NFL exec explains decision to cancel Bills-Bengals in aftermath of ‘traumatic’ Hamlin injury

CINCINNATI — When NFL EVP of of football operations Troy Vincent, who played 14 seasons in the NFL, watched Damar Hamlin collapse on Monday Night Football, there was only one question on his mind:

“How do you resume play after you’ve seen such a traumatic event occur in front of you in real time?”

The NFL decided to postpone the game after Hamlin was stretchered onto an ambulance after going into cardiac arrest following a vicious collision with Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Hamlin’s heartbeat was restored on the field before he was taken to UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment, according to a statement released by the team early Tuesday morning. The Bills said he was sedated and remained in critical condition.

Hamlin was treated on the field for 15 minutes and after the ambulance left the field, Bills defensive players began stretching as if the game was going to continue. The ESPN broadcast team indicated that the players were given a five-minute warm-up period before play would resume.

That’s when Bengals coach Zac Taylor, whose team hadn’t left its sideline, walked over near the Bills sideline to confer with Sean McDermott, referee Shawn Smith and his team of officials. Moments later the group made the determination to suspend play and send both teams into the locker room. The injury occurred at 8:55 p.m., the game was temporarily suspended at 9:17 p.m., and it was called off at 10:01 p.m.

When Vincent was made aware of the comments on the broadcast about a potential warm-up period, he said the league never considered resuming play in the game.

“I’m not sure where that came from. Frankly, there was no time period for the players to get warmed up,” Vincent said. “That’s ridiculous. That’s insensitive, and that’s not a place that we should ever be in.”

While Hamlin was receiving medical attention, Vincent said he was in communication with Smith to get a “pulse” of where things were at the time. Vincent said the league asked both coaches if it was appropriate to return to the locker room because nothing except Hamlin’s care mattered in the moment. Both coaches jumped on a phone call with the league once the teams went back to the locker rooms. About a half hour later, everyone agreed to postpone the game.

“Obviously we saw the coaches and players and, frankly, those that were tuned into the game, all traumatized,” Vincent said. “including myself personally just thinking through what is happening.”

Vincent applauded both McDermott and Taylor for the way they handled themselves and led their teams in the face of such a difficult situation.

“ It was obvious on the phone with them that the emotions were extremely high,” he said. “It was a very volatile situation and I thought the coaches, they led tonight. They led their locker rooms.”

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