Buffalo quarterback Case Keenum (18) Shawn Dowd / USA TODAY NETWORK

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been hearing for years that he needs to slide more often, but there are still times when he puts his body on the line in an attempt to pick up a few extra yards. Veteran backup Case Keenum has gone to great lengths to help put a stop to that style of play.

Several Bills players told Kalyn Kahler of The Athletic a story about how Keenum tried to incentivize Allen to protect himself more earlier in the season. Keenum and fellow Bills backup Matt Barkley noticed one play during Week 1 where they felt Allen should have slid. That inspired Keenum to issue a challenge to Allen.

“I might have incentivized him a little bit if he would slide during a game,” Keenum said. “It was not a monetarily incentivized thing. It was more something that I would do. Allegedly, I may or may not have told him I would wear only a jockstrap to one of our walkthroughs if he slid in a game feet first with nobody around him.”

Two weeks later, in Buffalo’s Week 3 game against the Miami Dolphins, Allen slid feet-first on a scramble play in the fourth quarter. Keenum then delivered on his promise.

The following week, Keenum emerged from the locker room during a Wednesday practice wearing nothing but a jock strap. Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie said no one outside the quarterback room knew why Keenum was walking around half-naked.

“We all know that quarterback room is a little odd, so they do a lot of odd things,” McKenzie said.

When Kahler asked Allen about Keenum’s big payout, the Pro Bowl quarterback played coy.

“I can neither confirm nor deny those allegations,” Allen said. “I’m sure some of the receivers and the running backs might have something different to say about that, but I don’t really remember that.”

Allen has freak athleticism considering his 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame. He can certainly take a hit, but the Bills would rather their franchise cornerstone avoid getting walloped when he can help it. If Keenum’s antics saved Allen from taking even one big hit, the veteran deserves a lot of credit.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Timberwolves chew up Nuggets to force Game 7
Rangers secure spot in conference finals after stunning third-period comeback over Hurricanes
Xander Schauffele makes history in first round of PGA Championship
Yankees' Hal Steinbrenner shares massive Juan Soto contract update
Steelers' Cameron Heyward addresses contract holdout
Knicks star ruled out for potential closeout game
Dodgers starter undergoes season-ending UCL surgery
Clemson’s Dabo Swinney gives smug response about not using transfer portal
Caitlin Clark's debut was most-watched WNBA game in more than 20 years
Watch: Chris Kreider's natural third-period hat trick shatters Hurricanes' comeback hopes
Veteran NFL safety will either play for this team or retire in 2024
Former Red Wings head coach linked to open NHL job
How Patriots' Drake Maye has already impressed Jacoby Brissett
LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry among Forbes' highest-paid athletes for 2024
Steve Cohen addresses if Mets could again be trade-deadline sellers
Tiger Woods ruins strong first round with sloppy finish at PGA Championship
NFL responds to speculation about Chiefs schedule and Taylor Swift
Despite hopes for change, NASCAR championship weekend will return to Phoenix in 2025
Chiefs will achieve something not done since 1927 with 2024 schedule
Yankees' Aaron Judge comments on resurgence after bad slump

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.