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[SIZE=+2]Lives can change quickly in NFL
[/SIZE] [SIZE=+1]Injury to Buffalo player a sobering reminder for Cowboys[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]12:30 PM CDT on Thursday, September 13, 2007
[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_tarcher.jpg
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IRVING – They play the game knowing they are one hit away from having what happened to Buffalo tight end Kevin Everett happen to them.
Everett's life changed when he suffered a serious spinal cord injury last week against Denver while covering a punt. The initial prognosis was bleak, with his doctors saying he suffered a life-threatening injury and might never walk again. But the reports started to change Monday when Everett showed signs of voluntarily moving his arms and legs.
Football, however, is over.
For the Cowboys and players across the NFL, Everett's injury is a reminder how tenuous their lives can be playing a sport built on violent collisions every week.
"It comes across your mind from time to time because it's a possibility," Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears said. "I'm pretty sure cops think about getting killed in the line of duty sometimes. You go through those things. You try to find a fine line between getting ready mentally and physically, you work out and do all the things you can to prevent that, but in all actuality, they will happen at some point. Sometimes you've got to almost rule it out. You've got to go out and subconsciously not think about it."
Cowboys linebacker Bobby Carpenter was at Ohio State's spring practice when a player suffered a neck injury, although not as serious as Everett's, but the silence of the practice stuck with him.
"If you start to think about that stuff, you lose your effectiveness as a player," Carpenter said. "You lose your aggressiveness. It's something that crosses your mind but not on a day-to-day basis. ... It's sobering to see somebody with no movement on the field. Not only is the football career done, but life as you knew it could come to an end. It’s good to see him make progress and have a full recovery hopefully."
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/09-07/0914everett.jpg AP
Bills tight end Kevin Everett suffered a spinal cord injury in Week 1.
Injuries are a fact of life in the NFL, but there's also a post-career quality of life issue as well.
Greg Ellis' return from Achilles' surgery has been delayed by bursitis in his left heel. He is now trying to find a way to deal with the pain and play. The Cowboys linebacker returned to practice in a limited basis Wednesday for the first time since the opening day of training camp.
"For me, to play with pain is part of the job," Ellis said. "My second year I played with a broken screw in my leg the majority of the year. Dealing with pain is something I'm familiar with, but you have to get to the level where you can deal with it."
Cowboys wide receiver Terry Glenn is contemplating whether to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, which could keep him out for a month, or a microfracture surgery that would end his season. At 33, Glenn is not sure how many more times he will have a chance to win a Super Bowl or play a game he loves. He is leaning toward the scope, even though that might not solve the problem. He also has a young family to think about.
Players feel pressure to play not only from their peers and perhaps organizations, but internally as well.
"Your competitive nature wants you to get back on the field," Spears said. "Sometimes you have to slow yourself down because you're doing your rehab like you're going to be playing the next day when you're not. You've got time to heal. These kind of injuries to a normal person holds them out for years. These guys have to make sure they balance coming back when they're well enough so they don't have it happen again."
[/SIZE] [SIZE=+1]Injury to Buffalo player a sobering reminder for Cowboys[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]12:30 PM CDT on Thursday, September 13, 2007
[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_tarcher.jpg
• E-mail
IRVING – They play the game knowing they are one hit away from having what happened to Buffalo tight end Kevin Everett happen to them.
Everett's life changed when he suffered a serious spinal cord injury last week against Denver while covering a punt. The initial prognosis was bleak, with his doctors saying he suffered a life-threatening injury and might never walk again. But the reports started to change Monday when Everett showed signs of voluntarily moving his arms and legs.
Football, however, is over.
For the Cowboys and players across the NFL, Everett's injury is a reminder how tenuous their lives can be playing a sport built on violent collisions every week.
"It comes across your mind from time to time because it's a possibility," Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears said. "I'm pretty sure cops think about getting killed in the line of duty sometimes. You go through those things. You try to find a fine line between getting ready mentally and physically, you work out and do all the things you can to prevent that, but in all actuality, they will happen at some point. Sometimes you've got to almost rule it out. You've got to go out and subconsciously not think about it."
Cowboys linebacker Bobby Carpenter was at Ohio State's spring practice when a player suffered a neck injury, although not as serious as Everett's, but the silence of the practice stuck with him.
"If you start to think about that stuff, you lose your effectiveness as a player," Carpenter said. "You lose your aggressiveness. It's something that crosses your mind but not on a day-to-day basis. ... It's sobering to see somebody with no movement on the field. Not only is the football career done, but life as you knew it could come to an end. It’s good to see him make progress and have a full recovery hopefully."
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/09-07/0914everett.jpg AP
Bills tight end Kevin Everett suffered a spinal cord injury in Week 1.
Injuries are a fact of life in the NFL, but there's also a post-career quality of life issue as well.
Greg Ellis' return from Achilles' surgery has been delayed by bursitis in his left heel. He is now trying to find a way to deal with the pain and play. The Cowboys linebacker returned to practice in a limited basis Wednesday for the first time since the opening day of training camp.
"For me, to play with pain is part of the job," Ellis said. "My second year I played with a broken screw in my leg the majority of the year. Dealing with pain is something I'm familiar with, but you have to get to the level where you can deal with it."
Cowboys wide receiver Terry Glenn is contemplating whether to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, which could keep him out for a month, or a microfracture surgery that would end his season. At 33, Glenn is not sure how many more times he will have a chance to win a Super Bowl or play a game he loves. He is leaning toward the scope, even though that might not solve the problem. He also has a young family to think about.
Players feel pressure to play not only from their peers and perhaps organizations, but internally as well.
"Your competitive nature wants you to get back on the field," Spears said. "Sometimes you have to slow yourself down because you're doing your rehab like you're going to be playing the next day when you're not. You've got time to heal. These kind of injuries to a normal person holds them out for years. These guys have to make sure they balance coming back when they're well enough so they don't have it happen again."