# Damar Hamlin collapses on field (Now cleared to play football) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [January 3, 2023, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560 "2023-01-03T02:15:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/81 "2023-01-03T22:01:59Z")
This is the conundrum that the league faces. They are not going to cancel the season or playoffs. If they simply don’t play the game, then both teams have one less (potential) win and both are most likely significantly disadvantaged (not getting the #1 seed and a bye, not hosting playoff games). I don’t think the NFL can live with the PR around “punishing” the already traumatized teams. There’s really no way to play the game if it isn’t done today or tomorrow and that’s not happening. Extremely low probability they will move the playoff schedule. Too many wheels already in motion for this and the other playoff teams get an extra rest week out of it. For the purposes of seeding, assign both Buffalo and the Bengals a “win” for this week’s game? For the purposes of seeding, assign both teams half a point? Flip a coin for who gets assigned a win and who gets assigned a loss? Rock, paper, scissors? 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/82 "2023-01-03T22:07:32Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > That or maybe call it a tie? I think this is more likely than declaring the Bengals the winner. Maybe if they’d finished at least the first half, but not when each team had a single series. Has anyone mapped out the impact of this game given the possible scenarios in the Week 18 games? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/83 "2023-01-03T22:07:41Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I don’t understand how anyone who can read would consider Bayless’s statement insensitive. Because Skip Bayless is an insincere piece of garbage. Just because he managed to insert the word “irrelevant” into his tweet doesn’t hide his very clear intent of showing how he’s incapable of human emotion, empathy, or awareness. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/84 "2023-01-03T22:16:36Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I don’t understand how anyone who can read would consider Bayless’s statement insensitive. He literally says the otherwise “important” game feels irrelevant next to Hamlin’s health. Skip Bayless is unpopular and has a habit if taking extreme positions on things for performative reasons. Therefore, he gets whatever the opposite of the benefit of the doubt is. Second, there are mountains of reactionaries out there with the emotional maturity of a toddler who eats lead paint. We’ve become very acquainted with these types over the last several years. As a result, his perfectly reasonable statement triggers a performative, attention seeking outrage across the interwebs. Clearly, he didn’t genuflect enough so the griefers have all the ammo they need. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/85 "2023-01-03T22:20:15Z")
Ok, I’m glad I’m not the only one confused and wondering if my read is just screwed up or what. I don’t know his reputation, though, but I was thinking I just lost my grasp of parsing English last night when I saw the hubbub on this post. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/86 "2023-01-03T22:26:35Z")
> [@Apodder](#): > > I didn’t hear that…seems very odd to me that the ambulance would wait for anything. And I can’t imagine them wanting family to ride with him when they’re in a resuscitation scenario. Well 20/20 hindsight tells me to ignore media updates on anything beyond sunrise/sunset times. So I should have discounted the information from the start. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/87 "2023-01-03T22:32:41Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I don’t understand how anyone who can read would consider Bayless’s statement insensitive. Because he questions “how” the game could be postponed. That was extremely stupid and insensitive. Stupid, because it happens all the time. If a storm had rolled in and lightning was striking the field, you wouldn’t ask how the game could be postponed. You just effing do it. It happens all the time in sports. > [@garygnu](#): > > He literally says the otherwise “important” game feels irrelevant next to Hamlin’s health. That’s the equivalence of saying, “No offense, but…” It’s a meaningless qualifier. The fact that he could even question how a game could be postponed when basically every other person said just do it shows him to be exceptionally loathsome. Which is just the norm for him. > [@Munch](#): > > Because Skip Bayless is an insincere piece of garbage. > [@Omniscient](#): > > Skip Bayless is unpopular and has a habit if taking extreme positions on things for performative reasons. Therefore, he gets whatever the opposite of the benefit of the doubt is. And all of this. Did you not read the article I posted? He has literally made his career on this. He’s the Alex Jones of the sports world. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/88 "2023-01-03T22:39:43Z")
I can think of two reasons: 1 - because it could very easily be inferred as Bayless calling for the game to continue - “The Show Must Go On,” as it were. Presumably, instead of, “But How?”, he meant, “But then what?” 2 - even had he said, “But then what?”, some people consider it insensitive to think about playoff implications at a time like this. “The man is fighting for his life, and all you can think about is who’s going to win the AFC East,” as it were. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/89 "2023-01-03T22:44:13Z")
Thanks for illustrating my point so effectively. Feel free to pit everyone in this thread who effectively asked the same question one way or another. Denying that this is uniquely challenging timing to try and work around this incident between these two particular teams borders on the absurd. Nothing like this has ever happened before and there are no good options, nevertheless that discussion is happening behind closed doors whether the pearl-clutchers like it or not. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/90 "2023-01-03T22:46:13Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > If a storm had rolled in and lightning was striking the field, you wouldn’t ask how the game could be postponed. You just effing do it. They don’t postpone games for lightning, they wait for the lightning to stop and then resume and finish a couple hours later. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/91 "2023-01-03T22:50:33Z")
The only postponements I remember were COVID and Katrina. Actually maybe not even Katrina. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/92 "2023-01-03T22:50:56Z")
Just lightning on its own, sure. But plenty of games get postponed for bad weather. > **[NFL games affected by severe weather or natural disasters](https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/nfl-games-affected-by-severe-weather-or-natural-disasters/268111/)** > > As the NFL prepares for Hurricane Ian to hit Florida ahead of Week 4, here is a list of games that have been impacted by inclement weather. > [@EllisDee](#): > > The only postponements I remember were COVID and Katrina. See the above list. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/93 "2023-01-03T22:51:12Z")
Nice cite, I stand corrected. Fair point, then. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/94 "2023-01-03T22:51:36Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > He later threw himself to the ground in the public square and rent his clothes asunder, flogging himself with a scourge in repentance, but the guy is a professional troll and people aren’t having it. Bayless is essentially a professional asshole, so any apology he makes should be taken with an Atlantic Ocean full of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/95 "2023-01-03T23:01:13Z")
The Bills have already had a home game moved due to a blizzard (and of course their region has suffered enormously). Now this. I sincerely hope Hamlin makes a full recovery and becomes a talisman who helps rally the team to a Super Bowl victory. Can you just imagine the scene if he’s brought up on that winners’ stage for the trophy presentation? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/96 "2023-01-03T23:26:17Z")
Sure thing, and I will admit that one common factor is that it’s very rare and only happens in extreme circumstances. I’d think that what happened last night was also an extreme circumstance. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/97 "2023-01-03T23:32:11Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > If any Doctors want to chime in that would be great. If he had cardiac arrest and has been sedated/intubated that sounds like a serious issue with the heart. It seems likely that it was commotio cordis. If it was then most likely his heart was perfectly healthy before the hit. It’s just incredibly bad luck and timing. The cardiac arrest and treatment may have caused some damage. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/98 "2023-01-03T23:42:54Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > > [@Atamasama](#): > > > > He later threw himself to the ground in the public square and rent his clothes asunder, flogging himself with a scourge in repentance, but the guy is a professional troll and people aren’t having it. > > Bayless is essentially a professional asshole, so any apology he makes should be taken with an Atlantic Ocean full of salt. Except if he didn’t do anything wrong. We’ve had 20 posts asking “but how” and no one is being accused of being an asshole. No problem calling him out when he is one but I still don’t see a problem with that tweet. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/99 "2023-01-03T23:46:21Z")
That list is almost exclusively hurricanes and blizzards. Hurricanes being all in the first month of the season and all the weather events requiring just a change venue with some advance notice. Nothing like this has happened before. Even when there was a serious head-neck injury, up to and including paralysis, the game was eventually resumed. This situation is unique in many different ways. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/100 "2023-01-04T00:17:36Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Nothing like this has happened before. Even when there was a serious head-neck injury, up to and including paralysis, the game was eventually resumed. I think you lost track of the discussion at some point. We were talking about the feasibility of postponing a game. Postponement involves resumption at some point. If indeed the game is just completely stricken rather than postponed (which I guess could happen), that would indeed be unprecedented as far as I know. But the controversy we were discussing was about questioning the possibility of postponing a game, which _has_ been done multiple times in the past. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560.md?page=6)