KIRKLAND — Seattle Seahawks cornerback Kelly Jennings was lying on his couch Sunday night, basking in the thrill of a season-opening win over Tampa Bay, when an image on his television screen caused him to jump to his feet.
It was Kevin Everett’s face.
As Jennings stood in front of the television screen, he watched in horror as replays of his former teammate unfolded in front of him. Everett, a Buffalo Bills tight end, had suffered a spinal cord injury that threatened his season, his playing career, and even his life.
“It really hit home,” said Jennings, who played with Everett at the University of Miami. “That’s something that you hear about and affects you whether you know (the victim) or not. But when you do know them, it really hits you.
“… I forgot about the (Tampa Bay) game and started saying prayers for him.”
While every NFL player feels a certain amount of sympathy at the sight of a peer getting seriously injured, the sight of Everett’s motionless body hit home particularly hard for two Seahawks.
“When you hear something like that, it really touches the whole league,” said defensive back Jordan Babineaux, who grew up in the same Texas town as the Bills tight end but attended a rival high school. “And then to hear that it’s a hometown guy, you take that a little more personally. There’s only four of us (in the NFL from Port Arthur, Texas): my brother (Jonathan) and I, Kevin, and (New England linebacker Eric Alexander).
“All you could do was pray that he gets full range of motion.”
Everett was initially diagnosed with likely paralysis for the rest of his life. But as of Tuesday night, he had gained some motion in both his upper and lower extremities, causing Bills surgeon Andrew Cappuccino to tell reporters: “We may be witnessing a minor miracle.”
While both Jennings and Babineaux continue to pray for Everett, his injury caused them to examine their own mortality.
“You have to protect yourself out there, no question,” Babineaux said. “It’s a violent sport. Some things you can’t prevent, and some things you can. But you need to protect yourself.”
Jennings said that it’s difficult to ignore the dangers of the game.
“It’s something that goes into the back of your head,” he said. “It’s a contact sport, and it’s something that can happen.”
Scott M. Johnson, Herald writer
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