During an NFL season that's generated its fair share of squabbling, Twitter meltdowns and in-fighting, here's a more promising development.
Marcus Cannon, the Patriots rookie offensive lineman, is going to play football again.
Cannon completed his treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma this summer and was added to the team's active roster, coach Bill Belichcik told reporters Wednesday.
"This speaks volumes to him as a person, the doctors and the time they've invested. It's a credit to Marcus," Nick Caserio, the Pats personnel director, told the Boston Herald on Tuesday. "I think there's a lot of people happy for him and look forward to continue to work with him in the future."
Cannon, drafted in the fifth round out of TCU, started the season on the non-injury physically unable to perform list. Now cancer-free, he's been practicing with the team since late October.
Already practiced in the ways of Patriots-speak, Cannon was concise when asked where he would line up on the field.
"I play whatever coach (Belichick) tells me to. ... You gotta ask him," Cannon told ESPN Boston.
"A lot of people have had their hand in getting him ready, between the trainers, the doctors, and Marcus himself," Caserio said. "He's done everything that he's been asked to do. He's controlled the things he's controlled. This is a player we liked, coming out of TCU. ... The most important thing was for him to get healthy. And we're at that point."
