Damar Hamlin: Bart Scott makes a U-turn to insist Tee Higgins is NOT to blame for the collapse of Bill’s security

ESPN analyst Bart Scott has insisted he doesn’t blame Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins for Damar Hamlin’s collapse.

Hamlin, 24, collapsed after landing a tackle against Higgins in the first quarter while playing for the Bills against the Cincinnati Bengals. He required resuscitation on the field and was taken to hospital where he remains in critical condition but has made positive progress and is now breathing on his own.

Scott was branded “despicable” earlier this week after he claimed Higgins lowered his helmet during the game, resulting in Hamlin being hit in the chest.

Bart Scott controversially suggested that Tee Higgins (second left) lowered his helmet before the tackle with Damar Hamlin just before he went into cardiac arrest

The ESPN analyst has since doubled down and insisted the wide receiver wasn’t at fault

The former linebacker appeared to double down on his comments, however, insisting Higgin was not at fault on ESPN New York’s “Bart & Hahn” on Wednesday when asked by co-host Alan Hahn.

“Not at all,” Scott said. “This is a football game like I said you see this type of tackle 100 times in a football game. It’s just one of those unfortunate things – wrong place, wrong time. We have experienced that. It’s no different than anything that happens in other sports. It’s a crazy accident and nobody’s to blame.’

Scott also claimed that his comments were misconstrued and that the clip, which went viral, excluded a segment from earlier in the show where he said he expressed concern about the recipient.

“If they had paid attention in the first section, they would have heard the first thing I did was express my concern for Tee Higgins because there were reports of him walking head down on his mother’s shoulder,” he said on his radio show.

“So I expressed my concern. I was so happy that his mother was there to comfort him because it’s important to check on him too because he might feel responsible.

“I have expressed that concern and said that this was just an unusual accident that happened [on a routine play] this happens 1,000 times on a soccer field. I don’t blame anyone. We’re playing a violent sport and crazy, random things are happening. That’s what I was trying to express, but I had already expressed that in the beginning.

“This was the third section we were moving forward in which I tried to explain and maybe I wasn’t concise. It was an emotional day for everyone and it was tough for everyone.”

The former linebacker claimed he voiced his concerns about Higgins earlier in the program

Hamlin, 24, continues to make progress and is now breathing alone in hospital

Scott’s original comments had come under fire from NFL fans and players, including Cowboys’ Micah Parsons.

‘Yoo, are we serious?!!?’ Parsons tweeted, “Why do we let some people speak on TV?! This was an unusual occurrence, but blaming another player is wild! They should make some of these guys overwrite lines or something, or even give them a seat at the table!

One fan captured the footage and retweeted it, saying: “The fact that nobody here immediately blew up Bart Scott disgusts me.

Scott’s original comments had come under fire from many, including Cowboys’ Micah Parsons

“The suggestion that Tee Higgins is responsible for Damar Hamlin’s current hospitalization, all due to a freak accident, is despicable and totally unacceptable. They played football, no one had bad intentions.’

Another said: “Bart has come a long way from his comments; Both made football moves to either gain extra yards or make tackles. NO INTENT to hurt here.’

Another, but much more scathing view was, “Bart Scott is an idiot. It’s absolutely insane how some of these guys have jobs on TV.

But some viewers didn’t think Bart deserved criticism, saying: “Is he really blaming him or is he just explaining what happened physically?”

A number of fans were unfazed by Scott’s take on the Hamlin incident

But other viewers felt that Scott was trying to explain what happened rather than blaming anyone

Another wrote: “There’s a big difference between blaming and explaining. That doesn’t blame Higgins at all.”

While he didn’t directly address Scott’s comments, Bills quarterback Josh Allen dismissed any suggestion that Higgins was to blame in a Thursday press conference.

“I hope he relieved himself today,” Allen said. “I’ve seen some stuff on Twitter. People shouldn’t attack him at all, I hope he found some relief today and I hope he doesn’t intend to. He did everything he should have done.”

Higgins himself revealed Thursday that he’s “in a good place at the moment” after hearing about his improvement from Hamlin’s mum.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen Thursday shut down any suggestion that Higgins was to blame

“Obviously it’s been hard just because you know I had something to do with the game (and) like that,” Higgins said in his first public comments since the Bills-Bengals game was suspended. But added: “Everyone has made me feel whole again. I’ve spoken to his mom and everything is fine, he’s fine so I’m in a good place right now.

Higgins said Hamlin’s mother told him, “She’s thinking of me and praying for me and things like that.

“And suddenly she tells me that he’s fine. And just all the positive things,” said the third-year wideout. “I mean, it feels good just to know that he’s fine, he’s better, and I feel better inside.”