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For Dummer Hamlin’s teammates, peers, and everyone in the NFL community, getting back to work isn’t normal business.
Two days after Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a Buffalo game in Cincinnati and had to be resuscitated on the field, the player returned to practice Wednesday with a broken heart.
Hamlin, a 24-year-old Bills safety, remains hospitalized in critical condition, but his teammates are scheduled to face the Patriots on Sunday, with all Week 18 games scheduled.
Several players across the league have expressed concerns about playing this weekend as they are still processing what happened to Hamlin. was flowing. They are praying for his recovery and he is coping with emotions he has never experienced in sports.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said of Sunday’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, “There will be pros and cons if you vote for the locker room.” I think it’s hard.But some people want to do it, some people don’t.Personally, you might want to play.I think getting back to normal as soon as possible is how I deal with this kind of thing. But like I said, everyone handles it differently.”
The league and the NFL Players Association share mental health resources available to teams, players and coaches. Each team is staffed by board-certified behavioral medicine specialists and pain management specialists.
The Players Union will make available to all players a directory to help find nearby clinicians, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and counselors.
NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills said: “Certainly teams, healthcare providers, staff, and this is common to all our teams, not just Buffalo and Cincinnati. Our clubs are deploying these resources to counselors and mental health professionals, and their support extends to the entire NFL family and is an ongoing need. It is what continues and what we continue to emphasize.”
Bills held team meetings and practice walkthroughs Wednesday without media. They plan to resume practice on Thursday, with coach Sean McDermott and some players scheduled to speak to reporters.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said he wouldn’t be able to play this weekend if Hamlin were his teammate.
“It’s too difficult,” Cox said. “When you think about this match, you think about everyone who was there when it happened. I know those people have been through it, and everyone who’s seen what’s going on has been through it.”
Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsom II said it would be difficult to play the season finale in Pittsburgh — Hamlin grew up in the area — given the unusual circumstances.
“It’s definitely going to be difficult to finish this last game and go out on the field knowing someone is in a life-or-death situation,” Newsom said before practice Wednesday. It will be, and hopefully that’s why we have our mates around us, and we can talk about it, but it’s going to be tough for sure.”
The New Orleans Saints had the team’s psychologist with them as they gathered for a meeting on Wednesday.
Director Dennis Allen said, “If you need a little help, you can admit it.
Allen experienced the death of his teammate firsthand. In 1991, he was safe at Texas A&M when kicker James Glenn died of heart failure on the field during a practice warmup.
“It sticks with you to this day. Whenever you have someone, especially a young man, who expects you to be perfectly healthy in every other way, it’s hard to see something like that happen.” “I know how it affected our team,” Allen said. I can only imagine what you gave.”
Ready or not, the Bills, Bengals, and 30 other NFL teams are back on the field this week. Players must be mentally prepared for action in a sport that requires their full attention.
“You can’t compartmentalize it,” said Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb. Be prepared for how physical and violent the game will be, it’s a tough sport that we play, but I never thought I’d see or witness something like it. I can’t help but think of him and his family and I hope they are doing well and that he is back safely and in perfect health.”
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