J-Speaks: The Tough Reality Of The Game Of Football

 

This past Monday was the anticipated tilt between two NFL teams teams fighting for the top seed in the American Football Conference (AFC) in the Buffalo Bills from the AFC East and the defending AFC champions the Cincinnati Bengals from the AFC North. Instead, it became a night that put the grim reality of the risk of playing football.

At 8:55 p.m. Eastern, Bills’ second-year safety Damar Hamlin, 24 made what seemed like routine tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The former Sixth-Round pick in 2021 out of University of Pittsburgh got back to his feet, adjusted his helmet but then collapsed to the floor and laid on the field of Paycor Stadium motionless at 8:55 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Upon collapsing to the turf, the McKees Rocks, PA native was surrounded by his stunned teammates as well as many Bengals players. Four minutes later, the ambulance was on the field and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and other paramedics cut Hamlin’s uniform open and administered CPR as well as provided oxygen over a period of nine minutes, which was reported on the late-night addition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter.” Hamlin was taken off the field via ambulance to 16 minutes after he collapsed and was transported to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

It was reported that Hamlin was in critical condition late into Monday night after the terrifying moment was played out in front of thousands in attendance at Paycor Stadium and many others that watched the game on ESPN, ESPN 2, and ABC, and ESPN App.

As Hamlin was being carried off in the ambulance to a local hospital, players from both teams rallied on the field showing their concern. Moments later Bills head coach Sean McDermott rallied his team as they all took a knee and prayed.  

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Bills announced that Hamlin suffered a heart attack following the tackle on Higgins. Hamlin’s heart was restored on the field and was as mentioned transferred to UC hospital for further treatment and testing. No further updates were provided on Tuesday about Hamlin’s condition.

Hamlin’s uncle Dorrian Glenn who was at the game in the stands along with other members of Hamlin’s family told CNN in a televised interview on Tuesday night outside of UC Medical Center and later with ESPN’s Coley Harvey that his nephew’s heart was restarted a second time after his arrival at the hospital.

“I just want to show my gratitude for the medical staff that were on hand because if not for them, my nephew probably wouldn’t have even been here,” Glenn told CNN.

“I never cried so hard in my life,” Glenn added. “Just to know, like my nephew basically died on the field and they brought him back to life. I mean, just heartbreaking.”

The Bills reported on Wednesday that Hamlin spent the night in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at UCMC.

There was encouraging news on Wednesday when it was reported that doctors lowered his oxygen levels that were necessary for Hamlin to breath from 100 percent to 50 percent.

The so-called thumbs up about Hamlin’s condition that the Bills, the NFL, and the entire nation had been waiting for came Thursday when he awaken from sedation in his hospital bed and put a pen to paper writing a question to the doctors that were treating him for cardiac arrest asking in reference to the Bills versus Bengals contest, “Did we win?”

The answer Division Chief of General Surgery at UCMC Dr. Timothy Pritts said on Thursday on a conference call with the media is, “Yes Damar, you won. You’ve won the game of life.”

Hamlin regained his consciousness but could only communicate via writing his thoughts while still being intubated. He showed signs though that he was neurologically intact because of following commands and being able to move both his hands and feet. He still remains in critical condition in the ICU according to doctors, whose conference call with the press on Thursday lasted nearly an hour, according to the UC doctors.

“Not only are the lights on, but he’s home,” Dr. Pritts added about Hamlin’s condition at that moment.

The next hurdle that Hamlin needed to clear is improvement in his lungs and ability to breathe independent of the ventilator, which was keeping him being able to communicate verbally.

That step came overnight in the early hours on Friday when Hamlin had his breathing tube removed in the early hours of Friday morning, announced by his UCMC physicians via a statement from the Bills which included that Hamlin’s continued to “progress remarkably in his recovery. That his neurological function remains intact, according to those physicians.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott made an attempt to surprise his team by telling them of Hamlin’s improved condition that he had “a treat in store” for their team meeting on Friday.

That surprise was Hamlin on a Zoom call in that meeting where he told his teammates, “Love you boys.” Hamlin also flexed during his Zoom call with his teammates

“When Hamlin popped up on the screen, the players stood up right away, clapped and yelled some things to him,” per Coach McDermott.

Bills left offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, said that Coach McDermott gave away the great news by how he entered the meeting room. That the “amount of expression” Coach McDermott had when he walked into the room. How he was smiling that meant the news he was about to share about Hamlin was going to be positive.

“The thing that makes me laugh is he did this to the guys right away… he flexed on them, I guess,” McDermott said. “He just got some staple things that they know him for, that he does. He made this symbol [with his hands] probably more than anything. Then he gave them a thumbs up. And then somewhere in the midst of that, it was a bit hard to hear but he said, ‘I love you boys.’ And of course, that got the guys.”

That did not damper the spirits of Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins who said in his Zoom presser about being able seeing Hamlin that the excitement of seeing his teammate was “beautiful.” To see him flex in the camera and then talk to the team Dawkins added was “everything.”

“It was literally everything and that’s what we need. Literally that’s all we needed,” Dawkins said. 

As happy as Coach McDermott was about Hamlin’s recovery, just as happy was Bills Pro Bowl Quarterback Josh Allen, who said the day on Thursday while fighting back tears at the Bills headquarters in Orchard Park, NY that being on the field after seeing what occurred with Hamlin that you, “lose sleep.”

“You hurt for your brother. A lot of shared grief,” Allen added. “But getting positive updates eases so much of that pain and that tension that you feel.”

At around 11:19 p.m. on Monday evening, Allen said in a Tweet @JoshAllenQB asked the public to, “Please pray for our brother.”

On Thursday, doctors said to reporters the removal of the breathing tube would be an important step for Hamlin, who hopes to return home to his family as soon as possible.

While it is way too soon to say the reason why Hamlin’s heart stopped after making that tackle, Cardiac specialists according to a report from New York’s Newsday said it may have been from a rare type of trauma called commotio cordis.

Dr. Jennifer Haythe, Associate Professor of Cardiology at Columbia University told ESPN Tuesday that Hamlin falling to ground going unconscious came as a result of significant blunt trauma to his chest during a tackle.

“Whether or not it was related to his cardiac arrest is unclear. Whether this young man had underlying heart problem that happened to manifest that day we don’t know,” Dr. Haythe said. “But when he collapses and he needed CPR, that tells us he lost his pulse.”

Haythe added the fact that Hamlin needed CPR fully says that Hamlin lost his pulse if the  EMTs had not administered CPR as quickly as they did, the chances that Hamlin surviving dropped by 10 percent.

Hamlin having a breathing tube in him is something very common and not a surprise in this situation according to Dr. Haythe because someone that needed CPR than they are unable to breath on their own.

There was a point after Hamlin was taken off the field in the ambulance about resuming the game after a five-minute period after the participants had gathered themselves, which is what ESPN’s play-by-play announcer Joe Buck said on the air.

But after how the players were visibly shaken, there was no way that the game between the Bills and Bengals could continue.

Just moments after Hamlin collapsed and did not get up again, ESPN’s telecast captured many of the players like Bills defensive back Tre’Davious White and Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs in tears. Pro Bowl quarterbacks Josh Allen of the Bills and Joe Burrow of the Bengals embraced after the incident.

“No one’s ever been through this,” Hall of Fame Quarterback Troy Aikman, who led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowls in the 1990s said  on ESPN’s telecast on Monday night. “I’ve never seen anything like it either.”

Coach McDermott after Hamlin was carried off to UCMC consulted with his players and even had a conversation with Bengals head coach Zach Taylor. The call after that was for the players to their respective locker rooms as the game was temporarily suspended at 9:18 p.m., with the ambulance leaving the stadium for UCMC at 9:25 p.m.

More conversations resumed after that between both squads and NFL officials and game officials.

In a conference call with the media late Monday night, former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back and now Executive Vice President of the NFL Troy Vincent said that there was never a discussion of a five-minute ramp-up to resume the game, even though ESPN did assert it was giving a report of what they were told by the NFL and game officials in real time.

“It never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume,” Vincent said. “That’s ridiculous. That’s insensitive.”

The NFL did suspend the game at 10:01 p.m., which prompted many to ask why the game was not suspended immediately.

With an event that had thousands of people in attendance from the fans, media, and support staff from both teams, any interference could have cost Hamlin his life.

In the aftermath of what happened to Hamlin, ESPN switched from game coverage to news coverage where they put their best foot forward in making sure the precise and proper information was reported from the broadcast booth in Buck, sideline reporter Lisa Salters, studio hosts Suzy Kolber and Scott Van Pelt; ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefter and field reporters in Coley Harvey, Ben Baby, who is Bengals reports for ESPN and Alaina Getzenberg who covers the Bills for ESPN. 

Salters described the moments of the players on both teams particularly the Bills were completely “shell shocked” about what took place. She observed the Bills getting together on the sideline trying to get refocused hearing Diggs rallying his teammates saying, “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s refocus!”

She then said after that moment, the players went back to being “emotionally distraught,” with many players on both sides going back to the bench. Back to hugging one another. Taking a knee. Some had towels on their faces and were “just openly sobbing.”

“At that point, it started to become clear that this is not something these players are going to get over. There not going to be wanting to play another down anytime soon,” Salters said of the scene on the late-night edition of “Sportscenter.”

“This is a human being and all you can really think about is, ‘I hope that guy [Hamlin] is okay?”

Salters, who was visibly shaken and close to tears as she concluded her report added how we have seen players go down with head, neck, knee, and foot injuries and as horrible as that is, we have become accustomed to it. Like we have become accustomed to seeing players get tackled or hit with incredible force. Remain on the ground for a little while and get back up giving a thumbs up to indicate they are okay. That was the hope for Hamlin and that did not come in that moment.

“Right now, all I can really think about is that player, his teammates,” Salters said. “Just seeing agony on their faces. The concern on their faces. They’re scared for him right now and they should be. We all should be.”

Baby reported that he saw the ambulance that Hamlin was in as it pulled into UCMC. He also reported that he saw those in No. 3 jerseys, Hamlin’s jersey number, go up the tunnel just wanting to know the state and condition sure like everyone that was at Paycor Stadium of Hamlin’s condition.

Baby also reported that he was briefly in the emergency room and got the sense from those that were working there, those waiting to be treated, other patients all knew of the situation and everyone’s thoughts and concerns were with Hamlin.

The Bills’ Diggs, Coach Taylor of the Bengals and head trainer Matt Summers all come to UCMC and leave early Tuesday morning, which spoke to the collaboration and concern on both sides about Hamlin.  

Throughout this week it was Harvey who was giving reports and updates about the Hamlin’s progress in recovery from that hit he took from Higgins from how he was resuscitated on the field and again at the hospital to how he eventually had as mentioned got off the ventilator. To the strength Hamlin’s family displayed during a moment that might have broken many people. 

Getzenberg provided constant reports on how the Bills were coping after seeing what happened to Hamlin from the hurt, anger, and sadness they felt from what happened on Monday night to the joy they felt at the close of this week when they got to see Hamlin functional via Zoom.

On Monday, Super Bowl champions during the NFL playing days in former defensive lineman Anthony “Booger” McFarland and safety Ryan Clark giving those that watched on television for their streaming device a former players perspective on something even the most seasoned of pros had never witnessed before.

McFarland said even before the NFL officially suspended the Bills Bengals tilt officially that this was the only option on the table.

He said that the game of football is “entertainment” and that at that moment when Hamlin collapsed and was taken off the field in an ambulance, those in attendance or watching the game from their homes were “in the mood” or “the spirit” to be entertained at that moment.

“We’ll figure out the football game at some other point in time, but it’s time for the NFL, the Players Association, whoever needs to make a call, we’re done playing football tonight. We’re done. Let’s move on.”

When Clark, who played in the NFL for the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Commanders said to Michael Eaves on the late-night edition of “Sportscenter,” he said of what he saw to Hamlin that moment was the “most afraid” he has ever been watching a football game.

It brought him back to 2007 while with the Steelers when he suffered a life-threatening situation where he had to be taken to a hospital to have his gall bladder and spleen removed.

In speaking with Van Pelt and then on the later with Eaves, what took place with Hamlin is about a “young man” who was just 24 years old living his dream about to play the biggest game of his NFL career and that there is “probably nowhere else in the world he wanted to be.” Then he was in a moment where he is fighting “for his life.”

“We use the cliches: ‘I’m ready to die for this. I’m willing to give my life for this. It’s time to go to war.’ And I think sometimes we use those things so much we forget that part of living this dream is putting your life at risk, and tonight we got to see a side of football that is extremely ugly, a side of football that no one wants to see or never wants to admit exists,” Clark said, while showing visible emotion, sadness, and anger.

Clark added in talking with Eaves that usually when we see a player stand up he normally remains up, especially athletes that are the best fit, physical, macho and healthiest men on Earth. That we saw Hamlin take a routine hit, get up and then fall back to the floor with no life in them.

Seeing something like Clarks said is “different” than seeing someone with “head trauma.” Who hurts their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

When you saw the Cincinnati Bengals players and the Buffalo Bills players all drop to their knees and praying, it is in this moment we saw athletes that are conditioned to ignore injuries, and pain. That when one of your teammates leaves the game because of injury that we can move the ball another 10 yards and continue either the game or practice. When someone is getting carted off, we can move on.

When Hamlin went down and did not get up or give a thumbs up to indicate he is okay, Clark said that was the moment where, “there was no more playing again tonight.”

“There was no more next play because for Damar Hamlin, there may not be a next play,” Clark added. “For Damar Hamlin, there may not be another breath. These men tonight in all their years of football saw something they have never seen.”

Clark brought the other human element into this saying that Hamlin’s mother Nina was in the ambulance with her 24-year-old son who at that moment might have been his last moments on Earth. That this was about not just a son, but a brother, cousin, nephew friend and not about an athlete, football player in this instance.

“The lives of Damar Hamlin and his family. The lives of the Buffalo Bills. The lives of the Cincinnati Bengals are forever changed tonight in a split second…,” Clark said.

One other former Steeler who understand this situation of how your life can change in an instant is former linebacker Ryan Shazier, who suffered a career-ending spinal cord injury five years ago also on Monday Night Football at the Bengals Tweeted @RyanShazier, “Prayers for Hamlin I hope everything is okay.”

Clark even said on the phone in talking with fellow former Louisiana State University (LSU) Tiger and fellow ESPN NFL analyst Marcus Spears that he could not ever imagine at age 24 he did not even know he could die and that’s what Damar Hamlin faced on Monday night playing a game he loves.   

Seeing the sadness, tears, and absolute shock of Bills and Bengals players on the field after what happened to Hamlin brought Clark back to that moment in 2007 of his Steelers teammates visiting him at the hospital and shedding tears by his bedside.

It was a reminder that NFL players are human beings. That as much as they give to this great game we watch every Thursday night, and Sunday afternoon and Sunday night from September to early February, they also want to give to other things when they decide to move on from the game or whether the game decides to move on from them.

They also have families and friends that they want to be able to enjoy time with after the football season or when the football career is over. 

“The next time that we get upset at our favorite fantasy player or we’re upset that the guy on our team doesn’t make the play and we’re saying he’s worthless and we’re saying, ‘You get to make all this money,’ we should remember that these men are putting their lives on the line to live their dream,” Clark said.

“Tonight, Damar Hamlin’s dream became a nightmare for not only himself but his family and his entire team.”

The other silver lining that came out of this difficult moment is we learned about the kind of high character Hamlin had from his Bills current and former teammates and the kind of good heart he has.

Hamlin’s teammate for four seasons at the University of Pittsburgh and now Tennessee Titans linebacker Rashad Weaver talked about how Hamlin had a clothing line called “Chasing M’s,” which is about “chasing your dreams and chasing millions.”

Hamlin’s former college coach Pat Narduzzi said that Hamlin, who grew up in Pittsburgh and had a determination to give back to those need called him “a hero to thousands of Pittsburgh kids.”

“Damar, we love you. We are praying for you. Pittsburgh’s always had your back. And now it’s obvious the entire country has your back, too,” Coach Narduzzi added.

Players and fans from across the NFL and sports landscape held vigils in Cincinnati and outside the Bills’ home field “New Era Stadium.”

Along with having a clothing line, Hamlin’s “Chasing M’s Foundation” was a toy drive where he was trying to raise money to buy toys for needy kids that he started while playing to for the Panthers.

Hamlin’s goal was to raise about $2,500. In the first 24 hours after he was hurt on Monday night, $5.5 million dollars was donated to his foundation.

As of December 2022, Hamlin’s foundation had raised $2,291 was up to $5,495,550 by 9 p.m. Tuesday Eastern standard time with close to 183,000 people making online donations of about an average of $30, with some making smaller donations with others making donations above $5,000.

On Friday, it was reported by the New York Post that Hamlin’s foundation has raised $7.4 million. His father Mario thanked those that donated on Wednesday while also asking for those supporters to make further donations to the UCMC to support first responders.

On the night of and in the days that have followed, we have seen many athletes via social media and in their pregame, postgame interviews or before and after competition reach out and express their thoughts and prayers to Hamlin and his recovery.

The Bills in the early hours of Tuesday morning Tweeted @BuffaloBills with a photo of the team kneeling in prayer on the field, “The thoughts and prayers of all of Bills Mafia are supporting you, Damar.”

An earlier Tweet from the Bills was “Bills Mafia is with you, @HamlinIsland.”

Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase Tweeted @Real10jayy_, “I wanna send a prayer to Damar and his family.”

Kansas Chiefs Super Bowl winning QB Patrick Mahomes II Tweeted @PatrickMahomes, “Praying hard…please be okay man.”

Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman JJ Watt, who is set to retire at season's end Tweeted @JJWatt, “The game is not important. Damar Hamlin’s life is important. Please be okay. Please.”

Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 121-115 win at the Charlotte Hornets early Monday night, four-time NBA MVP, and four-time NBA champion LeBron James, a native of Akron, OH said that he “thoughts and super prayers” goes to the man above for Hamlin’s family and the “brotherhood” of the NFL and all a part of the NFL family.

James also said that whoever made the call to suspend the Bills-Bengals tilt and how “the safety” of all players in all sports is “the most important.”

“It was a terrible thing to see,” James said in reference to Hamlin collapsing on the field. “And I wish nothing but the best for that kid. For the city of Buffalo. For the franchise of the Bills and like I said for the rest of the NFL too as well and Bengals that was there playing in that game.”

“I am a huge fan of the NFL. I’m a huge football. You never want to see anything like that happen, even in the type of competition that they’re playing in.”

In a Tweet on Tuesday, Major League Baseball @MLB Tweeted about Hamlin, “We’re all in Damar Hamlin’s corner today. All of us across MLB thinking of Damar, his family, his teammates, and all those in the NFL.”  

On Tuesday outside of the Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY a candlelight prayer vigil was held that was organized by Jill Kelly, the wife of Hall of Fame quarterback of the Bills Jim Kelly, who said in that prayer, “Power in prayer. Power in community. Power in brotherhood. Add power and brotherhood for this Hamlin teammate.”

Dawkins in speaking with the media via Zoom on Tuesday called Hamlin while rocking a hat from his “Chasing Ms” clothing line a “beautiful and unique sole.” He added that Hamlin is a “nurturer and true person.”

Dawkins also said that the team is “learning” how to cope with this situation “together.” How this is not something the average person will ever have to go through. But with something like this happening, it should put a “shock” into everyone that is quick to on social media and complain about an athlete when they do not perform well in a game.

“We’re all human and we try to be our best all we possibly can,” Dawkins said. “At the end of the day, we are humans. We have families and we care. We cry and we’re vulnerable. We have emotions and we feel the same pain that the regular person feels.”

“Not every situation is promised and you really need to chose as much love as possible and throw all other hate away.”

The Hamlin family displayed that love and support that they have gotten from all that have reached out and donated in droves to Hamlin’s foundation saying in a statement on Tuesday, “On behalf of our family, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support shown to Damar during this challenging time. We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans around the country.”

“We also want to acknowledge the dedicated first responders and healthcare professionals at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center who have provided exceptional care to Damar. We feel so blessed to be part of the Buffalo Bills organization and to have their support. We also want to thank Coach Taylor and the Bengals for everything they’ve done. Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us. Please keep Damar in your prayers We will have updates as soon as possible.”

One person who was extremely thankful for the work the doctors and first responders work to keep alive Hamlin his uncle Dorrian Glenn, who said to Harvey on Tuesday evening about going to see his nephew, who was still sedated at that time that is was “heartbreaking.” That it was “gut wrenching” to even go through the hospital.

“I turned around. I couldn’t do it,” Glenn said about not wanting to see his nephew sedated. “I don’t want to see him like that and I want to wait until he is able to recover and I can actually talk to him and see my nephew again.”

“I’m just dealing with it, man. I mean my nephew just—he was in a bad situation. He was in a scary situation, yesterday, man and it really hurt to see that and I’m just happy that he’s still here to fight. He still has a chance to get better. He still has chance to continue to be the positive impact that he’s been on the community. I find a lot of blessings within that.”

The positive impact that has been brought to light in recent days about the kind of impact that Hamlin has had in Pittsburgh with his foundation and the toy drive is something that he and Glenn have talked about over the years that was planted by Hamlin’s uncle.

In his conversation with Harvey that he told his nephew that there are “10 more” of him  that come from behind. That you are one of 10 other individuals that will look and see what Hamlin is doing and want to follow in your footsteps in giving back.

If nothing else, this moment has also crystalized that we are all one community and when a situation like this happens it is up to all of us to step up and be counted for.

That support continued over the course of the week from some of the NFL’s leaders on the field.

On Tuesday via Twitter, six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tweeted @TomBrady, “We’re praying for Damar and his family this morning in Tampa. Moments like this put into perspective what it means to play this game we love. Thankful for our communities in Cincinnati and Buffalo for the overwhelming level of care and support I know they’ll continue to provide.

Hall of Fame Quarterback and Super Bowl champion of the San Francisco 49ers Steve Young Tweeted @SteveYoungQB, “All line disappear there are no winners or losers, no separation by teams. No matter where or when you played, today we are one family, one brotherhood united in prayer for Damar.”  

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said in his media availability that he has known Hamlin since about age 12 and how he has a lot of “respect” and “love” for Hamlin’s human side and his “commitment” to the pursuit of his goals and dreams of being in the NFL and his endeavors off the gridiron.

On 106.7’s Washington D.C.’s “The Fan” Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen said Hamlin’s unfortunate situation is an example how when you talk about the prospects of someone’s life, it shows how “insignificant” football can be.

“I’m just really praying for him and his family. I can’t imagine what they must be going through right now,” Allen said. “You just want him to be okay. I mean, this is something you never want to see.”

Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube on Tuesday to watch one of your teammates, “someone that you love” on the floor needing CPR, “that’s when it gets real.”

“They’re [the paramedics] are fighting to save this guy’s life. Not in the locker room or in the hospital. Like on the field. I can’t even imagine what that be like to go through,” Rodgers said.

“I just think your football mortality just comes right face-to-face because one of your brothers in the fraternity of the NFL is fighting for his life right now.”

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told Sports Radio 94 WIP that this moment “puts everything into perspective.” That a difficult last second loss or a blow defeat on Sunday or Monday night.

To show how much the other 31 NFL squads are thinking of Hamlin, they along with the NFL and NFL Network changed their social media avatar accounts to a photo of “Pray For Damar” with his jersey No. 3, which he also wore at the University of Pittsburgh.

ESPN’s Senior NFL writer Jeremy Fowler, who was at the Bills field where they held a prayer vigil for Hamlin said the Bills had a team meeting on Tuesday for the players and coaches and someone there told Fowler that the focus was on Hamlin and that “no news was good news.”

In speaking with a Hamlin representative that while no hard update was yet available based on what was already released by the family and Bills organization that the next few days were going to be critical and that it is then all about patience and prayer.

Teammates and other members of the Bills described Hamlin to Fowler as someone who was “easy to talk to” and who “greets” everybody in the building. Those same teammates have used this moment to speak out loud to and for Hamlin.

The news of Hamlin’s condition as “neurologically intact” on Thursday and eventually being taken off the ventilator was welcome news and rose the spirits of the Bills and the NFL as the week closed and they showed that in photos that were posted on the Bills Twitter page from their practice with them posing their thumbs up and giving the heart symbol.

In speaking with the press on Thursday, Coach McDermott talked about after Hamlin got loaded into the ambulance that he said that the team “needed some time” to decide if they can continue to play. The NFL granted that request to both the Bills and Bengals.

McDermott also said that he addressed the team and felt then it was going to be difficult to play again after seeing what happened to their teammate. But McDermott wanted to at least give the option of going back on the field Monday night to play.

But after talking to Allen and a couple of the other captains, the decision was made that they did not want to go back out and play.

Allen in that same presser said because he and his teammates receiving those “positive updates” about Hamlin’s improved condition put an ease to a great deal of the “pain” and “tension” the team felt then.

“Coach handled it perfect as anybody could,” Allen said.

Getzenberg, who was at that presser said that Allen normally does not like to give answers to questions with his emotions. But those emotions were on display particularly when he said that every person is going to be a little different going forward after seeing what happened to Hamlin.

He did say though that “putting that helmet” back on Thursday was a “pretty good” thing for the team. But added he would be “lying” if he did not say that some of his teammates and members of the Bills organization will be “changed” forever after being at the Bengals stadium and seeing Hamlin go down and needing CPR just to brought back to life and feeling the emotions that they did after that.

“The best way we can continue move forward obviously the updates we keep getting on Damar really lift our spirts. Leaning on each other. Talking to each other,” Allen said.

Allen also said that he and the team have had some really “open, honest, and deep talks,” as well as some major embraces as men where each time they hugged one another they really leaned into that hug. That is something Allen said you need every bit of. On top of that consistently hearing good news about Hamlin’s recovery has been a big key in pushing the team forward.

Allen along with talking about how the team is doing also came to the defense of the aforementioned Bengals wideout Tee Higgins, who throughout the week has gotten a great deal of negative thoughts towards him on social media.

“People should not be attacking him and I’m glad Damar’s family came out and said that.  Hopefully he found some relief today because again that’s a football play and I hope that he doesn’t hold that upon himself because there’s nothing else he could have done in that situation.”

In speaking with the media at his locker on Thursday, Higgins said he was “not in a good place” to play the rest of the game on Monday and that he was “glad” the game was cancelled.

“It’s been hard because I had something to do with the play and what not. But everybody’s been making me feel whole again,” Higgins said.

Higgins also said that he spoke with Hamlin’s mother and everything is good. That she has been thinking of him and praying for Higgins. That Hamlin is doing good and that put Higgins in a “good place.”

“It’s hard to forget about. But at the end of the day, we’re are professional football players. We do have a job to do and just got to shift our focus and focus on the [Baltimore] Ravens.”

Higgins also pointed out in how the team has gotten back on track is continue to pray for Hamlin each night before you go to sleep and after you wake up the next day. But once you come to work, the focus has to be on the Ravens.

That focus will be very important for the Bills and Bengals because with their tilt now being canceled completely and the NFL owners approved a plan that can create an AFC championship game at a neutral site, which would come into play if the AFC title game is played between the Chiefs or Bengals.

This came to fruition because the Bills and Bengals with only 16 completed games versus 17 for the 30 other NFL squads.

Entering this weekend’s action, the Chiefs (13-3) will clinch the top seed in the AFC with a victory Saturday afternoon at the Las Vegas Raiders (6-10) or a loss by the Bills (12-3) on Sunday afternoon versus the New England Patriots (8-8), who need a victory just to make the Playoffs.

The Bills can clinch the No. 1 Seed in the AFC with a win and a loss by the Chiefs at the Raiders.

The Bengals have already clinched the AFC North regardless of if they win or not Sunday afternoon versus the Baltimore Ravens (10-6). The Bengals need to win versus the Ravens on Sunday to avoid having to have the site of where their playoff tilt would take place via a coin toss, which was also approved by the NFL owners on Friday.

In a tweet from Baby on the response by Bengals Coach Taylor on the proposed Playoff changes @Ben_Baby, “It seems like there’s positives for a lot of teams and negatives for us.”

The Bengals though have two things in their favor. One their final regular season game is at home and they will be facing a Ravens offensive attack that is without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has been on the shelf with a sprained knee and his understudy Tyler Huntley, who has posted a 2-2 mark in Jackson’s absence this season has been limited in practice the past three days with an injured right shoulder and wrist.

That means if Huntley cannot play, the Ravens would start undrafted signal caller Anthony Brown and Brett Hundley would be elevated from the practice squad to be Brown’s backup.

If the defending AFC champion Bengals cannot win a game against a team that is on their third string quarterback then maybe they are not the title team many have called them to be all season.

For the Bills, on Sunday they plan to honor Hamlin in according to Getzenberg in “multiple ways” prior and during their tilt versus the Patriots on Sunday. Bills players will be wearing patches on all their jerseys with Hamlin’s No. 3 on it.

There is also a plan in the works by the Bills to honor first responders as well as the trainers who saved Hamlin’s life on Monday night.

League-wide, the NFL plans to show their support for Hamlin by having a pregame moment of support as well as for first responders and medical care givers. Teams can outline the “3” in each 30-yard line number on field in Bills red or Bills blue. Each player can wear t-shirts displaying “Love for Damar 3” during pre-game warm-ups.

As for Hamlin’s next steps in his recovery, according to outside physicians who have spoken to Harvey over this past week, not that the breathing tube has been removed, now comes an evaluation that last from 12 to 24 hours. It is in this time period where doctors will see just how well Hamlin is breathing on his own.

If the doctors are satisfied with Hamlin’s breathing, he will be moved from UCMC’s ICU to the general floor of the hospital. That could happen as early as Friday night or Saturday morning if all goes well with that evaluation.

If Hamlin does get to the general floor, his status will go from being in critical condition, which he has been since he arrived at UCMC on Monday night to stable condition.

While he is on the general floor, he will be evaluated further for the doctors to determine what caused Hamlin to go into cardiac arrest.

It appears that Hamlin is out of the woods of death, which is welcome news for him and his family, which Bills General Manager Brandon Beane on Friday called, “the strongest people he has ever met.”

There were a lot of lessons that our nation learned after what happened on Monday night to Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin.

We learned that the game of football, especially professional football has gotten faster and stronger, and has inched closer and closer to the line of risky, to titillating to terrifying, to what happened at the start of this week fatal.

The way Hamlin went down, got up and then fell back down unconscious rocked the core to those that watched the game, were on ESPN’s broadcast, to the players and coaching staffs of the Bills and Bengals.

We also saw the exceptionalism of first responders from those on the field that got to Hamlin and performed CPR on him when he was on the ground of Paycor Stadium as well as at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

We saw the kind of support of Bills and Bengals organization who were right there for Hamlin and his family in their moment of need and hopefully will continue to be there in Hamlin’s continued recovery.

What we also saw above is how tight knit the professional sports community is when a tragic moment like this occurs because we saw up close in real time the dark side of the sport of football where you are one play away of not just your career being over but your life.

This moment is something that will have some negative affects to where many current NFL players may retire at season’s end whether. Many of those in playing football collegiately or in high school or at any other lower level may stop playing because of what they saw happen to Hamlin.

While the football career of Damar Hamlin may possibly be over, he will at least be able to live to see better days. The question now is how does the game of football evolve if at all so that another episode like we saw on Monday night never happens again.

Information and quotations are courtesy of 1/3/2023 New York Newsday story, “Bills’ Hamlin Collapses,” By Mitch Stacy of “The Associated Press;” 1/4/2023 New York Newsday stories, “Tears, Prayers As Fans, Players Unite In Support,” By John Wawrow and Outpouring Swells His GoFundMe Past $5M,” By Tim Reynolds of “The Associated Press;” 1/3/2023 1:30 a.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter” With Michael Eaves and Zubin Mehenti; 1/4/2023 1:30 a.m. edition ESPN’s “Sportscenter” from Los Angeles, CA With Ashley Brewer and Neil Everett with reports from Coley Harvey and Jeremy Fowler; 1/6/2023 10 a.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter” With Gary Striewski and Randy Scott, with report from Alaina Getzenberg; 1/6/2023 www.espn.com story, “Damar Hamlin Has Breathing Tube Removed, FaceTimes With Bills,” By Alaina Getzenberg; and 1/7/2023 1:30 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” From Los Angeles, CA With Linda Cohn and Stan Verrett with report from Alaina Getzenberg and Coley Harvey.