Orchard Park- Following an MVP caliber season, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is about to receive a hefty pay increase. Allen finished second in MVP votes just behind threes time winner Aaron Rodgers, which is truly rarified air.
Buffalo hasn’t seen a signal caller as talented as Allen since Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 campaign. Allen has led the Bills to the playoffs in consecutive seasons including the championship game and the division title last year. The team picked up Allen’s fifth year option so he’s under contract for at least two more years.
However, the quicker a contact extension is agreed upon the better it will be for both sides. I expect the two sides to close a long-term deal before the season kicks off in September. After the 4-year $160M deal the Dallas Cowboys gave quarterback Dak Presscott, I believe Allen’s deal could be worth north of $40M per year.
It’s possible Allen will be willing to take a hometown discount, time will tell, but I know general manager “Big Baller Bean” will work his magic as the reigning executive of the year in the NFL.
Rising to the top
The NBA playoffs are in full swing and a couple teams are rising above the rest, and look like true contenders. In the East, the Brooklyn Nets have assembled their own big three, consisting of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden whom they acquired at the trade deadline from the Houston Rockets. The three are responsible for the bulk of the Nets’ scoring and appear downright unstoppable. In the West, it seems Chris Paul has discovered the fountain of youth, leading an inexperienced Phoenix Suns team to a surprising first round win over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. I expect the Nets and Suns to meet in the NBA Finals, with the Nets inevitably claiming the hardware.
