Health

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!"

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.

Jeremy Renner is still in bad shape after his horrendous snowplow accident, but he got a taste of normal life with a shower and shampoo ... albeit in ICU.

Jeremy posted this video of his sister gently shampooing his hair. It seems the no-rinse shampoo cap is covering his head ... these things have to be done gingerly, and his sister is up to snuff.

Renner is loving it, saying he hasn't had a shower in a week. It's almost like a head massage, and you can almost feel how he's enjoying the experience.

Jeremy is still listed in critical but stable condition after the snowplow ran over much of his body, causing chest trauma and a severe leg injury.

Doctors will tell you medicine is great, but a patient's attitude is important to recovery, and you can tell Jeremy's got as positive an outlook as possible.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor says football was the last thing on Sean McDermott's mind after Damar Hamlin's medical emergency ... revealing the Buffalo Bills head coach told him, "I need to be at the hospital."

Taylor opened up to reporters for the first time since "Monday Night Football" on Wednesday ... breaking down what exactly happened after Hamlin left the field in an ambulance.

The fourth-year coach said he always knew McDermott to be nothing but the utmost professional ... and proved it as he handled the serious situation, and whether the game would continue.

"I won't disclose any of the private conversations Sean and I had except for this," Taylor said minutes ago. "When I got there, the first thing he said was, 'I need to be at the hospital with Damar. I shouldn't be coaching this game.'"

"That to me provides all the clarity because there was no ... unprecedented is the word that gets thrown around a lot about this situation because that's what it is," Taylor added. "But in that moment, he really showed who he was. That all his focus was just on Damar and being there for him, being there for his family at the hospital. And at that point, I think everything trended in the direction it needed to trend and the right decisions were made there."

The game -- which had playoff implications on the line -- was ultimately suspended ... and the NFL says it will not be made up this week.

It's still unclear if it will be rescheduled ... or scrapped altogether.

President Joe Biden says he spoke "at length" with the mom and dad of Damar Hamlin ... after their son went into cardiac arrest on the field during Monday Night Football.

POTUS briefly spoke to the media in Kentucky before hopping aboard Air Force One ... when he revealed he had a conversation with the Hamlin fam.

46 was also asked whether football was just too dangerous ... in the wake of the terrifying medical emergency.

“Look, the idea that you're gonna have, look you've got guys that are 6'8", 340 pounds running a 4.8 40 ... If you hit somebody with that kinda ... now that's not what happened here ... but I just think it’s, I don't know how you avoid it,” Biden said.

Biden's comments come a day after White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters ... “We hope his condition and his health improves quickly, and like the rest of the nation our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and his teammates.”

Of course, everyone from LeBron James to Tom Brady have sent well wishes to the 24-year-old second-year pro ... in addition to millions of fans across the world.

In the wake of the incident, hundreds of thousands of people even dipped into their own wallets, donating an astounding $6 million to Damar's charity toy drive.

Hamlin is still fighting for his life in a Cincy hospital, though the team provided a positive update on Wednesday.

"Damar remains in the ICU in critical condition with signs of improvement noted yesterday and overnight."

"He is expected to remain under intensive care as his health care team continues to monitor and treat him."

Jeremy Renner was in really bad shape -- with serious injuries to his chest and torso -- according to the 911 call placed just minutes after he was crushed by a Snowcat.

We've obtained the 911 emergency log which includes notes from the call placed from the scene of Renner's accident over the weekend. The log states Renner could be heard moaning in the background of the call -- and that he was experiencing heavy bleeding from his head and other unknown injuries.

The log also details the accident itself -- stating Renner was "completely crushed" by the Snowcat -- and he was having "extreme difficulty" breathing.

Perhaps the scariest piece provided by the log is the fact it states the right side of Renner's chest collapsed and his upper torso was crushed. He was airlifted to a local hospital from the scene of the accident.

As we reported, local officials say Renner was helping a family member get their car out from heavy snow Sunday with the Snowcat. The actor stepped out of the vehicle to chat with the family member, and the vehicle started to roll. Officials say Renner attempted to get back into the driver's seat when he was crushed.

Kyler Murray was all smiles after having successful surgery on his ACL ... posting a photo from his hospital bed and assuring fans he'll be back!

The Arizona Cardinals quarterback shared the snap via social media on Wednesday -- three weeks after he suffered a non-contact knee injury during Monday Night Football against the Patriots.

On Dec. 13, the tough news was confirmed -- the 2-time Pro Bowler's season was over after an MRI confirmed he tore his ACL.

Despite the way the season ended, Murray was in good spirits on Wednesday ... saying his surgery went according to plan..

"Thank you for all the love and prayers," the 25-year-old captioned his post. "I appreciate the support and positivity more than I can express, I’ll be back. 🥋"

Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury co-signed Murray's cheerfulness by telling the media his signal caller is "excited" to start rehab and return to the team.

"I think it can be kind of a reset for him," the third-year coach said on Wednesday.

"We know we had our struggles this year offensively and we feel like we can play at a much higher level. And I think he understands that he can build himself back better and attack this thing."

The 4-12 Cardinals and Murray -- who signed a 5-year contract worth over $230 million -- were eliminated from the playoffs in Week 15 ... but still have one more game against the 49ers.

James "Buster" Corley, one of the co-founders of the Dave & Buster's chain, suffered a traumatic brain injury months before his apparent suicide according to his daughter.

Kate Corley tells TMZ ... her father suffered a stroke 4 months ago that affected his communication skills, and the part of his brain associated with personality.

As we reported ... Buster died Monday, on his 72nd birthday, from what cops are calling an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police in Dallas say he was shot in his home before being taken to a local hospital where he died.

Buster's daughter is remembering her dad as "someone who cared about people, full of life, charismatic" ... and she wants people to focus on his legacy as a D&B co-founder and not his death.

She adds, "Having him as a dad was epic. I got to see personally how many people he helped and an industry he created. He treated everyone the same, everyone mattered to him no matter who it was. The first thing he did when he retired was thank his wife and always said he could not have done it without her. He is a legend and the coolest person on Earth.”

James opened the first Dave & Buster's in Dallas way back in 1982, along with his business partner David Corriveau and went on to open more than 140 locations across the country.

James was 72.

RIP

Damar Hamlin wasn’t only brought back to life on the field during Monday Night Football, but also as he arrived at the hospital ... this according to his uncle, who says the Bills safety's heart stopped for a second time.

Thankfully, medical personnel was again able to restart his heart.

Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn, spoke to CNN outside the Cincinnati hospital on Tuesday ... where he provided an update on his 24-year-old nephew.

"He's still sedated right now," Glenn said. "They just want him to have a better chance of recovering better. So, they felt if he was sedated, his body can recover a lot faster than if he was awoke and possibly cause other complications."

Glenn said Hamlin is using 50% of a ventilator now ... a big improvement from earlier in his hospitalization.

Hamlin's uncle added the former Pittsburgh Panther suffered lung damage ... but remained optimistic he would be able to breathe on his own.

Glenn also talked about the sheer terror the family felt as they watched their loved one collapse before CPR was performed for about 10 minutes on the field in Cincy.

"We were all in tears," Glenn added. "I'm not a crier, but I've never cried so hard in my life. Just to know, like, my nephew basically died on the field and they brought him back to life, that's just heartbreaking. To see all those grown men crying and all the emotion, it really was a gut punch, man."

"I would have been crying no matter who it was, but for it to be my nephew, it just had that much more impact on me, man," he said. "I'm just glad he's still alive and able to fight and try and get better and recover."

Dorrian also stated doctors have positioned Damar on his stomach in an effort to relieve pressure on his lungs.

"I just want to show my gratitude for the medical staff that were on hand," Glenn added, "because if not for them, my nephew probably wouldn't even be here."

Cowboys star Micah Parsons laid into former NFL player-turned-commentator Bart Scott ... who blamed Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins for causing Bills safety Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest during "Monday Night Football."

"Yoo are we serious?!!?," Parsons tweeted. "Why do we let some people speak on tv?! This was a  freak incident but putting fault on another player is wild! They should make some of these guys go over lines or something or not even give them a seat at the table!"

Parsons wasn't done, firing off another tweet in response to Scott ... writing, "Like does not even consider how Tee Huggins feels before airing some bull shut like that! That traumatic event he just went through! I swear some of these tv guys have too much egos on these stages we give them!"

ICYMI, during an appearance on ESPN's First Take, Scott seemed to insinuate Tuesday Higgins was in part responsible for Hamlin going into cardiac arrest on the field.

“Right before the tackle, he lowers his helmet, and he kind of throws his body into his chest,” Scott said on FT. “He’s standing up because he’s thinking he got to chase Tee Higgins at an angle to make a tackle, so he didn’t expect Tee Higgins to launch his body back into him."

He continued ... “It’s one of those things, a lot of times you see it as a linebacker … a running back comes through the hole, and he knows the contact is coming, so he lowers his helmet, and you can’t get underneath him so he’s able to get into you and your chest is exposed."

"They have taken that out of the game, but they don’t really regulate it as much as possible. I expect the league will be a lot more vigilant when it comes to that and using that penalty.”

As you know by now, Hamlin was carted off the field Monday night after his heart stopped on the field, and remains hospitalized at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where the 24-year-old appears to be making signs of progress, according to the Bills.

Scott responded to Micah directly on Twitter Wednesday, saying, "It’s wasn’t concise in my explanation but this was from the third segment. The first segment I said exactly what u said, it was a freak incident. And expressed my concern for Higgins and was happy his mom was there."

YSL rapper Lil Keed's died of natural causes stemming from a battle with eosinophilia ... according to officials.

As we reported, the 24-year-old died in May 2022, and on Tuesday, The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner revealed his death was linked to eosinophilia, a condition defined to be caused by "a parasitic infection, an allergic reaction or cancer," according to the Mayo Clinic.

Sources close to the "Trapped On Cleveland" rapper told TMZ Hip Hop at the time he had been complaining of excruciating stomach pain days before his death -- and was recently sober from drugs and alcohol. People first reported the ME's findings.

Keed's passing happened just as Young Thug, Gunna and several other YSL members were arrested on various RICO charges.

Since his death, Keed's brother Lil Gotit has been going the distance in keeping his sibling's name alive ... and free from disrespect.

The love for Damar Hamlin is everywhere -- even Niagara Falls, which was illuminated in blue lights to show support for the Buffalo Bills player amid his recovery.

The landmark -- which is 19 miles from Buffalo and spans the border between Ontario, Canada and New York state -- displayed the tribute for 15 minutes on Tuesday night.

"Our collective thoughts are with him, his family, his team and the City of Buffalo," Niagara Falls' Twitter account shared.

The blue light was featured at the American Falls and Canadian Horseshoe Falls -- two of the three waterfalls at the iconic tourist spot.

As we previously reported, the 24-year-old safety went into cardiac arrest after tackling Tee Higgins during the Bills' "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hamlin -- who was unconscious -- received CPR on the field and was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in "critical condition."

As of Wednesday, he remains in the intensive care unit.

Since the scary incident, fans and celebs from all over have shown support by penning sweet messages and donating to Hamlin's Chasing M's toy drive ... which surpassed its initial goal of $2,500.

The GoFundMe page currently has more than $6 million in donations ... with huge contributions from Tom Brady, Robert Kraft and the Patriots, Russell Wilson and Ciara and Matthew Stafford.

People are looking to profit off Damar Hamlin's tragic injury by creating fraudulent GoFundMe campaigns, advertised as helping the athlete who's currently fighting for his life ... but we're told the online company's already cracking down on anyone pretending to help the Bills player.

A spokesperson for GoFundMe tells TMZ ... there's only 1 verified fundraiser on the platform confirmed by Damar's family -- The Chasing M's Foundation Community Toy Drive, which has surpassed $4.7M since Damar's incident, as we reported.

We're told anything not authorized by the family is already being taken down in real-time.

For those unaware, several campaigns went live since Damar's cardiac arrest Monday night ... some saying the funds will benefit him directly while in the hospital, and others are exact replicas of his toy drive fundraiser.

It looks like the unauthorized campaigns didn't pick up a ton of steam ... one campaign was even created with the sole purpose of warning others about Damar-related scams.

It's worth noting that not all of these fundraisers appear to be malicious -- it seems some just want to help but didn't go through the proper channels to get it done properly.

A GFM spokesperson tells us the company's top priority is keeping people safe and to "protect the generosity of our donors" ... adding that it isn't uncommon for others to jump on the platform and try to help out. That being said, GoFundMe will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Jeremy Renner was working to get a family member's vehicle out of heavy snow when a freak accident caused him to be run over by his own plow ... according to cops investigating the incident.

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office held a press conference Tuesday about Sunday morning's incident when Renner was airlifted to a hospital.

Reps say Renner was working to free a family member's vehicle that got stuck in the snow near the actor's home in Tahoe. At some point, Renner got out of his Snowcat to talk to the family member and the vehicle started to roll ... Renner tried to get back in the driver's seat, but was run over.

Investigators say there's no evidence Renner was impaired at the time of the accident, and they're looking into the possibility of a mechanical failure.

A banged-up Renner shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed just as the press conference began, revealing facial injuries. We know JR's injuries also included a mangled leg and blunt chest trauma, which resulted in a lot of blood loss.

His rep tells us, "Jeremy is making positive progress and is awake, talking and in good spirits. He remains in ICU in critical but stable condition. He is overwhelmed by the showing of love and support. The family asks for your continued thoughts while he heals with his close loved ones."

TMZ got the first videos of Renner being rushed to a waiting helicopter that day, which took off quickly to get him help. We also obtained a clip of his Snowcat being towed away, and as you can see -- it's quite massive ... giving you a sense of just how serious this was.

Jeremy Renner is giving fans a glimpse of just how bad his condition is following the snowplow incident that left him badly injured ... sharing a photo of his bruised and battered face.

Renner posted the photo Tuesday with the caption, "Thank you all for your kind words. 🙏. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all."

One of the actor's eyes is totally bruised and swollen, and he's got multiple scrapes on his face. His rep tells us, "Jeremy is making positive progress and is awake, talking and in good spirits. He remains in ICU in critical but stable condition. He is overwhelmed by the showing of love and support. The family asks for your continued thoughts while he heals with his close loved ones."

At a press conference Tuesday, cops revealed Renner was helping a family member get their vehicle out of the snow with his Snowcat plowing machine. The actor got out to talk to the family member, and the machine started to roll ... Renner attempted to get back inside the Snowcat and got run over.

Investigators don't believe Renner was impaired at all during the incident, and it was purely an accident. They are, however, checking into any sort of mechanical failure that may have happened.

The incident left Renner with blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries.

Skip Bayless hosted Tuesday morning's episode of 'Undisputed' alone, without Shannon Sharpe, and it was no accident ... we're told the Hall of Famer was upset with the opinionated TV host's controversial tweet sent minutes after Damar Hamlin's heart stopped during MNF.

And, TMZ Sports is told the network -- which wants Sharpe back as soon as possible -- doesn't know if he will return to work on Wednesday.

The controversy started when Bayless tweeted ... "No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game - but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome ... which suddenly seems so irrelevant."

The backlash came fast and furiously ... with everyone from fans to current and former star athletes like Darrelle Revis, Dez Bryant, "Sauce" Gardner and others going in on Skip.

In the wake of criticism, and less than an hour after his original message, Bayless attempted to clarify his point, writing ... "Nothing is more important than that young man's health. That was the point of my last tweet. I'm sorry if that was misunderstood but his health is all that matters. Again, everything else is irrelevant. I prayed for him & will continue to."

But, clearly, it wasn't enough for his partner, Shannon ... 'cause when 'Undisputed' went live Tuesday morning, Sharpe was nowhere to be found.

Some speculated Shannon could've simply had the day off, but our sources tell us that's not the case -- this was a direct reaction to Bayless' tweet.

A few minutes into the show, Skip seemingly tried to clear the air without directly addressing the reason behind Shannon's absence, saying, "Obviously, my partner, Shannon Sharpe, is not here today. I look forward to seeing him tomorrow."

Bayless also started the show telling the audience he was going to (attempt to) approach the show as he would any other weekday ... though he wasn't sure if he'd be able to get through the emotional topic.

"I apologize for what we've set out to do if it offends anyone because we're going to try to do the show pretty much as we usually do the show but I'll admit upfront, I'm still shook up by what happened last night to Damar Hamlin."

Skip continued ... "In fact, I'm still wrecked. In fact, I'm not sure I'm capable of doing this show today but after barely sleeping on it, I decided to give it a try. Maybe I'll fail, maybe we will fail but we're going to try."