Everett honored by Bills

The Buffalo Bills today announced that TE Kevin Everett was selected as the team's Ed Block Courage Award winner.

The Ed Block Courage Award is presented to the Buffalo Bills player who exemplifies a commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. The recipient symbolizes professionalism, great strength, dedication and serves as a community role model for others.

Everett will take part in the 30th annual national Ed Block Courage Awards Foundation ceremony on March 11 at Martin's West in Baltimore, MD and he will be honored with the 31 other award representatives from each NFL team.

Third-year tight end Kevin Everett suffered a cervical spine fracture while tackling Denver's Domenik Hixon in kick return coverage during the first play of the second half of week one's contest against the Denver Broncos.

Everett was removed from the field in an ambulance and taken to Buffalo's Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital for surgery. Everett suffered a fracture dislocation between the third and fourth cervical vertebrae. The surgery was performed by team orthopedist Dr. Andrew Cappuccino, who specializes in injuries of the spine.

Nearly four months after lying on the Ralph Wilson Stadium field paralyzed, Everett is slowly recovering and regaining use of his body. He walks unaided at a slow and steady pace. Everett made his first visit to Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 23rd where he walked through the locker room and greeted each player on the team prior to the kickoff of Buffalo's game against the New York Giants.

As documented in a feature article written by Sports Illustrated, Everett can raise his arms above his head and is gradually recovering the fine motor skills in his hands and fingertips.

Everett returned to his home in Houston, TX in late September and began an intense rehabilitation program at Memorial Hermann TIRR Hospital. After nearly two months at Memorial TIRR, he was released from the facility in late November.

Currently, for five days a week, four hours a day, Everett participates in physical therapy sessions at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research at Memorial Hermann Medical Center in Houston. Week by week, Everett continues to show improvement.

Kevin Everett has displayed a tremendous amount of courage as he continues to undergo rehabilitation from such a devastating injury. In a short period of time, he has represented the epitome of courage, strength and dedication throughout the past four months.

The award is named for Ed Block, the former Head Athletic Trainer of the Baltimore Colts from 1954 through 1977 and continued to serve the team until his death in 1983. Block, a WWII veteran, cared for his player's physical health as well as for the well being of countless children. The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation promotes the prevention of child abuse by raising awareness of the epidemic and assisting agencies who provide for the care and treatment of abused children in communities throughout the National Football League (NFL).