Panthers LB coach Mills dies
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Sam Mills, an undersized linebacker who became a Pro Bowl player with New Orleans and Carolina and was later an assistant coach for the Panthers, died Monday after fighting cancer for nearly two years, the Panthers said. He was 45.
Mills, who was diagnosed with cancer of the small intestine in August 2003 but continued to coach Carolina's linebackers between chemotherapy treatments, died at his home.
"Sam was one of the finest people you will ever meet. You would never know that he was a player who made Pro Bowls and had all this attention because he treated everybody the same no matter who they were," Carolina general manager Marty Hurney said. "He never had a bad thing to say about anybody and had a great ability to laugh at himself.
"He was the type of guy you want your kids to grow up to be."
Mills' football career was a study in perseverance.
"I've been a free agent in every league, except the WFL," Mills, who wasn't around for that earlier adventure, once said. "I was a free agent out of college in the Cleveland camp. They cut me. Too short. Then I was a free agent in the Canadian League with Toronto. They cut me, too. Still too short."
Mills, who was diagnosed with cancer of the small intestine in August 2003 but continued to coach Carolina's linebackers between chemotherapy treatments, died at his home.
"Sam was one of the finest people you will ever meet. You would never know that he was a player who made Pro Bowls and had all this attention because he treated everybody the same no matter who they were," Carolina general manager Marty Hurney said. "He never had a bad thing to say about anybody and had a great ability to laugh at himself.
"He was the type of guy you want your kids to grow up to be."
Mills' football career was a study in perseverance.
"I've been a free agent in every league, except the WFL," Mills, who wasn't around for that earlier adventure, once said. "I was a free agent out of college in the Cleveland camp. They cut me. Too short. Then I was a free agent in the Canadian League with Toronto. They cut me, too. Still too short."
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