, and that’s assuming he overcomes the trauma of an otherwise routine tackle nearly killing him seven months ago.
The thought of Buffalo releasing Hamlin might seem unfathomable to most fans. He has defied the odds. His mere survival is a powerful beacon, especially among his teammates. The world will marvel if he opens the season on “Monday Night Football,” the same national platform on which“He’s going to attack it like he has everything else in his life,” Hamlin’s agent, Ira Turner, said. “You can’t discount the fact this guy was a starter last year for a significant number of games.
LeBron James the following summer introduced Devon Still onto the ESPYs stage. Clutching the 2015 Jimmy V Award for Perseverance in his right fist, Still explained Leah’s suffering and his depression. His wrenching speech made the audience — filled with elite athletes and A-list celebrities — gasp out loud.Still wasn’t offended by the team’s decision, acknowledging that the NFL can be a cruel business.
A documentary crew has trailed Hamlin the past few months. National media will scrutinize how he handles training camp’s rigors. Fans constantly screaming encouragement and requesting autographs may buoy a player, but such attention also can smother.