An article in yesterday’s Buffalo News (www.BuffaloNews.com) reported that the Bills have released tight end Kevin Everett so that he might apply for NFLPA disability benefits. The article noted that he may be eligible for “active football” benefits which pay $224,000 per year. He may also be eligible for a $75,000 supplemental benefit. We are all familiar with the incredible story of Kevin’s miraculous recovery from his neck fracture and paralysis. His inspirational story has been made into a book: “Standing Tall: the Kevin Everett Story”. He has been featured in Sports Illustrated and has appeared on Oprah. As a life-long Bills fan, I have been cheering for Kevin all the way. As a disability attorney, I’m holding my breath to see what the NFLPA does with his disability application! How many “neutral” physicians will they send him to see? Will one of these doctors opine against “total and permanent” disability because they think he might be able to do “some kind of sedentary work where he can rest frequently”? Dave Pear’s case was turned down by the NFLPA because the neutral physician was of that opinion – in spite of an “80% or greater disability rating to his spine”. I haven’t seen Kevin’s medical records, but from the reports of his miraculous recovery, I would be surprised if his currently spine rating is 80% or greater. Maybe Kevin will be the recipient of a second miracle – the NFLPA disability folks doing the right thing in an expedient manner!
P.S. for anyone who has ever mocked Buffalo as a sports town – Kevin’s remarkable recovery, and saving the life of Florida Panther’s Richard Zednick can both be attributed to the extraordinary talents of Buffalo physicians and their hospitals – truly life savers!
John Hogan
