FOX Sports pundit Skip Bayless sparked fury after he appeared to be wondering if the NFL should postpone the Buffalo Bills’ crucial Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals after Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field.
Hamlin, 24, is in critical condition today after attacking rival Bengals receiver Tee Higgens and collapsing before being taken to hospital.
The game was suspended by the NFL after Hamlin was taken off the field in an ambulance – but Bayless wondered how they could stop the game in the final week of the regular season.
“No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game – but how? So late in the season, a game of this magnitude is critical to regular season outcome…which suddenly seems so irrelevant,” tweeted Baylees, who joined Fox Sports in 2016 after being an ESPN pundit for 12 years.
FOX Sports pundit Skip Bayless sparked fury after he appeared to be wondering if the NFL should postpone the Buffalo Bills’ crucial Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals after Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field
Hamlin, 24, is in critical condition today after attacking rival Bengals receiver Tee Higgens and collapsing before being taken to hospital
Many prayers are needed for this player Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin who collapsed after 9 minutes of CPR transported from field to hospital in critical condition game postponed please Lord lift up this young man in prayer to heal… pic.twitter.com/0ptbV0ODWN
— Diane (@ladyfishrn11) January 3, 2023
His tweet sparked fury among NFL fans, with ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III tweeting, “Damar Hamlin’s LIFE is at stake. Get your head out of your ass
His tweet sparked fury among NFL fans, with ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III tweeting, “Damar Hamlin’s LIFE is at stake. Get your head out of your ass.’
NBA star Isaiah Thomas tweeted: “Hope they fire you bro!!! It’s very sad that you’re even thinking about the game.”
One fan tweeted: “A platform as big as yours and you decide to get into a game of someone else’s life? You’re one of the worst out here. Shame on you.’
The backlash forced Bayless to apologize for being asked if the game should be postponed.
Bayless tweeted Tuesday: “Nothing is more important than this young man’s health. That was the point of my last tweet. I’m sorry if that was misunderstood, but his health is all that matters. Again, everything else is irrelevant. I have prayed for him and will continue to do so.’
During the game, the ESPN Monday Night Football show was cut off four times for commercials when Hamlin was treated on the field.
After the ambulance left the field, reports initially suggested the game would resume after a five-minute warm-up, sparking an outpouring of anger on social media.
Vincent said the league took no steps to restart play and did not ask players to begin a five-minute warm-up, as ESPN’s broadcasters announced.
“It never occurred to us to talk about warming up to get back into the game,” said Vincent. ‘That’s ridiculous. That’s insensitive. This is not a place we should ever be.’
Hamlin remains in critical condition after collapsing on the field. In one chilling scene, the player was administered CPR on the pitch while surrounded by his tearful teammates.
“Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after scoring in our game against the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored in the field and he was transferred to UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment,” the Bills said in a statement.
“He is currently sedated and in critical condition.”
The backlash forced Bayless to apologize for being asked if the game should be postponed
Bills’ players were visibly stunned as their teammate received life-saving treatment on the field
Hamlin was injured while tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins in what appeared to be a routine game that didn’t appear unusually violent.
The NFL announced Hamlin’s condition shortly after he was rushed to a hospital, but neither the league nor the hospital released any further details on the 24-year-old’s medical condition. The team’s statement was released before its flight arrived in Buffalo early Tuesday. There was no immediate update on the future status of the game.
On the game, the 6-foot, 200-pound Hamlin was injured, Higgins leading with his right shoulder that hit the defensive back in the chest. Hamlin then wrapped his arms around Higgins’ shoulders and helmet to pull him down.
Hamlin stood up quickly, seemed to be adjusting his face mask with his right hand, then fell back about three seconds later and lay motionless.
Buffalo Bills players are collapsing in pain after Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during Monday night’s game
Fans gather for a vigil at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for Buffalo Bills soccer player Damar Hamlin, who collapsed after a tackle during Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Ohio
Hamlin was treated at the scene by a team and independent medical staff and local paramedics and was taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Teammate Stefon Diggs later joined Hamlin in the hospital.
About 100 Bills fans and a few Bengals fans gathered on a corner a block from the ER entrance, some holding candles.
Jeff Miller, an NFL executive vice president, told reporters on a conference call early Tuesday that the league had no plans to play the game at the time, adding that the focus was on Hamlin’s health.
An ambulance was on the field four minutes after Hamlin collapsed while many players hugged, including quarterbacks Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow.
“Please pray for our brother,” Allen tweeted.