Bengals’ Still Will Have Daughter In Attendance for First Time
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Tom Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images(CINCINNATTI, OH) — Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Devon Still has had to deal with more adversity than most NFL players will ever experience.
This Thursday, he will likely experience an unrivaled type of joy, as his daughter will be able to attend her first NFL game to see her father play.
In June, Leah Sari Still was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer. In late August, Devon was cut from the team. The Bengals re-signed him to their practice squad the next day to help him pay for the medical costs.
On September 10, the Bengals signed Devon to their active roster.
This week Leah Sari has recovered enough from her surgery that she will be able to travel to Cincinnati to see her father and the Bengals challenge the Browns on Thursday Night Football.
“This is the first time she has been able to travel,” Devon said. “I know she is excited to come to Cincinnati and see what Cincinnati has to offer her.”
Life on the road and being on an active roster has been tough for Devon, as he has been away from his daughter.
“I know it will be different for me because I’ll be able to see my daughter, I’ll be able to touch her, I’ll be able to hug her, which is totally different than being able to FaceTime her,” Devon said. I can’t wait until she shows up here Wednesday and is able to go to her first game this year.”
Devon has greatly appreciated the support fans and other teams have shown this season. A couple of weeks ago, when the Bengals traveled to New England, the Patriots cheerleaders wore Still’s jersey in support. Patriots owner Robert Kraft also donated $25,000 to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Leah’s name.
This week, Devon thinks the crowd reaction will be special.
“I think the crowd will go crazy,” Devon said. “They’ve been supporting her the whole time with her being all the way in Philadelphia. I know her being here in Cincinnati and them having the chance to see her, it’s going to get the crowd kind of hyped.”
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