Mills misses practice, team shuffles coaching assignments
Sept. 1, 2003
SportsLine.com wire reports
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina assistant Sam Mills missed practice Monday, and the Panthers shuffled their coaching staff to relieve Mills as he battles cancer.
"Sam's schedule is going to be strictly up to Sam," coach John Fox said. "When he is here, he is welcome. If he can't make it, we understand."
Defensive assistant Ken Flajole will coach linebackers as Mills' fill-in, and Martin Bayless, who helped Carolina during training camp, was brought back to do quality control and assist with the secondary.
Mills was diagnosed Friday with cancer of the small intestine, hours before he coached the Panthers in their preseason finale. The defensive unit was noticeably flat after learning of Mills' condition, which came just weeks after linebacker Mark Fields was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.
The Panthers have not addressed how serious Mills' condition is and his course of treatment has not been revealed.
Players took the news of Mills' illness hard.
"It's almost 10 years that I've spent with him," said kicker John Kasay, who played with Mills in Carolina's first seasons. "You have no idea the impact that he's had on people, way beyond football. We are praying for him like crazy."
Mills, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, spent the final three seasons of his 12-year NFL career with the Panthers, beginning with their inaugural season in 1995.
There is a statue of him outside Ericsson Stadium and he is the only player in their Hall of Honor. Mike McCormack, Carolina's first team president, is the only other inductee in the Hall.
Mills, 44, a former USFL player, spent his first nine NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He finished his career with 1,319 tackles while starting 173 of 181 games and is also in the Saints Hall of Fame.
He joined the Panthers' coaching staff upon his retirement.
Mills had an upset stomach for several days before seeing a doctor last Wednesday. A series of tests detected the cancer Friday, but Mills resumed his spot in the coaches' box in time for the 21-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Sept. 1, 2003
SportsLine.com wire reports
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina assistant Sam Mills missed practice Monday, and the Panthers shuffled their coaching staff to relieve Mills as he battles cancer.
"Sam's schedule is going to be strictly up to Sam," coach John Fox said. "When he is here, he is welcome. If he can't make it, we understand."
Defensive assistant Ken Flajole will coach linebackers as Mills' fill-in, and Martin Bayless, who helped Carolina during training camp, was brought back to do quality control and assist with the secondary.
Mills was diagnosed Friday with cancer of the small intestine, hours before he coached the Panthers in their preseason finale. The defensive unit was noticeably flat after learning of Mills' condition, which came just weeks after linebacker Mark Fields was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.
The Panthers have not addressed how serious Mills' condition is and his course of treatment has not been revealed.
Players took the news of Mills' illness hard.
"It's almost 10 years that I've spent with him," said kicker John Kasay, who played with Mills in Carolina's first seasons. "You have no idea the impact that he's had on people, way beyond football. We are praying for him like crazy."
Mills, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, spent the final three seasons of his 12-year NFL career with the Panthers, beginning with their inaugural season in 1995.
There is a statue of him outside Ericsson Stadium and he is the only player in their Hall of Honor. Mike McCormack, Carolina's first team president, is the only other inductee in the Hall.
Mills, 44, a former USFL player, spent his first nine NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He finished his career with 1,319 tackles while starting 173 of 181 games and is also in the Saints Hall of Fame.
He joined the Panthers' coaching staff upon his retirement.
Mills had an upset stomach for several days before seeing a doctor last Wednesday. A series of tests detected the cancer Friday, but Mills resumed his spot in the coaches' box in time for the 21-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service