NFL Cincinnati Bengals

Devon Still: Everything You Need To Know About His Story

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By @http:///CHoweSports

Andrew Weber - USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Weber – USA TODAY Sports

Devon Still‘s story finally gained popularity within the NFL community this week as Still reported his story to Good Morning America; however, Still has been in emotional turmoil as his daughter, Leah, has battled cancer since doctors first discovered it at least 13 weeks ago. (Still’s first post about Leah’s cancer was about 13 weeks ago, but he likely had knowledge prior to this date). Still likely told the Cincinnati Bengals staff as soon as he found out that Leah was diagnosed, and the Bengals staff has been unbelievably supportive ever since. Fellow players have shown Still their support, coaches made sure that Still stayed in Cincinnati despite an unnamed West Coast team’s desire to snatch him up off of waivers. Remember that Still, a Penn State product, was the Bengals’ second-round pick just two years ago back in the 2012 draft.

Still has informed coaches that he cannot keep his mind 100 percent on football, and because of this, Bengals coaches made the best possible move by promoting defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi, who outplayed Still this preseason, to the 53-man squad and demoting Still to the practice squad. As previously mentioned, an unnamed West Coast team asked Still if he would join their team, but Still politely declined, explaining that he wants to stay close to his family in Cincinnati and stay close to Philadelphia, where his daughter receives cancer treatment. News outlets have reported headlines that suggest Still’s career as a football player was in jeopardy until the heroic Bengals organization saved him and kept paying his salary as his daughter receives cancer treatment; however, this type of story is not true.

Still would have been on the Bengals’ practice squad or 53-man roster regardless of his daughter’s cancer; the Bengals only drafted him two years ago, and they do not give up players that quickly (i.e.: Dre Kirkpatrick, Rey Maualuga, Taylor Mays). The Bengals would have kept developing Still until he was a solid backup on their roster; these headlines that claim the Bengals organization are heroic or that they pay his salary out of pity are false.

Today, the Bengals made a strange move, releasing DT Christo Bilukidi, their fourth defensive tackle on the 53-man roster, and promoting CB Onterio McCalebb. This suggests that the Bengals need more help at corner against the Baltimore Ravens due to Darqueze Dennard‘s injury and that the Bengals will either re-promote Bilukidi (or a free agent DT if Bilukidi doesn’t pass waivers) after playing the Ravens. If this doesn’t happen, the Bengals may be looking to promote Still back to the 53-man roster. Although Still’s focus is not 100 percent on football, he is more talented than Bilukidi and has more experience playing in the regular season. (I’m not saying that the Bengals will promote Still; I think that they will re-promote Bilukidi after Week 1; I’m just speculating what the Bengals would do if they didn’t re-promote Bilukidi).

As Leah Still battles stage-4 neuroblastoma, Still’s teammates will look to sack opposing quarterbacks as often as possible; Still created a foundation that raises awareness about childhood cancer, and the foundation allows donors to donate a particular amount of money per Bengals sack. Keep Devon Still and his daughter Leah in your prayers as Leah continues to battle cancer.

Connor Howe is a Cincinnati Bengals writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @CHoweSports, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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