Patriots Pregame Thread Pre Game Thread - Pats @ Bills

[RobertWeathers]

Didn’t Chris Henry die in season for the Bengals? I believe they played the next week?

IIRC he was not with the team.

 

[neuronet]

If he passes away there is no way in hell they are playing the game - nor should they.

I don't know man. I don't consider myself heartless, but not sure I agree. This is a violent game with known horrible health consequences, including death, devastating brain damage that permanently changes your personality, paralysis, etc. It seems a mistake to go down this road of canceling games because of predictable health consequences of playing the game.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I can respect the Bills, feel bad for them, whatever... even sympathize for the other issues their fans have faced, like the recent blizzard,

but no way am I conflicted in the least about deciding on the team I want to win on Sunday

I can't imagine anyone expecting the Patriots to not give it everything, too

 

[yukon cornelius]

They can't do anything now, not without and update on his health. They are in a tremendously difficult spot. They already tentatively announced that games will still be played this weekend, but what else can they do? What if his health turns for the worse or all of a sudden gets better. That's the only reason they can't or haven't come out with a plan.

their plan should be independent of the outcome of his battle at this point

they need to take care of the game that was suspended.....either announce it will be finished and when, or announce it won't and put up their solution....adjust this week if needed

like it or not, they are a billion dollar industry.......the working f

I think it depends on how much heat the League office is feeling for the 5 minute thing. If they're still getting ripped by the media, they'll want to err on the side of appearing to comfort the players.

the 5-minute thing is drastically overblown as well.......it's general policy after a major injury, and my guess some were just quoting the policy without realizing the extent.......honestly how many times a season are games interrupted for an injured player to be back boarded? pretty common, that's the precedent they rolled with until they had more information

i'm of the belief that the more the league ****yfoots around this the bigger the hole they dig......plan to play the upcoming week as scheduled.....reschedule the game that was suspended (they honestly should have played it already), or come up with a realistic scenario (a tie seems the most reasonable of a bunch of lousy decisions) and move on.......adjust it if needed if the worst case scenario occurs

the longer they wait the more reactive to media pressure they become, they make the "no win" even more unwinnable.....

 

[XLIX]

While I generally agree with you, that is an easy one. It's like being on autopilot

Q: "Do you really think you should be playing this game?"

A: "We don't decide who we play, whether we play, where we play, or anything like that. Those decisions come from the NFL. We play the games on our schedule. Buffalo is on our schedule and that's what we are preparing for, to play our best vs. Buffalo."

They will do what they always do (which is a smart thing to do): Issue a statement which is 100% supportive of the player and then any question asked, just say "we already made our statement" or "we have nothing to add to the statement"....

 

[archstanton543]

I don't know man. I don't consider myself heartless, but not sure I agree. This is a violent game with known horrible health consequences, including death, devastating brain damage that permanently changes your personality, paralysis, etc. It seems a mistake to go down this road of canceling games because of predictable health consequences of playing the game.

And we don't know for sure if he had some kind of undiagnosed heart condition or something outside of the game itself caused the heart attack.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don't know man. I don't consider myself heartless, but not sure I agree. This is a violent game with known horrible health consequences, including death, devastating brain damage that permanently changes your personality, paralysis, etc. It seems a mistake to go down this road of canceling games because of predictable health consequences of playing the game.

I don't disagree as the NFL is a violent game and severe injury during a game needs to be accepted.

In this instance... playing out the circumstances players and coaches for the Bills and perhaps other teams will want to go to services, etc. and mourn. The logistics and emotions involved make playing a game very difficult.

I'm all for continuing play after a severe injury but when a player nearly dies (or passes away because of the game) I think it's appropriate to take a step back and respect that person's life.

 

[neuronet]

> Owner Robert Kraft donated $18,003 dollars to a toy drive Hamlin started for kids

Classy that he added the 3 for Hamlin's number. I don't get the significance of 18, can anyone explain?

(I sort of wish he gave 28,003 )

 

[RobertWeathers]

> Owner Robert Kraft donated $18,003 dollars to a toy drive Hamlin started for kids

Classy that he added the 3 for Hamlin's number. I don't get the significance of 18, can anyone explain?

(I sort of wish he gave 28,003 )

Robert Kraft's $18,003 donation to fundraiser for NFL player who suffered cardiac arrest has symbolic meaning - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

The donation includes nods to the Hebrew chai and to Damar Hamlin's jersey number.

www.jta.org

 

[gitgronked82]

IIRC he was not with the team.

Ah I see. But only because he was out for the year with an injury. He was on the team.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Ah I see. But only because he was out for the year with an injury. He was on the team.

I think he was a problem/had off the field issues.

Not trying to trample on his grave but point was he was not on the field or on an NFL roster.

 

[Ross12]

I wonder how this would all have transpired if the exact same thing happened at practice instead of during a live broadcast, so we fans did not witness it.

 

[Dingleberry]

I think he was a problem/had off the field issues.

Not trying to trample on his grave but point was he was not on the field or on an NFL roster.

But many of his former teammates were likely close to him and distraught?

No way do you keep playing if a player dies (or nearly dies) on the field. But it is time to play football now. If they refuse, then forfeit.

 

[RobertWeathers]

But many of his former teammates were likely close to him and distraught?

I have no idea. I assume he had a few close friends who were

No way do you keep playing if a player dies (or nearly dies) on the field.

Agree

But it is time to play football now. If they refuse, then forfeit.

OK but the public backlash vs the Bills mgt and NFL will be staggering.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I wonder how this would all have transpired if the exact same thing happened at practice instead of during a live broadcast, so we fans did not witness it.

It's not that the fans witnessed it, it's that the media witnessed it and has been spinning it ever since. That's what the League is reacting to.

 

[Dingleberry]

I have no idea. I assume he had a few close friends who were

Agree

OK but the public backlash vs the Bills mgt and NFL will be staggering.

F.uck the public and use common sense.

I guess that's why I couldn't work in PR because the public is reactionary and generally stupid.

So you're right about what will happen. Just don't agree it should happen. Playing football while mourning sucks. Doing ANYTHING while mourning sucks. Yet, we do it.

 

[gitgronked82]

I think he was a problem/had off the field issues.

Not trying to trample on his grave but point was he was not on the field or on an NFL roster.

He had issues, but he was on a roster. He had played 8 games for them that year and then broke his arm.

 

[sb1]

Sounds like the league has not discussed the possibility of a postponement yet so there's still a chance.

Would be a huge break for the Patriots if it happens since they'll know whether it's truly a must win or if they already made it in after Sunday and can rest players.

I think Miami is beating the Jest at least so that will close the backdoor to the playoffs. But it's good to know what needs to happen.

 

[Steve102]

I wonder how this would all have transpired if the exact same thing happened at practice instead of during a live broadcast, so we fans did not witness it.

Everything, IMO, is a direct result of Hamlin receiving CPR on the field, while players looked on, on a nationally televised, high visibility game. If this happened at practice, we would not hear Joe Buck telling us they administered CPR, you wouldn't see players reacting like Josh Allen with his hands in his face, with guys crying and consoling each other. In short, it would be much more business as usual. But the TV show aspect of MNF got off script and now they have a mess on their hands. If none of us had seen it, then they could sweep it under the rug and move forward much more succinctly. No bad optics to deal with.

 

[Patjew]

> Owner Robert Kraft donated $18,003 dollars to a toy drive Hamlin started for kids

Classy that he added the 3 for Hamlin's number. I don't get the significance of 18, can anyone explain?

(I sort of wish he gave 28,003 )

Chai. Life.

All gifts that I give are in multiples of 18.