Damar Hamlin is headed home to Buffalo!

natpastime162

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I don't see why not, Chris Pronger had a very good and lengthy career after it happened to him.

Probably a personal choice though. I'm sure it's gotta be a mind fuck
Pronger’s heart stopped for a second or two and he was unconscious for about 20-30 seconds. Maybe it’s because it was a different time, but Pronger spent just one night in the hospital and was back on the ice 2 days later. Not sure the situations are comparable.
 
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johnmd20

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Yeah, I don't think he wants to go the Pronger route. Cautionary tale there.
Any reason why not? Pronger played 13 more years after that incident. He works in the NHL. Married, kids, seems like things are going well for him.

Am I missing something?
 

BigJimEd

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Any reason why not? Pronger played 13 more years after that incident. He works in the NHL. Married, kids, seems like things are going well for him.

Am I missing something?
Sorry, was thinking about Malarchuk who returned in 10 days but struggled with PTSD.
 

macal

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Jul 31, 2005
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It's amazing that barely 10 days after this happened that we are already talking about a possible return to playing. I'm not criticizing the discussion, just merely pointing out where we are now, compared to last week. If this truly was a one in a gazillion unfortunate event, I can't think of any reason why he can't play again, unless there was some other damage done as a result of it. Whether his mind can handle it is a different issue. Maybe a chat with Tedy Bruschi could help him.
 

Dogman

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Let's not go down that road.

There will be nothing productive with that conversation and it is below the standards of this forum.

Thanks.
 

Hoya81

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View: https://twitter.com/buffalobills/status/1648342750566182915?s=46

Hamlin cleared for working out with the team.

I’m conflicted on whether or not this is a good idea. I know that the original injury was essentially a 1000000/1 kind of thing, but I can’t imagine I’d be able to play football again.
He’s got a right for make a living, but I’m also sure the Bills would have honored his contract and/or given him a job for life.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Wait, you think the only league without guaranteed contracts and who have brushed the medical side of things under the rug for decades would have paid this guy for nothing? I need a glass of your optimistic juice.
 

Salem's Lot

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Wait, you think the only league without guaranteed contracts and who have brushed the medical side of things under the rug for decades would have paid this guy for nothing? I need a glass of your optimistic juice.
Zero chance they would pay him his entire contract. They would give him an injury settlement per the CBA and released him like they would do for anyone else. It’s a brutal business.
 

johnmd20

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Zero chance they would pay him his entire contract. They would give him an injury settlement per the CBA and released him like they would do for anyone else. It’s a brutal business.
There is a chance Hamlin would be treated differently. Not a 100% chance, to be sure, because it is a brutal business. But the Hamlin almost death was one of the bigger stories of the NFL season. In this instance, doing the right thing for Hamlin might just be great PR.
 

Kliq

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The NFL PR department went into complete overdrive for Hamlin because it was an extremely rare and public instance where the league actually put the safety and feelings of a player ahead of making money.

I am not a doctor. Shortly after the injury there was credible speculation that Hamlin would make a full recovery and would be able to play again with no increase risk of sustaining a similar injury in the future. I have to believe that he has gotten the appropriate clearance and is at no more risk to play again than any other player.
 

GeorgeCostanza

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The NFL PR department went into complete overdrive for Hamlin because it was an extremely rare and public instance where the league actually put the safety and feelings of a player ahead of making money.

I am not a doctor. Shortly after the injury there was credible speculation that Hamlin would make a full recovery and would be able to play again with no increase risk of sustaining a similar injury in the future. I have to believe that he has gotten the appropriate clearance and is at no more risk to play again than any other player.
Assuming the clearing doc wasn’t a Mudge protege of course.
 

103mph Screwball

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Zero chance they would pay him his entire contract. They would give him an injury settlement per the CBA and released him like they would do for anyone else. It’s a brutal business.
FWIW, and it was different ownership back then (cheaper ownership), but when Kevin Everett broke his neck, the Bills kept him on the active roster so he could accrue enough time to be eligible for a full NFL pension. From what I've seen from the Pegulas, I'd like to think they would make sure he was taken care of in some form if he never stepped back on an NFL field.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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The NFL PR department went into complete overdrive for Hamlin because it was an extremely rare and public instance where the league actually put the safety and feelings of a player ahead of making money.

I am not a doctor. Shortly after the injury there was credible speculation that Hamlin would make a full recovery and would be able to play again with no increase risk of sustaining a similar injury in the future. I have to believe that he has gotten the appropriate clearance and is at no more risk to play again than any other player.
The NFL is a dirty business and Hamlin could be feeling an extra motivation to continue playing for income as well as to maintain his positive influence more than he thinks he can retired. That said, all the medical analysis shortly after the incident was this had nothing to do with previous heart health nor have a long-term negative impact on future health.

Hamlin "won the lottery" so to speak, so the odds of him hitting that millisecond chance of arrest again is miniscule. His critical injury did make me GENERALLY nervous that this can happen to any player at any time.
 

DanoooME

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The NFL PR department went into complete overdrive for Hamlin because it was an extremely rare and public instance where the league actually put the safety and feelings of a player ahead of making money.
Only after they proposed re-starting the game 10 minutes after he was taken to the hospital and saw the backlash from the two teams involved.
 

Justthetippett

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Aug 9, 2015
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I can understand why he'd want to get back out there, and power to him if he has the mental fortitude to fight through any lingering anxieties, etc. I do feel for his family and loved ones, who will probably be ridden with fear every time he steps on the field.
 

BusRaker

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The Bills PR department needs to start working at the chance they have to cut him. Guy is brave as fuck regardless to get back on field after an NDE