Daniels stands up for Pickett on Hamlin hit: 'He's our franchise QB'

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Even though the Bills laid a 38-3 smackdown on the Steelers Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium, it didn't stop the Buffalo defense from keeping their foot on the gas with a four-touchdown lead.

Trailing 31-3 late in the third quarter, the Steelers were still trying to salvage as much dignity as possible during what turned out to be the worst loss of the Mike Tomlin era. In their second drive of the second half, Kenny Pickett led the offense down the field and had them knocking on the door of the red zone. On second and 10 from the Buffalo 24-yard line, Pickett dropped back to pass, then scrambled to his right. He decided to tuck the ball and run, gaining 10 yards before ending his run in a slide.

However, Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who was a teammate of Pickett's at Pitt, decided to lower his head and deliver a shot to Pickett mid-slide. Most everyone on the Steelers' side immediately signaled for a flag for a late hit on the quarterback after he had already given himself up -- all except for James Daniels. The Steelers' guard didn't wait for an official to throw a flag. He took matters into his own hands, sticking up for his quarterback:

However, the officials did not deem the play by Hamlin worthy of any personal foul. The only players flagged on the play were Daniels for plowing through Hamlin and Kevin Dotson for his action in the scuffle that followed.

"He's our franchise QB. I'm shocked they didn't throw a flag," Daniels explained after the game. "I do know there are some other quarterbacks, if that same situation would have happened, they easily would have thrown a flag. I was just upset that there wasn't a flag on that. I didn't even know after I hit the guy. I thought they threw a flag. I just hit him. So I thought it was going to be offsetting penalties. I didn't know it was just going to be on me. It's unfortunate (because) at that point it's third-and-forever."

The Steelers' drive stalled out, and to add insult to injury, Chris Boswell missed a 45-yard field goal attempt.

Tomlin wasn't pleased with the play either. Not necessarily on what Hamlin did, but how it was officiated.

"I did. I had a problem that the officials didn't have a problem with it," Tomlin said. "Not necessarily (Hamlin). I love Hamlin. He's a 412-er. He plays hard. He's a good kid. I have a problem with the fact that it wasn't officiated the way that I anticipated it being officiated."

Hamlin, of course, had a very different point of view from anyone wearing black and gold.

"You see there weren't any flags," Hamlin said. "Like I told (Pickett) on the field, 'You're my brother. I'm not going to play dirty or hit you.' He knows that. I'm playing within the lines of the game. If you're supposed to slide, you've gotta slide or you're going to get hit."

Hamlin took his affection for Pickett a bit further, tweeting at the Steelers' quarterback hours after the conclusion of the game.

In a similar manner, Pickett didn't take any exception to his former college teammate hitting him in a way that angered just about everyone else in his locker room.

"I'm fine with D-Ham. That's one of my guys. He will be one of my really good friends for a long time," Pickett said after the game. "We're competing, it's all good."

What Pickett did have a problem with came near the very end of the game. On what would be the final offensive play of the game for the Steelers, Pickett rolled out to his right and threw away the football. Shaq Lawson was in pursuit and hit Pickett just after he released the ball. The hit came low, and Pickett was quick to let Lawson know what he thought of the play:

"From my opinion, I felt like he went after my knee after I threw it and that's it," Pickett said. "Tempers flare. I don't care. I'm going to keep playing until the last play of the game, that was it. So, all good with me."

It wasn't all good with those on the Pittsburgh side. But once again, the Buffalo player who made the controversial hit was not penalized. Pickett was flagged for unnecessary roughness, and the only Buffalo player who drew a flag on the play was A.J. Epenesa, who was ejected for contacting an official. Epenesa didn't mince any words when he was made aware that some in the Steelers locker room thought the play was dirty.

"I think it's pretty dirty to shove someone when they're on the ground," Epenesa said. "He tackled him within the whistles. That's legal. They can say whatever they want."