FOOTBALL

DOCTOR SAYS EVERETT WILL ATTEMPT TO STAND ON HIS OWN

Kevin Everett will be transferred Friday morning to a Houston hospital to begin the next phase of his rehabilitation, less than two weeks after the Buffalo Bills tight end sustained a life-threatening spinal cord injury.

And doctors said yesterday they believe he will be walking within weeks — perhaps sooner.

“Soon … they’re going to stand him up,” Dr. Barth Green told The Associated Press, shortly after discussing Everett’s condition with Bills orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Cappuccino. “They’re very confident he’ll be walking very soon … in the next days or weeks, not months.”

Eric Armstead, a partner of Everett’s agent Brian Overstreet, said Everett was going to Houston’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and would be traveling by private plane.

NFL DESTROYS ALL REQUESTED MATERIALS FROM PATRIOTS

The NFL has received and destroyed all materials it requested from the New England Patriots concerning videotaping of opponents’ sidelines.

A league statement yesterday said the team was in compliance with a request for tapes and other documents.

“The Patriots have fully cooperated and complied with the requirements of the commissioner’s decision,” the statement said. “All tapes, documents and other records relating to this matter were turned over to the league office and destroyed, and the Patriots have certified in writing that no copies or other records exist.

“League policies on in-game videotaping and audio communication will continue to be closely monitored and strictly enforced with all 32 teams.”

DOLPHINS’ THOMAS TESTED FOR CONCUSSION, MAY MISS GAME

Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas underwent tests Thursday for a possible concussion, and he may miss Sunday’s game against the Jets. Thomas played every snap in Miami’s loss last week to Dallas but said he felt “a little lightheaded” in the locker room after the game, coach Cam Cameron said. Thomas complained of a migraine Wednesday and missed practice, which led to the tests. Thomas has fought migraine and concussion problems in the past but has missed only 13 games in a 12-year career. A decision on whether he can play this week is likely by Friday, Cameron said. “In a lot of cases, the player wants to play,” the coach said. “Sometimes you’ve just got to take a deep breath, and sometimes it’s tough.”

BASEBALL

DELGADO: METS ARE ‘BEST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE’

One win was enough for the Mets to regain some of their swagger. “We’re the best team in the league,” slugger Carlos Delgado said Thursday, before the start of a four-game series at Florida. “We have been doing it the whole year.”

“It helps a lot. gives us a little more breathing room,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said.