Nick Wright believes Dan Orlovsky and ESPN do not criticize Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson enough for their mistakes.
Nick Wright feels Dan Orlovsky hasn’t criticized top QBs (Image via Imago)
Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson failed again to lead their teams to the Super Bowl. With the narrative surrounding Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs enjoying favorable calls on their way to their third-straight Super Bowl, some have started to question the other two AFC QBs for their blunders.
The likes of Chris Simms squarely placed the blame on Lamar Jackson for not throwing a stronger ball to Mark Andrews. He believes the Baltimore Ravens QB is as much to blame for their divisional round exit as their star tight end.
On the other hand, criticism for Josh Allen has not been that brutal. The likes of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith have suggested that the Buffalo Bills QB has to do something more to beat Patrick Mahomes. However, the network’s own QB analyst Dan Orlovsky has so far been quiet. FS1’s Nick Wright decided to call Orlovsky out.
Orlovsky is so comfortable criticizing people in his current profession, sports media, and would never dare criticize people in his former position, NFL quarterback… He said to Shannon on television, ‘It’s not my job to criticize a quarterback who was better than me’. Huh? Really?
Nick Wright said via Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
“[Dan] Orlovsky is so comfortable criticizing people in his current profession, sports media, and would never dare criticize people in his former position, NFL quarterback… He said to Shannon on television, ‘it’s not my job to criticize a quarterback who was better than me.'”… pic.twitter.com/HJPhxT2PVV
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) January 29, 2025
Nick Wright did acknowledge that Dan Orlovsky is formidable as an analyst. But the fact that he does not criticize what needs to be criticized is starting to come to everyone’s attention. He lamented ESPN’s angle of feeling sorry for Josh Allen, seemingly suggesting they do not want to hurt the ‘sacred cows’.
Nick Wright believes Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson should face criticism
The only time Dan Orlovsky came under the crosshairs of his unwavering support for quarterbacks was whenever colleague Shannon Sharpe slammed him for not blaming them. Other than that, Nick Wright believes it is his responsibility to do so.
Nick Wright believes Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen should be criticized for their mistakes (Image via X)
We’ve gone too far, so if I have to add some balance to the universe, so be it.
Nick Wright said
When he said this, the cast of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz show laughed at it. They understood his point of view as ESPN has decided to take the high road when it comes to finding mistakes of top quarterbacks.
The only exception being Aaron Rodgers. But it would have been too obvious if they hadn’t after the horrendous season he has had. Wright believes, top quarterbacks have to be criticized to bring balance to the sporting world. Else, they get a pass, and the narrative moves on to something else.
Related: Saquon Barkley seemingly sent a stern message to Chiefs after Eagles’ NFC Championship win: “Whoever plays us next, good luck”
