ESPN

‘”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.”‘

‘”It’s a tough situation,” he said. “They can’t really tell, because it’s like — it’s an up-to-me thing I guess or, you know, it’s just — it’s a long road. They’re just worried about trying to get me back to normal as much as they can.”‘

‘”Every day I am amazed that my experiences could encourage so many others across the country and even across the world,” Hamlin said. “Encourage to pray, encourage to spread love, and encourage to keep fighting no matter the circumstances. Sudden cardiac arrest was nothing I would have ever chosen to be a part of my story, but that’s because sometimes our own visions are too small even when we think we are seeing the bigger picture.’

‘”Giving back to my community has always been a big part of who I am,” Hamlin said. “I’m thankful to my father, who’s right here behind me. Growing up, just watching him do community days in our community, and I just always was waiting on my time when it came.”‘

‘”She can read, write, and understand pretty well, but she has trouble finding the words to respond,” Jessica Pegula, the No. 4 tennis player in the world, wrote. “It is hard to deal with and it takes a lot of patience to communicate with her, but I thank God every day that we can still communicate with her at all. The doctors continue to be blown away by her recovery, considering where she started, and her determination is the driving force of that.”‘

‘The first step is to go to heart.org/3 and watch a one-minute video to learn hands-only CPR. Steps 2 and 3 are donations to the American Heart Association to fund CPR education and training, and other programs and research, and then sharing the challenge with three other people.’

‘Captioning the video “From The Heart,” Hamlin, 24, said it was important for him to wait to speak publicly at the “right time,” as it was “just a lot to process within my own self — mentally, physically, even spiritually.” The video was shot at the team’s facility in Orchard Park, New York. He included in the video that he is continuing to make progress in his recovery.’

‘”Want me to be okay with losing ? Nah,” Diggs tweeted. “Want me to be okay with our level of play when it’s not up to the standard ? Nah.”‘

‘”I mean, there was a period, obviously, right after for a few weeks, where it was pretty bothersome, but again, it didn’t affect me all that much,” Allen said. “Just kind of felt like maybe I was trying to throw it a little differently mechanically, had to change a few things and got away a little bit from how I’m used to throwing the ball. That’s just kind of a byproduct of that. But again, it didn’t affect me too much.”‘

‘”He’s a competitive guy. That’s what makes him good is what you saw,” McDermott said. “He’s very competitive, like we all are. We work extremely hard at these jobs to be the best we can possibly be, and it hurts. I wouldn’t want a guy that doesn’t hurt, right? So, when you put it all on the line out there, we put it all on the line, and tonight it wasn’t good enough. That’s the part that stings.”‘

‘Eventually, Hamlin came in clear, holding up his hands in the shape of a heart in what has become his signature move, while also pumping up the crowd as it cheered loudly upon seeing him despite the Bills’ on-field struggles.’

‘In a statement, Hamlin’s longtime friend and business partner, Jordon Rooney, said: “Despite being out of the hospital, Damar still has a lengthy recovery. Damar still requires oxygen and is having his heart monitored regularly. He has visited with the team a few times but he still gets winded very easily.’

‘”Von had put the Super Bowl trophy over in the locker room and put, ‘You said you’d do anything for it,'” Davis said. “So, kind of reminded me of what we need to do to get there. And I’m going to try my best to show the guys they can trust me and do the extra work. And my mom also wrote me a letter reminding me, too, where I came from, how blessed I am to be in the position I’m in. And to remember why I’m doing what I’m doing. And also, just remember where it all came from.”‘

‘”It’s limited, just overall,” McDermott said of what Hamlin has been doing. “But he comes in and really just started really today or yesterday and just trying to get back to a little bit of a routine and just get himself acclimated again and taking it one step, one baby step at a time here.”‘

‘Hamlin tweeted on Sunday, “My heart is with my guys as they compete today! Supporting from home as I focus on my recovery. Nothing I want more than to be out there with them!”‘