Thirty-something Josh Allen, enjoying his prime time | On Sports

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Josh Allen turned the Big Three-O last week. Thirty is a nice, round number. It’s an age when most athletes are in their prime, but it’s also an age that reminds us the meter’s running; that you are closer to the end than the beginning of your playing career.

We read a lot about athletes being on the “wrong side of 30,” but I would contend that Allen has time on his side. The Buffalo Bills’ unicorn quarterback still possesses otherworldly skills, buttressed by the knowledge and wisdom accrued from eight seasons of diagnosing defenses. There’s still plenty of time to rack up more NFL records and accolades and secure that elusive Super Bowl appearance and victory. The window may be closing, but it’s a long way from being shut.

It’s been pointed out that Hall-of-Famer Jim Kelly didn’t guide the Bills to their first Super Bowl until his age-30 season. No, Jimbo never won the big one, but going to an unprecedented four consecutive Roman numeral games is more impressive than many of the NFL’s one-hit wonders.

If you are looking for other encouraging comps for Allen, how about Peyton Manning, who was seven weeks shy of his 31^st birthday before winning his first Lombardi Trophy? Or Drew Brees, who was 31? Or Steve Young, who was 33? Or Matthew Stafford, who was 34? Or the eldest first-timer of them all, John Elway, who was 37?

The 30’s, and, in rare cases, the 40’s can be golden eras for NFL quarterbacks, especially in this protective, modern era when defensive players occasionally are flagged for having the audacity to breathe on pass throwers and catchers. Tom Brady, considered by many the quarterback GOAT, threw for 62,844 yards and 399 touchdowns after turning 30. Brees (49,712 yards, 350 TDs), Manning (39,638, 275), Brett Favre (39,431, 262), and Aaron Rodgers (38,752, 290) also aged into their positions quite well. Elway did, too, guiding the Denver Broncos to a 60-31 mark, while winning two Super Bowls and earning four of his nine Pro Bowl selections in his 30s.

Admittedly, the comparisons we’ve been making aren’t always apples-to-apples. Most of the aforementioned QBs were pocket passes, and they tend to last longer than mobile quarterbacks like Allen.

Josh’s legs and big body are still a huge part of what makes him unique. They’ve enabled him to extend plays and pick up huge chunks of football real estate. He is arguably the most dangerous quarterback in NFL history in short-yardage and goal-line situations, having accounted for 79 rushing touchdowns and 413 first downs in 871 career carries.

Elway (774 carries), Young (857, including his USFL days), Rodgers (762) and Favre (602) also were effective scramblers, but they often ran to escape trouble, while many of Allen’s runs are by design. So far, Josh’s 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame and quick feet have enabled him to withstand the extra punishment that comes from all his rushing attempts. But in recent years, he has had to play through some limiting injuries, including a broken foot last season, and a broken finger on his non-throwing hand the year before.

His 122 consecutive regular-season starts (135 if you include playoff games) is the longest active Iron Man streak among NFL quarterbacks, and eighth-best all-time.

His toughness is admirable, but as time goes on, Allen will need to make adjustments and morph more into a pocket passer. He has averaged 108 carries per season, and that trend might continue for a few more years, but isn’t sustainable beyond that. There will come a time, sooner rather than later, when he will lose a step while trying to pick up a first down or touchdown; a time when discretion becomes the better part of valor, and he doesn’t subject his body to undue collisions, and lives to fight another play.

It will be interesting to see how Allen is utilized this season under new head coach Joe Brady. Again, Josh’s running skills have been an integral part of the Bills offense, but many of his scrambles have been the result of his receivers failing to get open and his desire to make something out of nothing with his legs. In an attempt to overcome the deficiencies of his supporting cast, he has put himself in vulnerable, more injurious situations, while occasionally trying to do too much. Those are the times when Hero Ball can devolve into Zero Ball.

The hope is that newcomers like veteran DJ Moore and rookie Skyler Bell will enhance the receiving corps and lead to more pass completions and fewer carries. Josh said during last week’s OTA practices he has spent this offseason working on his mechanics in hopes of improving his downfield throws. Interestingly, the new Highmark Stadium is designed to cut down on the winds that wreaked havoc on deep throws in the old stadium.

The 20s were a marvelous era for Josh. It saw him become the first Bill in three decades to win an NFL MVP award and establish league records for the most combined passing, rushing, and receiving touchdowns (301) before age 30, as well as the most consecutive seasons with 40 or more combined touchdowns (four).

There is no reason to think he can’t sustain that greatness well into his fourth decade of life. Football history, coupled with rules and strategy that heavily favor offenses, and a wealth of accumulated knowledge from eight NFL seasons, are all on his side – the right side of 30.

Best-selling author and nationally honored journalist Scott Pitoniak is the Rochester Business Journal sports columnist.