Doc, love your writing, but…….you earlier called for speculation by a doctor to be put on air, you criticized the ESPN crew for not having more to say when they make $12 million. Let’s not rush to be first anymore, let’s get it right instead.
It was a heart attack, so I tried to think of it as "not a football injury". Perhaps he had an undetected hole in his heart since childhood...or some other unforseen heart issue such as Covid. My head fought against it being "football related" on some level I fought that all night. He tried to make a tackle and ran into a "tree" of a man. He wasn't "hit" by a Bengal. When I check in on Channel 5, the first thing I heard from the newscaster was, "our producer doesn't want you to see the hit, so we are not going to show it now." So it came off as he got hit by Higgins which caused the injury.
Okay, so later I watched a doctor explain what could have happened. His heart had to be at a certain beat in nanoseconds for this to happen if he did in fact take a hit to his heart during the tackle to have had this happen. He said it was a very rare event, but that could have been what happened.
Anyway, I hope Higgins doesn't take this on as any fault of his.
I am saddened, of course by the kids who had the attack, but also for all the fans who were at the game...and all of us who anticipated what a great game this...would have been.
Carson Palmer said once, due to the size of the players as they progressed each year in size and strengthening programs, someone was going to die in this game just making contact in the intensity of the moment. Perhaps this was that nanosecond moment he feared.
I think the only way forward for the NFL is to call last night’s game a draw. Playoff seedings should then be based on win/loss percentage after the season ends this weekend. If that produces a tie with two teams, it’s a coin flip to determine what team gets the bye. Draw lots if three teams are tied.
If the unthinkable happens to Damar this week, the NFL should cancel the rest of the regular season and start the playoffs after a week off. The Bills would certainly deserve a week away from such a horrible tragedy. Will that happen in this scenario? I doubt it because lots of money is involved. Should it happen? Out of respect, of course it should happen.
You have to admit that it was comforting to see the gamblers and fantasy football players wait almost 2 full hours before chiming in. We are who we thought we were. Sigh.
I am surprised that I have not seen any references to the 1971 death of a Lions receiver in the hudle. I had a vague memory of it during the game and easily found details on the internet while wqiting for the decision on the game's continuation.
Chuck Hughes died on the field, falling returning to the huddle late in the game, Found to have premature hardening of the arteries, I think.
Thank you for your thoughtful article that captured everything I've been thinking. I haven't seen an update regarding his condition so hopefully that is a good sign. This has to be very difficult for all of the players to deal with, especially Tee Higgins because he was involved in the play. The decision to suspend the game should have come much more quickly with input only from the coaches, not the NFL Players Association. We all continue to pray for his complete recovery.
Prayers for Damar Hamlin, his family and all of the players so visibly shaken. PD your words are appropriate and compassionate, without violence there is no football. These warriors know the risks involved and are paid very well as we wait to watch the next hit. Hopefully, Damar will walk out of the hospital!
I watched this happen on TV 1,800 miles away in Arizona. I was at the 1996 Reds Opening Day game at Riverfront. The sounds and vibes coming from Paycor felt eerily similar.
Shots of Stefon Diggs walking into University Hospital were hunting.
Shades of John McSherry in my mind... the jubilation of Opening Day turned eerily silent.
The difference being McSherry was gone before he hit the ground. Didn't have that sense from Hamlin, so the longer we waited, the more ominous it felt.
I can attest to the fantastic care Hamlin will get in the UC ICU, having been a recipient myself about 18 months ago. He's in the best available hands.
Thank God for that.
Offering my prayer for Hamlin's health and well being, for the peace and comfort of his family and team, for the wisdom of the medical team, and for all of us who are reminded yet again about the fragility of life, that we may - as you said in your New Year column - grow to appreciate the time we have and enjoy the ride as best we can.
Doc, love your writing, but…….you earlier called for speculation by a doctor to be put on air, you criticized the ESPN crew for not having more to say when they make $12 million. Let’s not rush to be first anymore, let’s get it right instead.
It was a heart attack, so I tried to think of it as "not a football injury". Perhaps he had an undetected hole in his heart since childhood...or some other unforseen heart issue such as Covid. My head fought against it being "football related" on some level I fought that all night. He tried to make a tackle and ran into a "tree" of a man. He wasn't "hit" by a Bengal. When I check in on Channel 5, the first thing I heard from the newscaster was, "our producer doesn't want you to see the hit, so we are not going to show it now." So it came off as he got hit by Higgins which caused the injury.
Okay, so later I watched a doctor explain what could have happened. His heart had to be at a certain beat in nanoseconds for this to happen if he did in fact take a hit to his heart during the tackle to have had this happen. He said it was a very rare event, but that could have been what happened.
Anyway, I hope Higgins doesn't take this on as any fault of his.
I am saddened, of course by the kids who had the attack, but also for all the fans who were at the game...and all of us who anticipated what a great game this...would have been.
Carson Palmer said once, due to the size of the players as they progressed each year in size and strengthening programs, someone was going to die in this game just making contact in the intensity of the moment. Perhaps this was that nanosecond moment he feared.
I think the only way forward for the NFL is to call last night’s game a draw. Playoff seedings should then be based on win/loss percentage after the season ends this weekend. If that produces a tie with two teams, it’s a coin flip to determine what team gets the bye. Draw lots if three teams are tied.
If the unthinkable happens to Damar this week, the NFL should cancel the rest of the regular season and start the playoffs after a week off. The Bills would certainly deserve a week away from such a horrible tragedy. Will that happen in this scenario? I doubt it because lots of money is involved. Should it happen? Out of respect, of course it should happen.
You have to admit that it was comforting to see the gamblers and fantasy football players wait almost 2 full hours before chiming in. We are who we thought we were. Sigh.
I am surprised that I have not seen any references to the 1971 death of a Lions receiver in the hudle. I had a vague memory of it during the game and easily found details on the internet while wqiting for the decision on the game's continuation.
Chuck Hughes died on the field, falling returning to the huddle late in the game, Found to have premature hardening of the arteries, I think.
Thank you for your thoughtful article that captured everything I've been thinking. I haven't seen an update regarding his condition so hopefully that is a good sign. This has to be very difficult for all of the players to deal with, especially Tee Higgins because he was involved in the play. The decision to suspend the game should have come much more quickly with input only from the coaches, not the NFL Players Association. We all continue to pray for his complete recovery.
Prayers for Damar Hamlin, his family and all of the players so visibly shaken. PD your words are appropriate and compassionate, without violence there is no football. These warriors know the risks involved and are paid very well as we wait to watch the next hit. Hopefully, Damar will walk out of the hospital!
Miss you Doc. Times like this always make me think about your insight.
Football is a violent "game".
Pray for Damar and his family.
Pray for Tee and his family.
In the upcoming days, "The Shield" will have to answer for not suspending/cancelling this game sooner.
"The Shield" has been dented and is wilting...
I watched this happen on TV 1,800 miles away in Arizona. I was at the 1996 Reds Opening Day game at Riverfront. The sounds and vibes coming from Paycor felt eerily similar.
Shots of Stefon Diggs walking into University Hospital were hunting.
Damar has a toy drive charity that apparently passed $1,000.000 in donations within the past two hours: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mxksc-the-chasing-ms-foundation-community-toy-drive
these are talented men playing a brutal game
violence is real
treasure life as daugherty has told us
as i learned as a critical care nurse in the emergency room at the university of cincinnati that life is so precious and health is fleeting
Shades of John McSherry in my mind... the jubilation of Opening Day turned eerily silent.
The difference being McSherry was gone before he hit the ground. Didn't have that sense from Hamlin, so the longer we waited, the more ominous it felt.
I can attest to the fantastic care Hamlin will get in the UC ICU, having been a recipient myself about 18 months ago. He's in the best available hands.
Thank God for that.
Offering my prayer for Hamlin's health and well being, for the peace and comfort of his family and team, for the wisdom of the medical team, and for all of us who are reminded yet again about the fragility of life, that we may - as you said in your New Year column - grow to appreciate the time we have and enjoy the ride as best we can.
Life is so fragile, so precious.
All I can say is I hope Damar Hamlin is ok. Incredibly scary situation. Prayers for him and his family 🙏🏻
Continuing to pray for that young man.
It reminded me very much of Hank Gathers. It is my prayer it ends differently.
I don’t know what to say except I pray for the young man.