Panthers assistant coach Mills diagnosed with cancer

[BillsFever]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Carolina Panthers assistant Sam Mills was diagnosed with cancer of the small intestine Friday, hours before he coached the Panthers' linebackers in their preseason finale.

Just two weeks ago, Carolina linebacker Mark Fields was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.

``Anytime someone in your family gets ill, it's a blow,'' general manager Marty Hurney said. ``When it's Sam Mills, someone who means so much to this organization and this community, it's a huge blow.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-panthers-mills&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Cntrygal]

Ex-teammates, coaches and friends had the same reaction Saturday to news that former Saints linebacker Sam Mills has cancer in his smaller intestine: If anyone can tackle it, he can.

But Hokie Gajan, perhaps, said it best. "If ever there was a statement to be made that life was unfair, this has to be the most emphatic statement of all," said Gajan, a former Saints' teammate and now an analyst on the team's flagship radio station. "Why Sam Mills? Of all people, why him?


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