FOOTBALL

BILLS’ EVERETT LIKELY TO BE PARALYZED

Kevin Everett sustained a “catastrophic” and life-threatening spinal-cord injury while trying to make a tackle during the Buffalo Bills’ season opener and is unlikely to walk again, the surgeon who operated on him yesterday said. “A best-case scenario is full recovery, but not likely,” orthopedic surgeon Andrew Cappuccino said. “I believe there will be some permanent neurologic deficit.”

Everett was hurt Sunday after he ducked his head while tackling the Denver Broncos’ Domenik Hixon during the second-half kickoff. Everett dropped face-first to the ground after his helmet hit Hixon high on the left shoulder and side of the helmet.

Cappuccino noted the 25-year-old reserve tight end did have touch sensation throughout his body and also showed signs of movement. But he cautioned that Everett’s injury was life-threatening because he was still susceptible to blood clots, infection and breathing failure.

FERGUSON OUT FOR SEASON WITH TORN BICEPS

Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Jason Ferguson is out for the season after tearing his right biceps in the opening game.

Coach Wade Phillips confirmed yesterday that the injury would end the season for Ferguson, the team’s most experienced defender in his 11th season. Ferguson is scheduled to have surgery Friday.

RAMS LOSE OFFENSIVE LINE ANCHOR PACE FOR SEASON

St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace tore the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder in the season opener Sunday and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. An MRI exam yesterday showed the damage to Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowl player who was the first overall pick of the 1997 draft. Pace was injured on the first play after the two-minute warning while pass-blocking against the Panthers’ Julius Peppers, minor jostling that didn’t appear out of the ordinary.

“I feel very bad, obviously, for Orlando,” coach Scott Linehan said. “He had a real unfortunate injury and we’ll have to pick up the pieces.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

MICHIGAN QUARTERBACK HENNE WILL MISS NOTRE DAME GAME

Injured Michigan quarterback Chad Henne will not play against Notre Dame.

Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr did not provide a timetable for Henne’s return, listing him Monday as week-to-week. The senior was knocked out of the second half of Saturday’s 39-7 loss to Oregon. Freshman Ryan Mallett will start against the Fighting Irish on Saturday at home in a matchup of storied teams with 0–2 records.

BASKETBALL

THOMAS FACES ACCUSER AT START OF HARASSMENT TRIAL

Knicks coach Isiah Thomas and a former team executive who claims he subjected her to unwanted sexual advances confronted one another in federal court Monday as jury selection began in her $10 million sexual harassment lawsuit. Thomas and his accuser, Anucha Browne Sanders, sat stoically within a few feet of each other, both flanked by teams of lawyers. Thomas, considered one of the best players in NBA history, stood and smiled as the judge introduced him to the scores of potential jurors sitting in the gallery.

The jury pool was asked to fill out a lengthy questionnaire. One of the questions: “Do you regularly follow professional basketball or consider yourself a fan?”

U.S. District Judge Gerard Lynch also read aloud a list of names of possible witnesses, including Knicks players Stephon Marbury and Malik Rose.