Bills’ Hamlin: I meant no religious disrespect by wearing jacket

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin said Wednesday he never intended to offend anyone for attending the Super Bowl wearing a jacket that critics deemed to feature an offensive depiction of Jesus.

“After talking with my parents I understand how my coat could have offended some people,” Hamlin wrote in a note posted on his Twitter account. “It was never my intentions to hurt or disrespect anyone, the coat is abstract art to me.”

Hamlin closed his twopost thread by saying he will continue to learn from the situation while adding: “My beliefs and Relationship with God is not tied to symbolic images.”

The second-year player continues recovering after having to be resuscitated on the field after going into cardiac arrest during a game in Cincinnati six weeks ago created a stir for being pictured wearing a Kanye West Eternal Saint blue varsity jacket during pregame ceremonies and sitting in NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s box at the Super Bowl.

The back of the jacket featured an abstract illustration of Jesus on the cross under the word “ETERNAL.” The front featured an abstract depiction of Jesus’ face and appears to reference a Bible verse that reads: “Without end or beginning there is no day and no night."

Elsewhere: Jacksonville

● Jaguars wide receiver

Calvin Ridley, who was suspended indefinitely in 2022 for betting on NFL games during the 2021 season, is applying for reinstatement. Wednesday marked the first day that Ridley, a Fort Lauderdale native who played for Coconut Creek Monarch High, could apply for reinstatement, starting the process could prompt his return for the 2023 season. Ridley most recently played on Oct. 24, 2021, for the Atlanta Falcons, who traded him to the Jaguars in November for conditional draft picks.

ETC. Michael Jordan

NBA:

● is celebrating a huge life milestone by making the largest contribution in Make-A-Wish Foundation history. The Charlotte Hornets owner donated $10 million to the charitable foundation in honor of his 60th birthday, which is Friday.

Soccer: Manchester

●

City seized the momentum in the Premier League title race after Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland

scored second-half goals to secure a 3-1 win at Arsena. The win puts City in first place ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. … Karim Benzema converted two first-half penalty kicks in Real Madrid’s 4-0 win over Elche and became the team’s secondhighest scorer in the Spanish league with 230 goals.