Ryan Clark said all there is to say about Damar Hamlin injury
Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark had a unique and poignant perspective on Damar Hamlin’s scary injury during Monday Night Football.
No one can truly put into words the feelings of the NFL community on Monday night after watching Bills safety Damar Hamlin being transported to the hospital in critical condition. Ryan Clark came pretty close to it though.
Hamlin collapsed after a tackle in the first quarter of Monday Night Football and received CPR on the field while teammates and fans looked on in horror and concern.
The game was suspended and ESPN hosts and analysts had to process the terrible situation live. The conversation between Scott Van Pelt and Clark stood out to viewers as particularly valuable.
Ryan Clark said all there is to say about Demar Hamlin hit
incredibly well-stated and poignant reaction shared by @Realrclark25 moments agopic.twitter.com/yTmv7uxgr8
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 3, 2023
“This is about Damar Hamlin. It was about a young man at 24-year-old living his dream…and now he fights for his life,” Clark said.
He went on to talk about how important the game would have been to Hamlin and how players approach games despite the danger.
Unfortunately, the danger was at the forefront on Monday night.
“Tonight we got to see a side of football that is extremely ugly,” he said.
Clark highlighted the pain of a family and teammates who have to worry over the safety and health of their son, brother or friend.
“The next time that we get upset at our favorite fantasy player…we should remember that these men are putting their lives on the line to live their dream and tonight Damar Hamlin’s dream became a nightmare not only for himself but for his family and his entire team,” Clark said.
Throughout the broadcast, Clark and his peers were praised for their insight, honesty and raw emotion.
.@Realclark25 and @notthefakeSVP have been superb tonight. #RyanClark's transparency and look inside the mind and emotions of the players was just extraordinary. #ScotVanPelt's sincerity and humility have struck the right cord. @espn https://t.co/jmHXMnaSuT
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@SIfill_) January 3, 2023
Really proud of my colleagues tonight, especially @Realrclark25, @notthefakeSVP, and @ESPNBooger. No words for an unfathomable situation like this. Continued prayers to Damar Hamlin, his family, loved ones, the Bills and everyone associated with him.
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) January 3, 2023
We’re all praying for you!
Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Clark’s work tonight is gonna be taught in journalism classes for years to come.
— Matt Lindner (@mattlindner) January 3, 2023
Absolutely impossible spot for them, but ESPN, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Suzy Kolber, Adam Schefter, Booger McFarland, Scott Van Pelt & Ryan Clark couldn’t have done a better job doing 3 straight hours of live news coverage of a tragic story w/ very little information.
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) January 3, 2023
Blown away by how good Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Clark are handling this. Not exactly an easy assignment, and they’re shining. Perspective, class, honesty, emotion, all of it.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) January 3, 2023
ESPN was lucky to have someone like Clark available to speak on such a difficult topic. Clark himself suffered a medical emergency on the football field. He had to be rushed to the hospital while playing the Broncos in 2007 because of a complication from the sickle cell trait. He missed the remainder of the season after having his spleen and gall bladder removed.
Next. NFL fans flood Damar Hamlin's charity with donations. dark