Quarterback Daniel Jones
Q: I'm wondering what you saw on Monday night and what your thoughts are?
A: It was certainly a tough scene Monday night. Thoughts and prayers to (Bills safety) Damar Hamlin, his family. I can't imagine what they're going through. The Bills players, his teammates – and yeah, just a really tough scene. Thinking about them, praying for them. A really tough situation. It puts things in perspective, for sure.
Q: (Head coach) Brian (Daboll) was talking about support resources that are in place for several players and several who had relationships with him. Can you talk a little bit about that?
A: I think this organization has always, since I've been here, done a great job supporting us as players and offering whatever we need in certain situations and this is a certainly unique and tough situation for a lot of guys – a lot of guys who know Damar well, who have been teammates with him, who have coached him. This organization does a great job offering those tools and those resources that can help guys going through tough times. Like I said, thoughts and prayers to him, to his family, his Bills teammates, and his friends all over – and some of them are in this locker room.
Q: Does it show the best of the NFL fraternity the way that you guys have all rallied around Damar during this difficult time?
A: Yeah, I think it does say a lot. You've seen just a huge outpouring of support from players around the league, from coaches, from fans. So many fans have shown their support. Such a tough, tough situation but I do think you can see some hope, inspiration and the support that has come out of it.
Q: Does it make you think more about the dangers of football which is the sport that you play every day?
A: Yeah, I think you understand it's a violent game. There's inherent risk in playing each week. At the same time, seeing something like that puts it all in perspective and you never expect it, right? It's not something you're thinking about a lot, honestly. To see it happen, to see that situation Monday night was tough.
Q: A lot of the former Bills that are in this locker room – what has it been like seeing their emotions and what have you guys discussed with them?
A: Like I said, a lot of the guys in this locker room who know him, know him well. Coaches who have coached him and been around him a lot. You hear about all the great things, the great guy he is and the great teammate he is, the great player he is. That's what you've heard from, there's been an outpouring of all people sharing their experiences with him and who he is, and you hear the same thing (from) the guys you talk to here. I think guys are dealing with it in different ways, grieving in different ways, so just trying to be as supportive as we can. I think this team (and) this organization has done a really good job.
Q: On a number of different levels, obviously the injury with Damar, but do you go into this week with uncertainty in the sense that you don't know how much you're playing and things like that? Is it harder to prepare?
A: I'm preparing as I always do; preparing to play and doing what I do to prepare. I don't think that changes. I think certainly the Damar Hamlin situation and that factors into your mindset and your approach. It's certainly going to affect all of us, like I said, in different ways, but it's going to affect us. It puts things in perspective.
Q: When it comes to playing or not playing this final game of the season, will you go to Brian and let him know your thoughts or your opinions on what you would prefer to do? Or just let it go with whatever the coach says?
A: I think if he asks my opinion, I would share that with him but at the same time, he's the coach and it's my job to prepare to play, and I'm prepared to do that. That's what my job is, I understand that. If he asks for my opinion I'd share it, but he's the head coach.
Q: As a competitive athlete, is your preference to go all out to try to win this game?
A: Yeah, I mean I think as a player you're always wanting to prepare to play and do what you can. At the same time, you have an obligation to the team, you have an obligation to what's best for the situation and that's Dabs' job to make those decisions. I trust him and obviously I'm going to do whatever he tells me to do.
