brother," said Davis in an interview with The Undefeated. "I left everything the league wanted me to be, playing for my teammates while being hurt, the gladiator mentality, all that jumped. And when he jumped, I just wanted to leave everything behind me. That's why I do not care what people say. This experience was personal and not meant to be understood by anyone. It was me the cold turkey leaving an identity that I wore with me for so long.

Davis told The Undefeated that he "did not feel well, I did not feel like me" during the first two quarters and just before half-time in Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, a final defeat from 31-20.

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Davis said he made his decision in the final series before half-time, while the Bills defense was still on the pitch when he went on the sidelines.

"I went to the bench after this series and it hit me," Davis said. "I'm no longer part of this area."

Davis then said he told coach John Butler defenders, "I'm done."

After the game, coach Sean McDermott and several Bills players, including linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, defensive tackle Kyle Williams and goaltender Rafael Bush, largely dismissed Davis.

"I have nothing to say about Vontae," said Alexander. "I'm going to give him a little more respect than he showed us today when it comes to our mid-game start."

Davis stated that his pre-game routine that day was the same as the one he always had, and detailed an exchange he had with the coaches and members of the team. Bills staff on the sidelines.

"I did not expect what they understand," Davis said. "This moment has shocked me too. My intention was not to hurt my teammates. At this moment, my intuition told me that I no longer belong to this area.

Davis, 30, was in his 10th season in the NFL after stints with the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts. The No. 25 pick in the 2009 draft, Davis was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2015.

"What's crazy is that people automatically assumed that something was wrong at home mentally," Davis said. "I feel good, I did not feel like that in … well, in all my life.