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Hamlin on the mend
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Doctors who treated Damar Hamlin said the Bills safety was moved to a hospital in Buffalo on Monday, an uplifting sign of the remarkable progress he has made a week after going into cardiac arrest and having to be resuscitated on the field during a game in Cincinnati.
Hamlin was discharged from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in the morning and flown to western New York, where he will continue his recovery. He was listed in stable condition at Buffalo General Medical Center.
"I can confirm that he is doing well. And this is the beginning of the next stage of his recovery," said Dr. William Knight.
one of his doctors in Cincinnati.
Doctors said Hamlin has been walking since Friday, and eating regular food and undergoing therapy. They said he was on a normal or even accelerated trajectory in his recovery from cardiac arrest, which is considered a life-threatening event, and that normal recovery can be measured from weeks to months.
"We continue to be ecstatic about his recovery," Dr. Timothy Pritts said.
Hamlin's return comes a day after he cheered on the Bills from his hospital bed during their regular season-ending 35-23 win over the New England Patriots. The game proved to be a cathartic outpouring of support for the Bills and Hamlin.
Hamlin was so excited watching teammate Nyheim Hines return the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown that "he jumped up and down, got out of his chair, set every alarm off in the ICU in the process," Pritts said with a laugh.
Pritts said it was still premature to comment on the potential cause of Hamlin's cardiac arrest.
The Bills wore No. 3 Hamlin patches on their jerseys Sunday and honored their teammate by raising three fingers in the closing minutes, while tight end Dawson Knox celebrated his touchdown by forming his hands into the shape of a heart. Fans joined in, with many holding up red heart and No. 3 signs.
"Watching the world come together around me on Sunday was truly an amazing feeling," Hamlin said in a tweet Monday announcing he was heading home to Buffalo, "with a lot of love in my heart.
"The same love you all have shown me is the same love that I plan to put back into the world n more."
The 24-year-old from the Pittsburgh area has made significant progress in his recovery since spending his first two days at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center under sedation and breathing through a ventilator.
He was awakened on Wednesday night and was eventually able to grip people's hands. By Friday, Hamlin was able to breathe on his own and even addressed the team by videoconference, in which he told the Bills, "Love you boys."
The last update from doctors came on Saturday, when they described Hamlin's neurological function as "excellent," though he remained listed in critical condition.
Later that day, Hamlin tweeted: "Putting love into the world comes back 3xs as much... thankful for everyone who has reached out and prayed. This will make me stronger on the road to recovery, keep praying for me!"
The NFL will showed support for Hamlin during all Week 18 games by including a pregame moment of support, painting Hamlin's No. 3 on the 30-yard line and pregame shirts with "Love for Damar 3."
Hamlin's heart stopped on Monday night after making what appeared to be a routine tackle in the first quarter against the Bengals. The game was initially suspended before officially being canceled later in the week.
News of Hamlin's discharge from the hospital in Cincinnati was greeted with enthusiasm.
"That's unbelievable," Bengals coach Zac Taylor said.
"I mean, just think about it -- that was one week, not even a week ago. There's no one in this room that would have expected he'd be in Buffalo," he added. "God is great. He works miracles. This is certainly a miracle, there's no question. … And just an amazing moment for Damar."
United sweeps Southern
KENSINGTON -- United's bowling teams swept Southern on Monday at Forest Lanes.
United's girls were 1,728-1,442 winners. Brooklynn Herold had a high game of 177 and a 322 series for the Eagles. Brooke Brown had a 162 high game and a 345 series for the Indians.
United's boys were 2,285-1,787 winners. Chris Combs had a 226 high game and a 413 series for the Eagles. Aiden Brothers had a high game of 216 and a 396 series for the Indians.
Potters sweep Beavers
CALCUTTA -- The East Liverpool bowling teams swept Beaver Local at Tri-State Lanes on Monday.
The Potters won the boys match, 2,026-1,790. Nate Kelly had games of 203-213 for a 416 series and Jayden McDole had a 180 game and 346 series for the Potters. Cameron Anderson had a 174 game and 308 series for the Beavers.
The East Liverpool girls won 1,805-1,339 as Addison Rudibaugh rolled a 430 series with games of 213-217. Paige Grimes also had games of 197-155 for a 352 series. Sara Adams led the Beavers with game of 174-124 for a 296 series.
Both East Liverpool teams are 6-2 and will travel to Holiday Lanes in Weirton, W.Va, today for a match against Weir.
Wellsville goes to 9-1
WELLSBURG, W.Va. -- The Wellsville bowling team upped its mark to 9-1 by downing Brooke, 2,035-1,874, Monday at Brooke Lanes II.
Leaders for the Tigers were Tyler Landess with a 223 game and 388 series, Maddox Bosco a 183 game and 346 serries and Makayla Crow a 169 game and 305 series.
For Brooke, Dakota McMillan had a 216 game and 398 series.
Dean Pees retires
ATLANTA (AP) -- Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees announced his retirement on Monday, one day after completing his second season with the team.
Pees, 73, is ending a 50-year career in football. He previously coached 16 years in the NFL, including a combined 12 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Tennessee (2018-19), Baltimore (2012-17) and New England (2006-09).
The Falcons capped a 7-10 season with Sunday's 31-10 win over Tampa Bay. Over the final nine games of the season, Pees' defense limited opponents to 25 or fewer points in each game. The Falcons ranked 10th in the league in scoring defense over that span.
Overall, the Falcons ranked 27th in total defense, allowing 362.1 yards per game. Atlanta ranked 31st with 21 sacks.
Pees was forced to miss the Falcons' 21-18 loss at New Orleans on Dec. 18 when he was briefly hospitalized after being knocked to the ground in a pregame collision with Saints returner Rashid Shaheed, who was trying to field a punted ball during warmups.
Pees was placed on a stretcher, carted off the field and taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans. He was released and returned with the team to Atlanta before resuming his lead role of the defensive staff the following week.
Falcons linebackers coach Frank Bush, who filled in for Pees as the play-caller against the Saints, could be a leading contender if coach Arthur Smith chooses his next defensive coordinator from the staff.
Between 1979 and 2003, Pees coached in various capacities at Findlay, Miami (Ohio), Navy, Toledo, Notre Dame, Michigan State and finally Kent State, where he was head coach from 1998-2003.
Browns fire defensive coordinator Joe Woods
BEREA (AP) -- Joe Woods took the fall for the Cleveland Browns falling flat again.
Cleveland fired its embattled defensive coordinator on Monday as his group's communication issues and inability to stop the run had a major role in the Browns finishing 7-10 and missing the playoffs for the second straight season.
The 52-year-old Woods was one of Kevin Stefanski's first hires in 2020. Cleveland's defense had trouble from the opener, leading to the Browns' 17th double-digit loss season since the franchise's expansion rebirth in 1999.
Stefanski, who was widely criticized for his play-calling, was spared in a season shaped by quarterback Deshaun Watson's 11-game NFL suspension.
"I'd like to thank Joe for his hard work and dedication in his three seasons as our defensive coordinator," Stefanski said. "I will always have the utmost respect for Joe, the person and the coach.
"Unfortunately, we didn't perform up to our standards enough this season, and we all share in that responsibility."
The Browns moved quickly at finding a replacement, requesting permission to interview New England linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Brian Flores, Seattle associate head coach Sean Desai and Tennessee senior defensive assistant Jim Schwartz.
The 36-year-old Mayo played eight seasons with the Patriots before retiring after the 2015 season.
Flores was Miami's head coach from 2019-21 before he was fired. He has sued the NFL, alleging racial discrimination.
The Steelers improved across the board with Teryl Austin as their coordinator and Flores focused on the team's linebackers.
"He's done a great job," Steelers linebacker Rob Spillane said. "Every day I love coming to work with him. I hope he's here next year. I hope I get to continue my relationship with him. He's a mentor to me and somebody I will always look up to and have respect for."
Woods had been under fire all season and he sensed his dismissal last week, telling reporters, "I hope I get to talk to you guys again," as he left his weekly news conference.
With Woods in charge, Cleveland's defense, though talented on paper, didn't produce.
The Browns were especially vulnerable to the run, getting gashed for big plays on the ground nearly every week as teams turned to a proven formula.
Woods never ducked responsibility or made excuses despite a rash of injuries, most notably at middle linebacker.
Starters Anthony Walker Jr., Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jacob Phillips and Sione Takitaki all sustained season-ending injuries, forcing Woods to play inexperienced linebackers and general manager Andrew Berry to bring in outside help.
The Browns' pass defense collapsed late in a Week 2 loss to the New York Jets, who rallied from 13 points down in the final two minutes.
The problem resurfaced in Sunday's 28-14 loss at Pittsburgh as Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Picket threw a touchdown pass to a wide-open George Pickens with Cleveland's defensive backs confused on coverage.
Woods also had to deal with star defensive end Myles Garrett playing hurt for much of the season with a sprained shoulder suffered in a September car crash. Woods' final week included defensive end Jadeveon Clowney being sent home after he criticized the organization and coaching staff.
Clowney was inactive for the finale and didn't make the trip to Pittsburgh.
Cleveland's defense improved some during the season's second half, but there wasn't enough growth to save Woods.