The Buffalo Bills know safety Damar Hamlin, who has recovered from collapsing after a cardiac arrest during a game on Jan. 3, wants to play football again. 

But the Bills, and medical professionals evaluating Hamlin since his incident, do not know whether he will just yet. 

“If he’s able to get full clearance and he feels he’s ready to do it, that’s another big smile of a story. Not that he just got his life back, but he would have his football career back and have an opportunity to go out there and play,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine. 

“We’ll continue to support Damar throughout this whole thing. I would love to give the storybook ending that he’s definitely going to play, but we don’t know that yet. If he does, we’ll all be happy for him.”

Hamlin has seen multiple health specialists outside of his “world tour” as “America’s guest” – as Beane affectionately put it, seeing him in attendance at events like the Super Bowl and basketball games this offseason. 

Beane said Hamlin has at least two or three more specialists to meet with in various parts of the country as part of his evaluation. The Bills have also sent at least 1-2 medical staffers with Hamlin for doctor visits.

“It will be a decision for Damar, but it will also be a decision for us,” Beane said.

“We want to make sure we’re hearing everything. Assuming he gets full clearance, I know he would want to play. I know that’s his end game, to continue playing. We want to make sure we’re all in sync, assuming the doctors say at some point… we’re in agreement that we’re okay putting him out there, too. So far, all is well with his testing, and we’ll let that continue.’

Hamlin, a sixth-round pick by the Bills in 2021, has two years remaining on his rookie contract with Buffalo, counting for $980,119 on the salary cap in 2023 and slightly more than $1 million in 2024.

PEORIA, Ariz. — San Diego Padres veteran co-ace Joe Musgrove will miss the start of the season after fracturing his left big toe Monday in a weight-lifting accident.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said that Musgrove won’t begin throwing again for at least two weeks, but conceded that’s an optimistic viewpoint – and it likely will be a longer absence.

“You don’t want to see [a picture of the fracture],’ one Padres player told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. ‘It is bad. Really ugly.’’

It’s unknown when Musgrove can rejoin the rotation, but a lengthy absence would mean that Musgrove has to re-start his spring-training throwing program.

“I mean, it’s not starting over,’’ Melvin said, “but the longer you go, the more it gets closer and closer to starting over, but obviously he’s a guy who keeps himself in really good shape. …

“It’s going to be more about how it heals and certainly a pain tolerance thing. We’ll have to evaluate how he’s doing and see where he goes.’’

Musgrove made the All-Star team for the first time last season, going 10-7 with a 2.93 ERA in 30 starts as the Padres reached the National League Championship Series.

Musgrove, a San Diego native, signed a five-year extension worth $100 million last year. He made three starts in the postseason, getting the victory with seven shutout innings in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the NL wild-card series against the New York Mets.

It’s unknown now who will be the opening-day starter with Yu Darvish and Nick Martinez each pitching in the World Baseball Classic. The Padres also have Blake Snell, Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo.

“We are up against it as far as scheduling goes,’’ Melvin said. “We’ll see how it goes.’’

It’s the second consecutive year row the Padres lost a key player to an off-field injury, after star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. broke his wrist in the 2021-22 offseason. He ultimately missed the whole season after being suspended for performance-enhancing drugs.

The AFC West boasts quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Russell Wilson. The Las Vegas Raiders, who are in the same division, currently have Chase Garbers as their only quarterback under contract for 2023. Raiders coach Josh McDaniels declared Tuesday the team is in the process of upgrading their quarterback room.

“I think there’s always urgency at that position. You know, look, the goal for us eventually is to have somebody that’s going to be here for a long time. I think that, you know, you see the teams that are having success right now in our league, I would say in our conference, and specifically in our division, you know, they’re young players that were drafted by their clubs and they’re being developed there under the same continuity,” McDaniels said at the NFL combine. “We’re going to do everything we can do to evaluate every player at that position, both in the draft and free agency and try to do what we can do to improve the room. I mean, there’s certainly going to be a number of players added at that position.”

The Raiders released veteran quarterback Derek Carr in February after nine seasons with the Silver and Black, which created a glaring hole at QB. Las Vegas is exploring a variety of options to fill the position.

The Raiders were rumored to be interested in Tom Brady before the seven-time Super Bowl champion retired. Las Vegas is also currently linked to Aaron Rodgers if the four-time MVP leaves the Green Bay Packers. Then there’s always the conventional route by way of the NFL draft.

Las Vegas owns the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 draft; a prime spot to select one of the top quarterback prospects in this year’s draft class. Although, there are multiple teams in front of the Raiders (Houston Texans at No. 2, Indianapolis Colts at No. 4, Seattle Seahawks at No. 5 and Detroit Lions at No. 6) who could pick a quarterback.

One thing is clear, though, the Raiders’ next starting quarterback isn’t in the building. When the Raiders do find their guy, a trait McDaniels said the quarterback has to have is leadership.  

“I think you start with leadership. You know, and you just saw our championship game, you know, played a couple weeks ago and two incredible leaders of their football teams,” McDaniels said. “I think that’s very consistent among the best players at that position. You got to have a great leader, who’s got to be able to have mental and physical toughness. No question about it.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon

Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears are preparing for Justin Fields to be their quarterback next year and for the foreseeable future. But as owners of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, the Bears are doing their ‘due diligence’ when it comes to evaluating the top quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL draft.

‘Justin did some really good things. I’m excited about where his game is going to go. But at the same time, when you sit in our situation at one overall, you have to do your due diligence, you have to investigate everything,’ Poles, the Bears general manager, told reporters Tuesday at the NFL combine.

It remains to be seen whether the Bears will take one of the top two quarterbacks, Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s CJ Stroud.

Fields showed promising signs in his second NFL season. He passed for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also produced 1,143 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He became the third quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season and helped the Bears finish the regular season ranked first in the league in rushing. However, Chicago finished with  a 3-14 record.  

“We are gonna do our homework on this class,” Poles said. “We have to be blown away to say ‘you know what, I think this is best for our organization.’”

The Bears could address one of their other many areas of need (pass rusher, wide receiver, defensive lineman) at the top of the draft or trade down to acquire more assets. Chicago has had conversations about trading down in the draft to gain more draft capital.

The organization has a plethora of options and plenty of decisions to make before draft day on April 27.

“What a great opportunity for the Bears organization,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon

Two reports in a span of about 12 hours have shed new light on the messy dispute between Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder and his former minority partners, as well as the potential legal fight that could follow his sale of the team.

Meanwhile, according to The Washington Post, Snyder has asked the NFL and its owners to indemnify him against any future legal issues if he sells the Commanders – a request that has reportedly infuriated owners, and could lead to Snyder’s ouster if he does not sell.

Here’s a deeper look at both reports and what they could mean for Snyder, the Commanders and a potential future sale.

What ESPN reported

Citing confidential documents and interviews, ESPN’s report provides new details on the split between Snyder and three of his former minority partners: Robert Rothman, Dwight Schar and Frederick Smith. The trio owned about 40% of the team between them before selling their stakes to Snyder in the spring of 2021, reportedly for $875 million.

After more digging, according to the ESPN report, the minority partners found that Snyder had used team funds for his own personal use, including ‘personal yachts’ and ‘multiple residences.’ They alleged that he also paid himself $10 million a year from team funds and arranged for the team to pay him $4.5 million to have its logo put on his personal jet – reportedly calling it ‘an advertising fee.’

ESPN reported that the minority partners took this information to the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell as part of an arbitration petition, and asked that Snyder be suspended or removed as owner. The dispute went to mediation. The minority partners sold their shares but felt ‘the league had no interest in finding out what happened,’ according to ESPN.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed that ‘the parties had a series of disputes’ that were mediated by a neutral arbitrator in a two-day session, during which the minority partners agree to sell their stake in the team to Snyder.

‘Everyone was represented by very sophisticated legal and financial advisors,’ McCarthy wrote in an email. ‘The agreement included full releases of all claims that were or could have been asserted by any party in the arbitration proceeding.’

The Commanders, meanwhile, disputed the ESPN report on a number of fronts. 

Outside lawyer John Brownlee said the Commanders have been cooperating with federal investigators, and that those investigators have only requested records that ‘relate to customer security deposits and the team’s ticket sales and revenue.’ A Commanders spokesperson said the team has been audited every year and is ‘completely transparent in sharing all financials with the league.’

What The Washington Post reported

On Monday night, The Washington Post reported that Snyder is asking the NFL and its owners to essentially protect him from future legal claims if he sells the team.

Owners view that request as ‘absurd’ and there is a belief Snyder should be the one committing to indemnify them from legal liability related to events within his organization, according to the newspaper.

The Commanders said in a statement that The Washington Post’s report ‘is simply untrue,’ though they did not specify how. The NFL declined to comment on the report.

The newspaper also reported that Snyder has asked the league to keep secret the findings of its investigation into him and the team, which is being led by attorney Mary Jo White.

The NFL has committed to publicly releasing the findings after declining to do so in a previous probe into the Commanders, led by Beth Wilkinson. The league has said it asked Wilkinson to not produce a written report due to confidentiality concerns, which critics have said are unfounded.

What it means

There’s a lot to unpack here, without question. And none of it is good for Snyder.

When taken together, these two reports paint Snyder as facing – and, in some instances, starting – battles on multiple fronts. He is reportedly drawing scrutiny from a league investigator and federal prosecutors, anger from NFL owners and very serious accusations from his former partners – all while soliciting bids for what would be a multi billion-dollar sale of the team he’s owned since 1999.

The reports also raise questions about the NFL’s role, both in managing Snyder and declining to investigate the allegations brought forward by the minority partners. And they suggest that the next few months, if not years, could get messy – should Snyder continue to deny and fight the allegations levied against him.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

The Philadelphia Eagles want a goose egg. Just not on the score board.

The team petitioned the NFL to allow players to wear No. 0, according to The Athletic. Right now, No. 0 is not a jersey option for any position, and the Eagles are running out of room in the single digits. The only number not taken up in the single digits is the No. 9. Players on offense, defense and special teams are sporting single-digit uniforms in Philadelphia, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, who wears No. 1; cornerback Darius Slay wears No. 2; wide receiver DeVonta Smith has No. 6; linebacker Haason Reddick dons No. 7 and punter Arryn Siposs is the owner of No. 8.

In 2013, Philadelphia retired No. 5 for quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Both the No. 0 and No. 00 were allowed for use league-wide before the NFL regulated jersey numbers by position in 1973. The NFL competition committee will review the Eagles’ proposal this week in Indianapolis.

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Which players in the NFL can wear single digits?

The league expanded which players can wear single digits in 2021 after the Kansas City Chiefs requested to have the numbers more widely distributed. Quarterbacks, kickers and punters have always been allowed to wear single digits. Running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers and defensive backs are allowed to wear No. 1 through No. 9 under the rule change. So the only positions that are not allowed to wear single digits are offensive and defensive lineman.

Which sports stars have worn No. 0 or No. 00?

In the NFL, Oakland Raiders center Jim Otto wore No. 00 throughout most of his Hall of Fame career. Wide receiver Ken Burrough, a two-time Pro Bowler, wore No. 00 with both of his teams, the New Orleans Saints and Houston Oilers.

Currently, the NBA is the league where the No. 0 is most popular. Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Los Angeles Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook are just a few of the many players who wear the single digit. LeBron James’ son Bronny wears No. 0 as a tribute to the former Oklahoma City Thunder star. Former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas, who was known as ‘Agent 0,’ is widely credited with starting the current trend. Hall of Famer Robert Parish wore No. 00 throughout his two-decade career.

A handful of WNBA players selected No. 0 as their number, including Los Angeles Sparks guard Alana Beard and current Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally.

In the NHL, players are no longer allowed to wear No. 0 or No. 00. Prior to the 1996-97 season, a handful of players donned the single digit, including New York Rangers goalie Andy Aitkenhead, Montreal Canadiens goalie Paul Bibeault and Hartford Whalers defenseman Neil Sheehy. New York Rangers goalie John Davidson wore No. 00.

Over in the MLB, Al Oliver was the first player to wear No. 0 and rocked it with several of the teams he played on. Pitcher Adam Ottovino has worn the single digit since 2013. Jack Clark wore No. 00 in his short stint with the San Diego Padres, and Bobby Bonds wore it in his lone season with the St. Louis Cardinals.

In soccer, only one player has been known to wear the No. 0. Moroccan attacker Hicham Zerouali was permitted by the Scottish team Aberdeen FC to use the single digit as an homage to his nickname, ‘Zero.’

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said he’s ‘good’ with Russell Wilson after a report surfaced last week that the veteran QB tried to get him fired during their time together in Seattle.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday ahead of the NFL scouting combine, Carroll responded to a question about the report, which was published by The Athletic, as well as the nature of his current relationship with Wilson.

‘Similar response that’s always been with the guys that I’ve coached,’ Carroll said. ‘I’m always going to hang with them, and I’m never going to leave them. I’m going to be there at the end, with all the good stuff and all the bad stuff. I’m going to still be there. That’s it. I’m hanging.’

MOCK DRAFT: How things look as NFL combine gets underway

The report said Wilson, who spent 10 seasons with Carroll in Seattle, asked Seahawks ownership to fire both Carroll and general manager John Schneider in February 2022. Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos just weeks later.

Additionally, the report said Wilson campaigned for the Seahawks to hire Sean Payton to replace Carroll in Seattle. Payton was hired by Denver this offseason.

‘It doesn’t matter who the guy is,’ Carroll said. ‘If you look at all of the guys that have come to our program — not just back to the college days but just here at Seattle — regardless of what has happened or has taken place or things that have been said at all. If you hang with them, it all comes back around.

‘I like to demonstrate faith in the relationship and the depth of what we did together and hang through whatever  challenges bring along the way – so I’m good.’

PEORIA, Ariz. — The San Diego Padres had yet another press conference Tuesday, publicizing their latest enormous expenditure

They’re already envisioning the statue they’ll one day build in honor of Manny Machado, who officially signed an 11-year, $350 million contract at their spring-training complex.

Machado, a six-time All-Star who finished second in the MVP voting last season, is already on record saying he plans to wear a Padres cap when he’s inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“The bottom line is we’re here to win a championship,’’ Padres chairman Peter Seidler said.

“The past is the past, but right now is right now. Our full intent is to be right there at the end. One year soon, the baseball gods will smile on the San Diego Padres, and we will have a parade.’’

COLUMN: Machado’s $350 million deal with Padres won’t end in disaster

SPRING SETBACK: Padres ace Joe Musgrove breaks toe in weight room accident

Oh, and just when you wondered whether the Padres can possibly spend more money, with their payroll already at $273 million, get ready for their competitors to scream.

Machado’s new deal is structured in a way that provides flexibility for the Padres to sign even more stars.

Machado agreed to take significantly less money the first three years of his deal so that the Padres can afford more luxury items, an official told USA TODAY Sports,

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the terms of the deal weren’t made public.

Yes, the Padres plan to be in strong pursuit of free-agent superstar Shohei Ohtani this winter and want to lock up All-Star right fielder Juan Soto.

Machado’s contract, according to a person familiar with the structure, will pay him $13 million in 2023, $13 million in 2024 and $21 million in 2025. That’s a savings of $43 million in the first three years from what Machado was scheduled to receive under his old contract that was paying him $30 million a year.

Machado will then receive annual salaries of $35 million a year beginning in 2026. He also will get a $45 million signing bonus, with $10 million paid to him this season, and $5 million a year for the final seven years of his contract.

The reason for the backloaded deal?

Machado wants the Padres to keep on spending, making sure that his new deal – replacing the original 10-year, $300 million contract – doesn’t impede their aggressiveness.

“I’m going to do whatever it is that they can go out and continue to put this great team out there,’’ Machado said, “and keep building. I think that’s the best thing about this is is that we’re going to continue to do this for a long time. And, you know, we’re not going to stop.

“I want our goal to be to win a championship every single year.’’’

The Padres have sure come a long ways in the four years since Machado’s arrival, going from a 72-90 team that finished 36 games out of first place in 2019, to one that was three victories away from the World Series a year ago, and now is considered among the favorites.

The difference in four years?

“The parking lot,’’ Padres GM A.J. Preller says. “You’ve just got to look at the cars we have right now out there.’’

It’s amazing what stars can do for a team, with the Padres signing five players to contracts worth at least $100 million, and three worth more than $280 million.

Machado: 10 years, $350 million.

Fernando Tatis Jr.: 14 years, $340 million.

Xander Bogaerts: 11 years, $288 million

Yu Darvish: 6 years, $108 million.

Joe Musgrove: 5 years, $100 million

There is no team in baseball with more money on their future books, with players now salivating at the chance for playing for the Padres.

“It’s good for baseball,’’ Padres DH Nelson Cruz says. “And it’s good for players. As a player, you can’t be more excited when you understand it’s all about trying to win the whole thing.

“And as a player, you never complain when the money is there.’’

Little wonder why nearly half the Padres team, including stars like Bogaerts, Soto and Musgrove filled the back of the press conference, celebrating Machado’s historic signing.

Will there be a team celebratory dinner?

“You better believe it,’’ Machado said loudly. “We do it big around here in San Diego.’’

Yep, just like last July when Machado and his wife, Yainee, threw an extravagant 30th birthday party and invited the entire team, coaching staff, trainers, front office executives and clubhouse attendants.

When’s the last time you’ve been to a birthday party that included a baby lion?

Really.

The party featured a jungle theme, so why not have a lion to welcome the guests, not to mention the finest food, wine and drinks you can imagine?

“It was unbelievable,’’ Padres starter Nick Martinez said. “They really threw out the red carpet. But that’s Manny. The people that know Manny, the people that are close to Manny, know what kind of person he is. They see his true character and why he’s paid that kind of money.’’

Machado is the one organizing team dinners throughout the year, and yes, the one usually paying for them too.

His wife, Yainee, is the clubhouse leader among the players’ wives and girlfriends, making sure they stay close with frequent get-togethers at their beautiful Coronado Island home.

“We grew up in Miami, but this is home,’’ Yainee Machado says. “We’re all one big family. This is everything we wanted.’’

Really, it’s no different for the Padres, who gave Machado a 10-year, $300 million contract in 2019, out-bidding the Chicago White Sox.

“Our expectations were pretty darned high,’’ Seidler said. “He’s lived up to those expectations and a lot more.’’

Just how soon did Machado know he made the right decision to come West?

“From the first day of spring training,’’ said Dan Lozano, Machado’s agent, who also represents Tatis. “He loved it there from Day 1. He’s truly bought into A.J. and Peter’s leadership’’

Says Machado: “In my mind, I was always going to be a Padre. They have gone above and beyond for this organization, for this city, made a lot of promises that have come true.’’

Machado fully immersed himself into the Padres’ culture at the start, shedding his bouts of immaturity in Baltimore, relying on the leadership skills he learned from Orioles veterans JJ Hardy, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis.

“Look, he’s come full circle,’’ Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “I’ve seen him from the other side from Day 1, and you get your opinions from the other side, but once you’re with him, and see how he goes about it, it’s a little different opinion.’

Sure, Machado could have let the negotiations drag out and even hit free agency after the season but he was also aware of the cloud that could potentially torpedo the Padres’ championship hopes. It’s the reason he originally set a Feb. 16 deadline to reach a deal before opting out of the remaining five years and $150 million in his contract at the season’s conclusion.

“It was not just for myself,’’ Machado said, “but out of respect for my teammates to answer that question every single day, and be the elephant in the room. I wanted this team to be focused on our goal. It’s about getting to the World Series and ultimately winning it, and getting on that bus going around the city in that parade.’’