Bengals re-sign player to help him pay for cancer treatment for daughter

[SlowSpyder]

Pretty generous move on the Bengal's part. Best of luck to Devon Still and his four year old daughter.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...m-pay-for-daughter-s-cancer-treatments-090514

*edit - They resigned him.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Class act.

 

[smackababy]

While, I don't think this was a factor, how much was making it to the last round of cuts as a second round draft pick part of it as well? He was undoubtedly pretty good, and made it deep on the roster, just not enough for the final round of cuts. Despite his daughter, it is arguable he could have made the practice squad anyway.

Either way, good move by the Bengals.

 

[Red Storm]

To clarify, they re-signed a player they had waived the previous week.

So, a dick move for waiving the guy for missing some team meetings because his daughter had cancer, then a redeeming move to sign him to the practice squad to be able to pay for his daughter's treatments.

 

[Childs]

But when Still received the call this morning that he had been signed to the practice squad and would receive health insurance as well as a weekly salary of $6,300

Thats pretty good money for practice squad. Granted, its only going to be for 17 weeks, but $25K/month is much more than what I thought practice squad players got.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

To clarify, they re-signed a player they had waived the previous week.

So, a dick move for waiving the guy for missing some team meetings because his daughter had cancer, then a redeeming move to sign him to the practice squad to be able to pay for his daughter's treatments.

"Steve, we need to talk about your workplace attendance..."
"Sorry, Mike. My daughter has cancer."
"Oh... umm... never mind then."

 

[smackababy]

Thats pretty good money for practice squad. Granted, its only going to be for 17 weeks, but $25K/month is much more than what I thought practice squad players got.

Practice squad players make like $100k a year, and get official jerseys that can be sold (Dallas is making a killing on Michael Sam jerseys, btw). Plus, if they do get called up, I believe it jumps from $6k a week to $24k a week.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I read about his daughter's situation about a month ago and was really struck by his daughter's situation. I have no clue what that family may be going through, but the pictures in the article I read really tugged at my heart, which rarely happens. Kudos to the Bengals for doing this, even though, as Red Storm said, dick move for cutting him in the first place knowing full well of his situation. Good luck to his daughter and family though.

 

[sjwaste]

To clarify, they re-signed a player they had waived the previous week.

So, a dick move for waiving the guy for missing some team meetings because his daughter had cancer, then a redeeming move to sign him to the practice squad to be able to pay for his daughter's treatments.

You have to waive a player before you can sign him to the practice squad. Other teams get a chance to claim him, can't be signed outright. I bet their insurance coverage on the practice squad is pretty good.

 

[KeithP]

So, a dick move for waiving the guy for missing some team meetings because his daughter had cancer..

That isn't what happened at all. The link in the OP doesn't seem to accurately portray what happened..

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/devon-still-bengals

Earlier this month, the Bengals came to him with some news: He wasn’t going to make the squad. Instead, they promised to cut him and resign him to the practice squad after clearing waivers so that he could focus on his family and hopefully eventually be able to focus on football again.

-KeithP

 

[Childs]

Practice squad players make like $100k a year, and get official jerseys that can be sold (Dallas is making a killing on Michael Sam jerseys, btw). Plus, if they do get called up, I believe it jumps from $6k a week to $24k a week.

Thats pretty good money. I wonder if there are career practice squad players.

 

[Red Storm]

That isn't what happened at all. The link in the OP doesn't seem to accurately portray what happened..

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/devon-still-bengals


-KeithP

Well that would be different then. So I guess they waived him with the intention of signing him back to the practice squad?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

That isn't what happened at all. The link in the OP doesn't seem to accurately portray what happened..

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/devon-still-bengals


-KeithP

I hadn't read that link but that would be a different story then. Kudos to the Bengals for following through on their promise. That's awesome.

 

[smackababy]

Thats pretty good money. I wonder if there are career practice squad players.

I am sure there are. They have to pay that much though, because you are a member of the team every day except Sunday (or Thursday / Monday night). You suit up, you practice, you drill, you work out, etc. You just don't play.

The sad part is practice squad players make more than some MLS starters and those called up could make more than all but designated players. (league minimum for MLS is around $80k a year and maximum for all but your 2 designated players is like $325k)

 

[DesiPower]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Makes you believe in humanity again... there is still hope...

What are the chances that the Insurance company would sue the Bengals?

 

[z1ggy]

Well that would be different then. So I guess they waived him with the intention of signing him back to the practice squad?

Since that's exactly what the sentence says, yes.

Pretty nice move by the Bengals.

Also, $6k a week to be on a practice squad isn't half bad. That is a lot more money than what guys in the American Hockey League (AHL) get paid, and those guys are basically the practice squad of the NHL team they play for.

 

[smackababy]

Well that would be different then. So I guess they waived him with the intention of signing him back to the practice squad?

What happens is you have to make the cuts, and even if you tell them you have the intention of signing them to the practice squad, there is a waiting period where any team can sign him before you can get him on the practice squad. It should also be noted, that any other team can sign him to their active roster off the Bengals' practice squad. However, they are required to keep him for a minimum of 4 weeks.

 

[Red Storm]

I am sure there are. They have to pay that much though, because you are a member of the team every day except Sunday (or Thursday / Monday night). You suit up, you practice, you drill, you work out, etc. You just don't play.

The sad part is practice squad players make more than some MLS starters and those called up could make more than all but designated players. (league minimum for MLS is around $80k a year and maximum for all but your 2 designated players is like $325k)

The market decides their salaries. People are more interested in American Football in this country than soccer, and the money making opportunities available to athletes reflects that.

 

[smackababy]

The market decides their salaries. People are more interested in American Football in this country than soccer, and the money making opportunities available to athletes reflects that.

Oh, I know. It is just funny that the NFL practice squad is paid better than some professional athletes in other leagues.

 

[Miramonti]

In further news on the horizon, said insurance company has dropped it's coverage of the Cincinnati Bengals organization effective immediately...

 

[smackababy]

In further news on the horizon, said insurance company has dropped it's coverage of the Cincinnati Bengals organization effective immediately...

NFL is non profit company, I bet they use Obamacare!

 

[Miramonti]

NFL is non profit company, I bet they use Obamacare!

Oh no you didn't...take a political statement and up the anti.

 

[DesiPower]

NFL is non profit company, I bet they use Affordable Care Act!

FTFY, in order to avoid points, you need to be politically correct. I just got one last month.

 

[Homerboy]

FTFY, in order to avoid points, you need to be politically correct. I just got one last month.

Seriously? If so, that's pretty damned sad.

 

[sjwaste]

Since that's exactly what the sentence says, yes.

Pretty nice move by the Bengals.

Also, $6k a week to be on a practice squad isn't half bad. That is a lot more money than what guys in the American Hockey League (AHL) get paid, and those guys are basically the practice squad of the NHL team they play for.

AHL minimum is $41,500 this season. The NFL practice squad is definitely a nice check, but odds are you have a better shot to go from the AHL to the NHL than NFL practice squad to the 53 man roster. Once at the NHL level, the ELC minimum is 925k. NFL is 420k.

I'd say the NHL equivalent of a practice squad is their ECHL affiliate. Pretty sure those guys are playing for a sandwich and a six pack, too.