Chemotherapy sidelines Panthers linebacker again

Thursday, July 14, 2005 | 10:57 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

Carolina linebacker Mark Fields picked up an ESPY Award for best comeback Wednesday night before he begins treatment for a recurrence of Hodgkin's disease.

"This will be some inspiration," Fields said, holding his trophy.

He will start a round of chemotherapy Thursday at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and will miss the upcoming NFL season.

"My intentions are to come back again," he said. "If you're going to get cancer, this is kind of the one to get."

Sidelined because of cancer for the first time in 2003 when the Panthers made the Super Bowl, Fields returned last season and made the Pro Bowl for the second time. He had 60 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.

This week, the Seahawks will come to him.

The team plans to watch Boulware work out today. The session is designed to allay injury concerns that have left the former Pro Bowl linebacker unemployed since May.

Boulware is set to work out in Tallahassee, Fla., where he attended Florida State University. The Seahawks plan to attend, although president Tim Ruskell was not expected to make the trip.

Boulware has not played since suffering a knee injury during a Dec. 21, 2003 game between his Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns. A toe injury has also slowed him.

Jefferson, who played at Wisconsin, is the first Saints 2005 draft choice to agree to terms. A 6-foot-1, 305 pounder, Jefferson was a three-year starter for the Badgers. He had 100 tackles (44 solo), five sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 41 games.

Hawkins is the fifth Packers draft pick to sign. Hawkins, 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds, played only a year of college football at Oklahoma in 2002.