UKBillFan

I posted a thread on this but it was merged with the injury one - thoughts and prayers with Tee Higgins too right now. Goodness knows how he is feeling but hope he is able to not blame himself at all. After Hurst’s tackle and the roll up on Josh I posted that I’d even prefer to see the Chiefs win the SB over the Bengals, as I thought they were playing dirty. But the response of their players, staff and fans after Hamar’s credit does them absolute credit and shows complete class.

Cynically, can’t help but think what else would he say? Feel bad for wondering it but the NFL and player safety protocols have not been the best of bedfellows this year.

I agree, I don’t think the Bills will readily forfeit but I do wonder when we will take the field again. The important thing is Damar pulling through, though.

Can’t see them stating it’s a tie as it affects the play off picture. They’ll either prolong the regular season, wiping out the gap between the Conference Championships and Super Bowl, or use winning percentages.

I’d argue it is in a sense, although it depends on the individual as well. But playing football - or any activity - can serve as a distraction from grief when it has occurred elsewhere. But, in Damar’s case, the football field is where it happened. Someone gets tackled - does he get up? If he does, will he fall down straight away again? Is he really ok? Or how about, if it happened to Damar, could it happen to them too? Even though it is probably a one in a billion occurrence. Going out on the field will not be easy in terms of mindset, especially for either the Bengals or Bills. That could be best, for that reason, that their next game is against each other.

Though neither Favre’s father or Knox’s brother were taken playing football. Hamlin was taken severely ill/injured whilst playing the game. There will be an element of “but for the Grace of God…” for at least some time, every time a team mate is hit, every time someone stays down.

Probably the easiest solution if Bills-Bengals isn’t played, with the usual tiebreakers then taking effect. Feels wrong even considering it, though.

From responses made by MDs based on the friend/agent tweet, there won’t be any further updates for at least a day. He’s in a medically induced coma and they are now following standard protocol for bringing him back round from it.

Apologies for the facetiousness but with our record on coin tosses, the Bengals would probably win it anyway.

People react in different ways. The over-powering feeling is helplessness and wanting to do something. It was this emotion which led Diggs to find an Uber, travel to the hospital and sweet talk his way past security. Obviously, the majority cannot do this and want to show love and support - donating is a way of doing this. And it doesn’t matter when the money will be spent; the important thing is it eventually will be.

Plus where else are they meant to go? The arranged flight doesn't leave for a couple of hours and they can hardly travel to the hospital en masse.

It seems to be believed that Jordan Rooney's tweet is from a legitimate source. If so, and he is taking the information from the medical professionals, then it's as positive as it can be considering the circumstances (as per follow up tweets from MDs). That's what I'll try to tell myself as I attempt to sleep tonight.

I assume if they do fly out it will be on the officially planned flight, which is at 1.30am. Not sure if it is from anyone reputable though; I trust tweets posted on here as more would have a feel for reliable Bills sources than I do. As an aside, if it is the case, I expect some Bills staff to remain in Cincinnati.

NFL to make a decision at a later date. It's possible it will be played on a later day but they're understandably focusing on Damar's wellbeing right now.

There's a tweet saying that the Bills are flying back to Buffalo tonight. If that is the case, I don't think they'll be playing tomorrow. If there was a chance of that happening, they'd surely stay in Cincinatti over night?

If the Bills are flying back they're not playing tomorrow. And only you are saying they're acting callously.

For what reason? What good can they do there? Right now they probably want to hug their partners, their parents, their kids. Thank goodness Damar's mother was at the stadium today, but quite a few family members wouldn't have been. Get them away from where it happened, get them back where they belong and take stock.

I've been on a few a other fans forums - it's not just some Bills fans who are fuming at the NFL right now.

Or, as Tomlin did with Clark, coaches pushing certain players into retirement.

The BBC have quoted Jordan Rooney's tweet in an article. They're normally very careful about checking sources before publishing.

I think the haunted look on Josh's face will stay with me the longest out of everything. Think that was the gut wrenching moment when the seriousness really hit home.

There are so many players irritated me as I thought they were arrogant, protected by the refs, just annoy for no reason ... but they're showing true class as a collective tonight.

Yes. https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1610096274895765504

I read that as they need to run some tests for brain damage, so they're keeping him in a coma whilst they do so. I'm sorry the above is so blunt.

Yes, that was posted previously. Was perhaps getting overly hopeful over "vitals back to normal".