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The Patriots and the NFL more broadly could be in for an unprecedented week after the grave situation involving Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin on Monday night. The Bills defensive back suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during Monday’s primetime matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, which led to the game being suspended.
The NFL has since announced the Bills-Bengals game will not be resumed this week and that the Week 18 schedule remains unchanged at the moment, including the Patriots’ Sunday game at Buffalo that could determine New England’s postseason fate.
But Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston anticipates Patriots coach Bill Belichick might be a heavy part of the league’s decision-making process on whatever happens next.
“This is honestly a time when you look to someone like Bill Belichick because he is more influential and important than virtually anyone in the league, Roger Goodell included,” said Curran, who also named Patriots owner Robert Kraft as a possible key figure. “Bill can do an immense amount of good right now with whatever he says.”
Belichick’s NFL career spans five decades in addition to his mountain of regular- and postseason victories. At 70, he’s also one of the most senior coaches and the executives in the league. As such; his words will certainly carry weight if his opinion is requested.
Patriots coaches did not speak to the media on Tuesday, which means Belichick will likely make the first official comments of anyone on the team on Wednesday.
What he says then and in private could have something to bear on how the rest of this NFL season transpires.
