all right, good evening everyone i'm john berman.

breaking news, national concern tonight over a 24-year-old man. a human being. who is playing in a football game. talking about the bill safety de mar have land. and this moment, but we know are what we are being told is that he is in critical condition. he collapsed after he tackled someone. again, it was a hard hit. that he placed on a wide receiver do in the first quarter of tonight's game. between the buffalo bills, and the cincinnati bengals. hamlin fell just moments after getting up from this open field -- by receiver targets. buffalo bill d hagans got tamil within ten seconds after the collapse. he set, appear to take a step. and that collapsed. and that this was brought onto the field. and he was administered cpr. that was what everyone saw in the stadium. that is what everyone saw was watching the game. on tv.

beyond that it's been basically gets what we have been piece like it on social media to hear from officials statements. we know that more have that was taken to the university of cincinnati hospital. we, again, are told he's in critical condition. we also been told by the hospital that they will not be having a news conference tonight. so we are waiting, and helping. for more information on his well-being. you could see the pictures from before, the football field. this game suspended. -- the players on either team felt well enough to get back on the field in play football again. not with their teammates. not with the opposing player. not with their brother in arms without any information about how is doing. the game has been postponed. that is according to the nfl. we have no word on, how, if or when, again we made. up frankly, at this point. that doesn't matter. to just about anyone.

everyone is concerned more about them are hamilton. a second year player for the buffalo bills. safety. he went to the university of pittsburgh. it was a six round draft picks. started in the last 14 games after an injury. really, the chance of his life the play. now in critical condition. let's find out what we can. i want to bring in joe denman. he's a reporter with wxix, in cincinnati. and even really watching every step of this. much tells every step you can? >> john, let me set the scene here in cincinnati, right. now i'm inside the programs room. at -- the home studio of the cincinnati bengals. this is become kind of the media holding area. they want to make sure we were to anywhere near the locker rooms. we're in the hallways. we are players, coaches, team personnel, right now are gathering. and we're gathering when this happened at the 9:00 hour. but this is almost two hours ago when this happened here in cincinnati. i could tell you, the buffalo bills. buses are still here at the

stadium. a source told me that the bills are going to fly home, tonight. we have seen pictures of some of the bills as players make their way to the uc hospital here in cincinnati university of cincinnati. to visit del mar hamlet. and his family. just to provide some kind of support. but we have seen in the hallway, here. we have seen coaches from both teams. we've seen star athletes from both teams. congregating together. going to each other's locker room. to try to lean on each other. on this kind of a moment. but i could say the buffalo bills are yet to have left here at -- they're still here waiting what they're going to do next. >> at one point i think you make it so well joe. there really no teams in a situation like this. they're only people. people feelings, peoples hearts. people reaching out to each other. so, whether you play for the bengals. where the bills. tonight. the concern is with this player. for the bills. and we heard -- we have the wide receiver in

the bills try to support his teammates. the bengals players are just as concerned. but -- now you are hearing that the bills will do but hope to return hope to buffalo tomorrow. >> that would leave a normal flight pattern to leave after game after they leave, shower, cleanup. you have to wonder why the team would stay here in cincinnati. because it is not much the team to do. obviously, some of the front office members. some of the important people will be here to support the family, i had to be with the team going forward. but for the rest of the team, they want the could do right now it would be go home and be with their loved ones at this point. because i can see john, on the field after this happened, usually you see players gathered around a player. that happened tonight, but when they saw them start two inches compressions, and they saw the medical staff start to use the aed to try to shock them are hamlin back.

you saw the reaction of those players walking away. and being distraught, being very emotional. the kind of thing we don't see any of the ball. i am told that when he left the field here at the stadium. he had a pulse, was not breathing on his own at that time, but the reaction from the players on the field. a lot of times we obscenities a violent sport. headed, trees that happen. spine andrés, that happens. we see some kind of positivity from the players that walk up. a lot times thumbs up. we can save you like that tonight. we saw players crying, we saw players on the knee in prayer. we saw players just being around each other. and you mentioned before you came. there's no way they're going to play this game tonight. that after what these plays out with this. that is why the nfl -- has cleared out just watching that this was different. it was clear from the looks of the players i was in the coaches faces. the level of concern. that's a different later for people out there watching we don't have the technical terms. we're talking about the paddles

here. the shots we try to put in someone's -- beating again carefully. you are saying we what if the information flow been like? we've been in this vacuum will really just don't have any new knowledge about the marbleton situation. >> so, we thought we might hear a statement from even the buffalo bills, or the cincinnati bengals to try to explain what has been a very unique situation. and one that a lot of people have not experienced before. certainly in the nfl. and we haven't received any information from the teams i was. told there would be any media variability. tonight at the hospital, the university cincinnati medical center. it was said in the 11:00 hour that they were going to update us on the mars status. they had the system is critical condition. and there were going to make that announcement at 11:30. but any kind of announcement or

status update. they canceled that, they're not doing that. this, point we're just in a holding pattern. trying to get more information. and we're trying to observe, and watch what is happening. i was the bengals players having an eye set right now the pancol soccer mccuskey players leaving the stadium. because there's no reason to stay here anymore. just calmly with of ones at this point. -- we can just wait and see what is happening. because no one's been in a situation on this before. special night about football field. >> do you have any insight as to who was at the hospital with the mom look at this point? >> i do know this. when the emirates up the field. when he left the field, wanted to the stadium parking lot. and it said that -- i declare shot down attendance to see that ambulance.

i just want to see will happening. and so i stayed out of tyler it's observed. it is weighted there for a long time. i would say good 5 to 7 minutes. and i asked the source of mine who was on a call and used information i said, what are they waiting for? he said, they're waiting for damar mother to make it out from the stands. because each of the cincinnati to watch this game. so the ambulance was waiting for her to then go in to the roots to go to the cincinnati medical center. when she made her way down there there was a place escort that both damar and the ambulance, and the family members up to the hospital. i did see some team officials, they're the buffalo bills team officials. i don't know exactly who those people were. but their part about traveling party. we have seen images, you mentioned of -- star receiver stefan diggs making his way to the hospital tonight. to visit and show support to -- it's family. i do know that his mother, again, who's here. and she was part of the traveling party. that went to the ambulance. after it weighed in the parking lot for several minutes. for her to make her way down to the stands. >> his mother came down from the stands.

as we mentioned, is at the hospital right now. competing at some level to know that he is surrounded by people who love and care about him. and just to walk people again. if you weren't watching monday night football. you are just coming into the situation now. if you've been following football the season or, last season. you've been hearing about a lot of head injuries. concussions, and what. not traumatic brain injuries. it doesn't appear that this is the case tonight. joe. it appears, again, we don't know. but appears because the perpetrators were used, and cpr was administered. this may have been a cardiac event. anything else from what you picked up maybe seeing it or at the stadium after as to what the condition may be? >> it is interesting you mention the head injuries. because -- earlier this season was when -- had his incident. that was a big national talking point. that happened here in cincinnati. just a couple of months ago.

are you passport this moment is happening right here, and right now. here in cincinnati. it is kind of ironic that it both happen inside the same stadium. we mentioned that the head injuries, again. those are things that we see on football fields. it's a violent sport. the cabinet they signed up for. we see sometimes broken bones, knee injuries, spinal injuries. those are serious things. they happen. we don't see things this happen. i, can tell you john. i've never seen medical staff react with the kind of urgency that i saw tonight when they ran out on the field. i don't know if you showed the video, of wanda marched up in the collapse back to the ground. you can see the players immediately motioning to both of their benches to get as many medical staff members out the field. as soon as possible. and they rushed out there, they're opening up the equipment with the kind of urgency i've never seen before for somebody on a football field. within 30 seconds the structure was on the way out. and also, a back supporting case that was the issue. and then within a couple minutes the ambulance was out there. so, all of that is very unique. things we haven't seen before.

and i think it does lead to this being a very unique and different kind of injury that we haven't seen before. at least i have never seen, audible field. especially the nfl. >> no haven't seen it either. and i think i watch a lot of ball games. right now people on our screens can see the images of the players pray while taking any. think about the more hamlet. i don't tell of yours again we have shown several times now the actual hit in the injury because we want to give people the context for what is happening. and also to show people, that this wasn't some cheap shot. again, the more hamlet was the person doing the tackle. and appeared to hit the wide receiver, he, higgins somewhat awkwardly. so that higgins, the hamlet in the shoulder of the offensive player seemed to go into tomorrow hamlets chest. that is what it looks like from watching the replay several times. people might imagine that hit him somewhere in the area around the heart, maybe, that

contributed to it. you said you've never seen medical staff got onto the field with the urgency that they did. these people are qualified and trained at many different levels. normally they're looking at leaves, or shoulders, or arms. this is a different type of situation. the day appeared to have the equipment, and have the situation, and have a sense of what was going on the minute they ran out? >> they did. i deny sight, john, when the first medical staff member showed up. and they had a big heavy bags a lot of medical commitment inside. i remember the medical staff personnel ripping that open. with the kind of urgency that, to me, was very eye-opening. very shocking. that, to, me signaled this is different. this is something very serious. and they pulled out the medical quitman. at that, point to teams that have the personnel for the team i've gathered around him, and i did have a nice shot anymore from the sideline of what was happening. i mentioned this to tee higgins, who's a bengals fighter cv that

you mentioned. who was part of that hit. that kind of landed his head in his chest on the morale and. we saw him here in the hallway, his mother was out here with the bengals. some of the players were leaving here to leave the stadium for tonight. his mother was here and they showed a bear emotional moment. and walked out. you can -- you could see with him -- wide receiver making a catch, turning up, field contact and hamlin fell. he bounced right back up. that is when things went wrong. when he collapsed the field. it look like a normal football play. with a guy getting hit in the chest. that's why they were shoulder pads, right. but this one obviously created some kind of damage that were not used to seeing on a football field. i will say this to. we spoke with anthony -- was considered the greatest cincinnati bengal of all-time. he played offensive line here. he's a legend in cincinnati. he's a hall of famer. he said, you think he probably caught hit right in the part of the shoulder pads where they meet. because there's two plates to shoulder pad and then meet right here in the middle.

and he thinks that might have been where he got hit. i don't know if that makes him more vulnerable to getting a hit. because it's right there can. that is just an assumption, that speculation. the somebody grateful player possum onto us tonight. when talking about that hit. but their point it is seem like a football play. and one hamlen park to pick lapsus$ when we knew something was different. and some who was wrong here. >> joe dedmon, i have to say thank you so much. for speaking to us, talk to. us talking to our viewers. so they know what is going on. inside the stadium. the perspective you've given us tonight is unique. and i know people really just want information right now. because they care. they care about this 24-year-old man. the more hamblin. who collapsed on a football field. thank you, terrific work. thank you john, appreciate you having me. all right, got more come tonight. and our breaking news. tonight the buffalo bills cincinnati bengals game postponed as we've been saying after the bills to muhammad collapsed on the field after he

tackled the wide receiver who was hard hit. who's taken to local hospital, he's in critical condition now. cnn's core wire is listening to a teleconference the nfl is holding. bring us the latest update from that. that is news to me. that should be some the freshest information that we have had yet. beyond that though, just said the nfl will not be giving any update on the medical condition. but standby for cory wire, hunted update from the nfl. ♪ will you create something entirerely new? ♪ our dell technologies advisors provide you with the tools and expertise you need to do incredible things. because we believe there's an innovator in all of us.

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the breaking news tonight them

are hamlin a 24-year-old safety, second year player, for the buffalo bills. it is in critical condition in the hospital, in cincinnati. after collapsing on the field against the cincinnati bengals. and cincinnati. the critical condition we are waiting for an update on his specific condition. as we sit here right now the nfl is holding a conference. call press office on the floor of a conference call. , with reporters from cory wire listening to that. as soon as that is done. we report back to us what he has heard on the condition of the procedures of anything. the nfl briefing right now. so stand by for much more on that. the -- group of full screen a moment ago.

with some of these tweets and various messages from concern for the more hamlet. we can see just a sense of it. as we're waiting for more information on his condition. want to bring a cnn contributor, bob costas, right. now on the phone. bob, none of us have ever seen anything like this. as many football games as we all. what a talking to a local report there. so the minute happened you could tell that this was different. that something was truly wrong. your reaction tonight. >> yes, you could. exactly what it was, medical expertise and doctors writers in group to have various regards that. then the usual circumstance happens in terms of concussion, or people wobble to defeat them they have to be taken about that crisis within the nfl. they have made it somewhat

safer. they have taken steps. but the very nature of the game is at a certain percentage, and somewhat sizeable, of those who play. will eventually suffer some sort of cognitive or neurological difficulty. because it happened played football. with repetitive hits, some of which resulted concussions. but even, as we now know, some concussive hits. which are now diagnose concussions. cumulatively caused great damage. but throughout the conversation, tonight. i think it's been a generalization made. as you know, john, on the last person to access an apologist for football. but a generalization has been made. that sort of goes like this. at least that's what i've heard as i've been on cnn the last few hours. this shows you just how dangerous football is. i think this particular circumstance, john, does not fall into that category. any contact sport. of course. brings with it the possibility of injury.

or some sort of tragic event. but as dr. gupta said in the last hour that could also be a line drawn back to the mouth that paints a picture. a hard line drive, that is a picture. i just wrong millisecond. i just the wrong spot, close to the heart. and you get some sort of arrhythmia. and this is what could happen. but to say that this is unique to football. or that this sort of thing is typical within football. is just not factual. it's a tragic, it's a concerning, yes? today make the right decision but not going back out to play, yes? but does this fall into the category of another piece of evidence about how dangerous, and uniquely dangerous football is muntean sports? i don't think so. >> you bring up a good point. people who have kids, boys and girls who play little league or softball. this is why, often, the

pitchers. the young pitchers, have to wear chest protectors. or patting, because they're concerned about a ball coming back and hitting them. perhaps that is the type of thing that happened here. we might talk to dr. leana in just a second to get some more perspective on the medical side of this. but bob, you also about the fact that this game was stopped midstream. it's something i haven't seen before. it's a rather unique decision and also, you get the sense that something might not odessa they have punishable ten, 20, 30 years ago. and this is people beginning to understand what they're dealing with human -- i can't imagine when any of these parties going on playing tonight, last night's wasn't this point. >> that became player. when the coaches met at midfield. they understood the feeling among the players. but the bengals, and the bills. none of them were in any shape.

emotionally, to go back out and play. clearly this was the right decision on the part. but >> so let's bring in doctor lena wen. to talk more about what may have happened. -- all we know is what we saw the hit. we saw them are hamlin as we are tackling the wide receiver. we don't see much more. but we saw him get hit on the chest with a helmet and shoulder pad we also know that -- what does that tell us? >> whenever someone subtly collapses. the first thing you think about is could this be a cardiac event. the fact that there was this

direct impact before it occurs. we had don't know for certain we have not heard from medical team but it certainly makes it more likely that there is a very rare, but very serious condition called commercial cortez. weather is direct trauma to the chest that, unfortunately, happened at a specific part of the cardiac cycle. and it's of disrupting the normal heart rhythm. as a result, the heart, instead of beating normally. and sub going into this irregular heart rhythm with heart is unable to pump blood. and the time to resuscitation is a critical and determining the outcome. and so the quicker that cpr can be started. the quicker that if obliterated bailable. the better the outcome. in this case. it sounds like that type of immediate medical care was given very very quickly. within a matter of seconds. and, so at this point. we are praying, and hoping for the best. i will say that the fact that medical care was delivered so quickly, gives me hope. and i think we'll find out a

lot more. bob it also mentioned that this was such an important point that this is not something that is unique to football at all. in fact, the other types of commercial in injuries reported often involve a ball or a pop. this happens in baseball, the, cross, hockey cricket, other games that feature direct impacts from a ball to the chest. this is not unique to football. actually, in terms of who normally gets this. it tends to affect adolescence. boys between the ages of 14 and 15 are the most affected by this condition. if this is in fact what happened. >> this is welcome back to literally. this is what it and what compares using metal bats. because the ball comes off the bathrooms were quickly. that mueller, again if, you know ten, 11, 12 your boys. before stretch protector. some things require it when they pitch. they hate it but this is why. >> but you talked about the --

god willing. the recovery from something like this. >> if this is what we are speculating. this disturbance of the heart rhythm falling but trauma. what happens is you want to restore the regard for the mask-less possible. and that's the role of the different later. in the meantime, cpr's for the essential. because you want to keep all the blood puppets of the organs. or else there can be injured to this organs, including to the brain. so in specific cpi was there very quickly. what happens after that is the individual will be transport to the hospital. where the tests are going to be done, what to find exactly what precipitated the incident. also, what is the extent of the injuries that may have occurred losses gross apathy? cpr some that's very traumatic. ribs are being broken in this process. and also want to see what other

injuries may have been accompanied by the level of resuscitation. and then, of course, we want to assess any damage there could've been two other organs along the way. and they would be a fairly long process that's head. >> doctor thank you for splendid. but about to go to break but the people went out the field. the athletic trainers run in the field, women who do this. these people are good now, they are trained for all kinds of situations. >> back in the day, the trainer who's generally a fellow well met. he made since consults. these people are at a much higher level of expertise. and they've been trained to spawn the specific situations. >> they got up there very quickly, and hopefully, hopefully that makes a difference. we are waiting for much more information. bob costa, thank you. doctor winter, thank you all.

and it has just wrapped up a telephone, not news conference. but briefing for some reporters. our -- was on that. when he comes back it's also we heard from the nfl.

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the breaking use the safety damar, 24 years old, as a hospital says 90 critical condition. he collapsed after a hard tackle. he was tackling the bengals wide receiver. t against. and the first quarter the game. between the bengals, and the bills. hamlin fell on his back just moments after getting up. actually did the tackle, popped up, standing on his feet, and then collapsed. again, in the hospital. this morning. as of now early morning there. in critical condition. we've been waiting for any kind of update. i want to bring in our core wire.

coy you're just on a conference call. a telephone briefing from the nfl. what do they have to say? >> john, global updates from some questions you had posed earlier before it jumped off to get on some call. some of jessica's i the team buffalo will be traveling back. nfl got word from the team just before the show culminate. they will travel back to buffalo. there are a handful of players they have said they have chosen to remain at the hospital. to be there with a teammate in regards to the game itself they rescheduled there has been no sort of conversation in regards to that. that conversation will happen at a later time. one of the people on the call. joy vincent the executive vice president football operations. some of us know him as a former -- enough senate defensive back. he is now in a great position in the league. this type of situation. because he said he immediately put his player hat back on. as part of this decision-making

process. what's taking place. when mar fell to the ground, the emergency action played as it called. immediately what it's a place. there's some that they were her several week. it's something they talk about from head coaches. to some reminders before every single game. as a medical care was being given to them are. the response communication which ointments, and the commissioner, the head of the players union. they're also both head coaches. they're in constant communication. giving life updates of what they're learning about the situation. and there came a point where vincent communicated to the head coach and zach taylor from the cincinnati bengals, take your team's locker room. assess the situation, assess the state of their morale, and their emotion. and both head coaches determined that they were too traumatized by what they had just witnessed on that field. they did not want to continue playing. and that was the decision that

led to the game being postponed. and that's a big point. i don't have remember seeing a game being postponed lighthearted to an injury. if this were ten years ago, five years ago. maybe even a year ago. that would be the case. we've seen abbott's comments to field in play before. we've seen players being carted off, stretchered off. have their face masks removed with their helmets attached. because of the spinal cord injury but the game goes on. i think this is a big moment for the nfl and there's been a lot of talk on their part about putting important on player health and safety. this moment tonight has proved it. in my mind, as a former player. because i've been on fields. six seasons with the buffalo bills. my teammate kevin -- was hit at the wettest pilots. what is playing at stanford my teammate, hit curtis williams number 25 of the university of washington, he was a safety. this pair last-minute doubt.

and passed away two years later. two to complications from the paralysis. and that happened from a football. players are was taught to have that next play mentality. even when you get injured, or teammate gets injured, and the team has stopped. let's air players. let's rally. time to play ball. that didn't happen tonight. as a former player, that means a lot. because there were times when the sentiments of we are putting an unfortunate player health and safety. it seems hollow. but tonight, was a significant moment. in my mind, as a former player. >> i can hear in your voice. i can hear how difficult this is. because, look, your former nfl player. we are just a wonderful human being who cares. that, i think, here's what happened on that field tonight. is that there are all these players. 53 players on each. team with hearts, we are seeing.

with feelings, we're seeing what was happening on the field there. i just feeling for their friend. the nfl did not give in update on tomorrow hamlin's condition. and also said they are not with update. what can tell us about that? >> at this time they were not prepared to discuss any further that the statement they had released prior and all we know is that relaying to viewers john is that the mar was in a critical condition. they're not give us any sort of medical updates. this is strictly procedural, let everyone know what their process was. they had a player at a dire situation. how they're trained to operate, it's not just a lead. it's the medical team who i heard you mention before. the very good at what they do, very passionate what they do. let's hope that they give all

the credit they were needed to love the muhammad to make a full and speedy recovery. is that they're feeling for another injured safety. he's been saying wonderfully for this moment. they fell just like a playoff game. there's a big moment there -- this is a young man who cares about the community. it has a toy drive every year. it's just out there doing his job. this tragic situation happened. and you can learn from that. i think there's a step taken tonight of. >> he played last 14 games, played, well played with so much gots to be out there delays been all season. and coy, again.

thank you for your reporting. thank you for everything you do. i know this is hard for you to watch. i do appreciate that. >> so we've got a lot more to n our breaking news. as we've been saying, the buffalo bills, tomorrow hamlin. is it critical condition after collapsing on the field tonight. it was after a collision on the field that he stood up, and fell down. taken to the hospital right now, waiting for updates, stay with us. ♪ over the last 100 years, lincoln'witnessed a good bit of history. even made some theelves. makes you wonder. what will theyo for an encore?

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>> the breaking news tonight, we are getting some new insight as to what happened on the football field. during monday night football. buffalo bills safety at this moment is hospitalized and in critical condition. he collapsed on the field following a collision in the first quarter of tonight's game between the buffalo bills and he cincinnati bengals. hamlin, who is actually the defensive player, the safety, was tackling wide receiver to hagans. the pretty big wide receiver.

so fell down, popped up immediately after and then collapsed. take into the university of cincinnati hospital in critical condition at this point. luckily team trainers got to him within ten seconds after he collapsed. taken off of the field in an ambulance. the game was postponed. about one hour after the incident took place. now we are told the buffalo bills will be returning to buffalo now today. in what is tuesday. we will get more on that a little bit later. the nfl just conducted a telephone briefing with reporters. i want to make it clear that they say they are not going to have any more information at least in the near future about his medical condition. but did try to provide as much information as they could or willing. we have some sound from jeff miller. vice president of communications for the nfl, let us listen. >> it was really about damar

and making sure that, look, i've never seen anything like it since i've beenso immediateld one on. how do you resume play after witnessing such a traumatic event occur in front of you in realtime? that is the way we were thinking about it. >> that might have actually been troy vincent, a former player making that comment there. who now works in the nfl front office. either way, the phrase that sticks with you. i have never seen anything like it. want to bring in former nfl player. efren salafi, thank you for much for being with us. i'm sure you had a chance to see what happened. first your reaction. the same what happened on the field. >> it was heartbreaking. it felt when i saw that young man called around the way he

did. it felt like my soul has left my body. because i played football for a long time. i played 13 years in the nfl. and it is a contact sport. it's a sport i grew up loving. it's a sport that millions and millions of people around the world love. but there is also this element of injury and severe injury that goes along with this game we cherish and we love. so to see him fall to the ground like that. it was heartbreaking for me. for this young man. but not only for him, but his family. >> as you said, you've had a long career, you played in the super bowl. you know for so long, the mentality in the game of football has been next man up. you play through the pain, you just keep going. tonight that didn't happen. and i think everyone can agree, appropriately so. i can't imagine any of those

players wanting to go on with the game after they had watched their friend, their colleague fall down on the field. being taken away in the ambulance like that. just reflect if you can on the moment in this game. in this country. where people might have come to their senses and realized that this was the right call. >> yes, i want to take my hat off. first to the players. because you could see that they were visibly bothered by what was going on on both teams. and i believe it was the reaction from the players that spurred others to realize that this game could not possibly go on. the type of trauma and ptsd that comes with watching one of your brothers go down like this and fight for his life live on television. those are the types of things that you just can't shake off in 20 minutes and get back to

plan. so i want to take my hat off to the players for understanding the severity and magnitude of this situation. the coaches from both teams to get together and be like hey, this does not seem like a good idea. and then the nfl for postponing this game. which we had never seen before. and this is the importance of player safety. player mental health. it is not just about the physical injuries we witness. it is about the mental health. dealing with the trauma after witnessing something like the head injury. it is not as athletes, we are strained and supposed to just compartmentalize things and push a side. and go on to the next play. and this is not one of those situations where you could or with that sentiment being more into. >> i really do appreciate you joining us tonight. speaking to you, to coy wire. i can tell how hard this is for

you to see this. because you have to be wondering. could this have been me? could i have been in this situation. and thinking about all of your loved ones who've watched you play your whole life and how hard this must be. so thank you for sharing your insights with us tonight. i do appreciate everything that you've given us. thank you. >> thank you for having me. and i will say this, people ask me this all the time. i've tucson, eight and 11 years old. the law. when people ask me, will i allow them to play football. my answer is no. my answer is no. because of the trauma. i wake up every day in pain. i chose to do this. so i always tell people. i played football so that my kids would not have to. they can do anything they want in the world. but it is one of those sports that, is very few people that get out unscathed and very severity of the entry varies. >> like i said. i do appreciate you being with

us tonight. thank you for sharing what you've seen tonight. and also what you are going through watching this. be well. >> thank you. we're going to take a quick break and come back with much more on our breaking news. the collapse of damar hamlin on the field during monday night football. critical condition in the hospital in cincinnati. we will give you the latest next. only smart bed in the world that actively cools, warms and effortlessly responds to both of you. our smart sleepers get 28 minutes more reststful sleep per night. proven quality sleep. ononly from sleep number.

>> buffalo bills safety damar hamlin, 24 years old, in critical condition after collapsing on the field during monday night football between the buffalo bills and the cincinnati bengals. there is one story as we are also concerned about his safety that is putting a smile on peoples face. a gofundme fund-raiser started

by him when to raise money to purchase toys. initially for kids in his hometown in pennsylvania. not far from where he went to college. the university of pittsburgh. he had a gofundme page set up to raise money to buy toys for kids there. it has now raised two point $3 million. he first created the fund-raiser in 2020. saying quote, as i embark on my journey in the nfl, i will never forget where i came from. i'm committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me. again, that community is mckee's roxanne sylvania. i think i had heard somewhere that it raised about $60,000 or a few thousand dollars before tonight. now it has raised more than 2.3 million. an outpouring of emotion. and support for de mar him when. in critical condition, in the hospital this morning. a lot more to come on our breaking news coverage. we'll be right back.

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