Despite claims to the contrary, the NFL reportedly wanted to continue Monday night’s game after the terrible incident involving Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
After Hamlin’s stunning collapse on the field in the first quarter, followed by rescue efforts that included CPR and the use of a defibrillator, the NFL wanted to resume play, according to Backstage Media’s Michael Silver. But Bills and Cincinnati Bengals players refused.
“I’ve talked to enough people involved, and this is how it went down: The NFL’s first impulse was to keep playing,” Silver tweeted. “(Bengals quarterback) Joe Burrow was told to warm up. That was the plan. And the players and coaches said ‘no’ and walked off.”
I've talked to enough people involved, and this is how it went down: The NFL's first impulse was to keep playing. Joe Burrow was told to warm up. That was the plan. And the players and coaches said 'no' and walked off.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 3, 2023
That bid to continue to the game seems to correlate with information “Monday Night Football” broadcaster Joe Buck shared. Buck said four times that officials gave the teams a five-minute heads-up to warm up before play would resume.
However, Silver’s report totally contradicts the stance of Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations, who told reporters Monday night it was “insensitive” to suggest the NFL wanted to resume play.
“Five-minute warmup never crossed my mind, personally,” Vincent said (via Pro Football Talk). “And I was the one … that was communicating with the Commissioner. We never, frankly, it never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play. That’s ridiculous. That’s insensitive. And that’s not a place that we should ever be in.”
Silver’s report reflects the sentiment other reporters had Monday night during live coverage of the event. ESPN reporter Scott Van Pelt said, “[NFL] can say whatever it wants to say about [playing the game] … a group of men locked arms on different sides of a sideline and said no we’re not.”
"[NFL] can say whatever it wants to say about [playing the game]… a group of men locked arms on different sides of a sideline and said no we're not."- SVP
"I'm so glad that these guys didn't have to go back out on this field tonight and try to play a damn game."- Ryan Clark pic.twitter.com/fHhUlBVylA
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 3, 2023
Tuesday afternoon, the league announced the game will not resume this week and there has been “no decision” about it being continued in the future.
Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest, remains in critical condition and on a ventilator in a Cincinnati hospital. His family issued a statement Tuesday “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.”
[Michael Silver, Backstage Media]
