New York Giants' Mark Herzlich turning page on cancer for NFL New York
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Mark Herzlich is putting his battle with cancer behind him and looking to a new chapter in his life -- as an NFL player with the New York Giants.Week Replica Eli Manning Jersey White 1: Giants at RedskinsWill Big Blue return to the playoffs? The quest begins: Giants Center Blog The recently turned 24-year-old linebacker is never going to forget cancer. That's impossible.There's a titanium rod in his left leg as a constant reminder of the rare form of bone cancer that Hakeem Nicks Jersey White caused him to miss the 2009 season at Boston College. If that isn't enough, Authentic Cedric Benson Jersey Orange there are memories of the draining effects of chemotherapy Replica Clay Matthews Jersey Black and radiation, and those lingering doubts about life.It's always there. Things like that never go away.But Herzlich doesn't want the past to define his Terrell Owens Jersey Orange life. It's time to move on and play the game he loves, and Monday was the official first day of his NFL career."I want to go from Replica Eli Manning Jersey Red being a feel-good story to making an impact on the field," said Herzlich, who talks about his fight with Packers Greg Jennings Premier Jersey cancer without hesitation, while giving clear hints that he would rather be discussing football.That's his life now, and that's his focus.Still, Herzlich can't deny he has beaten the odds. The 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year got back on the field last season with the Eagles, and he made the NFL despite being passed over in the draft.The Giants signed him as a free agent and he impressed everyone in training camp and in four preseason games. The final step was surviving the cuts that reduced the Giants' roster to 53 Packers Greg Jennings Authentic Jersey players Saturday. He Reebok Stevie Johnson Jersey did that, too.Herzlich spent Monday getting ready with his teammates NFL Stevie Johnson Jersey for the season opener against the Redskins in Washington Sunday."I got through today, so that's one day," Herzlich said. "I don't think anyone tries to make the NFL for a day, so we'll see how the career goes."The 6-foot-4, 246-pounder expects a lot out of himself. If he makes a bad play, he expects Premier Cedric Benson Jersey Black to be booed. He doesn't want anyone's sympathy."I expect them to be (angry) at me if I make a bad play," Herzlich said. "I'm Premier Clay Matthews Jersey Blue (angry) at myself if I Terrell Owens Jersey Black make a bad play."I don't think your story is ever over. When you talk about this story that's actually my life; yeah, it's a Replica Eli Manning Jersey Blue story, maybe the book is getting toward the end of the chapter. But that's my life and that's going to keep on going."Lots of changes are going to happen, whether as related to football or what," Herzlich added. "It's time to start a new chapter."Herzlich doesn't know whether he will be active for Premier Eli Manning Jersey Red Sunday's game on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. If he does, his job will be on special teams, an area in which the Giants have struggled in recent years."I think we have a lot to prove. I think that that's what it is with the special teams," Herzlich said. "We want all three phases of the game to be the best that they can be. You said (the special teams play Hakeem Nicks Jersey Red was) sporadic. You saw great things on film from our special teams and then you saw some things that didn't go our way a little bit. We need to shore that up."While the workout on Monday was only a walkthrough, Herzlich noticed the intensity and speed had increased."I think this week it's all about business," he said.This past weekend was more about waiting, hoping and eating to pass the time away. Herzlich and some fellow rookies -- safety Tyler Sash, linebacker Spencer Paysinger and fullback Henry Hynoski -- all went to breakfast at IHOP."We tried to get Premier Eli Manning Jersey Blue our minds off of it by gorging ourselves with pancakes," Herzlich said. "Then I went to Chili's and sat by myself for the afternoon watching the BC football game because I couldn't find it Premier Clay Matthews Jersey Black on TV anywhere else. So I just sat there Premier Cedric Benson Jersey Orange by myself, tried to keep my mind off of it."When Herzlich didn't get a telephone call from the coaching staff by 6 p.m., the deadline to make cut, he waited Authentic Cedric Benson Jersey Black another three minutes and then tweeted to all his friends that he was still a Giant. He gave himself roughly 90 seconds to celebrate and enjoyed all the emails and tweets wishing him well."Then you realize anything can happen from now on," he said. "It's a great feeling to make it this far. I have to keep working and working and working and try to stay on the team."Defensive captain Justin Tuck smiled when asked about Herzlich."It's very hard for me to say anything good about him because he went to BC," said Tuck, a former Notre Dame star. "But you always root for guys like that. He's accomplished so much with all the things he went through. I paid attention to him in college and hopes he returns to that form when he was at BC and help this football team out."Guard Chris Snee, a former Boston College player, said Herzlich was someone who benefited playing in four preseason games instead of two, which some owners wanted in exchange for an 18-game regular season."Everyone knows what Mark has overcome," Snee said. "It just speaks for what type of guy he is and how strong he is."Tackle Kareem McKenzie was impressed with how Premier Eli Manning Jersey White far Herzlich has come since being diagnosed."That's says a lot for anybody to take the worst Authentic Clay Matthews Jersey Black of what life has to offer and to make the best of it and take advantage of the opportunities you are given," McKenzie said. "He definitely has a great work ethic and an unbelievable determination."
Everette Brown, 2009 second-round pick of Carolina Panthers, waived
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers have waived third-year defensive end Everette Brown and claimed defensive tackle Marcus Harrison and four others off waivers.NFC South blogESPN's Pat Yasinskas writes about all things NFC South in his division blog.Blog network: NFL NationBrown was Packers Greg Jennings Jersey the Panthers' second-round pick in 2009 but he never developed into the pass-rushing threat they hoped he'd become. Brown appeared in 28 games (starting Replica Clay Matthews Jersey Blue three) for Carolina and had six sacks and 47 tackles.The Panthers on Sunday claimed Harrison from the Bears, wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu from the Chargers, safety Stevie Brown from Packers Greg Jennings Replica Jersey the Raiders, cornerback Josh Thomas from the Cowboys Hakeem Nicks Jersey Blue and defensive end George Selvie from the Authentic Clay Matthews Jersey Blue Rams.Carolina also signed free agent offensive lineman Max Jean-Gilles to a one-year contract, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus. Jean-Gilles spent the past five seasons with the Eagles, but was cut in the offseason. He signed with Cincinnati but was cut again on Saturday.