Joe Biden weighs in on the perils of football following Damar Hamlin scare
United States President Joe Biden has given his thoughts on Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffering a cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game. The second-year player remains in a critical condition and is showing small signs of improvement, according to reports.
With player safety being in the headlines yet again in the NFL, many are questioning what more can be done to prioritize the safety of all players. Now, it’s clearly easier said than done given football is a collision sport, but can something be done?
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When asked by reporters if football is too dangerous, Biden said:
"No, look ... I don't know how you avoid it (dangerous hits). I think working like hell on the helmets and the concussion protocols, that all makes a lot of sense. But ... it is dangerous. You've got to just acknowledge it."
REPORTER: Do you think the NFL's getting too dangerous?
BIDEN: No look...I don't know how you avoid it [dangerous hits]. I think working like hell on the helmets and the concussion protocols, that all makes a lot of sense. But...it is dangerous you've got to just acknowledge it. https://t.co/ioHdnPDWk9
With the Hamlin situation, player safety is back in focus again.
What more can the NFL do to stop hits like Hamlin's in the future? Likely nothing given football is a collision sport.
Hamlin incident a reminder of how dangerous football can be
Collision sports like football are always going to have incidents that lead to questions about the safety of players. Despite every precaution, rule, stipulation and everything in between, when it comes to players tackling and colliding with each other, there is always a risk of injury.
We have seen players break legs, suffer ACL tears and concussions, but Hamlin's incident was different, vastly different.
The NFL has implemented precautions such as the extra padding on helmets during training camp. There is never going to be a time when injuries are negated, but the league has moved to minimize practicing in full pads, with full contact, to stop hits to the body.
There have been a few ideas of flag football being thrown around, but that seems unlikely at this stage.