“We Are…”: A Day After Collapse Incident, Aaron Rodgers Compares NFL Players to Armed Combatants From 3rd Century BC Who Later Made It to an Epic Movie

The Damar Hamlin incident has shaken the entire NFL fraternity. The fans and rivals, all are united in praying for the recovery of the Buffalo Bills safety. Amid all of this, NFL icon Aaron Rodgers has addressed the issue and highlighted how something like this is beyond rivalries and distaste in the league. He also likened the NFL players to armed combatants from the 3rd century BC Rome, who got immortalized in a movie.

Hamlin collapsed on the field in the week 17 clash with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday. And the NFL world stands with his family in this anxious hour.

Aaron Rodgers breaks silence on Damar Hamlin 

Aaron Rodgers reacted to the freak incident involving the Bills safety, Damar Hamlin. During his weekly appearance on the ‘Pat McAfee Show’, the Green Bay Packers QB said such incidents transcend rivalries. And he said that the modern NFL players are just like the gladiators from ancient Rome, who were immortalized in a film by the same name.

“As much as there is rivalry and there is distaste for certain individuals that you play against and there is bad blood, at the end of the day, there is one common thread that connects us all. And it’s that we know that we are modern day gladiators, right? We are providing entertainment for the masses and doing something we love. But we’re also putting our bodies and future health on the line. And that is one thread that connects all of us,” Rodgers said.

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He also said that when any such incident happen, every rivalry or distaste that separates those playing the game gets thrown out of the window.

“At the end of the day, you don’t think these types of things are gonna happen. And when it does happen, everything gets thrown out. The rivalry, distaste for a certain team,” the iconic QB added.

Certainly, the rivalries don’t matter when someone is battling for life while playing a sport. Hamlin still remains in critical condition after collapsing on the field on Monday.

The freak incident that shocked the sporting world

The freak incident happened during the first quarter of the Bills clash with the Bengals. Damar Hamlin collided with the Bengals WR Tee Higgins and collapsed. The medics rushed him to the hospital where he remains critical due to cardiac arrest. And with such things happening, Rodgers’ gladiator analogy rings true.

The NFL called off the game for the day. Many players and ex-players joined the fans to support the family in such a grievous hour. Some things are beyond on-field rivalries and even the game itself. The entire sporting world is hoping for Hamlin’s speedy recovery and him getting back on the field next season.

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