HappyDays

There's a really important distinction in what you're referring to and what actually happened, though. Hamlin wasn't in a serious car accident for example. He was almost killed playing the same sport that these players subject themselves to every week, on a seemingly innocuous hit. What they witnessed is not just something that happened to a colleague, it is an extremly tangible experience for them. It would be more like your truck driver colleague is in a nearly fatal car accident because the brakes in his truck failed, and now you have to drive your truck provided by the same company a few days later. A little bit of extra time off would be understandable. Chris Simms made a great point today, speaking as a former player - cardiac injury is not something that NFL players have internalized as a risk. Everyone knows about head and neck and spine injuries. Mentally and emotionally they've prepared themselves for that risk. This is a totally novel case where a hit these players make/take dozens of times a week almost killed a young man in a terrifying and public way. It's an entirely different avenue of risk that every NFL player is now mentally grappling with, especially the Bills and Bengals players that saw it firsthand. Sitting from the comfort of my living room I can think rationally that since this is the first time something like this has happened in the modern NFL era, there's no use dwelling on the risk of it happening again. But it's understandable if some of the players need a little extra time to make their peace with that.

It has been two days since they watched their teammate die on the field. My biggest concern for this game is the Bills players and coaches being mentally and physically prepared after a short week made shorter. But I don't expect the game to be delayed. If the Bills come out flat and lose I'm at peace with that.

The thing I don't like about this is the Bills and/or Bengals would have to play against a team coming off a bye on wildcard weekend.

I saw a few journalists on Twitter say that the hospital was supposed to give an official update, but then the hospital came out and said there was no update to give yet. So there will hopefully be one at some point.

Pick the first 8 minutes of any Bills game this year and see how much it matches up to the ultimate result. Ridiculous post.

Still no official update on his status unfortunately.

I suspect at this point the league is waiting for some kind of official update from the hospital on Hamlin's status before making any announcements about the game or playoff seeding. There's no need to rush.

Nothing they can do about the Patriots game unfortunately. It's an awful position. The Patriots are fighting for their playoff lives and the Bills understandably will not be focused.

No, the AFC wildcard round would be pushed to the following week. Bills and/or Bengals would get 10 days rest before their wildcard round. So you would sort of stagger the two conference playoffs so that any team who participates in the Super Bowl has a bye at some point during the playoffs, but not the week before the Super Bowl like usual. I still think win percentage with a 16 game schedule for Bills and Bengals is the easiest way to move forward, but if the NFL is looking for a way to have every game played and still be totally fair with regards to seeding then this would be the only way I've seen that makes sense. I don't care what they decide. But it's an interesting idea.

As someone who has said the only way through this is to take the game off the schedule and award seeding based on win percentage, I'm intrigued by this format: The idea is certainly outside the box but also 100% logical.

Looking through the top donations on his Go Fund Me page I was struck by several donors with Fantasy Football League in their names, all donations of at least $1,000. Presumably all the members of those leagues, maybe because their championship matchup was disrupted by the game's postponement, decided to take the whole pot and donate it to Hamlin's foundation right at the end of their season. For some reason this is really sticking with me, even moreso than all the NFL players, coaches, etc. listed as donors. The way this injury has affected every single person that pays attention to sports at some level.

The way I feel is that if the team decides to pack it in for the season I support them. If they decide to give it their all and rally for a playoff push I support them, however it ends. I go as the team does.

The weird thing about this sport is that the worst injuries always seem to come from innocent looking hits.

I wish we could get the #1 seed too but focusing on the competitive disadvantage of a life or death situation is, to me, the wrong focus.

I wish I could pin this to the board - A Bills player's heart stopped beating on the field yesterday. He is currently fighting for his life. His teammates had to witness this happen and now patiently wait for any kind of news. WHO CARES ABOUT THE #1 SEED.

My one positive thought is that James Cook continues to look like a really good player. I'm not going to draw any conclusions about the game itself, just thought that was a good trend to see continue.

Oh well. None of those teams control their own destiny regardless so they can't complain. A young man's heart stopped on the football field. There is no perfect 100% fair solution. Logistically there is one reasonable situation and not a single player or coach or fan would be callous enough to reject it.

If we just basically forfeit the Bengals and Pats game we go into the playoffs rested and with hopefully good news on Hamlin putting the players at ease. We then face the #6 seed (likely Ravens) at home, then probably the Bengals and KC in their stadiums. I'd sign up for that right now. It's the best case scenario that doesn't force the players to play a game they're not ready for or screw up a bunch of other NFL scheduling.

It doesn't matter.

I'm begging you to leave the board and go troll another team. You had your fun. Please read the mood of the community and take it elsewhere.