Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen often finds himself tagged with the label of being “overrated.” But as G.M. Brandon Beane aptly pointed out last month, that critique only underscores the reality that there are “idiots everywhere.”
Allen’s Take on the Criticism
Allen, the epitome of a cool customer, doesn’t let the noise get to him, even if a recent poll by ESPN, involving anonymous players, saw 11 players deem him the most overrated. He took to the airwaves with Adam Schien of SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio to share his thoughts.
“So my reaction is I’m not mad that 11 players not on my team don’t like me, right?” Allen told Schien, punctuated with a chuckle. “That’s number one. I actually think that’s a term of endearment. When other players don’t like me, that means I’m doing something right. However, I’m miffed that I’m never invited to participate in these anonymous surveys. That’s where my frustration lies. I want to be part of these surveys too, to give my own input.”
Does It Fuel His Fire?
Asked whether this criticism serves as a motivation, Allen candidly replied in a bittersweet tone, “I would love to say, ‘Yes, it does motivate me,’ and I could slap it on my locker for extra zest, use it as bulletin board material. But the truth is, I’m heading into year seven, coming from a small farm town called Fireball, California. I had no offers, went the junior college route and ended up with one offer from the University of Wyoming. Then, out of the blue, got drafted seventh overall by the Buffalo Bills,” recounts Allen, his voice brimming with a mix of pride and disbelief.
“So, again, I’m in a spot where not many people—maybe just me and my family thought I’d be here—so I’m just going to keep riding this wave. It’s served me well, and I’m just gonna keep playing football the way I know how to play it.”
The Right Attitude for the Field
That’s the kind of drive you can feel in your bones—a quarterback who is determined and grounded, sporting determination like a second skin. Still, every sports great knows that a little extra fuel in the tank can never hurt. If folks out there think he’s overrated, Allen should be on a one-man mission to flip that script—to turn their views on their head.
And somewhere along the journey, it will become glaringly apparent to all that he’s not just a standout; he’s also underpaid.
