Poor Guy

**magicci** · 05-05-2005, 10:55 PM

Panthers' Fields to miss 2005 season due to Hodgkin's diseasePrint this article | Email this article

May 5, 2005

By SportsTicker

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) - Carolina Panthers linebacker Mark Fields will miss the 2005 season due to a recurrence of Hodgkin's disease.

The news was disclosed by Fields' agent Jim Steiner in an e-mail on Thursday.

Fields sat out the 2003 season while he battled the disease but returned last year and recorded 60 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception for Carolina.

Fields, 32, played in the Pro Bowl as an injury substitute and was honored in March at the Ed Block Courage Awards.

Fields wanted to wait until after his annual medical checkup that was part of the cancer treatment before signing a contract extension with the Panthers.

Doctors discovered during tests this past week that the Hodgkin's has returned and is in the early stages.

Fields originally was diagnosed with the disease during training camp in August 2003. Shortly after, linebackers coach Sam Mills revealed that he had intestinal cancer. Mills died after a nearly two-year battle with the disease on April 18.

Fields spent his first six years with the New Orleans Saints and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2000. He signed with St. Louis as a free agent in 2001 before joining the Panthers in 2002.

**michaelmazid** · 05-06-2005, 02:56 AM

Sad Story but not sad-er than randy laying the smack down on his azzz.

**DarrinNelsonguy** · 05-06-2005, 04:03 AM

Man how much more bad luck can the Panthers have, first with the Sam Mills passing and now this. Wish the Panthers football family nothing but the best right now.