# 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:** 9
**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 5, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/161 "2023-01-05T16:49:36Z")
I sincerely hope that he’s able to wake up and see how much love and support he has received since the incident, and how much money his charity has received. People have rallied around this guy, he’s like everyone’s friend now. I think it’s a function of seeing everything happen live and then following it, you can’t help but feel a personal connection and emotional investment. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/162 "2023-01-05T16:59:03Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Based on how the statement is worded, I kind of suspect it’s more the latter. A teammate says he’s awake. > ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/163 "2023-01-05T17:06:56Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > A teammate says he’s awake. That’s excellent news. I now see, in an ESPN article, some corroboration of this: > [@](#): > > Hamlin’s agent, Ronald Butler, told The Associated Press that Hamlin was awake and has been able to grip the hands of family members at his hospital bedside. > **[Doctors: Hamlin shows 'substantial improvement'](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35385154/damar-hamlin-shows-remarkable-improvement-remains-critical-condition)** > > Bills safety Damar Hamlin is beginning to awaken as he shows "substantial improvement," doctors said, including being able to move his hands and feet and communicate in writing. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/164 "2023-01-05T18:40:39Z")
hospital update right now. they don’t see brain impairment and he is improving. they took him out of sedation, and he was able to follow commands and even asked who won the game. he was able to write as he has a breathing tube. they told him he (hamlin) won. ---
**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 5, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/165 "2023-01-05T19:41:21Z")
> This seriously brightened my day. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/166 "2023-01-05T21:03:43Z")
Damar Hamlin’s subsequent thoughts: “What? I won? What the hell is that supposed to mean? The game of life, like the board game? Or, did WE win? Would it have been that hard to just say what the score was?” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/167 "2023-01-05T21:11:51Z")
A friend of mine is retired from the NFL. I talked with him earlier today about this situation. I pointed out that baseball postpones games all the time, then they just play a doubleheader. He wasn’t amused. ---
**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 5, 2023, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/168 "2023-01-05T22:10:38Z")
Another QQ for the medical peeps. Is it common for a patient to be awake and intubated for an extended period of time? I had the assumption that being intubated is a pretty unpleasant and borderline traumatic sensation for a conscious and coherent person. ---
**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 5, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/169 "2023-01-05T22:18:58Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Even if Hamlin didn’t need such a device, he would probably be too psychologically traumatized/wary to ever play a down of football again. I strongly doubt that. Football players are a special breed. This is what they do and what they know. Serious injury is a risk they’ve long ago made peace with. He’s young and hasn’t made his millions yet, I don’t believe he has a wife or kids yet. It’s worth mentioning that the High School Lacrosse player Peter Laake suffered a very similar trauma and result a while back. It’s likely you’ve seen it referenced often the last few days. He eventually returned to play. So there’s one data point. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/170 "2023-01-05T22:21:05Z")
IANAD or Nurse, but my understanding is that when you are intubated you are also sedated, for as long as necessary to get to the point where you no longer need to be intubated. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/171 "2023-01-05T22:29:10Z")
I’m sorry–but this “did we win?” thing is bullshit." Probably said but as an afterthought. Media runs with it for a tug-at your-heart strings" or something for the NFL fans to eat up. For Christ’s sake, it wasn’t the Superbowl. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/172 "2023-01-05T22:31:01Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > I’m sorry–but this “did we win?” thing is bullshit. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/173 "2023-01-05T22:38:45Z")
^^my opinion. But or course you probably were well aware of that. Sorry–no cite for that claim, either. I see lots of opinions in his thread. Don’t see where you asked anyone else for a cite. Huh… ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/174 "2023-01-05T22:39:25Z")
Everyone is happy hes improving. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/175 "2023-01-05T22:41:55Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > Don’t see where you asked anyone else for a cite. Oh, that’s because I only asked you. 🍻 ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/176 "2023-01-05T22:43:04Z")
^^^no shit. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/177 "2023-01-05T22:47:14Z")
Are you saying that it’s silly to think that someone who just nearly died and came to in the ICU would be concerned about the outcome of a regular season game…but if it had been the Super Bowl, that would be different? ---
**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 5, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/178 "2023-01-05T22:50:43Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > For Christ’s sake, it wasn’t the Superbowl. Close enough. It was for the #1 seed and a first-round bye. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/179 "2023-01-05T22:50:50Z")
I am not saying that at all. I am saying it was probably the last thing on his mind. The media turned into that was his main concern. ---
**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 5, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560/180 "2023-01-05T22:51:12Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > I am saying it was probably the last thing on his mind. I couldn’t disagree more. That’s probably the only thing on his mind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damar-hamlin-collapses-on-field-now-cleared-to-play-football/977560.md?page=10)