Josh Allen was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player on Thursday night, a decision that left Shannon Sharpe ‘shocked’.
The Buffalo Bills quarterback narrowly edged out Lamar Jackson with 383 points and 27 first-place votes, compared to his rival quarterback’s 362 points and 23 first-place votes.
While Allen was named MVP, he was not named in the 2024 NFL All-Pro Team.
Instead, it was Jackson who took that honor, meaning Allen has became just the third player to ever win MVP after not making first-team All-Pro.
And that left three-time Super Bowl champion Sharpe very confused.
Speaking on his ‘Nightcap’ podcast, the NFL legend took voters to task for their decision to name Allen MVP after putting Jackson on the All-Pro team.
“I’m shocked,” Sharpe told co-host Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson.
“I’m trying to wrap my mind around it because here’s the thing, guys. These are the same 50 men and women that voted for the All-Pro team.
“So how do you not vote Josh Allen the first-team All-Pro quarterback, but you vote him MVP? It makes no sense.”
Johnson, meanwhile, described the decision as ‘bull****’ and suggested the league ‘handed’ Allen the award.
“Look, had Josh Allen (been) first team All-Pro, Ocho, I don’t think we have a disagreement,” Sharpe continued.
“The only thing I was certain of, I said, ‘Ocho, unless something funny goes on, the first team All-Pro quarterback is normally the MVP.'”
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While Sharpe and Johnson have taken issue with Allen winning MVP but not making the All-Pro team, there is no doubt the Bills quarterback had a season to remember.
Allen totaled 41 touchdowns — 28 passing, 12 rushing, one receiving — and became the only player in NFL history with 25-plus passing TDs, 10-plus rushing TDs, and a receiving score.
The 28-year-old also joined Aaron Rodgers as the only players in NFL history with 40-plus offensive touchdowns in at least five career seasons.
Rodgers won MVP in four of six such seasons, while Allen picked up his first after five straight seasons of 40-plus TDs.
Denver Broncos QB John Elway in 1987 and Tennessee Titans QB Steve McNair in 2003 are the only two others to win the MVP award without being named first-team All-Pro.
There’s no doubt, then, that Allen is in esteemed company – but he might not have even been playing for the Bills if Hall of Famer Elway hadn’t passed on him in the NFL Draft.
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Elway, who became the Broncos general manager after his 16-year playing career, could have drafted Allen 2018 but passed on the chance.
He has since described that decision as the biggest error of his GM tenure.
“Last year, I played (golf) with him, and I’m wondering, ‘How long is it going to take him to realize that I passed on him and took Bradley Chubb instead?'” Elway said in July 2024.
“It took him two and a half holes. And I loved him. But it just didn’t work out. He was my type. That was probably my biggest mistake of my GM days – not taking Josh.”
Allen’s first MVP win, albeit ‘shocking’ to the likes of Sharpe and Johnson, will soften the blow of defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
In 2025, Allen and the Bills will be looking to go one step further and reach the Super Bowl.
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