Before the season began, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was named one of the biggest trash talkers across the league.
Now? The MVP favorite and All-Pro has been nominated for an award that is usually the opposite of his usual antics.
Allen was selected as the Bills’ nominee for the 2024 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Monday morning. The annual award is given to “an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.”
It's the second time since 2021 that Allen has been nominated for the award.
Buffalo's franchise quarterback has been known as a dynamic leader of his career and one of the best players in the NFL today. He's the front-runner for the league's MVP award with 23 total touchdowns and has the Bills playing at a high level with a 9-2 record.
Probably the most interesting thing about Allen's nomination, though, is the fact that his on-field antics and trash-talking abilities speak to the opposite of what the Rooney Sportsmanship Awards.
By being named the biggest trash-talker in the league during the offseason, it shows Allen's opponents know how the quarterback handles being one of the best players in the league.
Allen may not win the award overall, but it is a sign that some current players are a bit split in how they see the Bills' quarterback. And that confusion will only grow as Buffalo continues to find ways to win this year.
