FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Invoice Belichick does not often watch Monday night time video games on TV.
However with the Patriots getting ready to play the Payments and New England’s playoff hopes hanging on a win, the longtime coach occurred to have the Buffalo-Cincinnati sport.
Which means Belichick was like tens of millions of others watching stay when Payments security Damar Hamlin collapsed on the sphere as a result of his coronary heart had stopped.
“Life is larger than this sport. And I believe that is a type of humbling moments for all of us,” Belichick mentioned Thursday.
That is as a result of what he noticed took him again to 1997 and one other sport he’ll always remember.
Belichick was the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets on the sidelines for his or her closing common season sport at Detroit.
“It was a traditional play, Adrian Murrell carried the ball and was tackled. They broke out and went again to the huddle and (Reggie Brown) laid down on the sphere and did not transfer,” Belichick recalled.
He remembers watching Brown lie immobile on the sphere for what appeared like an eternity as he was given CPR and loaded into an ambulance.
“The groups had been fairly just like Monday night time’s sport,” Belichick mentioned. “It was a really scary sport. Clearly, one I will always remember.”
Brown suffered a career-ending spinal wire harm. The work of the medical workers and subsequent surgical procedure helped him retain his means to stroll.
Though the incidents had been completely different — what precipitated Hamlin to enter cardiac arrest Monday stays unclear — Belichick mentioned he drew on his expertise from 1997 as he tries to assist gamers cope with their feelings about by Hamlin’s harm.
“It was completely different than any week of soccer we have had, that is for certain,” Patriots middle David Andrews mentioned. “Our ideas and prayers are with (Hamlin), however on the similar time we perceive we’ve to prepare for a soccer sport. We’re nonetheless attempting to try this as greatest we are able to.”
Each the Patriots and Payments are set to play in Buffalo as scheduled on Sunday. The Patriots held their second follow of the week on Thursday and seemed to leap into these preparations as they appear to increase their season.
“Clearly the sport is the sport. On the finish of the day, we’re all right here, we have got a job to do,” Patriots quarterback Mac Jones mentioned. “Clearly there’s quite a lot of emotion and it is arduous to attempt to keep targeted on the sport. … However that is one factor you must do, is concentrate on every day … and clearly proceed your routine as greatest you’ll be able to.”
New England joined groups across the league that modified their social media profile footage to an image of Hamlin’s No. three with the phrases “Pray for Damar.” The workforce additionally put the message “Patriots Nation Stands With Damar Hamlin” on Gillette Stadium Video Card.
The Payments launched an encouraging replace Thursday about Hamlin’s well being, saying he has proven “outstanding enchancment” over the previous 24 hours.
Amid the uncertainty surrounding Sunday’s sport and Hamlin, Belichick mentioned the Patriots are merely attempting to provide everybody related to the workforce what they want. These assets embrace entry to the workforce’s medical workers and workforce chaplain and time with their households.
“No matter it’s, I believe all people’s doing the most effective they will,” he mentioned. “I reward all of them. It is not simple for any of us.”
Veteran security Devin McCourty mentioned it was useful to listen to about Belichick’s experiences with Brown in 1997.
“It is simply with the ability to do the issues the gamers want,” McCourty mentioned of Belichick’s management. “He tells us that on a regular basis. He has quite a lot of respect for what every man decides to do whenever you go on the market and play soccer. I believe that was showcased this week.”
Having performed in Buffalo a number of occasions and witnessed its emotionally charged environment below regular circumstances, Andrews expects this week to be much more amplified.
“I do not assume you’ll be able to block that. It is a part of it,” he mentioned.
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