Kevin Everett

(picture from si.com)

Well I'm sure most Buffalo Sports fans know that Kevin Everett is the cover boy for SI this week, so much better then having it being Michael Vick, and details his recovery in this nice piece. I choose the picture above because theres something about the look in Kevin's face. Like I knew I would get here. Nothing is holding me back. Plus its an image I doubt most of us would see in December, from how things looked in early September.

So where is he now in his progress?

Three months after his injury Everett is in the midst of a heartwarming recovery. He walks unaided at a slow, steady clip for the distance of about half a football field. (A speedier pace or a longer walk can push him off balance, though that should be alleviated as his core muscles strengthen.) He can raise his arms above his head with effort and is gradually recovering the fine motor skills in his hands and fingertips. He has lost roughly 35 pounds from his playing weight of 260, but he looks vibrant if, at 6' 4'', slender. His other bodily functions are fully intact. Five days a week, four hours a day, he has physical therapy at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research at Memorial Hermann Medical Center in Houston, calling on a lifetime of athletic training to push himself.

For where he was, I think most of us would take that 2 years from the injury. But only 3 months. It shows how quality medical care is now, and the condition of the modern athlete. He will only get stronger and come back to a normal self. Not a normal football self, but someone who can lead a full, long life.

You read through the piece and you look at how everything came together, from the injury not severing the spinal cord, leading to the hypothermia treatment to work wonders on the injury he did suffer. To Cappuccino going to a talk and just having the EMTs stock the cool saline solution. If he just heard the talk and was like mmm, neat idea and didn't follow through, who knows where Kevin would be today. The quality of care at Gates Circle and all the follow through on everyones part. Everything worked right and now Kevin Everett can walk again after 3 months.

This does show a glowing review of the Bills medical staff and their treatment. How they treated the Everett family as well. As a football player and free agent, how a team treats them medically and with their family can only be a good selling point in the future for the Bills. Plus they have a ton of money available next season. Money to put this team as a contender for the AFC.