Bills’ Damar Hamlin Nails Anklebreaking Three to Win His Celebrity Basketball Game

June 9, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is a beloved figure in at least three cities. He is beloved in Buffalo, where he has played his entire three-year NFL career, and he is beloved in Cincinnati, which helped nurse him back to health after his terrifying cardiac arrest against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, 2023.

However, Pittsburgh knew him first. He was born in nearby McKees Rocks, played his high school football at Pittsburgh Central Catholic and played collegiately for Pittsburgh.

On Saturday, hosting a celebrity basketball game to benefit his Chasing M’s Foundation, Hamlin delivered his hometown a moment to remember. With time running out, he nailed a vicious stepback three-pointer to win the game 120-117 for his Blue team.

WOW..

Damar Hamlin just hit a game-winning, ankle-breaking three at his celebrity game.. pic.twitter.com/POSRMuTm55

— George Michalowski (@MichalowskiCBB) June 9, 2024

Participants in Hamlin’s game included retired Panthers football legend Aaron Donald, ex-Pittsburgh basketball All-American DeJuan Blair, and a slew of other Pittsburgh- and Bills-adjacent figures.

In a game also featuring a professional in Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson, it was Hamlin who made the biggest play,

7 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Southern Miss HC Will Hall Talks What Buffalo Bills Are Getting In Frank Gore Jr.

While Frank Gore Jr. was not selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, he will still have a great chance to make a roster for the fall. He'll even have the chance to play for one of his father's former teams after getting signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent.

Will Hall coached Gore Jr. for his four college seasons at Southern Mississippi from 2020 to 2023. During his spring media availability with the rest of the Sun Belt coaches, Hall spoke to G5 Football Daily about what Gore Jr. can add to his new team.

"He's super-duper high football IQ. He's a guy that grew up Frank Gore Sr.'s son, which is basically like growing up a coach's son," Hall noted of his former Super Back. "He really understands the whole realm of playing running back. Everything. All the nuances that go with it. So he brings that to the table. He catches the ball well out of the backfield. He's a willing pass blocker, especially for his size. He has a unique ability to make the first guy miss. Extremely hard worker that's willing to play special teams...I know he's going to give everything he has to make that club."

In four seasons under Hall at Southern Miss, Gore Jr. totaled 30 touchdowns from scrimmage while also throwing seven. He rushed for 4022 yards on 759 carries.

Buffalo's rookie minicamp is scheduled to begin on May 10. Frank Gore Sr. played one season for Buffalo in 2019.

5 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Stefon Diggs ‘Believes’ in Texans, C.J. Stroud As Team Chases Super Bowl Ring

The Houston Texans have never won a Super Bowl ring, or even appeared in the title game. New wide receiver Stefon Diggs is ready to help bring the team its first Super Bowl alongside quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Diggs himself has never won or played in a Super Bowl either, and he feels beyond prepared to do so, especially with the Texans.

“I feel like I’ve been chasing the Super Bowl since I got in the league,” Diggs said. “To say like you get to one specific place and say this is where I want to try to win it, but this is where I’m at right now. Obviously, I believe in this team and the quarterback. Those are unspoken things that we all can assume. ... For me, chasing a ring, it isn’t like I came here to chase it. I came here to win and that starts with game one. Moving forward, of course, you want a ring. It sounds good to be like you won a Super Bowl, and you won a ring, but it takes a lot of effort and consistency. For me, I’m going to take it in one day at a time. "

Diggs was traded to the Texans on April 3 following a four-year stint with the Buffalo Bills. The Bills made it to the playoffs in all four seasons he was there, but they never made it past the conference championship. Diggs played for the Minnesota Vikings for five years prior, participating in three playoff runs in that span.

The Texans made the playoffs for the first time since the 2019 season last year, losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.

4 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Every NFL Team’s Odds to Make the Playoffs in 2024 Season

The NFL offseason continues on but with teams gearing up for next season we have odds for who will make the postseason.

One of the most hotly contested divisions in the 2024 season is the NFC East, which features the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

The Eagles made a splash in free agency by adding running back Saquon Barkley as well as hiring former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Can the Eagles hold off the Cowboys in hopes of getting back on top of the division and make the postseason?

There will be plenty of heated races in the postseason in addition to the NFC East one mentioned above, including a crowded group in the AFC East and AFC North.

Below you will find the odds for each team to make the postseason in 2024.

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

There are a ton of quality teams heading into the season with the postseason in its sights.

Look at the AFC East, who have three teams projected to make the postseason in terms of implied probability greater than 50%. The Dolphins have an implied probability of 57.38%, the Bills are 62.69% and the Jets are slightly ahead, listed at 62.96%.

Elsewhere, the AFC North has three teams with heavy odds to contend for the postseason, with its longest shot, the Steelers at only +190 (34.48%). The Ravens (72.60%), Bengals (70.15%) and Browns (42.37%) all have more than a puncher's chance to make the postseason.

The NFC East race is for the division, but both are expected to make the postseason in a much weaker conference, will the two be able to hold up? The Eagles and Cowboys each have mandates to win and better hope to at least make the postseason in order to keep the status quo.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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Bills’ Damar Hamlin Nails Anklebreaking Three to Win His Celebrity Basketball Game

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