ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) 鈥 It was uplifting enough for the Buffalo Bills staff and players to see Damar Hamlin appear on the video screen in the team's meeting room Friday 鈥 鈥渓arger than life," as coach Sean McDermott put it 鈥 for the first time since the safety collapsed and had to be resuscitated on the field.
What sent everyone鈥檚 emotions over the top was hearing Hamlin, his mouth and throat still raw shortly after having a breathing tube removed, softly say: 鈥 .鈥
鈥淎mazing. Touching. To see Damar, number one, through my own eyes, I know it鈥檚 something I鈥檝e been looking forward to, kind of needing to see,鈥 McDermott said. 鈥淎nd to see the players鈥 reaction. They stood up right away and clapped for him and yelled some things at him. It was a pretty cool exchange.鈥
Four days since his heart stopped after making what appeared to be a routine tackle in a game, the 24-year-old Hamlin from his hospital room in Cincinnati and the Bills enjoyed a moment of jubilation in celebrating the next step in what his doctors have termed a remarkable recovery.
鈥淲e got our boy, man. It鈥檚 all that matters,鈥 left tackle Dion Dawkins said.
鈥淭o see the boy鈥檚 face, to see him smile and to see him go like this in the camera,鈥 Dawkins said, flexing his muscles to mimic Hamlin, 鈥渋t was everything. And then to hear him talk, it was literally everything. That鈥檚 what we needed.鈥
Hamlin is now breathing and talking on his own, and he had been using to communicate. Though there is no timetable for his release, Hamlin鈥檚 doctors said Thursday that both breathing on his own and showing continued signs of improvement are the final steps for him to be discharged from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Hamlin spent his first two days in the hospital under sedation. Upon being awakened on Wednesday evening, Hamlin was able to follow commands and grip people鈥檚 hands. The breathing tube was removed, the team said Friday, and Hamlin's 鈥渘eurologic function remains intact.鈥
The team did not say whether Hamlin鈥檚 status remains critical or whether he鈥檚 been moved from intensive care.
In what was an expected formality, the Bills placed Hamlin on the season-ending injured reserve list and activated rookie cornerback Christian Benford from IR. Benford has been sidelined since sustaining an oblique injury on Thanksgiving Day.
鈥淭he hair on the back of my neck stood up when he said, 'I love you boys,鈥欌 said general manager Brandon Beane, who returned to Buffalo on Thursday after spending the three days at Hamlin鈥檚 bedside along with the player鈥檚 family.
The turning point in Hamlin鈥檚 recovery, for Beane, anyway, came Thursday morning when the two exchanged hugs.
鈥淛ust to be able to hug him and the grip strength that he had,鈥 Beane said, before recalling what he told Hamlin鈥檚 father, Mario. 鈥淚 told him, I鈥檓 not a crier, but man it was emotional and a lot of grown men in there crying yesterday. Something I鈥檒l never forget.鈥
The reaction from around the NFL on Friday was just as heart-warming.
鈥淎wesome. It鈥檚 probably uplifting for the entire league,鈥 said New York Giants coach Brian Daboll, who spent the previous four seasons as the Bills offensive coordinator. 鈥淚t gives you a boost because you鈥檙e praying so hard for the young man."
The NFL announced plans to show support for Hamlin during all Week 18 games, including a pregame moment of support, painting Hamlin鈥檚 No. 3 on the 30-yard line and pregame shirts with 鈥淟ove for Damar 3.鈥 The Bills will also wear 鈥3鈥 jersey patches.
New York Jets rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner was already planning to wear Hamlin鈥檚 No. 3 jersey during warmups before the team鈥檚 game at Miami on Sunday.
鈥淲hat a warrior. He鈥檚 so strong, a fighter for sure,鈥 Gardner said. 鈥淚 was just so happy he was able to come back to the world.鈥
Interacting with Hamlin gave the Bills (12-3) some encouragement and allowed them to turn their attention to the season-ending home game against the New England Patriots (8-8) on Sunday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a celebration of life and an ongoing life,鈥 Beane said, looking ahead.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not only going to be a celebration of Buffalo, but the whole country, and I鈥檓 sure people internationally that have watched this situation,鈥 he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a cool deal, and the only thing better is if Damar was out there by then. I don鈥檛 know if that would happen, but anyway, we鈥檙e excited for Sunday.鈥
The sight of Hamlin collapsing, which was broadcast to a North American TV audience on ESPN鈥檚 鈥淢onday Night Football,鈥 has led to an outpouring of support from fans and players from across the league. Fans, team owners and players 鈥 including Tom Brady and Russell Wilson 鈥 have made donations to Hamlin鈥檚 Chasing M鈥檚 Foundation, which had raised just short of $8 million by Friday afternoon.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. and AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan contributed to this report.
___
AP NFL: and