[rusculture]

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Buffalo Bills reserve tight end Kevin Everett had surgery Sunday after injuring his spine on a kickoff against the Denver Broncos, and there is concern about whether he will be able to walk again.
"He's had some sparse movement," Everett's agent Brian Overstreet told The Associated Press in a phone interview late Sunday."The next couple of days is going to be critical," said Overstreet, responding to a question about paralysis. "Our concern is for him to come out of this healthy and, hopefully, be able to walk again."
Overstreet said Everett came out of a "lengthy surgery" Sunday evening and the plan was for his mother, Patricia Dugas, to arrive from Texas on Monday.
Everett fell to the ground and never moved after a helmet-to-helmet hit when he tackled Denver's Domenik Hixon during a kickoff to open the second half. Everett was placed on a backboard with his head and body immobilized, and carefully loaded into an ambulance at the Broncos 30.
The game was delayed for about 15 minutes, and the Bills gathered at the sideline while doctors attended to the player.
At 9:45 p.m., as he was leaving Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital, Bills' tight end Ryan Neufeld told Buffalo's WIVB-TV the surgery "went well as far as we can tell and he's recovering right now."
Bills general manager Marv Levy said doctors informed the team that it's too early to determine the severity of the injury and they will know more after monitoring the player overnight.
"Certainly, we feel the injury is serious, but I don't want to speculate, and that's what the doctors told us," Levy told The Associated Press. "They told us to wait to hear from them before making any speculative announcement."
Coach Dick Jauron said immediately following the game that the player sustained a cervical spine injury, but wouldn't discuss the severity of the injury.
Everett's injury cast a pall over the Bills following a season-opening 15-14 loss, with several players expressing concern about their teammate.
"It was real hard," cornerback Terrence McGee said. "I watched the whole thing and he never moved. ... It's real sad to see him go off on a stretcher, but we hope he's OK."
"It's real sad," added receiver Roscoe Parrish, who played with Everett at the University of Miami. "When something like that happens to a close friend of yours, and you know how much he loves football, it bothers you."
Denver players expressed concern, including kicker Jason Elam, who kicked the winning field goal as time ran out.
Before taking questions after the game, Elam said: "What we heard is not good, so for our whole team, our prayers go out to him."
Buffalo's third-round draft pick in 2005, Everett missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, and spent most of his second season limited to special teams duty.
The Bills liked Everett's 6-foot-4 frame, and were counting on him to play a role in their passing attack this season.
Buffalo also lost three defensive starters to injury.
Free safety Ko Simpson is out indefinitely after breaking his left ankle. Cornerback Jason Webster is out indefinitely after breaking his forearm in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Coy Wire, filling in for injured starter Keith Ellison, sprained his knee in the first quarter.
Simpson was hurt when he had his feet cut out from beneath him by teammate Jason Webster as the two were attempting to tackle Broncos receiver Javon Walker. Simpson fell immediately to the ground and was unable to put any weight on his left foot.
Buffalo's fourth-round pick in the 2006 draft, Simpson started 15 games last season, and was a member of the NFL's youngest safety tandem, playing alongside rookie first-round pick Donte Whitner.
Third-year player Jim Leonhard took over for Simpson.
Wire was examined on the sideline, but made his way to the locker room on his own. Reserve Mario Haggan replaced Wire.
It's unclear when Webster was hurt. The Bills signed the seven-year NFL veteran last spring to take over as starter after losing Nate Clements to San Francisco in free agency.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7207544

[Unonounaple]

I just read that. Awful. I really hope the kid is alright.

[blackjackblax]

I didn't see the hit, but man, hope he's ok.

[soprofaxelbis]

Iw as watching the game when it happend and I said to my wife that guy is out cold. Then I saw the replay. Helmet down. You can not lead with your helmet.

What got be is the announcers were saying it was a perfect form tackle. I sure didn't see it that way.

I hope he is ok and will just be able to walk again. Forget about playing football.

[Aagotiq]

Everett under sedation after neck injury

[surefireinvest]

Everett under sedation after neck injury

Wow. I just read something like that on Yahoo. It says it is unlikely he will walk again. That is terrible, I really feel sorry for Kevin Everett and his family.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

[juidizHusw]

I absolutely hate to see this happen. what a horrible day for him and his family and it can only get worse when the 'wake him up' and break him the news.

[UltraSearchs]

I absolutely hate to see this happen. what a horrible day for him and his family and it can only get worse when the 'wake him up' and break him the news.

According to SportsCenter, about an hour ago Everett started moving his arms and legs.....and in fact the docters believe he will walk again...very very very good news.

[Hinigyday]

According to SportsCenter, about an hour ago Everett started moving his arms and legs.....and in fact the docters believe he will walk again...very very very good news.

That's great. There's a medication that EMTs/Paramedics can given spinal cord injury patients at the scene of the accident which greatly improves the person's chances of recovery. Hopefully, he got the medicine in time and he'l be able to walk again (or, at least, use his arms).

[CelexaNY]

Encouraging news. It would be great if he could walk again.

[Juersdodfs]

According to SportsCenter, about an hour ago Everett started moving his arms and legs.....and in fact the docters believe he will walk again...very very very good news.

Yeah it was really good to hear about that. The entire situation is just really sad.

[alenbarbaf]

That's great. There's a medication that EMTs/Paramedics can given spinal cord injury patients at the scene of the accident which greatly improves the person's chances of recovery. Hopefully, he got the medicine in time and he'l be able to walk again (or, at least, use his arms).

I heard that he received some treatment within minutes of the injury. That is probably what you are talking about.

After hearing how bleak they thought the outcome would be at first, this is most excellent news!

[bahrains27]

the doctor went as far as saying he(Everett) will walk out of the hospital. awesome.

[QiuCIOdO]

the doctor went as far as saying he(Everett) will walk out of the hospital. awesome.

That is awesome. Gave me chills.

I was listening to ESPN this morning and they were talking about a IV they gave him to prevent the injury from spreading or effecting the rest of his spinal cord. Didn't really catch it all but thought it was interesting.

[jokilewqs]

That is awesome. Gave me chills.

I was listening to ESPN this morning and they were talking about a IV they gave him to prevent the injury from spreading or effecting the rest of his spinal cord. Didn't really catch it all but thought it was interesting.

yeah pretty neat.

the liquid is cool, it keeps the body at around 90 degrees to prevent swelling from getting any worse apparently. they said it was the first time it was ever administered as quickly as it was Sunday, something like 5-10 minutes after the injury. could be a huge breakthrough.