“Yesterday, really, for the first time all week, the N.F.L. community collectively was able to exhale just a bit, maybe be able to smile just a little bit, as it appears that millions of prayers around the world have been answered,” Mr. Levy mentioned earlier than the sport. “Damar Hamlin turning a positive corner, making progress, on his way, we all hope, to a full recovery.”
Dan Orlovsky, the analyst standing subsequent to Mr. Levy, continued on the feel-good theme, saying that Mr. Hamlin “not only brought out the best in the N.F.L., he brought out the best in humanity.”
The sport protection mirrored ESPN’s 75-minute pregame present.
“You see us all smiling,” mentioned the host Sam Ponder, opening the present with a panel of soccer analysts sitting round her in a New York studio. “We didn’t know if this is how we were going to be able to do this show earlier in the week. A collective sigh of relief after days of holding our breath.”
Ms. Ponder continued in that vein, saying, “A week that started with a lot of darkness comes to an end with so much light, so much hope and gratitude for answered prayers.”
Rex Ryan, the former head coach of the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills and present ESPN analyst, began crying when he recalled Mr. Hamlin asking docs — through pen and paper — if the Bills had received the sport on Monday. The sport was initially suspended and later canceled.
“He’s a dang legend,” Mr. Ryan mentioned, his voice shaking. “Thank you. I needed it — as a dad, as a coach and as a fan of this game.”
“Lots of silver linings we’re finding,” Ms. Ponder mentioned.
Steve Young, the former participant and present analyst, was one in all the few to level out that Mr. Hamlin’s collapse additionally underscored the violent nature of the sport, calling the incident “a referendum on the game.”
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