{"id":1545067,"date":"2023-01-07T14:45:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-07T19:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1545067"},"modified":"2023-01-07T14:45:13","modified_gmt":"2023-01-07T19:45:13","slug":"bill-belichick-said-damar-hamlin-injury-triggered-memories-of-a-similar-incident-where-he-had-an-up-close-view","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/bill-belichick-said-damar-hamlin-injury-triggered-memories-of-a-similar-incident-where-he-had-an-up-close-view\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill Belichick Said Damar Hamlin Injury Triggered Memories of a Similar Incident Where He Had an Up-Close View"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bill Belichick<\/a> isn't typically a talker. This time, the New England Patriots head coach<\/a> had a few things to say. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepping for Sunday's key matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Belichick spoke about Monday night's incident involving Bill safety Damar Hamlin. Hamlin collapsed on the field and needed CPR after suffering cardiac arrest. Belichick said he watched the game live, and it brought back memories of a similar incident when he was the assistant head coach\/defensive coordinator of the New York Jets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bill Belichick said the Damar Hamlin play reminded him of a 1997 incident when he was coaching the Jets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Bill
Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Gillette Stadium on January 1, 2023, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. | Winslow Townson\/Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Belichick began his press conference<\/a> Thursday by speaking about Hamlin, who tried to make a play on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins<\/a> during the first quarter Monday. Hamlin hit Higgins and then collapsed to the turf, causing moments of panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An ambulance came onto the field, trainers rushed to aid Hamlin, and Denny Kellington, a Bills assistant trainer, performed CPR<\/a>. The game was halted and eventually canceled. Hamlin went to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in critical condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident struck a nerve with Belichick, who was on the field for a similar event in '97.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot that I have all the answers, because I certainly don\u2019t, but I was there and experienced that, and I think have some sense of what the players and teams, coaches, went through Monday night,\u201d Belichick said. \u201cLike I said, it\u2019s something that you just never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belichick was an assistant under Bill Parcells with the Jets when his team played the Detroit Lions. Lions linebacker Reggie Brown suffered a serious spinal cord injury that ended his career when he went in to tackle Jets running back Adrian Murrell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Brown's and Hamlin's injuries happened on routine plays. When Belichick saw Hamlin go down, he thought back to Brown's injury nearly 26 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLife\u2019s bigger than this game,\u201d Belichick said. \u201c(Monday) is one of these humbling moments for all of us that stands out.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belichick and the Patriots face the Bills in a crucial game Sunday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

Matthew Slater said Bill Belichick asked him to lead the Patriots in prayer, for Damar Hamlin, earlier this week.

\u201cOur primary concern is that he makes a full recovery,\u201d Slater said. pic.twitter.com\/GrB9yACuU3<\/a><\/p>— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 5, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>