NEW ORLEANS -- Just like the Cincinnati Bengals did last Thursday, the New Orleans Saints used the break between the first and second quarters Sunday to recognize Leah Still and her battle with pediatric cancer.
Leah is the 4-year-old daughter of Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, whose fight with neuroblastoma has become an international story that extends beyond the field of play. At the end of August, about three months after Leah was diagnosed, her father was released by the Bengals as they made end-of-preseason roster cuts to get to the current 53-man active roster. Two days later, he was re-signed onto the Bengals' practice squad, helping him retain the NFL's insurance so that he can pay the full amount of Leah's medical treatments.
Still was added onto the active roster a week after that, and appeared in every game since, except for Sunday's. He was inactive.
Although he didn't suit up, Still was on the Bengals' sideline for the game. During the game's first between-quarter break, the Superdome's video board displayed a photo of Leah and Devon Still, along with a message about their efforts to raise funds and awareness about pediatric cancer. For a little over a month, the Bengals sold Still's No. 75 jersey through their pro shop as part of their attempt to help Still get his message out.
While Still's jersey was for sale, the Bengals sold nearly 15,000 of them, raising almost $1.3 million. Between the first and second quarters of last Thursday's nationally televised game against the Cleveland Browns, the Bengals gave a check to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center on behalf of Leah.
Earlier this season, Patriots owner Robert Kraft donated $25,000 in her name for pediatric cancer research efforts. The same night that Kraft's donation was announced, New England Patriots cheerleaders brought Still to tears when they took off their team jackets, revealing the orange-and-black No. 75 Still jerseys they had purchased earlier in the week.
The Patriots' gestures came three weeks after Saints coach Sean Payton purchased 100 of Still's $100 jerseys, and donated them to Cincinnati-area Boys and Girls Clubs.
On Sunday, Still waved from the sideline as the stadium's cameras caught him during the public address announcement.
Still has 17 tackles in eight games this season.
