Football

Andre Reed hasn't rocked his jersey since he retired in 2001, but the Bills legend found an incredibly worthy reason to dust off the old laundry ... the Hall of Famer wanted to show love to Damar Hamlin as he remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Reed, one of the greatest players in Buffalo history, altered his old Bills uni, crossing out the number "8" on the left, leaving just the "3" remaining ... Damar's number.

The Hall of Fame wide receiver also covered "REED" ... and replaced it with "HAMLIN".

Reed didn't just tweak his wardrobe ... he also sent a heartfelt message to the young defender.

"Keeping prayer for you, D. What else can I say, man. The whole nation is behind you, behind your family. We know you were in the dark but now you're coming out the dark. You can see the light so we're so happy for that," the 7x Pro Bowler said.

"Bills nation, Bills Mafia, everybody across the country, we're so ecstatic about the news today. We know you're gonna pull through and keep going. We love you, bro."

Of course, the news Andre's ecstatic about came from Damar's doctors Thursday morning ... when they happily reported Hamlin showed "remarkable improvement" overnight, noting he's "neurologically intact", even after his heart stopped on the field.

Despite the good news, doctors cautioned that Hamlin still has a long road to recovery.

Aaron Rodgers appears to have a new woman in his life -- the Green Bay Packers superstar is reportedly dating Mallory Edens, the daughter of the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The rumors of the 4-time MVP's new romance started to pick up this week ... after the two were spotted sitting courtside together at the Bucks vs. Lakers game on December 2.

Of course, 39-year-old Rodgers is a minority owner of Milwaukee's NBA team ... and he's hit up Bucks games with Edens, 26, in the past as well. Things appeared to be platonic at the time, as the quarterback was dating actress Shailene Woodley.

Things have seemingly left the friend zone now ... as reports say they are now an item. Edens was also present at one of Rodgers' Packers games this season ... decked out in Green Bay merch.

Mallory is the daughter of Wes Edens, the billionaire businessman who is also co-owner of the Premier League club, Aston Villa. She is a model and social media influencer.

Rodgers previously dated Olivia Munn and Danica Patrick ... and was most recently linked to influencer Blu of Earth.

Fun fact -- Edens joined the "TMZ Sports" TV show back in 2019 ... where she talked all things Bucks and modeling.

She also made headlines back in 2019 ... when she shaded Drake by wearing a Pusha T T-shirt during the Bucks vs. Raptors Eastern Conference Finals.

The couple has yet to go "Instagram official" ... but now that the cat's outta the bag, it might speed up their process.

Damar Hamlin continues to make giant positive strides -- the Bills' safety is now breathing without mechanical help just days after his heart stopped on the field Monday night, and he's even talking to his family!

The Bills tweeted an update on Hamlin Friday, writing "Per the physicians at UCMC, Damar's breathing tube was removed overnight. He continues to progress remarkably in his recovery."

Hamlin had required a breathing tube to provide him oxygen since going into cardiac arrest ... but no more, and it's a great sign.

On Thursday, two of Hamlin's doctors announced the DB had been communicating with them through writing, and even asked who won the 'MNF' game between his Bills and the Bengals.

The doctors also noted Hamlin made "significant progress" and was "neurologically intact," easing fears Damar's brain was damaged by a lack of air.

Despite Hamlin's improvement, the incident still haunts his teammates. Star QB Josh Allen said the incident keeps replaying "over and over" in his head.

The NFL has since announced they will not reschedule the Bills-Bengals game ... and could now play the AFC Championship game at a neutral site.

Multiple officials were clearly gravely concerned for Damar Hamlin in the seconds after he collapsed on Monday night ... with new audio revealing at least two first responders pleaded for "everybody" to rush to the scene.

The concerned chatter was heard on emergency radio traffic airwaves at around 8:55 p.m. ... just after Hamlin fell to the turf at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati following a tackle during the Bills vs. Bengals "Monday Night Football" game.

One unidentified official, who appeared to be on the sidelines as the scene unfolded, could be heard in the audio initially saying, "Go ahead and go over to the cot. I don't like how he went down."

Seconds later, the need for urgency became clear ... as another official said, "We're going to need everybody. All call. All call."

The first commenter then added, "Bring everybody! We need an airway doctor, everybody. Bring the cot with the medics."

As we reported, the Buffalo safety went into cardiac arrest on the field ... but, thanks to the quick actions of those who first tended to him, doctors said Thursday he's made "significant progress" and appears to be "neurologically intact."

Further audio revealed multiple other officials helped make requests over the airwaves to coordinate Hamlin's safe and expeditious ride to the UC Health Medical Center in Cincinnati.

The NFL has decided to cancel the Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals game, the league announced Thursday night ... days after Monday Night Football was postponed following Damar Hamlin’s medical emergency.

The Week 17 game will NOT be made up.

Of course, the game was postponed by the league Monday night after a terrifying incident involving the 24-year-old Bills safety.

The cancellation throws a wrench into the playoffs ... as the Bills-Bengals game had major postseason implications.

In an effort to mitigate any advantage, the league has proposed several options ... including potentially playing the AFC Championship game at a neutral site, removing any home-field advantage.

The issue is the Bills-Bengals game could have determined who was the #1 seed ... important not just because that team would have home field, but also a first-round bye.

There are 3 potential scenarios where the AFC Championship game would be played in a neutral area. Those scenarios depend on Week 18's games, but it's likely a Buffalo vs. Kansas City game would be at a neutral site. There's also a chance a Buffalo or Cincy vs. Kansas City game would be played at a neutral area.

As a result of the cancelation, the Bengals are now AFC North champions.

The Bengals will play the Ravens on Sunday ... while the Bills will take on the Patriots.

The Damar Hamlin incident has inspired the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans to make sure its community is prepared for all medical emergencies -- the teams just announced it is donating automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to local facilities throughout Louisiana.

The AEDs would be given to 40 New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) facilities and 27 Jefferson Parish Recreation Department (JPRD) facilities, including 35 parks, three baseball fields and two football facilities ... this according to a statement released on Thursday.

"In light of the horrible events involving Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin, we felt it was
urgent that we reach out to our local recreational facilities to determine their needs,"
Gayle Benson, owner of the Saints and Pelicans, said.

"NFL games have the most advanced medical staff and equipment on hand, and we believe this needs to be replicated as best as possible on the youth sports level."

As we previously reported, Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins during MNF ... and had to be rushed to a local hospital in an ambulance.

Hamlin remains hospitalized in the ICU at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, but two of the team of doctors assisting him, Dr. William Knight and Dr. Timothy Pritts, said Thursday the 24-year-old is "neurologically intact" and has been communicating with them through writing.

"The Saints reached out today wanting to discuss with us what our urgent medical
needs included relative to our youth facilities," said Larry Barabino Jr., Chief Executive
Officer of NORD. "We shared our plan with them and explained where we needed the
help."

"We are very grateful to Mrs. Benson and the entire organization. Putting 40 AEDs
around NORD facilities will give our families and our children comfort, knowing we can
be ready in case of an emergency."

Mario Brazile, Director of JPRD, said having the AEDs in its facilities will save lives ... adding that tragic events such as Hamlin's medical scare can serve as teachable moments for everyone.

Benson, principal owner of the Saints and Pelicans since 2018, said, "Hearing the news of Damar’s improvement from his doctors today was very heartening."

Josh Allen had to fight back tears as he talked about his Bills teammate, Damar Hamlin, saying the tragic incident continuously haunts him.

"The scene replays over and over in your head," Allen said when speaking to reporters Thursday. "It's hard to describe how I felt and how my teammates felt in that moment. It's something we'll never forget."

"But to know that Damar is doing okay, and I know there's still a lot of things and stuff he has to process and continue to go through to get back to himself."

Allen called the moment 24-year-old Hamlin went into cardiac arrest in front of an entire stadium on national television "a dire circumstance that nobody's expecting," adding you can never really prepare for a situation of that magnitude.

Josh also thanked the training staff, who he credited for springing into action and "working as a single-cell symbiote" to save Damar's life just seconds after he went down.

Allen also encouraged people to stop attacking Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who collided with Hamlin on the scary play.

As we reported Thursday, doctors say Hamlin is showing remarkable signs of improvement as he continues to receive medical treatment in the ICU at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Dr. Knight and Dr. Pritts, two of the team of doctors assisting Hamlin, met with the media virtually and provided more details surrounding the Bills' safety.

The doctors announced Hamlin is "neurologically intact." The docs even said Damar scribbled a question on a piece of paper ... who won the game?

That simple question was music to the ears of the Bills players.

"Again, we heard that news this morning, and there's nothing that could've been told to us to bring our day down," Allen said. "We're extremely happy for him and his family."

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins says he's relieved to hear Damar Hamlin is doing better after his medical emergency on Monday ... revealing he's been in contact with the Bills safety's mom in the days following the game.

Hamlin tackled Higgins right before he collapsed on the field during the Bengals and Bills' Monday Night Football matchup ... and the former Clemson star says when he realized what was happening, he knew it was a serious situation.

"At first, me being a football player, I'm thinking he just flopped," Higgins said after practice on Thursday. "I looked again and seen what happen, I just turned my head and not think about it. I knew it was something crazy. Something tragic. It was hard."

After the game was suspended, Higgins went to the hospital to check on Hamlin ... and he's been in contact with Damar's family in the days following.

"Damar's mom hit me, texted me this morning, and told me about everything and it made me feel even more at home," Higgins said.

"I really appreciate them, just hearing from them and them having my back as well, so yeah. Feels good."

Of course, some misguided people have seemingly blamed Tee (something Bart Scott was accused of doing) for the medical emergency, so to hear Higgins say he's holding up is welcome news.

Prior to practice, Higgins appeared to gather his thoughts and reflect before running out with the rest of his teammates.

Hamlin is making serious improvements as he remains under constant care in a Cincinnati hospital ... and was even able to communicate in writing with nurses Wednesday night -- asking who won Monday's game.

Damar Hamlin's making incredible strides as he fights for his life in a Cincinnati hospital ... and nothing proves the point more than a question the Bills safety asked his nurse last night -- who won the game?

Hamlin's physicians, Dr. Knight and Dr. Pritts, from UC Health Medical Center in Cincinnati, virtually met with the media on Thursday and fielded questions about the health status of their famous patient.

The doctors revealed 24-year-old Hamlin was conscious Wednesday evening, and while he wasn't able to talk (he's still hooked up to a breathing machine), Damar, using pen, paper, and a clipboard, asked who won the Bills vs. Bengals game.

"You won. You won at the game of life," his healthcare team told Damar.

Of course, Hamlin wasn't aware the game was postponed.

As far as his current condition, the doctors say Hamlin's made "significant progress," saying they believe he's "neurologically intact."

There was fear Damar could've sustained a serious brain injury from lack of oxygen.

Knight and Pritts were also asked about Hamlin's long-term prognosis.

Joe Buck has been calling games for decades, but his booth partner Troy Aikman believes his handling of Damar Hamlin's medical emergency was the "finest moment" of his career ... saying the broadcasting legend managed the situation better than anyone else could have.

Buck and Aikman were calling the Bengals and Bills' "Monday Night Football" matchup when Hamlin collapsed on the field ... and the Hall of Fame quarterback says the entire crew -- including Disney head Bob Iger -- were working nonstop to figure out how to continue the broadcast as medical experts tended to the Bills safety.

"There was a lot of moving parts, that's for sure, as you can imagine," Aikman said on 'Dunham and Miller' on the Ticket in Dallas-Fort Worth. "It became a sports broadcast that turned into a news broadcast."

Aikman raves about how Buck maintained his poise ... saying despite the difficult task, he thrived in the moment.

"As you guys know, I've worked with him for 21 years and I've been with him in some of the greatest moments in sports," Aikman said.

"And I've seen him at his best and he's unbelievable, but I think this was his finest moment. I think he handled everything better than anyone could have -- any broadcaster. I don't care if it was sports, or news or whatever it might be."

Aikman added ... "I thought he was really good at what he was doing and broadcasting to America what was taking place and doing it in a way that he wasn't speculating or sensationalizing in any way. Not an easy thing to do."

"He and I were on the air for over an hour before we ever really did anything with it. So, there was a lot of time that had to be filled with a story that we were not getting any information on."

A taxidermized badger!

That's what J.J. Watt just revealed he received from a fan on Thursday ... as the future Hall of Famer prepares to play the last NFL game in his legendary career.

33-year-old Watt shared pics of the "fan mail" on social media -- showing the box the stuffed badger came in, along with the animal, resting comfortably on a chair in the Cardinal's locker room.

"I have received a lot of wild fan mail over the years," Watt tweeted, adding, "This package that arrived today is certainly being added to the list."

As you know, Watt played college ball at the University of Wisconsin ... who are, of course, the Badgers.

Watt has presumably seen an uptick in fan mail ... seeing that the defensive star announced in December -- he intends to retire after the season.

"Koa's first-ever NFL game," Watt said alongside a photo holding his baby ... "My last ever NFL home game."

He continued ... "My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It’s been an absolute honor and a pleasure."

If this is Watt's last season, #99 -- a 5x All Pro and member of the All decade 2010s team -- will go down as one of the most dominant forces to grace an NFL field.

J.J. has also done a ton off the field ... and even won the 2017 Walter Payton Award, given to the player who has the biggest impact away from football.

The Buffalo Bills say Damar Hamlin has made "remarkable improvement" over the last day, and while still "critically ill," it's clear the standout safety has made "steady progress."

The organization released a statement Thursday morning, updating fans on the condition of 24-year-old Hamlin, who has been hospitalized in the ICU since Monday night.

"Per the physicians caring for Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours," the Bills said.

"While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress."

Hamlin's lungs were injured during the medical emergency, according to his uncle. Fortunately, doctors say they're healing.

There was also concern over the amount of time Damar's brain was without oxygen when his heart stopped ... so physicians saying he's "neurologically intact" is great news.

Of course, the whole country has been gripped by the story -- praying for Damar's recovery. President Biden even spoke about Hamlin on Wednesday.

Agency 1, Hamlin's management team, also took to social media to provide an update -- as well as thank fans for all the love.

"The outpouring of support for Damar across the nation has been amazing. Thank you for the calls, messages, and emails. Damar has made substantial improvement overnight."

"We are so thankful for all of the first responders, doctors, and hospital staff and every one who has played a role in this process. Please continue to pray for Damar and we will provide updates as they are available."

Kaiir Elam, Bills cornerback, weighed in, too, writing "Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement. Thank you God. Keep the prayers coming please. All love 3!"

Emily Ratajkowski loves to hit up New York Knicks games, but don't expect to see the model and author at Jets or Giants games anytime soon ... 'cause she just made her feelings toward the NFL abundantly clear.

"Sorry but ... f*** the NFL," the 31-year-old said in a tweet on Wednesday.

EmRata didn't explain her stance, nor were there any other follow-up tweets ... but it's safe to say she feels strongly about the opinion.

The declaration comes just days after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during Monday Night Football ... which has brought the topic of player safety to the forefront.

While the NFL has dealt with CTE and head injury issues for years, Hamlin's medical emergency has been considered a freak accident ... and the league's professionals have been credited with saving the 24-year-old's life.

Ratajkowski has been spotted courtside at many Knicks games over the years ... most recently, with Pete Davidson.

Damar Hamlin's father just provided the whole Buffalo Bills team with an encouraging update on a Zoom call ... telling the squad their teammate is making progress, and "the team needed it."

Hamlin's dad, Mario, reached out to the entire Bills team on Wednesday, according to Adam Schefter ... and provided some much-needed (good) news on Hamlin's condition.

It's unclear what exactly the news was ... but word is it was positive, and it was a huge relief to the players, coaches and staff.

Of course, the Bills also provided a promising update on Wednesday saying the 24-year-old safety was showing "signs of improvement" just days after he went into cardiac arrest during the Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The game was suspended after the scary incident and Hamlin has been in intensive care at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center since.

The NFL announced they will not resume the Bills-Bengals game before Week 18 ... and there's been no decision on if/when they'll resume the Bills-Bengals game.

Hamlin -- who logged 91 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble this season -- has received a ton of support from players and fans from around the country.

The New York Giants may not need to search for their next franchise QB after all ... so says Warren Moon, who told TMZ Sports that Daniel Jones has the tools and right coach to succeed!

"I think he finally has the coach now that figured out what his strengths and weaknesses are, and he's taking advantage of those," the Hall of Famer tells us about Daniel's rookie head coach, Brian Daboll.

"I think Daniel can be the guy for the future," Moon says, adding ... "And he's in the last year of his contract, so we'll wait and see what happens as he gets into the playoffs and how he plays in the playoffs."

The NFL legend told us DJ is playing with more confidence, and it's all because "they're doing the things that he does well," like using his legs and minimizing his passing attempts.

However, Moon says Jones "doesn't have that great of talent around him," adding that the team needs to get Daniel some better receivers and then "you'll see his game go to another level."

Moon said he doesn't think the 9-6-1 Giants will be in the sweepstakes for Alabama star quarterback Bryce Young -- who is projected to be selected at the top of the draft -- in part because of the emergence of Jones this season.

"The Giants wouldn't be in that territory to get him," said Moon. "They're gonna draft somewhere around 20 or something up there from where they finish, so he's probably out of the question."

Moon believes Jones -- selected with the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft -- has cemented himself as a bonafide starting QB in the league, leading the Giants to the playoffs in his fourth season (and as a franchise for the first time since 2016), despite the team's limited roster.

Uhh ... we're pretty sure fingers aren't supposed to bend like that.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore's pinky is pretty busted right now ... and if you needed proof, just check the cringeworthy update he posted to his Instagram page on Wednesday.

It's unclear how it happened -- Moore was placed on injured reserve last month with a groin injury ... but regardless of how it happened, it appears he visited a doctor in Beverly Hills to get it fixed.

Unclear whether the digit is broken or dislocated ... but these injuries tend to happen with receivers.

Moore was in the middle of his second year in the league before going on IR ... and had 41 receptions for 414 yards and a touchdown in eight games after missing the first three contests with a hammy injury.

The 22-year-old former Purdue Boilermaker was a second-round pick in 2021 ... going 49th overall to the Cards.