Marcus Cannon
Encyclopedia
Marcus Darell Cannon is an American football
offensive guard with the New England Patriots
of the National Football League
. Prior to the 2011 NFL Draft
, Cannon was considered one of the top offensive guard prospects; the Patriots selected Cannon in the fifth round with the 138th pick. He played college football
at Texas Christian University
, where he played offensive tackle.
During the 2011 NFL Combine
, Cannon's physical showed irregularities; further testing led to a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
, for which Cannon underwent treatment during the summer of 2011.
, where he played right tackle for his first three seasons, before switching to left tackle his senior year, protecting the blind side of quarterback Andy Dalton
. In 2009, he did not give up a single sack; in 2010 he was part of an offensive line that gave up a total of just nine sacks all year.
. Cannon's late selection in the draft is widely attributed to him being diagnosed with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma
pre-draft. Weighing in at 358 pounds at the NFL Combine, Cannon is the heaviest player ever drafted by the Patriots, and the second-heaviest player in team history after nose tackle Ted Washington
. (At TCU's pro day in March 2011, Cannon was measured at 349 pounds.) Although he played offensive tackle throughout his TCU career, the Patriots listed Cannon as an offensive guard when announcing the pick.
Cannon was activated to the 53-man roster after the Patriots' Week 10 game against the New York Jets
, and saw his first snaps in the NFL at right tackle on the Patriots' final drive against the Kansas City Chiefs
in Week 11.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive guard with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Prior to the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
, Cannon was considered one of the top offensive guard prospects; the Patriots selected Cannon in the fifth round with the 138th pick. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
, where he played offensive tackle.
During the 2011 NFL Combine
NFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
, Cannon's physical showed irregularities; further testing led to a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a diverse group of blood cancers that include any kind of lymphoma except Hodgkin's lymphomas. Types of NHL vary significantly in their severity, from indolent to very aggressive....
, for which Cannon underwent treatment during the summer of 2011.
Collegiate career
Cannon played college football at Texas Christian UniversityTexas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
, where he played right tackle for his first three seasons, before switching to left tackle his senior year, protecting the blind side of quarterback Andy Dalton
Andy Dalton
Andrew Grant Dalton is an ex-All Blacks rugby union player who captained the side 17 times in tests...
. In 2009, he did not give up a single sack; in 2010 he was part of an offensive line that gave up a total of just nine sacks all year.
New England Patriots (2011-present)
The Patriots drafted Cannon in the fifth round of the draft, with the 138th pick, acquired in a trade from the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Cannon's late selection in the draft is widely attributed to him being diagnosed with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a diverse group of blood cancers that include any kind of lymphoma except Hodgkin's lymphomas. Types of NHL vary significantly in their severity, from indolent to very aggressive....
pre-draft. Weighing in at 358 pounds at the NFL Combine, Cannon is the heaviest player ever drafted by the Patriots, and the second-heaviest player in team history after nose tackle Ted Washington
Ted Washington
Theodore Washington, Jr. is a former American football nose tackle. He was originally drafted out of Louisville by the San Francisco 49ers, 25th overall in the 1991 NFL Draft, but also played for the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders and Cleveland...
. (At TCU's pro day in March 2011, Cannon was measured at 349 pounds.) Although he played offensive tackle throughout his TCU career, the Patriots listed Cannon as an offensive guard when announcing the pick.
2011 season
Cannon began the 2011 season on the Non-Football Injury list as he recuperated from his chemotherapy treatment, which took place during the NFL lockout.Cannon was activated to the 53-man roster after the Patriots' Week 10 game against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and saw his first snaps in the NFL at right tackle on the Patriots' final drive against the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
in Week 11.