Leah Still, the cancer-stricken daughter of Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, has been a positive story in the NFL - a league laid low in the media in recent seasons thanks to star players allegedly involved in murder, acts of domestic violence and drunk driving.
But now, that feel-good story has taken a bit of a blow, as it was revealed today by Leah's mother via Michael O'Keeffe of the New York Daily News, that Still hasn't paid child support for his ailing daughter in four months.
"I don't consider him a deadbeat dad," Channing Smythe, mother of 4-year-old Leah, told the Daily News. "I know he loves and cares for his daughter and he is there for her. I just need him to help me financially."
Still will make $570,000 for this season, but after a family law attorney contacted him and demanded he pay his outstanding child support, he allegedly called Smythe and told her he wouldn't pay anything and would see her in court.
Now, Smythe says that she and Leah are teetering on the cusp of homelessness because of Still's refusal to provide child support.
Noted civil rights attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing Smythe, delivered a letter addressed to NFL vice president Jeffrey Pash on Tuesday asking that the league pursue an investigation into whether or not Still had violated the terms of the Personal Conduct Policy.
"I don't think it is fair that Devon Still, who is Leah's father, has refused to pay any child support for her for the months of August, September, October and November of this year," Smythe said in a declaration that accompanied the letter.
Smythe, who lives in Delaware with Leah, went on to say in the declaration that she cannot currently work because of the extent of full-time care and treatment she must provide for her daughter. She also claimed to have been forced to accept food stamps during the months of July, August and October.
Early Wednesday morning, Still tweeted a quote credited to Oprah Winfrey, which some speculate is a response to the allegations:
"Truth allows you to live with integrity. Everything you do and say shows the world who you really are." Need I say more?
— Devon Still (@Dev_Still71) November 26, 2014
He and agent Drew Rosenhaus have not yet offered comment on the situation otherwise.
Despite the recent difficulties and Still's refusal to pay, Smythe says she knows that Still - who travels to Delaware every week to visit Leah - is a good father and genuinely loves his daughter.
"I am happy that Devon visits Leah in the hospital and cares about her," Smythe said. "I have always encouraged Devon to be involved in her life. I know that he is a good parent to her and that he loves her, but she needs and deserves both love and child support. Every parent owes that to their child."
