The season’s MVP race could boil down to a two-way standoff between Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens.
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith recently made it clear that Allen should be the hands-down MVP, touting the Bills star’s ability to perform under extreme conditions.
But prior to the Ravens’ 34-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, NFL legend Cam Newton slammed Smith for his alleged double standards for Allen and Jackson.
“Right now, I’m taking Lamar Jackson over any other quarterback in the NFL,” said Newton on “First Take.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, Stephen A., you gotta watch what you’re saying about Lamar Jackson because you ain’t holding Josh Allen to the same standards that you’re holding Lamar Jackson.”
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (left) and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (right).
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Newton, who was named MVP in 2015 when he starred for the Carolina Panthers, pointed out that Jackson is beating Allen in every statistic except for team record and rushing touchdowns.
“The propaganda of the NFL was like, ‘Josh Allen is the favorite to win the MVP, (he’s able) to do this and do that,'” added Newton.
“I’m saying to myself, ‘Hold on, the only reason Lamar Jackson ain’t leading in rushing touchdowns is because he got king Derrick Henry!'”
Smith didn’t argue Newton’s points, describing them as “fair.”
The 27-year-old Jackson, the reigning winner, is looking for his third MVP plum, while the 28-year-old Allen is gunning for his first one.
Last season, Jackson was just one first-place vote shy of becoming the first two-time unanimous MVP in NFL history. The lone vote that deprived him of the feat went to Allen.
