The Jacksonville Jaguars‘ mandatory veteran minicamp commenced today, and all eyes were on the $141 million man, Josh Allen, who entered camp with a palpable sense of confidence. Skipping voluntary workouts, as he did last year, Allen chose to prepare in Arizona during the offseason, focusing solely on enhancing his game.
Head coach Doug Pederson acknowledged Allen’s commitment and the benefits of having his contract settled. “The challenge for any player who’s had success the year before is, can you do it again? You have to do it again. The fact that the contract is behind him now, he can just focus on ball, and I think that’s his main focus,” Pederson stated.
After earning Pro Bowl honors and setting a new franchise record for single-season sacks, Allen is determined to elevate his performance further this season. “I found out what works for me. I’m going to double up, get better from that, and improve mentally, physically, and emotionally… I’m going to win Defensive Player of the Year. And for me, I have to be Tier One. I have to be above Tier One because there are guys who have already solidified themselves that they are looking at,” Allen declared.
Motivation is plentiful for Allen as he aims for personal and team milestones. One of his driving forces is helping new teammate Arik Armstead finally secure a Lombardi Trophy, after experiencing Super Bowl losses twice. “Obviously, he played at a high level for so long out there in San Francisco. I want to show him that it’s a bad boy right here, and I play the game my way. I want him to see that. I want him to know that when we get there, we’re going all the way. And I told him I’m going to be the MVP of it too,” Allen shared.
Allen is also focused on cementing his legacy by breaking the Jaguars’ all-time franchise record for sacks, trailing Tony Brackens by just ten sacks. His ambition, combined with his dedication to improvement, sets a high bar for the upcoming season as he looks to lead the Jaguars to new heights.
