NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Cannon, Pats bound for Super Bowl

The city of Odessa will have a vested interest when Super Bowl XLVI rolls around in February.

Odessa High School graduate Marcus Cannon is a member of the New England Patriots team that will play Feb. 5 against the New York Giants at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 23-20 Sunday at Gillette Stadium in New England. Cannon, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma eight days before the 2011 NFL Draft started, appeared as a substitute in the game.

Back at home, Cannon’s siblings were overjoyed, to say the least, after Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff missed a field goal with 11 seconds left in regulation that would have sent the game to overtime.

“Everyone was excited, but I was the only one jumping up and down,” said Jasmine Cannon, Marcus Cannon’s sister. “We couldn’t believe it.”

Jasmine Cannon said a small group of immediate family members gathered at her uncle Alan’s house to watch the game and cheer for her brother. She said the environment was “pretty tense” when Ravens wide receiver Lee Evans almost caught a potential game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds left in the game, but that changed after Cundiff hooked a 32-yard field goal.

“All I could say was, ‘Thank you Jesus, we’re going to the Super Bowl,’ ” Jasmine Cannon said of the missed field goal. “I haven’t talked to him in awhile, but I’m going to have a lot to say to him pretty soon.”

Jasmine Cannon said her older brother normally calls a day before or after a game and speaks for a few minutes with their parents, Holly and Ebbie Cannon, before he gets back to his football schedule. Ebbie Cannon said this week had a different routine because the AFC Championship was on the line.

“I usually send Marcus a text three days before a game,” Ebbie Cannon said. “But I didn’t call him because I figured they were pretty focused on Saturday’s game.”

Ron King, who was the defensive coordinator when Marcus Cannon played for the Bronchos, said the Patriots rookie is a great role model.

“We’re real proud of him,” said King, the current head football coach at Odessa High. “For the things he was able to accomplish, and to overcome the adversity with his health, it’s a credit to him and his family. It’s a true measure of his faith.

“He’s been a great representative for Odessa High and the city.”

Marcus Cannon is following in the footsteps of Ed Williams. An Ector High School graduate, Williams was a substitute for New England in Super Bowl XX. The Patriots lost that game 46-10 to the Chicago Bears in the Louisiana Superdome.

Odessa High boys head track and field coach Randy Thompson said he was proud of his former athlete.

“He was determined, knew what he wanted and got it,” Thompson said. “It makes you feel good to know that you were there to see him develop and become a man.

“In coaching, you don’t have that very often.”

Ebbie Cannon said he credits TCU offensive line coach Eddie Williamson for instilling a “workman-like” attitude into his son.

“He kept him on the right path,” Ebbie Cannon said of Williamson. “He turned into a father figure for Marcus because I wasn’t able to travel to TCU that much.”

Marcus Cannon enjoyed a four-year career at TCU, playing right and left tackle for the football team and competing in track and field in shot put. In his senior season, Marcus Cannon started at left tackle after playing right for the first three years and earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors. He helped TCU defeat Wisconsin in the 2011 Rose Bowl and participated in the NFL Combine.

Marcus Cannon was rated a second day (Rounds 2 and 3) pick by NFL.com, while the Boston Globe said he could have been a first-round pick had he been healthy.

Marcus Cannon told the Odessa American in a Dec. 23, 2011, story that, “Everything happens for a reason,” in reference to his lymphoma diagnosis and that, “It happened right when it was supposed to happen.”

Marcus Cannon underwent chemotherapy for months being cleared to play. He was added to the Patriots’ 53-man roster on Nov. 15, 2011.

On Jan. 5, Marcus Cannon was chosen as the Patriots’ Ed Block Courage Award winner. While he was out, Marcus Cannon continued to sit in meetings and observed his teammates take reps, but was not able to practice.

“Great selection,’’ Patriots head coach Bill Belichick told the Boston Globe in a Jan. 6 story. “Marcus has gone through a lot this year. He’s certainly had to deal with a lot more than a normal rookie would have to deal with, which is a big transition as it is, just coming into this league. He dealt with a lot very maturely and unselfishly.”

Jasmine Cannon said she credits her brother’s unwavering faith, and a higher power, for allowing this special moment to occur.

‘It was all God,” Jasmine Cannon said. “It’s great to see him grow from, a low point, last April’s diagnosis, to a high point, getting to the Super Bowl.”

The Cannon family isn’t sure how it will get to Indianapolis for the big game, but it is certain there will be a few seats reserved.

“I’m pretty sure he’ll save us a few tickets,” said Ebbie Cannon, chuckling.

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