Bills TE undergoes surgery
Bills' Everett has surgery after severe neck injury
Associated Press
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Kevin Everett underwent surgery on Sunday evening, hours after the reserve tight end showed no signs of movement after sustaining a cervical spine injury in the Buffalo Bills season opener against the Denver Broncos.
Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold said he was informed by the team's medical staff the player went into surgery at a Buffalo hospital at about 8 p.m. Berchtold said he had no further information, and didn't know whether Everett had shown any signs of movement since he was driven off the field in an ambulance.
Bills lose three starters
It was a difficult day of injuries for the Bills, who also lost three defensive starters in the 15-14 loss to the Broncos.
Free safety Ko Simpson is out indefinitely after breaking his left ankle. Cornerback Jason Webster is also out indefinitely after breaking his forearm in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Coy Wire, who was filling in for injured starter Keith Ellison, was lost when he sprained his knee in the first quarter. More
» Week 1 injuries 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.
The player's agent Brian Overstreet was not immediately available for comment.
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.
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 defensive starters Ko Simpson, Cory Wire and Jason Webster to injuries.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.
WOW this really sucks
