Damar Hamlin injury – latest: Bills player ‘suffered cardiac arrest’ following a hit as NFL game postponed – The Independent

ESPN analyst and former NFL player Ryan Clark delivers a powerful message as Damar Hamlin remains in a critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field.

“This is about Damar Hamlin. This is about a young man who at 24 was living his dream. A few hours ago [he] was getting ready to play the biggest game of his career and there was probably nowhere else in the world he wanted to be. And now he fights for his life.

“When Damar Hamlin falls to the turf and you see the medical staff rush to the field you realise this isn’t normal, this isn’t just football. So many times in this game, in our job, we use the cliches: ‘I’m ready to die for this, it’s time to go to war’. We use it so much we forget that part of living this dream is putting your life at risk.

“Tonight we got to see the side of football that is extremely ugly and nobody wants to see or admit exists. When you see both teams on the field crying in that way, your first thought is Damar Hamlin. The second thought is his family.

“This isn’t about a football player. This is about a human. This is about a brother. This is about a son. This is about a friend. This is about someone who is loved by so many who you have to watch go through this.

“I dealt with this before. I watched my teammates, for days, come to my hospital bed and cry. I had them call me and tell me they didn’t think I was going to make it. Now this team has to go through that, and they have no answers.

“So I think the next time we get upset about the guy on our team not making a play, and we’re saying you’re worthless and you make all this money, we should remember that these men are putting their lives on the line to live their dream. And tonight Damar Hamlin’s dream became a nightmare for not only himself, but his team and his entire family.”

In 2020, Damar Hamlin began organising an annual Christmas toy drive in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. By early Tuesday, a community toy drive organised by Hamlin had surged to more than $3.1 million in donations. His stated goal was $2,500. Bills offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, in a post on Twitter, described Hamlin as a “kind, caring, extremely hard worker.” Saffold wrote that Hamlin is “loyal, honest and can always put a smile on your face. He is more than an athlete, he is a son and brother.”

It took the NFL about one hour after Hamlin collapsed to officially suspend the game because league executives were gathering information and communicating with referee Shawn Smith, coaches from both teams and the NFL Players Association.

Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, said that the NFL’s Emergency Action Plan was activated. Vincent communicated with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith. Dawn Aponte, the league’s chief football administrative officer, was at the game and communicated with Bills coach Sean McDermott and Bengals coach Zac Taylor and the referee.

“It was fluid and things were changing by the minute,” Vincent said. “It was obvious on the phone that the emotions were extremely high. It was a very volatile situation.”

Vincent refuted ESPN’s broadcast report that both teams were given a five-minute warmup period to resume playing. “I’m not sure where that came from,” Vincent said. “It never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play. That’s ridiculous. That’s insensitive. That’s not a place we should ever be in.”

It was unclear when the game between two AFC contenders, with the No. 1 seed hanging in the balance, would be concluded.

The NFL said in a conference call that the Bills would be returning to Buffalo and a decision on the game would come later.

The Bills are scheduled to close out the regular season on Sunday when they host the New England Patriots while the Bengals take on the Baltimore Ravens.

“That’s not our consideration right now, our concern is for the player and his wellbeing,” Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy, told reporters.

“I am sure at the appropriate time we will have a conversation around the next steps regarding the game.”

As of last night, The University of Cincinnati Medical Center did not anticipate making any statement on Tuesday morning.

The incident took place during the first quarter of the Buffalo Bills’ Monday night match against the Cincinnati Bengals. Damar Hamlin tackled the Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins following a reception over the middle, near midfield. Higgins’ right shoulder met Hamlin in the chest.

The Bills safety got up and was on his feet for around three seconds before he collapsed. Hamlin immediately received treatment from the Bills medical staff. Hamlin was eventually moved into an ambulance, which left the stadium for the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Higgins sent a message to Hamlin on Twitter, which read: “My prayers and thoughts go out to @HamlinIsland the Hamlin Family. I’m praying that you pull through bro. Love.”

Bills offensive lineman Rodger Saffold posted on on Twitter: “Damar Hamlin is a kind caring extremely hard worker. He is loyal honest and can always put a smile on your face. He is more than an athlete, he is a son and brother. I pray God gives him mercy and brings him back to us.”

“Never before have I ever witnessed anything like this,” said former Bills quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. “The game doesn’t matter. Praying for Damar and his family.”

“No one’s been through this. I’ve never seen anything like it, either.” said longtime NFL quarterback Troy Aikman on ESPN.

University of Pittsburgh’s football account posted: “Damar Hamlin is the best of us. We love you, 3. Praying for you.” Hamlin played college ball at Pitt.

Damar Hamlin on the importance of family: “My mom, my dad, my little brother, that’s pretty much my whole world. Outside of any other thing going on, my life revolves around them. I don’t really do too much without my mom and dad’s opinion, whether I take it or whether I don’t. Sometimes I just want to hear it. It’s how I was raised and it’s something I’m big on.”

One of the nation’s top cornerbacks out of Pennsylvania, Hamlin chose to play college football for Ohio State over Penn State. After a successful spell in college, Hamlin was taken by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He made 14 appearances in his rookie season but has started 13 games this season, after replacing the injured Micah Hyde in the Bills line-up.

A statement from the NFL Players Association said: “The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin.

“We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL. The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar’s health and well-being.”