Bengals Help Player Afford Kid's Cancer Treatment

Team cuts Devon Still, re-signs him to practice squad
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Suggested by RockyPneumonia
Posted Sep 5, 2014 11:33 AM CDT
Bengals Help Player Afford Kid's Cancer Treatment
Cincinnati Bengals tackle Chandler Burden blocks defensive end Dontay Moch during practice at the NFL football team's training camp, Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, in Cincinnati.   (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

After missing training activities with the Cincinnati Bengals in the offseason, Devon Still says he understands the team's decision to cut him from the squad last week. But in what Fox Sports calls "arguably their greatest move of the season," the team has re-signed the defensive tackle to its practice squad to help him pay for cancer treatments for his 4-year-old daughter, ABC News reports. "I couldn't give football 100%," says Still, whose daughter Leah was diagnosed with stage 4 pediatric cancer in June. "They could have washed their hands with me and said they didn't care about what I was going through off the field."

Instead, the move will ensure Still has health insurance, plus a weekly salary of $6,300. It will also give him more time to spend with his little girl. "It's like a blessing in disguise for me," says Still. "I feel real lucky," he tells Bengals.com. As of last week, Leah started her fourth round of chemotherapy in Philadelphia, but Still hopes she'll be moved to Cincinnati's Children's Hospital. "We're going to go to battle with cancer," he says. "She's willing to put up a fight to beat it." Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis adds Still will "undoubtedly" be playing for the team sometime this season, once he takes care of injuries to his elbow and back. (More Cincinnati Bengals stories.)

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