01-04-2023, 11:32 AM
The problem here is that the NFL simply didn't have something set in stone to deal with a situation like it. Obviously guys getting CPR on the field doesn't happen often, but really with the Christian Eriksen story, there was quite recent precedent for the NFL to think 'what would we do if this happened?'. I know there's probably rules in the rulebook, but I doubt they've sat down with the teams and literally said 'right, in the case that a guy has a cardiac arrest and the players are not in a fit state of mind to carry on, we need to have x/y/z happen by (insert timeline here)'.
This isn't the same as a broken leg, torn ACL, or a natural disaster moving the game. It is a really unique and rare scenario, but there is enough precedent in my mind for the NFL to really have sorted out how they'd react to this sort of thing, before now. As I say, the Eriksen heart attack was a global news story, a really big thing in football/soccer, so the NFL should have taken the time at that point to reflect on what they would do imo.
Maybe they did, im not sure, but I believe the main reason for inaction here is that there is no prior agreement with the teams as to what they would be happy to have happen. So waltzing in with 'the Bills should forfeit' or 'it's a tie' or 'sorry but Bengals win as it was 7-3', while Hamlin's status is still unknown is difficult for the NFL to do unless all the teams had discussed this scenario before.
tl;dr - Maybe I'm wrong, but I think this is just the result of a really tragic and rare scenario, where there maybe wasn't enough contingency planning for. I don't 'blame' the NFL for that per se, but I do think the Eriksen cardiac arrest should've prompted them to think about this before now.
Just on a slight tangent, in terms of people talking about asterixes to be added to the team names... does anyone think the Bucs win during the covid season should have one? I personally don't associate that season as having that note against it, but maybe I'm in the minority. I know teams played the slate, but it was clearly such an affected season. I don't associate that year as 'not a real win' or the records as 'not real ones'.
I'm just saying that even if we were given the win here, and go on to win the Super Bowl, there's no reason for anyone to shoot that achievement down. Same for whoever comes out of the AFC.
This isn't the same as a broken leg, torn ACL, or a natural disaster moving the game. It is a really unique and rare scenario, but there is enough precedent in my mind for the NFL to really have sorted out how they'd react to this sort of thing, before now. As I say, the Eriksen heart attack was a global news story, a really big thing in football/soccer, so the NFL should have taken the time at that point to reflect on what they would do imo.
Maybe they did, im not sure, but I believe the main reason for inaction here is that there is no prior agreement with the teams as to what they would be happy to have happen. So waltzing in with 'the Bills should forfeit' or 'it's a tie' or 'sorry but Bengals win as it was 7-3', while Hamlin's status is still unknown is difficult for the NFL to do unless all the teams had discussed this scenario before.
tl;dr - Maybe I'm wrong, but I think this is just the result of a really tragic and rare scenario, where there maybe wasn't enough contingency planning for. I don't 'blame' the NFL for that per se, but I do think the Eriksen cardiac arrest should've prompted them to think about this before now.
Just on a slight tangent, in terms of people talking about asterixes to be added to the team names... does anyone think the Bucs win during the covid season should have one? I personally don't associate that season as having that note against it, but maybe I'm in the minority. I know teams played the slate, but it was clearly such an affected season. I don't associate that year as 'not a real win' or the records as 'not real ones'.
I'm just saying that even if we were given the win here, and go on to win the Super Bowl, there's no reason for anyone to shoot that achievement down. Same for whoever comes out of the AFC.
