Cincinnati Bengals Pro practice team player and father Devon Still was released by the Bengals on Saturday, marking the second time in as many seasons that he didn't make the team's final wave of preseason roster cuts. This cut means the defensive tackle is now a free agent, eligible to sign with any of the other 31 NFL teams.
It's been three-years that Still has been with the Bengals. He was able to stay on the team and still earn a sizeable paycheck while he took care of his daughter Leah, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Still's story sparked an outpour of love on social media around the world. Documenting the ups and downs of cancer therapy ignited the loveable hashtag, #LeahStrong.
"He really did a good job this preseason and it's an unfortunate part of professional sports that not everyone can stay there and be there in the end," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said on a conference call.
//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.jsDuring a phone call with ESPN later Saturday, Still said he understood perfectly why the Bengals cut him. "They made the best decision that they felt would bring that city a Super Bowl," he said while waiting to board a flight to Philadelphia. "I have nothing but respect for the organization." In a picture Still posted to Instagram earlier in the day, he wrote that he had "nothing but love for the Bengals organization and the city of Cincinnati." Leah Still’s cancer is in remission. She still gets treatments to strengthen her immune system. Devon Still is eligible for health insurance for five... ...more years through the NFL.
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We both knew this day was coming when we had to say bye but we didn't know it would come this soon. I was only willing to show this part of our goodbye because we both make the ugliest faces when we cry so I couldn't do us like that ????????????. On a serious note, I'm not leaving her to go out there and play around I'm going to handle business. My daughter has been through hell this past year and now I have the opportunity to make sure she gets the world from here on out. So I'm going to make sure she gets it #iDidntGrindThisHardToFail #LeahStrong #StillStrong #FocusedOnAnotherLevel A video posted by Devon Still (@man_of_still75) on Jul 29, 2015 at 2:59pm PDT
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We wish him luck and will be following him in next phase of his life. Stand up and hold your head up high. We are still #LeahStrong
