Players were clearly emotional after the shock incident. Picture: Dylan Buell Source: AFP “I just turned my head and tried not to think about it. It was hard. Obviously not in a good place to play for the rest of that game so I’m kind of glad that we chose not to play.
“I’m a professional football player at the end of the day so I have to shift my focus to the Ravens (this weekend).
“I’m here to do a job and my teammates need me. I know it’s something big but I’ve got a job to do.”
Higgins had been targeted on social media, despite the insistence of the Hamlin family that they held no ill-feeling towards the star Bengal given what happened to Damar was a complete accident.
In his first day back training after the on-field trauma, Bills QB Josh Allen went out of his way to praise Higgins and wish him well.
“I haven’t reached out to Tee. I hope that he got some relief today (with the Damar health update),” he said.
“I saw some stuff on Twitter and people should not be attacking him whatsoever. I’m glad Damar’s family came out and said that (in his defence).
NFL analyst stuns fans in live TV moment | 01:10
“Hopefully he found some relief today because that’s a football play.
“I hope he doesn’t hold that upon himself. There’s nothing else he could have done in that situation.”
Allen was emotional throughout his almost 40-minute press conference alongside coach Sean McDermott, where both captain and coach spoke of the horror ordeal they went through on the sidelines.
“A dire circumstance that nobody’s expecting, nobody’s ready for. You can never put yourself into that situation until it happens,” he said.
“Our training staff, for going out there, not knowing what’s going on but going through a checklist … and saving his life.
“Being on that field, (pauses as he gets emotional) , you lose sleep. You hurt for your brother. Getting the updates eases so much of that tension and pain that you feel.
Bills fan Dustin Peters attends a candlelight vigil for Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin. Picture: Jeff Dean Source: AFP “The scene just replays over and over in your head.
“It’s hard to describe how I felt, how my teammates felt in that moment – it’s something we’ll never forget.”
One of those Buffalo training staff who rushed to Hamlin’s aid is Denny Kellington, and he’s the man who’s been praised for saving the safety’s life.
Kellington started CPR and gave his young star the best chance possible to recover with as minimal neurological defects as possible.
“Amazing. To give it context to some extent, Denny is one of our assistant trainers,” McDermott said.
“Just like anything else, that whole team, they go through their exercises, mock exercises for things like this. But we are never around to see when they do that.
“As they say, practice pays off and it did in this case. For an assistant to find himself at that position and needing to take the action that he did and step up and take charge like he did, there were others on the field as well, that was nothing short of amazing and the courage that that took.
“You talk about a real leader and a real hero saving Damar’s life. I just admire his strength.”
Hamlin remains in intensive care | 01:16
DAMAR’S DAD GIVES PLAYERS HOPE
Josh Allen has revealed he and his teammates are ready to return to the field after a special message from injured teammate Damar Hamlin’s dad Mario.
Allen admitted there were many players uncomfortable and struggling mentally with the thought of putting on the helmet, but thanks to Hamlin Snr, teammates were now upbeat.
“Mario talking to us as a team and the things that he told us, he didn’t tell us, he demanded us – you can’t not honour his request to go out there and charge forward to the best of our abilities,” Allen revealed.
“We’ll be playing with less heavy hearts now knowing that today’s news (of Hamlin waking up) was a lot of tears of joy.
Tre’Davious White and Mitch Morse react to teammate Damar Hamlin collapsing on the field. Picture: Dylan Buell Source: AFP “To know that’s what he wants, that’s what his dad wants, I think the guys are excited to get out there.
“We want to go out there and play for 3. There’ll be a huge driving force and emotion and the love of the game that we play … hopefully we can get him back soon.
“The fact we keep hearing good news about Damar keeps pushing us forward.”
Allen said he was opting to look at the Hamlin ordeal as the “freakiest of freak” accidents.
“It’s hard not to let it creep into your mind,” he said.
“We’ve been reassured this is the freakiest of freak accidents … but the mental aspect of it, going out on the field, if you have that thought, that’s putting yourself at risk even more.
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“I think putting that helmet back on today was a really good thing for our team.
“I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say some people will be changed forever after being on the field and witnessing that and feeling those emotions. The best way we can continue to move forward, the updates we keep getting on Damar are lifting the spirits.”
