Did NFL ask players to resume game after five-minute warmup post Damar Hamlin's injury? Fact-checking claim made during Bills vs. Bengals

The NFL Week 17's Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals was billed as a battle between two of the league's finest teams and quarterbacks. The game got off to a fine start, but 10 minutes in, Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and had to be administered CPR before being taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Hamlin's treatment caused a lengthy delay as players kneeled and prayed for his well-being while the medical crew was hard at work trying to resuscitate the Bills star. Once the ambulance left the field, the TV broadcaster claimed that the players were asked to return to the field and warm up for five minutes before resuming the game.

However, head coaches Sean McDermott and Zac Taylor were seen talking to the officials before everyone left the field. Soon after, the NFL officially announced that the game would be suspended.

Fans and analysts on social media lashed out at the NFL for asking players to return to the field and continue playing after watching a player collapse on the field and get wheeled away in an ambulance.

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Evan Lazar

@ezlazar

Just remember this was Sean McDermott and Zac Taylor getting this game stopped. League was ready to begin after a five minute warm-up period. Coaches stepped in. Good on them.

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Just remember this was Sean McDermott and Zac Taylor getting this game stopped. League was ready to begin after a five minute warm-up period. Coaches stepped in. Good on them.

Luke Wachob

@LukeWachob

That five-minute warm up idea is going to go down in history too. Sheesh.

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That five-minute warm up idea is going to go down in history too. Sheesh.

Kevin Gibbs

@Kvngbbs

@KyleClark They had the audacity to try and give them a five minute warm-up before restarting. Like that was gonna make it all ok!?! Thank goodness the coaches had more sense.

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@KyleClark They had the audacity to try and give them a five minute warm-up before restarting. Like that was gonna make it all ok!?! Thank goodness the coaches had more sense.

Jake Shapiro

@Shapalicious

NFL only suspended this game after trying to restart it with a five minute warm up, which both teams refused to do. Don’t forget that.

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NFL only suspended this game after trying to restart it with a five minute warm up, which both teams refused to do. Don’t forget that.

NSH NewYearsCats

@HousecatsNSH

I just can't get over the NFL offering a five minute warm up period. That's so gross.

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I just can't get over the NFL offering a five minute warm up period. That's so gross.

But did the NFL ask players to return and resume the game?

NFL EVP rubbishes five-minute warm-up claims

NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent addressed reports of the league asking players to return to the field and resume the game after a five-minute warm-up. He said:

"It never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play. That's ridiculous. That's insensitive. That's not a place we should ever be in."

It seems there was some miscommunication between the broadcaster and their sideline crew that led to reports suggesting that the league was hoping to resume the game.

However, McDermott and Taylor are yet to comment on these reports. Only they can confirm whether their chat with the refereeing crew was about the alleged five-minute warm-up before the game's resumption. It's unlikely that the league asked the Bills and Bengals to resume the game and are backtracking after the backlash, but that's still a possibility.

But the most critical subject is Damar Hamlin's health. Per the Bills, the safety is in critical condition. More to follow.

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