AP Sports SummaryBrief at 10:18 a.m. EST

Agent: Bills safety Damar Hamlin is breathing on his own

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s agent says the player is breathing on his own and able to talk after having his breathing tube removed. It comes four days after he went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated on the field. Agent Ira Turner was unable to provide any other details in a text sent to The Associated Press. The development was first reported by The Athletic. The 24-year-old Hamlin was listed Thursday in critical condition in the intensive care unit of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

NFL: Bills-Bengals won’t resume; playoff scenarios revealed

The NFL won’t resume the Bills-Bengals game that was suspended Monday night after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on the field. The league announced its decision on Thursday. The NFL said its decision creates “potential competitive inequities in certain playoff scenarios.” The league said clubs on Friday, in a special league meeting, would consider a resolution recommended by the commissioner and approved today by the Competition Committee. The Bills-Bengals game had major playoff implications. Buffalo entered Monday night needing a win to maintain the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Kansas City Chiefs currently hold that spot. The Bengals had a chance to earn that top seed with two more wins and a loss by the Chiefs.

Bills uplifted by Hamlin’s progress, hope to show resilience

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have received a much-needed jolt of good news. Coach Sean McDermott and his team found out Thursday that safety Damar Hamlin has made remarkable progress in his recovery since his heart stopped during Monday night’s game. In three days since the Bills were left emotionally devastated as they watched their teammate collapse on the field in Cincinnati, the team’s motto has gone from “Pray for Damar” to “Play for Damar.” The test for the Bills now is focusing their attention on returning to the field. They host the New England Patriots in their season finale on Sunday.

Texas fires Chris Beard amid felony domestic violence charge

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas has fired basketball coach Chris Beard, who faces a felony domestic family violence charge after his fiancée told police he strangled and bit her. The school sent Beard’s attorney a letter that said the coach was “unfit” for the position. Beard had been suspended without pay since Dec. 12. He had five years left on a seven-year guaranteed contract. Police responded to an emergency call to Beard’s house. The woman initially told officers that Beard choked her from behind, bit her and hit her during an argument. Beard’s attorney has said Beard is innocent and that his fiancée later denied she was choked.

Get Smart: Kirby’s carves his own path to dynasty at Georgia

ATLANTA (AP) — Kirby Smart was paid $8,000 in his first coaching job at Division II Valdosta State. Now, he’s one of college football’s most dominant forces. He is the $10 million-a-year architect of a potential dynasty at Georgia. The top-ranked Bulldogs have a shot at becoming the first team in a decade to win back-to-back national titles. When you consider what Smart has done since taking over in 2016, the journey takes on a far more impressive luster. The Bulldogs were a very good program under Mark Richt. Smart made them great.

Ohtani, Darvish, Suzuki on Japan World Baseball Classic team

TOKYO (AP) — Japan officials have named 12 members of their World Baseball Classic team who will represent the country later this year. They include three major leaguers, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres and Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs. The WBC will be played in Japan, Taiwan and United States from March 8-21. It features 20 national teams. The powers from Asia will be Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia. Latin America will feature the largest contingent with Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Panama, and Nicaragua. The United States and Canada are also entered.

Rahm shares lead at Kapalua amid more low scoring on Maui

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Jon Rahm shares the lead at the Sentry Tournament of Champions with a 64. Collin Morikawa and J.J. Spaun also had 64. The low scoring is nothing new to Rahm. Last year he shot 33 under on the Plantation Course at Kapalua. That would have been a PGA Tour record except that Cameron Smith went one better. Rahm says he doesn’t feel like Kapalua owes him one. It was perfect weather and low scoring. Weather was perfect for the opening round of the year. Rahm says if it stays that way, Smith’s record is in danger.

Maui musings: Connection between Jordan Spieth and Tom Kim

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Jordan Spieth and Tom Kim have been neighbors in Dallas for the last several month without really knowing each other. Kim even is using Spieth’s longtime swing coach. That changed on a flight home from the Bahamas. Kim said he was going back to South Korea for a few weddings and his parents were going to stay through the holidays. Spieth’s wife, Annie, said no one should spend Christmas alone. They invited the 20-year-old over for Christmas dinner. Spieth says Kim is great with their 1-year-old son, Sammy. And he says Kim packs quite the appetite.

Crosby, Ovechkin among 1st round of NHL All-Star selections

NEW YORK (AP) — Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were among the first round of All-Star selections revealed by the NHL. Crosby was selected for his ninth All-Star Game and Ovechkin his 13th, a Washington Capitals record. The league’s hockey operations department picked the first 32 All-Stars, one from each team. Fans will choose the final 12 players who make it. Reigning Norris Trophy winner and playoff MVP Cale Makar from the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche was also among those chosen. All-Star Weekend is set for Feb. 3-4 in South Florida.

Djokovic advances to face Medvedev in Adelaide semis

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic beat Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 at the Adelaide International to set up a semifinal with Daniil Medvedev. The combined ATP-WTA event is a warmup for this year’s Australian Open which the top-seeded Djokovic missed last year after being barred from the country because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. Medvedev defeated fellow Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-3. The Russian was the runner-up last year to Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open. World No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka was the first woman through to the semifinals after beating Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 7-5.