Everett may attend Bills home finale agains Giants

Bills invite TE Kevin Everett to attend home finale against New York Giants

By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer
December 19, 2007

Getty Images - Nov 19, 12:10 am EST

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- The Bills are making plans for tight end Kevin Everett to attend the team's home finale Sunday, which would be his first trip back to Buffalo since sustaining a serious spinal cord injury.

"We're working on it, but we're not positive," Bills general manager Marv Levy told The Associated Press late Wednesday. Levy said the invitation was extended by Russ Brandon, the team's executive vice president of business operations.

Brandon did not immediately return a message.

Attending the game against the New York Giants would mark the latest step in Everett's remarkable recovery. The player was initially paralyzed from the neck down while attempting to tackle Domenik Hixon during a kickoff return in the Bills season opener against Denver on Sept. 9.

Hixon, who now plays for the Giants, was told Wednesday that Everett is supposed to attend the game, Hixon's agent, Eric Metz said.

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"Nothing formal has been set yet, but I'm sure they'll meet up," Metz said.

Everett had informed his Bills teammates last month that he hoped to attend the game against the Giants.

Eric Armstead, an associate of Everett's agent, Brian Overstreet, declined comment.

Released last month from a Houston facility, Everett is walking on his own and continues to attend daily rehab sessions as an outpatient.

Bills coach Dick Jauron said he didn't know whether Everett would attend the game.

"It would be an unbelievable thing," he said. "To have him back in the facility and to see him walk and then, hopefully, if he does come back, address his teammates, would be great."

Everett's already making other public appearance plans. He's scheduled to be the guest speaker at Port Arthur Memorial High School's football banquet on Jan. 10, said Kenny Harrison, the school's offensive coordinator who coached Everett in high school.

 

Everett?s plans unclear
Bills won?t comment on possible visit
By Mark Gaughan NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Updated: 12/23/07 6:47 AM

It remained uncertain Saturday whether Kevin Everett would appear at today?s game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The Bills refused to confirm whether Everett was going to make an emotional return, as scheduled, or whether he had a change of heart and decided against appearing in a pregame ceremony.

A source close to Everett in Houston told The Buffalo News that Everett had reservations about being the center of attention at the game and had opted not to travel to Buffalo on Saturday. The Bills would not comment.

The Bills had been in talks with Everett this week about appearing at the home finale, and he had agreed to come, weather permitting, sources told The News.

Appearing at the game would be just the latest significant event in Everett?s extraordinary recovery from the catastrophic injury he suffered at the Bills? home opener Sept. 9.

Everett suffered a severe spinal cord injury and initially was paralyzed from the neck down while attempting to tackle Denver?s Domenik Hixon.

The 25-year-old Everett is walking unaided. He can raise his arms above his head with effort. He is regaining the motor skills in his hands.

Everett?s improvement has continued throughout his treatment at Houston?s Memorial Hermann Hospital rehabilitation center. Everett goes for rehabilitation treatments five days a week. He has been in his hometown since leaving Buffalo?s Millard Fillmore Hospital on Sept. 16. He was released from Memorial Hermann five weeks ago.

Hixon will play in the game today. He was cut by Denver in October and picked up by the Giants.

The Bills? players have been in frequent contact with Everett since his injury. Most players, however, have not seen Everett in person since he left Buffalo.