Stephen A. Smith stands by Skip Bayless after Damar Hamlin tweeted questioning the postponement

Stephen A. Smith believes Skip Bayless’s “heart is in the right place” after Fox Sports asked how the NFL would postpone the Bengals-Bills game following Damar Hamlin’s collapse.

Monday’s game was halted and eventually postponed after Hamlin required CPR after attacking Tee Higgins in the first quarter, with Bills safety later diagnosing cardiac arrest.

Bayless angered hordes of fans and players when he tweeted out loud wondering if the NFL could actually make the logistics of a postponement work.

Hamlin, 24, remains in critical condition today after attacking Bengals receiver rival Tee Higgens. He then collapsed and went into cardiac arrest before being rushed to the hospital

Bills players were shocked to see Hamlin receive life saving treatment on the field

“No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game – but how? So late in the season, a game of this magnitude is critical to regular season outcome…which suddenly seems so irrelevant,” he tweeted.

And Smith while saying he disagrees[s]’ with his former First Take co-host, Bayless stood by his side when asked about the situation on Tuesday.

“We live in different times. I will not judge Skip Bayless or anyone else for saying the wrong thing. God knows I have. Intent counts,” he said USA TODAY SPORTS.

“I’ve spent years disagreeing with Skip Bayless, I disagree with him now and I will continue to disagree with him.

“But he’s still my brother, he’s still a guy who brought me here on First Take. I know who he is, I know what he’s about… by and large his heart is in the right place and people make mistakes.”

Bayless offered a half-hearted apology on Tuesday’s show Undisputed.

FOX sports pundit Skip Bayless said Tuesday he was still “shattered” by what happened

“Allow me to say up front that if it offends anyone for what we’ve set out to do here today, I apologize, because we’re going to try to do the show pretty much like we normally do,” said the 71-year-old Bayless, who joined Fox Sports in 2016 after being an ESPN pundit for 12 years.

‘But I’ll admit right away that I’m still devastated by what happened to Damar Hamlin last night. In fact, I’m still devastated. In fact, I’m not sure I’m capable of doing this show today.

A chorus of athletes loudly criticized Bayless for his comments Monday night, with former Thunder and Cavs big man (and frequent Bayless critic) Kendrick Perkins calling Bayless a “sick person.”

Bayless apologized for asking whether the Bills-Bengals game should be suspended

The TV personality tried to clarify his earlier statements on Tuesday.

“Nothing is more important than this young man’s health,” he said. That was the point of my last tweet. I’m sorry if that was misunderstood, but his health is all that matters. Again, everything else is irrelevant. I have prayed for him and will continue to do so.’

The Bills tweeted Tuesday at 1:23 p.m. ET that Hamlin spent the night in the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and is in critical condition.

Bills players are seen praying for their 24-year-old team-mate after he suffered cardiac arrest

While his teammates, family and fans hope he recovers, Smith believes Bayless will have a chance to grow from the mistake.

“You’ll catch up from time to time,” he said.

“But if your heart is in the right place and you really meant no harm and are ready to apologize – this country has shown you on many, many occasions that it will allow you to move on. And I’ve witnessed it.