USA Today via Reuters
Jan 2, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and the Buffalo Bills react as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) is tended to on the field after a collision in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 2, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and the Buffalo Bills react as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) is tended to on the field after a collision in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
The Damar Hamlin tragedy shocked the NFL world on Monday Night Football. 24-year-old Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest in the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals matchup. The NFL postponed the game without further intimation. However, it took a rather long time for them to arrive at the obvious decision. And fans have a severe problem with that.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the top executives of the league find themselves under a lot of heat after the Bills-Bengals game took over an hour to suspend. Despite the harrowing scenes on-field. Also, reports have come out stating that it wasn’t the NFL’s call either. And the game got postponed only after the players’ and coaches’ intervention and insistence following 8 minutes of CPR on Damar Hamlin.
The NFL released the official statement about the tragic Damar Hamlin episode. Damar collided with Bengals WR Tee Higgins before collapsing on the field. “Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics. He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition,” the official NFL statement said.
The fact it took this long to cancel is unacceptable. Y'all were gonna keep playing too until the coaches refused too. We saw who Godell and the nfl staff really were tonight.
— michael (@kuemperszn) January 3, 2023
Cancel the game outright. Figure it out later. Focus on the player, his family, team (brothers).
— Ryan Rusich (@rusich) January 3, 2023
Honestly though… how has the NFL not had a plan for this? 272 games a year of nonstop hits and no one ever thought a #3 Hamlin situation would happen? #BUFvsCIN #NFL @NFL
— Chip (@montana_chip) January 3, 2023
Fire Goodell
— Soup_To_Nuts (@NutsSoup) January 3, 2023
The fact that it took almost an hour to suspend this game shows how little you guys care about player safety. We can tell that this is a PR move
— Brian Y (@byysports) January 3, 2023
It took 1 hour, millions of tweets from official media members/fans, the players, the coaches, and major networks’ analysts just to postpone the game. Unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/MKuGKpSdYY
— football enjoyer (@FireSpags) January 3, 2023
Resign! You and your advertisers wanted the game to continue! Unethical!
— John Allan 🇺🇸🌺 (@JohnFAllan) January 3, 2023
Bye bye Rogerhttps://t.co/FYect2Jh8v
— Tanner (@sominboy27) January 3, 2023
shouldn’t haven’t taken you that long to cancel the game cause wtf
— becca (@cutekidburgos) January 3, 2023
Understandably, Roger Goodell didn’t want to face the media today. And sent NFL executive Troy Vincent to do the talking and explaining.
The 5-minute warm-up in the middle of the Damar Hamlin emergency was not in good taste
The scenes at the Paycor stadium were extremely melancholic after Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest. However, the players and staff were in for a surprise when each side received a 5-minute warmup for resuming the game. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow started throwing some practice balls. Bengals’ wide receiver Stefon Diggs also gathered his troops on the Bills’ sidelines. Moreover, it wasn’t the most pleasant sight for fans and teammates who just wanted to be there for Damar Hamlin.
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 2, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) makes the tackle on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) during the first quarterat Paycor Stadium. The play led to Hamlin collapsing on the field, and being taken to the hospital in critical condition. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports | Reuters
However, league executive Troy Vincent addressed the controversial decision and denied any knowledge or information. “I’m not sure where that came from. 5-minute warmups never crossed my mind. Moreover, that’s ridiculous. That’s insensitive. Also, that’s not a place we’d ever want to be in,” Troy said on the phone call with reporters after the game.
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Fortunately, the league suspended the game. And Stefon got the chance to be with his teammate. Moreover, he even visited Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he had a slight hiccup with a police officer as well. QB Josh Allen was equally grief-stricken. And the entire NFL and global sporting community sent their prayers and wishes for Hamlin’s speedy recovery and health.
