Bills Release Everett
Posted by jannelle on May 15, 2008
The Buffalo Bills released TE Kevin Everett Tuesday so he can start receiving disability benefits for the Sept. Spinal Cord injury that cost him his career and nearly cost him his life.
According to AP reports, Everett is now eligible to apply for long term disability benefits, and a one time, lump sum payment under the league’s Health Reimbursement Program.
While this is an honorable and admirable gesture by the Bills, I have two burning questions. Those questions are:
Is there a guarantee that Kevin Everett would receive his benefits in a timely manner?
Will what the NFL has under their Pension/Disability plan be enough for Everett’s expenses?
Right now, there is a war going on with the NFL Players Association and retired NFL Players over Pension and benefits. There are so many retired NFL players that are suffering with severe, life altering injuries. These men paid countless visits to doctors all across the country. The doctor are all saying that most of these guys are in a bad, bad way but yet the NFL still would not get off of the dime and give these men reasonable benefits. This $5 billion a year business is rationing out anemic benefit packages, and it is not fair at all.
We can only hope that the league will do right by Everett. If not, hopefully the Bills can set up a fund separate from the league.
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