Arian Foster rips Bills for agreement to pay Damar Hamlin in full

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) runs during the second half of a football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Former RB Arian Foster rips Bills for working out agreement to pay Damar Hamlin in full

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 1/9/23

Injured Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was possibly facing a pay cut after landing on injured reserve following a terrifying cardiac event last Monday night. However, the Bills and the league intervened, ensuring Hamlin would receive his total pay for the 2022 season.

In a week filled with touching wishes and good deeds, outspoken former All-Pro running back Arian Foster found reason to criticize the gesture.

gotta almost die for them to do them right thing lol https://t.co/6a4Zp4JgKc
— feeno (@ArianFoster) January 8, 2023

Despite a clause in Hamlin's contract, which would have split his pay to a lower rate after being placed on injured reserve; the Bills were able to work things out with the NFL and NFLPA to get the injured safety paid in full, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

As Rapoport noted, Hamlin's 2022 salary of $825,000 would have decreased to $455,000.

Hamlin is in the second season of a four-year, $3.6 million rookie deal signed after the Bills drafted him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Pitt.

While it's hard to find anything wrong with making sure Hamlin gets all he's due for the year, Foster alludes to the larger point. The NFL is a business, first and foremost. Anyone paying attention knows that. However, in extreme instances like Hamlin's frightening injury nearly a week ago, we see how the NFL, as a whole, can come together.

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