Damar Hamlin collapses on the field. Source: Supplied The hit between Damar Hamlin and Tee Higgins that triggered the collapse. Dylan Buell/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP Jordon Rooney, a friend and Hamlin marketing representative, gave a medical update on Thursday, speaking for the NFL star’s family.
“Right now things are moving in a positive direction,” Rooney told the NFL Network.
Rooney disputed a claim by Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn, that Hamlin was resuscitated at the hospital as well as on the field.
He also said Hamlin’s family was unhappy to see criticism directed at Higgins over the hit that hospitalised Hamlin.
“This was a regular football play,” Rooney said. “The family doesn’t want any brushback on Tee at all.”
In a separate interview with Spectrum News 1, Rooney described the incident as a “freak” play while once again defending Higgins.
“If you think you’re supporting Damar by bashing Tee, you’re not supporting Damar. …They (the family) don’t agree with anything that’s being said (about Higgins), Rooney said.
“It was a freak football accident that could have happened with anyone at any time.
“Tee has reached out. He has went above and beyond. All signs point to him being a great human being who genuinely cares and feels bad.
“The family feels bad that Tee would have any guilt towards this situation.”
The football world also united in defence of Higgins on Thursday (AEDT) after “sickening” and “pathetic” insults continued to be posted on the Bengals star’s social media accounts.
Meanwhile, NFL players returned to workouts on Thursday (AEDT) ahead of the final weekend of regular-season games, where the Bills were set to play host to New England.
The Bills conducted team meetings and a walk-through practice session but were not available to reporters on Thursday.
Fans gathered outside the Bills’ home stadium to conduct a prayer vigil for Hamlin.
The NFL said the Bills-Bengals game, which would have an impact on playoff seedings, will not be completed this week. The NFL did not commit to ever finishing the contest.
With an off week scheduled before the playoff conference finals and next month’s Super Bowl, the NFL could push back planned post-season games by one week each to finish the Bills-Bengals game next week.
Damar Hamlin continues to recover in hospital. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) Source: Supplied In the meantime, NFL players still coping with the shock of Hamlin’s injury were preparing to return to the gridiron.
That included the Bengals, who will play host to Baltimore on Sunday. “There are a lot of things we will keep private as we manage things the best we can,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said.
“You do have to move forward as a team because we do have a game to play on Sunday. We have to move focused toward that but at the same time, you don’t have to move past the situation that’s happening right now.
“We can still provide support for the players that need more of that… you’re able to have space to do that and at the same time move forward as a team to focus on Baltimore on Sunday.”
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after teammate Damar Hamlin #3 collapsed. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images ‘Nobody is fine’
That same difficult balance was being attempted around the league. “Nobody is fine,” Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s definitely a heavy, sensitive day.
“We spent a good amount of time talking about it in our team meeting… we obviously know what’s in front of us professionally.
“Our spirituality playbook was open today and we’re working through it.” A GoFundMe page for Hamlin’s youth charity foundation, which the family said will also be used to support “Damar’s battle” had raised more than A$8 million.
– with news.com.au
