Hamlin visits Bills ahead of playoff game
Damar Hamlin visited with teammates at the Bills’ facility Saturday for the first time since being discharged from a Buffalo hospital, 12 days after the safety went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field during a game in Cincinnati.
Bills linebacker Matt Milano posted a photo on his Instagram account of Hamlin smiling and shaking hands with a teammate.
A person with direct knowledge of Hamlin’s schedule confirmed the player’s visit to the Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because Hamlin has kept his schedule and recovery private.
Hamlin was cleared to go home Wednesday after undergoing final tests at Buffalo General Medical Center. His trip to meet with teammates came a day before the Bills (13-3) host the division rival Miami Dolphins (9-8) in a wild-card playoff game, heightening the possibility he might be healthy enough to attend the game.
The 24-year-old Hamlin continues what doctors have referred to as “a remarkable recovery” since his heart stopped after being hit squarely in the chest by Bengals receiver Tee Higgins in the first quarter of a sincecanceled game at Cincinnati on Jan. 2.
Tennessee interviewed Chicago assistant general manager Ian Cunningham and Quentin Harris, Arizona’s vice president of player personnel, for the Titans’ general manager job . ... Cleveland interviewed Philadelphia assistant coach Dennard Wilson to be the Browns’ defensive coordinator . ... Baltimore left quarterback Brett Hundley on the practice squad, a sign that Tyler Huntley (shoulder) will be able to play in Sunday night’s playoff game at Cincinnati . ... Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker was fined $13,261 by the NFL for the shove that led to his ejection from a 20-16 loss to Detroit last Sunday, a person familiar with the situation told the AP.
Cubs to build Sandberg statue
The Chicago Cubs plan to honor Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg with a statue outside Wrigley Field and put him in an exclusive club that includes Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ferguson Jenkins and Harry Caray.
When it comes to Sammy Sosa, however, nothing has changed. They’re not ready for a reunion.
Chairman Tom Ricketts surprised Sandberg with the announcement that the statue “is in progress” during a question-and-answer session with fans, drawing a standing ovation in a crowded ballroom.
First baseman Trey Mancini and the Cubs agreed to a two-year contract, AP reported. Mancini helped Houston win the World Series last season after arriving in a midseason trade.
For the second consecutive year, Athens streets were closed for a parade leading to a celebration at Sanford Stadium for Georgia’s national championship as the Bulldogs hope to become the first team in the AP poll era to win three in a row. ... Mississippi hired Pete Goldin, who had been Alabama’s defensive coordinator since 2018, as defensive coordinator.
Hayden Buckley shot a second consecutive sixunder-par 64, giving him a two-shot lead and creating some separation going into the final round of the Sony Open in Honolulu . ... Mateo Fernández de Oliveira of Argentina had a record day at Grand Reserve to build a four-shot lead in the Latin America Amateur Championship in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, leaving him one round away from a spot in the Masters and U.S. Open.
Belinda Bencic beat Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 6-2 to win the Adelaide International women’s title in Australia.
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde won the World Cup downhill race by 0.88 seconds in Wengen, Switzerland, for his fourth win in six downhills this season . ... Kaillie Humphries won a World Cup women’s monobob race in Altenberg, Germany, for the 100th topthree finish of her career in major international competition.
Two-time defending SailGP champion Tom Slingsby and Team Australia used two good starts to finish second in both races and take the lead in the Singapore Sail Grand Prix.