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.
According to NFL.com, Kevin Everett is walking unassisted at a Houston rehab center. This is the latest in milestones by the Bills TE in his revovery from September’s spinal cord injury that nearly cost him his life. According to an Everett friend, Kevin is not at natural stride but he’s walking.
The person also added that Everett has been walking since his release from Memoral Herman/TIRR. Everett attends daily rehab sessions.
Calling Everett’s recovery phenomenal is an understatement. Like I said previously, this is a Miracle in progress.. I know you all remembered what the doctors said, right? They said that Everett would never walk again. They wasn’t even sure if Everett was going to live at one point. But the grace of God proved these ‘experts’ wrong!
Continue to keep Kevin and his family in your prayers!
In his second phase of recovery from a severe spinal cord injury, Bills TE Kevin Everett is making noticiable strides!
Right now, Everett has enough of strenght to support himself on a walker and he can use his feet to push a wheelchair. According to Eric Armstead, assistant to Everett’s agent, Kevin can also open and close both hands.
While Everett still have a way to go before complete recovery, he is in a better position than before.
When the injury occured on Sept. 9, Doctors feared that the Former Hurricane TE will never walk again. But they changed thier tune when Everett began to show voluntary movement in his legs and hands. After that, the doctors wanted to say that applying some sort of compress helped stablized and enable movement. While that may be true in a practical and medical sense, the compress or whatever the doctors used is just half of the story here. Everett’s miraculous turnaround is the work of GOD!
Now, I didn’t watch the first half of the Dallas/Buffalo game because I figured that it was not a lot to see, and I did not miss much. However, I tuned in after halftime to find that the Bills were actually leading. The Bills capatialized off of Romo’s interceptions, and had a legitimate chance until they choked late in the game. Trent Edwards’ interception late in the 4th cost the Bills the win. If it weren’t for that and if Buffalo recovered the onside kick, these guys could have pulled off the biggest upset of the season.
It was a great effort by both of these teams. Buffalo showed some grit and tough defense while Dallas showed resiellence. Unfortunately, in the game’s aftermath, there were quite a few reporters that game Romo credit. Credit for what? he damn near lost that game. To me, the Cowboys’ defense, special teams, and to an extent, TO deserves the credit for the win.
Sunday, we will see how good Dallas is when they face New England. Now,this is a great matchup between two undefeated teams, and worth watching on all levels. Sadly, I cannot say that same thing about the pregame shows this week. The week’s shows will be like a man crush convention.
New England went on one hell of a shopping spree during this offseason-picking up WR’s Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth, and LB Adalieus Thomas. These additions only made a strong team even stronger. However, there is one caveat and that is can Moss keep his attitude in check. While Moss is talented, he is also locker room poison. Now, this guy is in a great place and hopefully he can just play the game and stay out of trouble.
Thomas gives this defense a needed shot in the arm. His versatility can give the Patriots defense different and unique looks. This team have all the ingredients for a Super Bowl ring.
2007 projected record 14-2
2.Jets
This tough, scrappy team fought its way to a 10-6 record and a wild card spot last year. This year, expect the same tenacity from this team. While the Jets’ offensive and defensive units are nowhere among the top of the league. They seemed to get the job done. I look for Thomas Jones to bail Chad Pennington out of some situations.
2007 projected record 10-6
3.Bills
Buffalo may be an AFC darkhorse this year becasue of Marshawn Lynch and the emergence of JP Lossman. However, the defense is lacking. The Bills lost LB’s London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes, and I am not sure about any solid replacements.
2007 projected record 8-8
4.Dolphins
One, Trent Green will not help people forget about Dan Marino. Two, I expect them to somewhere in the top ten of next year’s draft. Miami is on the clock.
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Jets
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