INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) – There can only be one winner in Sunday’s Super Bowl but for two opposing players, a bigger battle has already been won, victory over cancer.
New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich and New England Patriots offensive lineman Marcus Cannon have both had to deal with life-threatening illness and came through their treatment to achieve their sporting dream, a place in the biggest game in American sport.
After an outstanding season for Boston College, Herzlich was diagnosed, in May 2009, with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer affecting bone and soft tissue.
He underwent a six month course of chemotherapy and radiation and also needed surgery and a titanium rod inserted into his leg, which remains in place to strengthen his bone.
The linebacker said his aim of making it in the National Football League (NFL) motivated him through the arduous treatment.
“Playing football again was the goal and that really pushed me. After six hours of chemotherapy you’re sitting there and your body just feels drained,” he said.
“You don’t want to move but I said ‘I am going to be playing football again in eight months, so I need to go and workout. I need to go ride a bike, get
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