Eight years into his NFL career, Bills quarterback Josh Allen remains in his prime. But the years tend to roll by quickly. For Allen, who turned 30 in May, 40 will be here in the blink of an eye. And at some point his playing career will end. When it does, would Allen become a broadcaster?
“I do think it would be cool if you can keep it from a strictly broadcasting angle,” Allen recently told Alex Sherman of CNBC. “When players go from players to journalists and say certain things that they hated people saying about them, I think that’s where it gets a little murky for me.”
“But I do think that it would be something I would entertain. I can’t say for sure, ‘yes’ or for sure ‘no’ right now, because I do go back and forth on it. But yeah, I’d have to put some more thought into it.”
First of all, NFL broadcasters aren’t really journalists. Then again, plenty of NFL journalists aren’t really “journalists.” His job as a game analyst wouldn’t be to find out things “they” don’t want us to know or to ask hard questions, but to help explain what’s happening on the field.
Second, it’s possible to be critical without being unfair. Allen’s experience and knowledge will equip him to explain what’s happening during the game, and to walk the line between analysis and criticism. The key is to criticize the play without criticizing the player. There’s a skill to it. Say what needs to be said, without saying too much. The audience can complete the thought, if the thought is one that points to a player making a mistake or not giving enough effort or otherwise doing something less than ideal that deserves to be mentioned.
Third, it pays really well — if you can snatch one of the prime spots. There aren’t many of them. If that kind of opportunity knocks for Allen, it would be hard to say no, especially since it’s the best way to remain close to the game he loves.
