It’s been nearly two days since Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during their Monday night battle with the Cincinnati Bengals, and the situation is still at the forefront of everyone’s mind in the NFL world.
On Wednesday, for the first time since the event, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel spoke to the media regarding Hamlin’s injury and condition.
“I’d feel foolish if you guys had to ask me what’s been going on, on all of our minds, really, for the immediate present and since Monday night, the tragedy that happened on Monday Night Football to Damar and his teammates and his family and everything,” McDaniel said. “It’s hard for me to just see all that hurt. I don’t pretend to know exactly what it feels like because I wasn’t there, and that would be insulting, but I attempt to be empathetic. My heart just breaks for everyone involved. The wake of that is long and strong and ever [pervading].
“My heart aches for the whole Bills organization, specifically Damar’s family and himself, but also everybody that chooses to play football and the things that those emotions can elicit. I wish I could do something about it. Unfortunately, I can’t. In moments like this, the only slight minute comfort that I do find is there seems to be a pervasive theme when tragedy occurs, for whatever reason, you end up seeing glimmers of the best face of humanity. I think there have been examples of that of people really aiding and supporting each other and it’s a slight solace to an otherwise terrible event.”
It’s hard to think about football and the importance of a Week 18 game when moments like this happen. Unfortunately, that’s what McDaniel must do for his team.
