“Rigged Voting?” Ex-NFL All-Pro Ignites Controversy After Josh Allen Snags MVP Over Lamar Jackson

The NFL world is ablaze with debate after Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen edged out Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for the coveted MVP award. While Allen’s performance was undeniably stellar, the decision has been met with fierce criticism, with one former NFL All-Pro alleging that the MVP voting process is “rigged,” sparking outrage and demands for greater transparency.

**Allen’s Surprise Victory: A Break From Tradition**

Josh Allen took home the MVP trophy at the NFL Honors ceremony, marking his first MVP award[1]. However, the win was considered a massive surprise because Lamar Jackson was overwhelmingly voted the first-team quarterback on the Associated Press All-Pro team last month[1]. Allen received 27 first-place votes, 22 second-place votes, and one third-place vote, totaling 383 points in the AP’s ranked-choice voting system. Jackson, who has previously won the award twice, received 23 first-place votes, 26 second-place votes, and one fourth-place vote, for 362 total points[1].

The shock wasn’t just felt by fans; Allen himself admitted, “I was pretty surprised, yeah, given what we know about how typically voting goes”[1][2].

**”Rigged Voting?”: The Allegations Emerge**

Adding fuel to the fire, a former NFL All-Pro has stepped forward, alleging that the MVP voting process is manipulated. This individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims that “they pick and choose who they want” to win, suggesting that factors beyond on-field performance influence the outcome. While providing no concrete evidence, the former All-Pro’s words have resonated with many who question the validity of the voting process.

This sentiment is further amplified by the fact that Allen’s win breaks a long-standing tradition. For the past 11 seasons, the AP first-team All-Pro quarterback has gone on to win the NFL’s MVP award[3]. In fact, since the AP began presenting the MVP award, there have only been three instances where the All-Pro QB *didn’t* win MVP[3]. This anomaly has led many to question how Allen managed to secure the trophy despite Jackson’s higher All-Pro honors[2].

**The Split Vote: A Controversial Trend?**

Further complicating matters is the fact that several voters split their ballots, picking Jackson for All-Pro but Allen for MVP[1][2][8]. Lindsay Jones of The Ringer, who was one of those voters, explained that it was her way of acknowledging that Jackson “played quarterback better than anyone this season,” while Allen was the “most valuable football character of the regular season”[2].

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky also voted for Allen for MVP and Jackson as first-team All-Pro, explaining that “value” influenced his vote[7].

**Social Media Erupts: Fans Demand Transparency**

The allegations of rigged voting have sent social media into a frenzy, with fans passionately debating the merits of Allen’s win and the fairness of the voting process. Many are calling for greater transparency in the voting process, suggesting that voters should be required to publicly disclose their ballots and explain their reasoning.

**The AP Defends the Process**

The Associated Press, which oversees the MVP voting, has defended the integrity of the process, emphasizing that the award is based on a ranked-choice voting system and that voters are free to make their own decisions based on a variety of factors[1][2]. However, the controversy surrounding Allen’s win is likely to fuel further scrutiny of the MVP voting process in the years to come.

**Conclusion: A Cloud Over the MVP Award**

Whether or not the allegations of rigged voting hold any merit, the controversy surrounding Josh Allen’s MVP win has cast a cloud over the award and raised important questions about the factors that influence the selection process. As the NFL continues to grapple with these questions, it remains to be seen whether changes will be made to ensure greater transparency and fairness in the MVP voting process.[1][2]