Yahoo Sports Kelvin Benjamin rips media, defends turning down Josh Allen for pregame warm-ups
Buffalo Bills receiver Kelvin Benjamin might have had other things to do, but his act of turning down quarterback Josh Allen‘s request for some pregame warm-ups soon went viral during Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.
The exchange between Benjamin and Allen was heard by 13WHAM’s Jenna Cottrell, though she reports at least one other reporter was also listening in.
#Bills Josh Allen just asked Kelvin Benjamin if he wanted to work on routes pregame during warm ups.
Kelvin’s answer: No
— Jenna Cottrell (@JennaCottrell) October 14, 2018
To further clarify, It was about an hour and half before the game. Benjamin remained on the field afterwards while the other WR's ran routes for Allen. I was not the only reporter to hear the conversation.
— Jenna Cottrell (@JennaCottrell) October 14, 2018
Another day for Kelvin Benjamin in Buffalo
Cottrell’s tweet quickly spread around NFL Twitter, with most reactions ranging between poking fun at Benjamin and noting what might not be the best situation over in Buffalo.
Not ideal. https://t.co/KaEgaxXM8X
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 14, 2018
Kelvin Benjamin has eight receptions in five games this season. https://t.co/FWbEHAxCnQ
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) October 14, 2018
Kelvin Benjamin continues to be one of the biggest doofuses in the league. https://t.co/uZMkIBITnf
— nick wright (@getnickwright) October 14, 2018
The episode fits in with some of Benjamin’s recent history, which includes a feud with his old quarterback Cam Newton and a parent of one of his teammates positing that Benjamin didn’t even know where to line up on the field. None of that is a boon for the Bills after giving up third- and seventh-round draft picks for the Florida State product.
Why Kelvin Benjamin didn’t warm up with Josh Allen
After the game, in which the Texans topped the Bills 20-13 and Benjamin caught two of his six targets for 43 yards, Benjamin was asked about his exchange with Allen. He took the opportunity to blast the media for its reporting.
Benjamin said he had already warmed up when Allen asked him if he wanted to run some routes.
Kelvin Benjamin called a report pregame Sunday that he declined running routes with Josh Allen as “misinformation,” saying he was “good” with is warmup when Allen asked if he needed anything more to warm up.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) October 14, 2018
Benjamin then used the whole episode to deride the media’s thirst for viral tweets and using it as a reason why some players have an icy demeanor around reporters.
Benjamin: “[The report] was put out thinking this was a big break. You put stories out there like that and Twitter pages start to get followers." https://t.co/MmHIZOLuoa
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) October 14, 2018
Benjamin: “It still wasn’t a question of whether, ‘Do you want to run routes?’ and I declined. It was just somebody just trying to take something and run with it and try to get their name out there. Pregame is the player’s choice to warm up to get ready for the game." https://t.co/TAcer4xX3I
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) October 14, 2018
Benjamin: “I just feel bad for you [reporters] because I feel like that messes up a lot of the report that y’all try to put out there — the truth — to put lies out there. [That’s why] a lot of players are kind of standoffish against reporters. It sucks for y’all fellas." https://t.co/S84S82Pjhk
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) October 14, 2018
That’s fair enough for Benjamin. If he really felt warmed up before talking to Allen and has his own pregame routine, maybe the exchange was just badly timed with multiple reporters within earshot.
However, Benjamin running routes in pregame wasn’t just going to be about Benjamin. The fifth-year receiver is playing with a notoriously raw rookie quarterback in Allen, who was probably hoping to develop more chemistry with a No. 1 receiver that entered Sunday with 103 receiving yards in five games this season. Turning the quarterback down for practice reps and inadvertently making a show of it likely isn’t going to help develop anything positive.
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