Buffalo Bills safety Dumar Hamlin was still listed as in critical condition Wednesday after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest midway through Monday’s game against the Bengals. The world continued to spin, players reported to work and began preparing for the weekend’s schedule, which included two games on Saturday and another 12 on Sunday.
The NFL and its all-in mentality rarely offer room for introspection and conflicting emotions, but teams across the league took time Wednesday to reflect and move forward at the same time.
“You can do two things at once,” said Bengals coach Zach Taylor. “We can prepare for Sunday’s football game, we can support Damar, we can support those who know him and are dealing with emotional issues.”
Taylor, who had his team on the field when Hamlin went down Monday, knows the Bengals have a lot to handle, but with a game against the Baltimore Ravens looming on Sunday, he’s clashing for the division championship. I practiced on Wednesday because it could be affected.
“People know what they’re signing up for,” says Taylor. “This was a tough situation. My understanding based on the information we have is that it is very unlikely to happen. Players who play football know that. They know what they are doing.” I know what you’re into.
The Bills are also scheduled to face the New England Patriots on Sunday of Week 18. Neither team’s players nor coaches spoke to reporters on Wednesday.
After players recover from Sunday’s contest, a new week usually begins on Wednesday at the team’s facility. Players reported jobs this week, but things were different. Locker room chats and boardroom discussions weren’t just focused on X and O or movie reviews.
“It was very quiet out there,” Green Bay Packers coach Matt Lafleur said of the team’s morning meeting.
“We talked about it as soon as we walked in,” said Washington Commanders safety Cam Carl. “It’s like an elephant in the room.”
Many teams brought in team chaplains or club executives who focused on player engagement. They talked about Hamlin, the risks of the game, safety measures for their teams, and the resources available to them to deal with the various emotions swirling around team facilities. Team meetings began with prayers throughout the practice facility.
“All of us in the room got together and did it and then moved on,” said Lions coach Dan Campbell. “We felt it was the best thing and the right thing to do. When you don’t have words – and those who know what to say and how to say it.” There’s a wave of emotion, that’s the number one, so we did it, that’s where we left.
The NFL is a complex network of personal connections, with years of ties between franchises, from locker rooms to coaches’ offices. Washington linebacker Karleke Hudson has been close to Hamlin and Hamlin’s family since childhood.
“Even during practice, just thinking about him runs through my mind all day,” Hudson said.
“This is a violent game,” he continued. It’s sad that it happened that way, it happened to him in a freak accident. ”
The NFL has always been a fast-moving train. After career-ending injuries, personal tragedies, professional controversy, and even national disaster, the team manages to hit the field a week later, with a few exceptions.
In Miami, voices cracked as Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel discussed challenges on the practice field on Wednesday. , encouraging players to share their feelings and seek help if needed.
“Hey, listen, there’s no way you should feel,” McDaniel told his team. Be there to support each other because you don’t know how your teammates feel … right or wrong or indifferent about how you feel, the way is is not.
Players can independently assess their path to an NFL career. They know what it means to build a team’s roster or suffer an injury that jeopardizes everything: dreams, livelihoods, identities.
“You invested heavily in that game,” said McDaniel. Games give us a lot. ”
Washington wide receiver Terry McLaughlin said he couldn’t sleep Monday night. Monday was different.
“As athletes, we know the risks of wearing a helmet.
Even if they didn’t watch the “Monday Night Football” live broadcast, players and coaches said they were inundated with emails and phone calls about the incident, adding to the vortex of thoughts, fears and emotions.
“A lot of emotions and things run through my head,” said Philadelphia Eagles manager Nick Siriani. [reaction was] As a football coach and former football player. My thought process then turned to, “How can he coach 80 men in such a difficult situation?” Then it changed to “My son plays soccer”. There are many emotions that must be experienced. ”
Including the feelings surrounding how to get back on the field, he said.
“You just do. You go on and on,” Siriani said. “You try to transition there — you talk about the hard things that are going on, you have that conversation. And then you transition. It’s not easy.”
