This past Sunday, Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett was very nearly paralyzed in a brutal on-field collision during the Bills' game against the Denver Broncos. Doctors originally thought that chances of a full recovery were 80-90% against, with a strong possibility that he would be a quadrapeligic; today, the Port Arthur-raised Everett is moving his limbs and breathing on his own, and his family and doctors are optimistic for a full recovery.
Everett played high school football at Port Arthur Memorial High, and later at Kilgore College in east Texas before transferring to Miami. Since entering the NFL in 2006, he has returned to Port Arthur to host a football camp for high school kids. Students at Memorial wore arm bands this week as a show of support for his condition.
Every once in a while, it's refreshing to put aside the snark and cynicism that typifies sports commentary, overlook the corruption, cheating, and off-field antics of its players and coaches, and focus on a story that reminds us of what sports can really do for a community. They bring us together to rejoice in the victories, and (as in the case of Everett) rally us around our fallen heroes. We at Houstonist wish Kevin Everett all the best for a speedy recovery for this harrowing injury.
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