sport news Damar Hamlin: Bart Scott U-turns to insist Tee Higgins was NOT at fault for ... trends now ESPN analyst Bart Scott has insisted he was not blaming Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins for Damar Hamlin's collapse. Hamlin, 24, collapsed after landing a tackle on Higgins in the first quarter playing for the Bills against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had to be resuscitated 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 claiming Higgins had lowered his helmet on the play, causing Hamlin to be hit on the chest. Bart Scott controversially suggested Tee Higgins (second left) lowered his helmet before the tackle with Damar Hamlin moments before he had a cardiac arrest The ESPN analyst has since doubled back and insisted the wide receiver is not at fault However, the former linebacker appeared to double back on his comments and insisted 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 play, like I said before, that 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've seen this happen. It's no different from anything that happens in any other sport. It's a freak accident, and nobody's at fault.' Scott also claimed that his comments were misconstrued and that the clip that went viral excluded a segment from earlier in the program, in which he said he expressed concern for the receiver. Here’s the clip for everyone asking: Bart Scott straight up accusing Tee Higgins of lowering his helmet into the chest of Damar Hamlin. It was not close to a dirty play. Freak accident. pic.twitter.com/uyDwwOEgpi — Faux Joey Brrr (@FauxJeaux) January 3, 2023 'In the first segment, if they would've paid attention to it, they would have heard that the first thing I did was express my concern for Tee Higgins, because there were reports that he was walking out with his head down on his mother's shoulder,' he said on his radio show. 'So I was expressing concern. I was so happy that his mother was there to console him because it's important to check on him as well because he may feel responsible. 'I expressed that concern and I said that this was just a freak accident that happened [on a routine play] that happens 1,000 times on a football field. In no way am I blaming anybody. We play a violent sport and freaky, fluky stuff happens. That was what I was trying to express, but I had expressed that already in the beginning. 'This was the third segment of us moving forward, of me trying to explain it, and maybe I wasn't concise. It was an emotional day for everybody and it was tough for everybody.' The former linebacker claimed he had expressed concern for Higgins earlier in the program Hamlin, 24, is continuing to make progress and is now breathing on his own 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 a freak incident but putting fault on another player is wild! They should make some of these guys go over lines or something or not even give them a seat at the table!' One fan picked up on the footage and retweeted it, saying: 'The fact that nobody immediately blasted Bart Scott here disgusts me. Scott's original comments had come under fire from many, including Cowboys' Micah Parsons 'Implying Tee Higgins is responsible for Damar Hamlin's current hospitalization all because of a freak accident is despicable and completely unacceptable. They were playing football, nobody had any ill intent.' Another said: 'Bart is way out of line with his comments; both were making football moves to either get additional yardage or make tackle. NO INTENT to injure here.' A different, but far more scathing view, read: 'Bart Scott is an idiot. It’s absolutely wild how some of these dudes have jobs on tv.' But some viewers didn't think Bart deserved criticism, saying: 'Is he really blaming him or just explaining what physically happened?' A number of fans were unimpressed by Scott's assessment of the Hamlin incident But other viewers felt Scott was trying to explain what happened rather than blame anyone Another wrote: 'There’s a big difference between blame and explain. There’s no way this is blaming Higgins.' While he didn't directly address Scott's comments, Bills quarterback Josh Allen shutdown any suggestion Higgins was to blame in a press conference Thursday. 'I hope he got some relief today,' Allen said. 'I saw some stuff on Twitter. People should not be attacking him whatsoever, I hope he found some relief today and I hope he doesn't hold that against himself. He did everything he should have done.' Higgins himself revealed on Thursday that he's 'in a good place right now' after hearing from Hamlin's mother about his improvement. Bills quarterback Josh Allen shutdown any suggestion Higgins was to blame on Thursday 'Obviously it's been hard, just because you know I had something to do with the play (and) whatnot,' Higgins said in his first public comments since the suspension of the Bills-Bengals game. But added, 'everyone has been making me feel whole again. I talked to his mom and everything is OK, he's doing good, 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's telling me that he's OK. And just all the positive stuff,' the third-year wideout said. 'I mean it feels good just knowing that he's OK, he's doing better, and it makes me feel better inside.' All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility