ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — On Wednesday night, Mario Hamlin, the father of Bills safety Damar Hamlin, addressed the entire Buffalo Bills squad in a video conference from Cincinnati. He and his wife, Nina, had been bedside at a hospital with their son, but wanted to deliver a message to the team.
Buffalo Coach Sean McDermott recounted for reporters the gist of that missive for reporters the next day: Damar, Mario said, would want the team to play.
Both McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen said at a news conference Thursday afternoon that the message — combined with Damar Hamlin’s improving condition as he continues to be treated after suffering a cardiac arrest in Monday’s game — was the lift the Bills needed to encourage them to focus on their jobs, even as they continue to pray and worry about their teammate and friend.