By: Jeremy T. Ballreich
At 8:55 pm during highly anticipated football contest. Safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after tackling WR Tee Highins of the Cincinnati Bengals. Immediately his teammates and medical staff gathered to his side. The Players surrounded him as the medical staff began CPR. The reaction of many teammates and opponents crying. That was when we knew it was something we had never witnessed during a football game. There have been countless serious injuries, but usually, the football player gets to give his teammates, opponents, ND fans the ‘Thumbs up’, this never happened.
I personally was doing my podcast covering the Lions postgame show. I had to put everything in perspective. Because myself, as a father was reminded of what it was like to know my son passed almost 7 years ago. It brought me to tears thinking if what that mother was going through. That feeling of helplessness, because there is nothing you can do to help your child. As you have to watch the situation unfold.
To the people who have knee jerk reactions to this. Media people saying the game must go on. Shame on you. There has onky been one other time in NFL History that a player had a life or death moment om the field. 1971 QB Chuck Hughes of the Detroit Lions.
Other than that, nothing like this has happened. It was not addressed in the NFL Rule book. The NFL rule is, after a serious injury, give players 10 minutes to compose themselves, and a 5 minute warm up period. Then play is to resume. The Ambulance left at 925 pm. The officials on the field told the coaches to have their players warming up at 935 pm. 945 pm the coaches convened and had their players go to their respective locker rooms. They never returned. Which was the right decision. Class act by both coaches to handle such adversity with dignity and respect to the gravity of the situation.
To the individuals worried about the impact on their fantasy teams and the playoff outlook, shame on you.
Last report I read on Twitter by Damaris agent, was his vitals were stable, he was in critical condition, and he’d keep everyone posted.
If you are thinking of nothing other than the health and safety of that young man. You’re wrong. Life is way to precious to be neglected.
Thanks For Reading!!!!
