Dj reader on playing Sunday

[Bengalbug]

(01-04-2023, 11:20 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: In general i agree. That's how i personally would look at it from the outside. As brutal and harrowing as the injury was, he was treated quickly and looks to be improving daily. At some point, being professional athletes in a multibillion dollar industry, you are expected to focus on your job and move forward. I've already pointed out multiple times about how active players have actually died in terrible ways and game were played days later. Sometimes, the very next day. 

Though, i will stop short at telling anyone what that time should be and i'm not going to lie, i don't know that too many people would consider me the most compassionate person on earth, a short while after a traumatic event. Being completely transparent, yesterday i started thinking about how 'it figures that just as the Bengals are about to cement themselves as one of, if not the top, teams and continue their roll to the playoffs, something like this happens'. But don't worry. My wife was quick to comment about 'so sorry that someone almost died and ruined your football game' with heavy sarcasm. I'd have to imagine that if it was one of the Bengals safeties that it happened to, i'd likely feel a bit different about it. 

One thing i'll add, being someone who is experienced in walking into the back of an emergency room (without any advanced warning) and seeing a paramedic on top of a loved one, giving them CPR, is different than hearing about someone's death. Probably a lot different than most people realize. 

Bro, same thing happened to me a little over 3 years ago… 30 minutes of CPR while trying to get him on the heart/lung bypass machine. Unfortunately he didn’t make it and left behind my (then) 5 year old niece. My uncle duties, and brother to my sister had to step up. I was asked on the spot to pray for my family - my parents, my sister, my wife my brother in laws mom and his brother. I also was asked to write the obituary and then give a speech at the funeral.

That shook me, for a while and it still hurts. Once you experience that, it changes you… it did for me anyway. I have more empathy for others in that situation, than I used to, but it de-sensitized things for me. If that makes sense.

I can understand how the bills players/family is feeling. But there is the other side of needing to get back to life. It’s NOT easy, but it gets easier with time.

Plus by all accounts, the tests/progress that has shed positive light are likely the same tests I saw performed with no such luck. It also doesn’t hurt that we are talking about a young professional athlete, which does only help the prognosis.

But your right, Sean Taylor, Chris Henry, dale earnhardt, the HS kid that passed away due to a heat stroke, the list goes on.