Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen trades long bombs for long balls during the Blue Jays’ batting practice


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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had already put in a lively batting practice Monday afternoon, a spirited, spirited show that included four long home runs over the Rogers Center wall.
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But Allen was having too much fun to stop and wanted more action — specifically an opportunity to rob someone of a home run while shagging balls in midfield.
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The Bills’ athletic QB held his ground with a glove, followed a massive flyball by Vlad Guerrero Jr. to the wall 400 feet from home plate, and calmly snaged.
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Most importantly, the budding NFL star was having a great break from off-season training in Buffalo in his sixth year.
“I’m just sitting here and talking to the guys, they’re so relaxed and so focused on what they’ve got here in Toronto,” Allen said in an interview outside the Jays dugout after he’d finished signing his show baseball skills. “It seems like they have a good mood in the dressing room, which is very funny to see.
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“As a player and leader in our dressing room, it was really cool to see what they’re up to to understand and see the different moods.”
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Allen traveled through the QEW alongside fellow Bills quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Matt Barkley, ostensibly to unwind a little away from the off-season sessions in Orchard Park, NY, including a Monday morning practice session at One Bills Drive.
But Allen was always a pro, aware of his surroundings and a group of like-minded athletes from a different sport. While not much in baseball translates into back pocketing or struggling for a first down, Allen couldn’t do more than enjoy his afternoon and evening at the ballpark.
Of particular interest was a conversation with Jay’s pitching coach, Pete Walker, about arm care for hard pitching athletes from another race.
“There are some similarities, but also some big differences,” Allen said. “There is so much torque on the elbows and they throw at such high speed.
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“I’m not the biggest baseball nerd, but I feel like we’ve gotten to a point in baseball where they have a better understanding of the mechanics and with that comes an understanding of arm health and pitcher care.
“There are certain arm grooming routines that these guys do that would probably benefit a quarterback. There is definitely something to take away.”
The deeper he delves into his brilliant career, the more health issues bother Allen. That’s why the 26-year-old California native says he’s updated his off-season routine.
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“I’m taking care of my body and eating a cleaner diet to make sure I’m physically fit for the start of training camp on July 25,” Allen said. “It’s just a maturing process and I understand that the best skill lies in availability and I make sure I give myself every opportunity to be as healthy as possible.”
Allen’s visit was a huge hit with the Jays players, many of whom are big NFL fans. But it was a big rush for the soccer star, who toured the facility and spent some time in the clubhouse, taking him back to his youth as a baseball player.
“It was fun to be back out there,” Allen said. “I’ve told the coaches I miss banging balls, spitting up semen and just talking to the boys. Those are some of the best memories I had in high school.”
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The aspiring athlete in Allen is well aware of the similarities between the Bills and Jays when it comes to expectations. Different sports, yes, but during his brief visit, Allen was struck by the mindset he saw in the Jays.
“When the expectations outside of your building or your team are higher than your own expectations, then it becomes a problem,” Allen said. “The internal drive or expectations of a clubhouse or a team, if they’re not as high as you can possibly set them, then I think you’re doing something wrong.”
https://torontosun.com/sports/football/nfl/bills-qb-josh-allen-trades-long-bombs-for-long-balls-at-jays-batting-practice Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen trades long bombs for long balls during the Blue Jays’ batting practice
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