In early January 2023, a major debate erupted between ESPN pundit Bart Scott and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The incident centred on Scott’s statements following the cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during a game versus the Bengals.
On January 2, 2023, during a Monday Night Football game, Hamlin collapsed on the field following a tackle by Higgins. The play appeared to be typical, then Hamlin experienced a heart arrest and required rapid medical attention. He was then hospitalised in critical condition.
The next day, Bart Scott, a former NFL linebacker and current ESPN analyst, appeared on “First Take” to discuss the incident. Scott claimed that Higgins lowered his helmet and made contact with Hamlin’s chest, meaning that Higgins’ actions contributed to the severity of the event. Scott said: “Right before the tackle, [Higgins] lowers his helmet, and he kind of throws his body into [Hamlin’s] chest.”
These comments garnered severe criticism from fans, players, and commentators. Many believed Scott’s words were unwarranted and unfairly blamed Higgins for what was widely regarded as a terrible tragedy. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons was among those who defended Higgins, expressing his displeasure with Scott’s comments on social media. Parsons tweeted: “Yoo, are we serious?!!?” Why do we allow some people to speak on television? This was a bizarre situation, but blaming another player is crazy!”
Tee Higgins, who had been emotionally impacted by the incident, contacted Hamlin’s family to express his support and prayers. He shared his worry publicly, saying, “My prayers and thoughts are with Damar Hamlin and the Hamlin family. I’m praying for you, bro. Love.”
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Following the incident, many in the sports community emphasised the necessity of avoiding assigning responsibility in such unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances. The agreement was that the play was a typical football action with no malicious intent, and Hamlin’s injury was an isolated and sad incident.
This episode showed the severe scrutiny that prominent personalities undergo when commenting on sensitive topics, emphasising the importance of deliberate and responsible debate in sports media.