NFL’s Troy Vincent says NFL did NOT want to resume play after Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest

NFL executive Troy Vincent is doubling down on his claim that the league had no intention of resuming play on Monday in Cincinnati after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a game against the Bengals. 

The 24-year-old is awake and showing signs of improvement after collapsing and being resuscitated during Monday’s Bills-Bengals game in Cincinnati. 

During Monday Night Football, ESPN play-by-play announcer Joe Buck repeatedly told television viewers that the league planned to resume play after a five-minute warmup period. 

NFL executive Troy Vincent (L) is doubling down on his claim that the league had no intention of resuming play after Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after reports to the contrary

Furthermore, San Francisco Chronicle reporter Mike Silver has reported that the NFL’s ‘first impulse’ was to try to resume play until players and coaches refused and walked off the field.

‘I just want to be clear,’ Vincent, the NFL’s Executive Vice President of Football Operations and a former league player, said Wednesday during a conference call with reporters. 

‘Just that suggestion alone was inappropriate, it was insensitive and, frankly, it lacked both empathy and compassion for Damar’s situation, who is still and was fighting for his life this day. It lacked complete, and it was just so insensitive to think that we were even thinking about returning to play.

Hamlin (No. 3) got on his feet briefly after making the tackle on Tee Higgins before falling backwards in shocking scenes as the Buffalo Bills played Cincinnati Bengals

‘The only thing that mattered to myself, the team here, the folks in the stadium and the coaches was the health and wellness of Damar and getting those coaches back to the locker room so they could look those players in their eyes and see who they are. They were hurting, there was a lot of pain. And talking to the commissioner [Roger Goodell] and communicating with everyone, it was just important … we just couldn’t play.’

Buck, too, has doubled down on his version of events in an interview with the New York Post, saying that ESPN officiating expert John Parry was in direct contact with the league.

‘They said they’re going to give five minutes of a warm-up to these players to get ready,’ Buck told the Post after Vincent initially denied that claim earlier in the week.

Hamlin collapsed moments later, falling backwards and laying motionless on the floor

ESPN has also defended Buck’s reporting in a statement.

‘There was constant communication in real time between ESPN and league and game officials,’ the network said. 

‘As a result of that, we reported what we were told in the moment and immediately updated fans as new information was learned. This was an unprecedented, rapidly evolving circumstance. All night long, we refrained from speculation.’

The Washington Post has reported one potential explanation, writing that Parry usually speaks with the league officiating department, but ‘this decision had escalated beyond those with whom Parry typically communicates.’

 

Hamlin remains critically ill but the Bills and teammate Kaiir Elam provided encouraging updates Thursday morning

Hamlin remains critically ill but the Bills and teammate Kaiir Elam provided encouraging updates Thursday morning.

The corner wrote on Twitter: ‘Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement. Thank you God. Keep the prayers coming please. All love 3!’

The Bills statement noted Hamlin’s lungs are improving and he is neurologically intact as he continues receiving treatment at a Cincinnati hospital.

‘Per the physicians caring for Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Damar has show remarkable improvement over the last 24 hours,’ read the team statement. ‘While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.’

On Wednesday, the Bills players had an ’emotional’ phone call with Hamlin’s father, Mario, who also had an encouraging update about his son.