Latest / NFL Now / Roger Goodell & Others React to Hamlin's Good News, & Insider Playoff Scenarios

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Roger Goodell & Others React to Hamlin's Good News, & Insider Playoff Scenarios · NFL Now

• 0:05
  Speaker 1: NFL Now is a production of the NFL in partnership
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: with I Heart Radio. Prayers have been answered. With that,
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: I welcome you to another hour of NFL Now on
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: NFL Network. My name is Andrew Cecilianohm in the news
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: room in Los Angeles, and yes, we have everything you
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: need to know about the postseason, including a vote that
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: just went down about the a f C playoffs. But
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: prayers have been answered in Cincinnati, where we are very
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: very happy to report to you today that Damar Hamlin,
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: from his hospital bed, was able to get on camera
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: and speak to his Bill's teammates. The breathing tube is out. Yes,
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: I said speak, not right as he did two nights
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: ago when asking who won the game. He spoke to
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: his teammates today and he said, I love you boys.
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: This was during a team meeting. They put it on
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: the big screen and you can imagine the reaction. Amazing.
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: UM touching to see DeMar number one through my own eyes.
• 1:13
  Speaker 1: I know that's something I've been looking forward to. UM,
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: kind of needing to see, I guess um. I hate
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: to say it that way, it sounds bad, but um.
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: And to watch the reaction in the room with the
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: players and the and the and the staff and the team. Um,
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: they didn't know that we were going to do that,
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: and UM, you know, wanted to make sure that was
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: actually gonna be able to happen with the mar's medical
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: schedule there and um, to be able to when I
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: said that we had a treat in store. Um, it
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: was just you could see the look on their eyes
• 1:51
  Speaker 1: in anticipation of what was probably coming in. And then
• 1:55
  Speaker 1: to get to zoom and when he came on the screen, Um,
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: it's a body. Our assistant trainers done a phenomenal job
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: out there helping facilitate it that this morning as well.
• 2:06
  Speaker 1: And to to see the player's reaction, Um, they stood
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: up right away and and clap for him, and you know,
• 2:16
  Speaker 1: he yelled some things to him, and it was a
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: pretty pretty cool exchange for a few seconds there. And
• 2:24
  Speaker 1: I can't remember the order of things. And it was
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: not a long interaction as you'd imagine, um with his
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: with his situation. Um, um, but he made hand signals,
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: hand gestures right of the thing that makes me laugh
• 2:41
  Speaker 1: is is he did this to the guys, you know,
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: right away, and UM, he flexed, he flexed, he flexed
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: all them. I guess and UM, he's just got some
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: staple things that they know him for and that he does.
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: And he made the heart heart symbol probably more than anything. UM.
• 2:58
  Speaker 1: And then he gave thumbs up. So and then somewhere
• 3:02
  Speaker 1: in the midst of that, and it was a little
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: bit hard to hear, but he as you'd imagine, he said,
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: he said, I love you boys, And of course I
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: think I got the guys. I was reminded this year,
• 3:16
  Speaker 1: as you mentioned, like what have I learned? I think
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: more reminded how real um. And this is probably a
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: message for fans out there, how real these guys are. UM.
• 3:29
  Speaker 1: They're not robots. They're real people with real families, real
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: issues in their personal lives. UM. Obviously acknowledging the money
• 3:40
  Speaker 1: that comes with jobs like this, and you know, grateful
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: for that. Having said that, though, these guys are real
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: people and dealing with real life issues and challenges. And
• 3:54
  Speaker 1: you know, when you get a chance, unfortunately, have a
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: chance to go to the hospital with the player and
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: you see his family there. UM. You know, another great
• 4:06
  Speaker 1: reminder of UM, these these young men, in this case
• 4:10
  Speaker 1: football players come from a mom and a dad UM
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: that cared for him very much. It was a roller
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: coaster manny, you know, and but just seeing his parents
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: and the strength that they showed him through this time,
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: and different friends and family that showed up, it was
• 4:30
  Speaker 1: it was great to see and learn more about DeMar
• 4:33
  Speaker 1: you know. Obviously I knew who he was through the
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: draft process and then just getting on this last year
• 4:37
  Speaker 1: and a half, but you learned so much more just
• 4:41
  Speaker 1: and you see why he is who he is by
• 4:44
  Speaker 1: you know, spending time with Mario and Nina and it's, uh,
• 4:47
  Speaker 1: just so impressed with the medical team to just these people.
• 4:51
  Speaker 1: Yes they're medical people, but their bedside manner, their care,
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: you know, hugging us and seeing tears out of their eyes.
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: I mean, there's gonna be a huge party when the
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: market gets out of there, And uh, that's the only
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: part I'm I'm sad that I'm I'm not gonna be
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: able to see him walk out of there, but I'm
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: gonna be so thrilled when we get it back here.
• 5:11
  Speaker 1: I am so proud of our organization, our team, you know,
• 5:15
  Speaker 1: just so many people. The way we've dealt with so
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: much this year. Um definitely not the way you draw
• 5:21
  Speaker 1: it up. But you know, I don't know what's going
• 5:24
  Speaker 1: to happen the rest of the season on the field,
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: I really don't. Um, this is a group of winners,
• 5:30
  Speaker 1: and I will forever, forever remember this team, this season,
• 5:35
  Speaker 1: the moments of it. Um. You know, I'm still hopefully
• 5:38
  Speaker 1: optimistic that we can make a run. Um, But I
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: don't know if there's ever a team I'll be more
• 5:44
  Speaker 1: proud of than this for all that's been dealt, and
• 5:47
  Speaker 1: we're still sitting here with all this at twelve and
• 5:49
  Speaker 1: three and a chance to still do something. So we'll
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: see what happens there. But UM, I could talk for
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: hours how proud I am. You know. We were laughing
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: with his mom. You know, you try to have some
• 6:01
  Speaker 1: laughable moments in there, and and we were laughing. She's like, man,
• 6:04
  Speaker 1: he just for this thing. She's like some of the
• 6:08
  Speaker 1: toys he bought. It was there was always like some
• 6:10
  Speaker 1: disagreements with which child gets this toy and that. And
• 6:14
  Speaker 1: I was like, you're you're gonna be passing out cars
• 6:16
  Speaker 1: next year, not toys, and uh So it's it's gonna
• 6:20
  Speaker 1: be exciting to see how excited Damar is about what
• 6:23
  Speaker 1: he can do, because that's who Damar is, and he's
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: so selfless and uh, he's always got a smile. No
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: Josh mentioned that yesterday the kid always has a smile
• 6:32
  Speaker 1: on his face. And today in that team meeting, man,
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: it was hair in the back of my neck stood
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: up when he said I love you boys, man, and
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: the room went nuts. It was just h it was.
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: It was awesome. Man. We got our boy. Man, you
• 6:47
  Speaker 1: know what I'm saying, That's all that matters. We got
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: our boy. The excitement was beautiful. It was amazing. Uh.
• 6:54
  Speaker 1: It has given us so much energy, so much you know, bright,
• 6:57
  Speaker 1: high spirits, whatever you wanna call it. Uh, it is
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: given it to us us to see that boys face,
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: to see him mile, see him go like this in
• 7:06
  Speaker 1: the camera, it was it was it was everything so
• 7:10
  Speaker 1: uh and then to hear him talk to us, it
• 7:13
  Speaker 1: was it was literally everything. And uh, that's what we needed. Literally,
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: that's all we needed. How cool is that Deon Dawkins
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: moments ago Bill's left tackle. Everyone's gonna be wearing these
• 7:25
  Speaker 1: shirts Love for the Marrow with the number three on
• 7:28
  Speaker 1: him everyone, all thirty two teams on the sideline on Sunday.
• 7:32
  Speaker 1: To fund has been established by tomorrow Hamlin's family. Donations
• 7:35
  Speaker 1: can be made directly right there at that address, which
• 7:38
  Speaker 1: you could find on the NFL's Twitter page. We have
• 7:41
  Speaker 1: Cam Wolfe outside the hospital. We have Mike Gardi outside
• 7:45
  Speaker 1: the stadium. Mike start with you. We just heard from
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: Dion Dawkins. That was moments ago. I think his smile
• 7:52
  Speaker 1: says everything. Hmm. What an infusion of energy Dion Dawkins
• 7:57
  Speaker 1: brought to the table. But where did he get his
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: energy from? As he mentioned that call with Damar Hamlin,
• 8:03
  Speaker 1: and to be able to feel that, to see it,
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: to have him flex on them, to have him flash
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: the hard sign to them, and to say I love
• 8:10
  Speaker 1: you boys, just took this team to a different place.
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: And Dawkins did reveal that Sean mc dermott's poker face
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: wasn't that great. He said, you know, our coach is
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: pretty buttoned up, he said, but when he came out there,
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: we kind of had a feeling just the way he
• 8:23
  Speaker 1: was kind of talking and walking that something was happening,
• 8:25
  Speaker 1: and of course that something was putting tomorrow on the
• 8:28
  Speaker 1: big screen in front of everybody at the team meeting. Um.
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: I've talked quite a bit here about the idea that
• 8:34
  Speaker 1: this is such a difficult thing to overcome, and you
• 8:36
  Speaker 1: wondered where the team was at mentally and physically. They
• 8:39
  Speaker 1: looked exhausted yesterday. The all four guys that we talked to,
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: including Josh Allen, Mitch Morrison's center and one of their captains,
• 8:45
  Speaker 1: Dane Jackson, close personal friend and teammate obviously of Tamar,
• 8:48
  Speaker 1: and then Sean McDermott. The way of the world was
• 8:50
  Speaker 1: on their shoulders than it should be because of what
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: they saw on Monday and what has happened, what's transpired,
• 8:54
  Speaker 1: and waiting for every little bit of news. But then
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: McDermott we saw earlier today there was better energy to him.
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: He smiled, he joked a lot, and then Dion was
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: having a blast. At one point, I know my name changed.
• 9:06
  Speaker 1: It was fine. I'm good with it, right because we
• 9:08
  Speaker 1: wouldn't be joking about these sorts of things even twenty
• 9:11
  Speaker 1: four hours ago, maybe even twelve hours ago. But we
• 9:14
  Speaker 1: are now. You know, the team is practicing, they're prepping
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: for for the game on Sunday, and I think that
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: they're they're a lot mentally is a much better place
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: than it was before. You know, whether preparation wise they
• 9:26
  Speaker 1: can get up to speed, I don't know. It's been
• 9:28
  Speaker 1: a different week, and it was a short week to
• 9:29
  Speaker 1: begin with, but definitely much more energy than we saw yesterday.
• 9:33
  Speaker 1: And that is a huge thing for this football team,
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: for this entire region, region, and for everybody who was
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: wondering and worrying about tomorrow. That energy, that attitude, that mood,
• 9:42
  Speaker 1: that sense of hope has not only changed in Buffalo
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: cam it has definitely changed there in Cincinnati as well. Yeah, Andrew,
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: standing here outside of UC Medical Center where DeMar Hamlin is,
• 9:52
  Speaker 1: there's been four or five different people where their cars
• 9:55
  Speaker 1: on the sidewalk cool stopped and just mentioned like go
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: to mar or did you hear the update or do
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: you hear great news? Look as America's rallied around Tomar Hamlint,
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: so is the city since now, Addie, and look, I
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: want to take you inside the hospital a little bit
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: because speaking with family members over the last few hours, elation,
• 10:12
  Speaker 1: elated is the word that I've constantly heard from them.
• 10:15
  Speaker 1: I spoke with Damar's uncle, Doran Glenn earlier today and
• 10:19
  Speaker 1: he mentioned, look, Monday night, Damar was my nephew, but
• 10:23
  Speaker 1: he's become by the end of the week America's nephew.
• 10:26
  Speaker 1: And he was so thankful for the compassion, the empathy
• 10:31
  Speaker 1: that people across the country have shared for his nephew.
• 10:34
  Speaker 1: And look here at the hospital. I want to take
• 10:37
  Speaker 1: you to what Brandon Bean said. He said Tuesday night
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: when he was here at the hospital, the doctors were saying,
• 10:42
  Speaker 1: you know, not great news, two step forward, one step back.
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: But within the last twenty four hours, it's been a
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: sudden shift where the doctors told him you will not
• 10:51
  Speaker 1: believe this. And that comes to what we're hearing with Damar,
• 10:54
  Speaker 1: with that remarkable news that he's able to talk, that
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: he has this full neurological uh, you know, intact, And
• 11:01
  Speaker 1: as we look forward with themar one thing I remember
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: is hearing the doctors say there's two things they need
• 11:06
  Speaker 1: to see for him to go from critical to stable condition.
• 11:09
  Speaker 1: They say he needs to get the breathing tub about
• 11:11
  Speaker 1: and to continue to improve his respiratory and neurological functions.
• 11:15
  Speaker 1: He's got the breathing tub about today and he's continuing
• 11:17
  Speaker 1: to progress and improve in those two areas as well.
• 11:20
  Speaker 1: And I've reached out to the hospital and they mentioned
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: there will be no more updates today from them. There's
• 11:24
  Speaker 1: came from the bills but will continue to follow as
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: DeMar continues to increase his improvement and the Bills hope
• 11:31
  Speaker 1: for what Brandon being said will be a party whenever
• 11:34
  Speaker 1: DeMar Hamlin walks out of this hospital. I cannot wait
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: for that party. Cam will Fair. Thank you Mike Giardi
• 11:42
  Speaker 1: as well in Cincinnati and in Buffalo. Look at the reaction,
• 11:47
  Speaker 1: and not just in those two towns, but look at
• 11:49
  Speaker 1: the reaction across the internet from players both current and former,
• 11:54
  Speaker 1: from everyone who was watching, everyone who has heard themar
• 11:58
  Speaker 1: Hamblin's story. On NFL Network, I'm andrews cciliano, and we
• 12:03
  Speaker 1: do have breaking news. Resolution G one has passed. Ian
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: Rappaport Tom Pelacero report that the NFL owners have voted
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: yes for the proposed rule changes to the a f
• 12:16
  Speaker 1: C playoffs that would include possibly an a f C
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: title game at a neutral site. There's a lot to
• 12:23
  Speaker 1: unpack here. We've attempted to do it last night and
• 12:26
  Speaker 1: today as well as we can, but there are three
• 12:28
  Speaker 1: scenarios here. Buffalo in Kansas City both winning or tie
• 12:31
  Speaker 1: in Week eighteen, and then a championship game between the
• 12:34
  Speaker 1: Bills and the Chiefs would be at a neutral site
• 12:36
  Speaker 1: away from Arrowhead, they both lose, and then Baltimore wins
• 12:40
  Speaker 1: or ties same thing neutral site, Cincinnati wins neutral site.
• 12:45
  Speaker 1: These are the scenarios here. Also part of that G
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: one resolution. If the Ravens beat the Bengals, who right
• 12:51
  Speaker 1: now are the a f C North champions, then if
• 12:54
  Speaker 1: they meet in the wild card round, they'd flip a
• 12:56
  Speaker 1: point to see where that game would be. It wouldn't
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: automatically be in Cincinnati, because the Ravens would have swept
• 13:02
  Speaker 1: the Bengals. Trying to unpack all of this. Now, Ian
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: rappaport On Pellicero and Mike Gara follow it is Resolution
• 13:08
  Speaker 1: g one, a resolution Ian that Zach Taylor, the Bengals
• 13:11
  Speaker 1: head coach, and then the last hour made very clear
• 13:14
  Speaker 1: the Bengals did not support. They wanted the rule book
• 13:17
  Speaker 1: followed go by winning percentages and that's it. But this
• 13:21
  Speaker 1: did get the votes, Yeah, it got the votes. Not
• 13:26
  Speaker 1: a not unanimous now to be expected to be unanimous.
• 13:29
  Speaker 1: The Bengals are mad, they are really mad at and look,
• 13:32
  Speaker 1: there's a lot going on here. It's been an emotional week.
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: There's been so much of the focus has been not
• 13:37
  Speaker 1: on football, but as far as just the football part
• 13:40
  Speaker 1: of it with the Bengals field guys is not just
• 13:43
  Speaker 1: they should go by the rules, though that obviously is
• 13:45
  Speaker 1: what it is, but they feel unfairly penalized. They are
• 13:48
  Speaker 1: a division champion, they won the a f C North.
• 13:51
  Speaker 1: There is a possibility that they lose to the Baltimore
• 13:54
  Speaker 1: Ravens twice and still win the a f C North,
• 13:57
  Speaker 1: which has happened before. It has happened teams have lost
• 14:00
  Speaker 1: to an opponent twice and still won the division. But
• 14:03
  Speaker 1: they feel like they win. They to just win. You
• 14:06
  Speaker 1: get the good, which is seating in possible home games.
• 14:08
  Speaker 1: You get the not good, which is a tougher schedule
• 14:11
  Speaker 1: for next year, a a draft spot that is higher
• 14:14
  Speaker 1: than maybe you would want. There's some good, there's some bad.
• 14:17
  Speaker 1: They feel like they only got the bad because they
• 14:19
  Speaker 1: didn't guarantee a home game, so they are not happy,
• 14:23
  Speaker 1: and there's some others that aren't happy as well. But
• 14:25
  Speaker 1: as Roger Goodell said, there are no perfect solutions, and
• 14:28
  Speaker 1: this is what the NFL has chosen. The hope here
• 14:33
  Speaker 1: was to mitigate negative competitive impacts on all the teams
• 14:37
  Speaker 1: that potentially could have changed exactly where they would have
• 14:41
  Speaker 1: been seated if the Bills and Bengals ended up, like
• 14:44
  Speaker 1: everyone else, playing a full seventeen game schedule, and that's
• 14:46
  Speaker 1: really the limited window in which the NFL was trying
• 14:50
  Speaker 1: to address this with support. It should be mentioned from
• 14:53
  Speaker 1: the NFL Competition Committee. This only bears on the teams
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: that potentially, if everyone had played seventeen games, could have
• 14:59
  Speaker 1: earned the number one seed. It allows them to have
• 15:02
  Speaker 1: some type of path forward where they wouldn't have to
• 15:04
  Speaker 1: go on the road, even though again the Chiefs still
• 15:06
  Speaker 1: control the first round by which is arguably much more
• 15:09
  Speaker 1: important than where the FC Championship came ends up being played.
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: And in the case of Baltimore in Cincinnati, it's not
• 15:15
  Speaker 1: just saying well, they beat him twice that means that
• 15:17
  Speaker 1: they automatically should win the division. It's because had the
• 15:20
  Speaker 1: Bengals ended up losing to the Bills on Monday Night,
• 15:23
  Speaker 1: then a Raven sweep would have actually meant Baltimore was
• 15:26
  Speaker 1: the division champion. And certainly understandable that not every club,
• 15:29
  Speaker 1: particularly the Bengals, are going to be excited about this.
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: This is also an unprecedented unique moment in NFL history.
• 15:36
  Speaker 1: The first line in that resolution mentions a life threatening
• 15:39
  Speaker 1: injury to a Bill's player that caused that game to
• 15:43
  Speaker 1: be postponed. The NFL ultimately decided to cancel it entirely
• 15:48
  Speaker 1: because it wasn't going to impact what fourteen teams got
• 15:51
  Speaker 1: into the playoffs. Replaying it, resumed it next week would
• 15:54
  Speaker 1: have impacted all four teen teams that were in the playoffs,
• 15:57
  Speaker 1: and they wanted to do it today so that everybody
• 15:59
  Speaker 1: knows exactly what the stake for them here in weekends.
• 16:01
  Speaker 1: And I think the keyword here is unprecedented. For people
• 16:03
  Speaker 1: in Cincinnati upset. I get it, this is unprecedented. Therefore,
• 16:08
  Speaker 1: an unprecedented solution is warranted. And if the Bengals beat
• 16:13
  Speaker 1: the Ravens, and if the Patriots beat the Bills, the
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: Bills lose Patriots playing for the seventh seed here, then
• 16:17
  Speaker 1: Cincinnati could get to the two seed. We'll get to
• 16:20
  Speaker 1: the two seed, they have the tiebreaker over the Bills,
• 16:22
  Speaker 1: and then Mike, Cincinnati could potentially get two home games here, right,
• 16:29
  Speaker 1: and the two seeds still matters here for sure. Uh.
• 16:32
  Speaker 1: It's just one thing I do want to just kind
• 16:34
  Speaker 1: of nip in the butt here is there's some blowback
• 16:38
  Speaker 1: and I try not to focus just too much on
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: Twitter but for Zach Taylor to now be upset and
• 16:42
  Speaker 1: people are like, oh, well, now you're upset the other
• 16:45
  Speaker 1: night you were you know, making a decision with that's
• 16:48
  Speaker 1: what like, that's the human side of things. When he's upset,
• 16:51
  Speaker 1: now is the business side of things. I don't think
• 16:53
  Speaker 1: he takes back his decision, uh to convince everyone that hey,
• 16:58
  Speaker 1: we shouldn't play the rest of this game, because I
• 16:59
  Speaker 1: can see how the bills are affected. It's just if
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: the rules had been followed, it would be a different
• 17:03
  Speaker 1: scenario for this Cincinnati Bengals. I think that that's what
• 17:07
  Speaker 1: we need to focus on here. There's are two separate
• 17:09
  Speaker 1: things that mar Hamlen is doing better. So now we
• 17:12
  Speaker 1: can focus more on the business side of things, and
• 17:14
  Speaker 1: that's what seems to be upsetting Zach Taylor. UM. The
• 17:18
  Speaker 1: Ravens have also tweeted out their scenario, by the way,
• 17:20
  Speaker 1: which is great. They've got a picture of a coin
• 17:22
  Speaker 1: toss and saying like, okay, we need to win, uh, this,
• 17:26
  Speaker 1: this needs to happen. This needs and then by the way,
• 17:27
  Speaker 1: we need to win a coin toss and then we
• 17:29
  Speaker 1: have a home game, which, by the way, a little
• 17:30
  Speaker 1: bit of news there. Tyler Huntley did not practice, but
• 17:32
  Speaker 1: John Harball seems to feel that Tyler Huntley has got
• 17:35
  Speaker 1: a good shot to play. He's battling tendonitis in his
• 17:38
  Speaker 1: right shoulder, so they're trying to limit as much as
• 17:40
  Speaker 1: he throws. So if the Ravens win coin toss becomes
• 17:43
  Speaker 1: a possibility for them to play a home game, we'll see.
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: We'll guide you through it. I know it's confusing. I've
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: had to go back multiple times myself, so well as
• 17:52
  Speaker 1: we go along here will remind you of what the
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: scenario is. Well, the other part of what John Harbag
• 17:56
  Speaker 1: just said on the podium as well, and yes he's
• 17:58
  Speaker 1: he's hopeful for Tyler Huntley, is that Lamar Jackson's officially out,
• 18:02
  Speaker 1: hasn't practice, not a surprise he's out and the Ravens
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: who are in in the postseason, however it plays out.
• 18:09
  Speaker 1: Hardbus still really isn't going there on talking about Lamar
• 18:12
  Speaker 1: Jackson's status for a potential playoff game, he says, um,
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: I'm not updating because there's nothing to really update, he said,
• 18:22
  Speaker 1: which is another story in and of itself. Here. You
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: want to put the Ravens tweet up. Scott Ripe, our producer, saying,
• 18:28
  Speaker 1: let's put the Ravens tweet up. Okay, here, here's what
• 18:30
  Speaker 1: you're referring to, Mike. It's a win. And then like that,
• 18:34
  Speaker 1: there's a coin toss, and then look, they could get
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: a playoff game on a coin toss. Is the story? Yeah? Now,
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: if if the ray if the Chargers lose, the Ravens
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: go up to the fifth seed, they travel to Jacksonville
• 18:50
  Speaker 1: despite beating the Bengals twice, because the Bengals are still
• 18:52
  Speaker 1: a f C North champions. And then, to be clear,
• 18:55
  Speaker 1: if the Ravens and Bengals meet in the divisional round
• 18:58
  Speaker 1: or the conference round, no coin toss. The Bengals then
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: host the game. The Seeds carry through, so only a
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: coin to us with that scenario for the wild card game.
• 19:07
  Speaker 1: We got you. It's in the sheet. It's there somewhere.
• 19:12
  Speaker 1: It's a lot of paper. It all makes sense. Yep,
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: thanks guys. Coming up, Roger Goodell is speaking what the
• 19:20
  Speaker 1: commissioner has to say about tomorrow, Hamlin, his care, his recovery,
• 19:25
  Speaker 1: and the playoffs scenarios. We just trying to explain that's
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: coming up next. All Right, it's a busy day on
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: NFL Network, but the best news is the fact that
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: Tamar Hamlin is breathing and communicating and speaking, was able
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: to speak to his team. Wilbeit briefly today, able to
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: get on FaceTime and talk to the Bills. Christian Covington's
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: plays for the Chargers former Texans says he's thankful to
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: the doctor's medical staffs and everyone who took immediate action
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: to help themar. God is good. More reaction from Arizona,
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: where J. J. Watt is getting ready to play his
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: final game of the NFL. This is phenomenal news and
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: reaction moments ago from the commissioner of the National Football League.
• 20:12
  Speaker 1: Here's Roger Goodell. A few of my thoughts about Monday,
• 20:17
  Speaker 1: DeMar and what has been clearly a challenging week. UH.
• 20:22
  Speaker 1: Yesterday's news of Themar's improving condition lifted not only my
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: spirits but the spirits of the entire league. UH. And
• 20:31
  Speaker 1: this morning's news that he was facing timing with his
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: team is just incredible. My experience, extraordinary situations bring out
• 20:42
  Speaker 1: the extraordinary and people, and we saw and continue to
• 20:46
  Speaker 1: see that in so many ways. It began with the
• 20:50
  Speaker 1: medical personnel on the field who flawlessly executed an emergency
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: action plan that likely saved the Mar's life, and it's
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: continued with the medical staff at the University of Cincinnati
• 21:02
  Speaker 1: Medical Center. Of course, are efforts with player health and
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: safety have been instrumental along the way. We saw the
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: collective humanity of the coaches and players on the field
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: Monday night. I cannot say enough about coach McDermott and
• 21:18
  Speaker 1: coach Taylor, who led their teams with sensitivity and compassion.
• 21:24
  Speaker 1: All that mattered was DeMar and emotional health of their players.
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: Prayers flowed from every team and all corners of the country,
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: and you saw this incredible nationwide concern for DeMar in
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: a charitable drive in which nearly a quarter of a
• 21:41
  Speaker 1: million people have donated nearly eight million dollars. I'm grateful
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: for and humbled by all who played a role as
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: DeMar continues on his road to recovery. We shared today
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: with the owners this morning the reasons for the need
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: to cancel the Buffalo Cincinnati game. Not playing the game
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: to us inclusion will have no effect on which clubs
• 22:07
  Speaker 1: qualify for the postseason. No club would qualify for the postseason,
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: and no club will be eliminated based on the outcome
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: of this game. However, as a result of the cancelation,
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: not all teams will play the same number of games
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: this season, introducing potential competitive inequities. As a result, Competition
• 22:32
  Speaker 1: Committee supported yesterday and the full ownership approved today a
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: resolution consisting of two elements. One involved a neutral site
• 22:41
  Speaker 1: for the a f C Championship game, and the second
• 22:44
  Speaker 1: involved the location of a potential wild card game in
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: the a f C North. Depending on the outcome of
• 22:51
  Speaker 1: this weekend's games, one or both of these elements may
• 22:55
  Speaker 1: become unnecessary. We believe this is focused, focused approach that
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: would only affect four teams and directly address us the
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: potential for competitive inequity resulting from thirty teams playing seventeen
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: games and to playing sixteen games. It was critical for
• 23:15
  Speaker 1: the owners to vote today so the club's no going
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: into this weekend what they're playing for and closing. I
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: know this was a trying week for everyone, including those
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: of you on the Zoom. Thank you for doing what
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: you do. As we head into our last weekend of
• 23:35
  Speaker 1: the regular season, we keep talking about the sport nationally, internationally,
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: locally here in Buffalo. For tomorrow, Hamlin, there was a
• 23:47
  Speaker 1: vigil A couple of days ago outside the stadium. Thurman
• 23:50
  Speaker 1: Thomas his wife were there. Jill Kelly was there as well,
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: wife of the Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, great Bill's quarterback. Um,
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: you feel it all over the place, and you feel
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: it when you read this on the screen. We can
• 24:05
  Speaker 1: put this on the screen all day. The fact that
• 24:08
  Speaker 1: Damar Hamlin's breathing too came out and he was able
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: to communicate and speak speak to his teammates this morning
• 24:16
  Speaker 1: and said, I love you boys. I mentioned Jill Kelly,
• 24:20
  Speaker 1: wife of the Hall of Fame, our friend here, Jim Kelly.
• 24:22
  Speaker 1: Jill joins us live now from Buffalo, wearing that Damar
• 24:26
  Speaker 1: Hamlin Jersey. How about how about that news this morning.
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: It's amazing. I'm in awe and honestly, Andrew, I can't
• 24:35
  Speaker 1: describe this any other way but that it's a miracle,
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: and that God blessed our prayers and that he reached
• 24:43
  Speaker 1: down and worked through every person that was involved in
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: that scenario, every trainer, every doctor, every nurse, all the
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: prayers spoken by thousands, if not millions of people. It
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: was absolutely it's absolutely incredible, and it's hard to find
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: words other than it's a miracle. I think it's also
• 25:02
  Speaker 1: hard to find words, Jill, to describe the love of support,
• 25:06
  Speaker 1: as I said, internationally nationally, But talk to me about
• 25:10
  Speaker 1: that support in Buffalo right now, where you are all weak. Well,
• 25:16
  Speaker 1: we're so blessed. Most people are aware of they've heard
• 25:19
  Speaker 1: of Bills Mafia, which reaches far and wide. You know,
• 25:22
  Speaker 1: it's not just in Buffalo. The Bills Mafia is all
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: over the country, if not all over the world. And
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: we're so blessed to have such an incredible community here
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: in Buffalo. When something happens, we are there for each other.
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: We're a community, and we do it together. And when
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: we do it together, amazing things happen. And I believe
• 25:42
  Speaker 1: that that's what we're seeing here, is this amazing work
• 25:45
  Speaker 1: of God through the prayers of his people, and us
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: gathering together at the stadium the other day was such
• 25:51
  Speaker 1: an amazing opportunity for us to come before God together
• 25:54
  Speaker 1: as a community and pray for tomorrow and pray for
• 25:57
  Speaker 1: his family and pray for the bills. You know, his teammates,
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: the organization as a whole, the coaches, the doctors, the nurses,
• 26:04
  Speaker 1: his family. I just want to hug his mom so bad.
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: I don't know them, and I, you know, I just
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: want to hug her mom, Nina, father Mario. Dad was
• 26:15
  Speaker 1: was able to talk to the team a couple of
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: days ago and and the team said that was a
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: huge boost for them. Jill, you've been down this road
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: before as a family, when you get support, UM, when
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: you lost your son Hunter, when Jim has battled cancer,
• 26:31
  Speaker 1: I believe four different times, and it's great to see
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: him doing well. UM. What is it like to have
• 26:38
  Speaker 1: that community rapids arms around a family? You just said it,
• 26:44
  Speaker 1: and that's what it feels like. It feels like there's
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: a community of people wrapping their arms around us. I
• 26:52
  Speaker 1: don't think we could have endured what we did, especially
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: with Hunter and all of the sport support for our foundation,
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: for Hunter's hope, UM, all of the prayers for Jim
• 27:05
  Speaker 1: and for Hunter. I mean, it was remarkable, just like
• 27:09
  Speaker 1: what happened with Damar. The word remarkable keeps coming up,
• 27:13
  Speaker 1: and that's exactly what this has been. It's remarkable and
• 27:16
  Speaker 1: we've experienced that, and so obviously when everything was happening
• 27:20
  Speaker 1: with Damar, our immediate response was to go into prayer
• 27:24
  Speaker 1: and to do whatever we could to help this family
• 27:27
  Speaker 1: and help the community, because that's what they did for us,
• 27:30
  Speaker 1: and we're all in this together and we always will be.
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: That's what a Buffalo Bills fan is. Sean McDermott said
• 27:36
  Speaker 1: he wasn't certain what Sunday is going to feel like
• 27:39
  Speaker 1: in the stadium that was yesterday, before today's good news,
• 27:42
  Speaker 1: before damorrow is able to speak to them. I assume
• 27:44
  Speaker 1: you're going to be there, Jill, Sunday. What do you
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: think it's going to be like? What do you think
• 27:48
  Speaker 1: I think you're gonna be. We're gonna be there and
• 27:50
  Speaker 1: we're gonna be wearing this jersey and we are going
• 27:52
  Speaker 1: to be all about giving thanks to God that day
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: and you know, just being together. I can't even imagine
• 27:58
  Speaker 1: what the stadium is going to be like when we're
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: all together and in the praise that those coaches. Sean McDermott,
• 28:06
  Speaker 1: what an incredible man, what an incredible leader, Josh Allen.
• 28:10
  Speaker 1: It's just gonna be. It is going to be like
• 28:12
  Speaker 1: nothing we have ever experienced before, regardless of the outcome.
• 28:16
  Speaker 1: But of course we want to win, right but the
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: wind has already happened. Tomar getting up walking or not
• 28:23
  Speaker 1: walking yet, but talking the fact that he's talking and
• 28:27
  Speaker 1: he's um doing so well. That is our win for
• 28:30
  Speaker 1: this whole season. I'd be remisserated and ask you we
• 28:34
  Speaker 1: had Andrew read on yesterday. Um, how's Jim doing. He's
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: doing well. Thank you for asking. Yeah, you know he
• 28:41
  Speaker 1: still gets his scans every three months, but he's doing well.
• 28:45
  Speaker 1: Thank you. Great send our best please to him, to
• 28:48
  Speaker 1: your entire family, Jill, we thank you for coming on obviously.
• 28:51
  Speaker 1: UM we appreciate your support here and uh it's great news. UM,
• 28:57
  Speaker 1: see you Sunday. NFL Now is a production of the
• 29:03
  Speaker 1: NFL in partnership with I Heart Radio. For more podcasts
• 29:07
  Speaker 1: from my Heart Radio, visit the i Heart Radio app,
• 29:10
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