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Bills vs. Browns: It's time for Bills to give Josh Allen a start to see how ready he is

But after watching training camp and one preseason game, it's clear that at this stage he's the equal of veterans Nate Peterman and A.J. McCarron, and maybe ahead because of his raw physical gifts.

In the NFL, there are a couple ways to treat a rookie quarterback drafted in the first round and tabbed your “franchise’’ player, your “savior,’’ your “greatest thing since sliced bread.’’

1. Place him in bubble wrap, hand him a clipboard and cap and have him watch from the sideline for 16 weeks.

2. Tie a pork chop around his neck, start him in Week 1, and throw him to the wolves.

History tells us that either way can work, with the emphasis on “can.’’ Because there are no guarantees.

Originally, I thought it wise for the Buffalo Bills to bring Josh Allen, the No. 7 overall pick in last April’s draft, along slowly.

But after watching training camp and one preseason game, it’s clear that at this stage he’s the equal of veterans Nate Peterman and A.J. McCarron, and maybe ahead because of his raw physical gifts.

Coach Sean McDermott said as much when camp broke.

Asked if things had shaken out like he hoped, he said yes, in that “all three are playing well.’’

It means that with two preseason games to play vs. Cleveland Friday and Cincinnati on Aug. 26 (the final tuneup against Chicago is a throwaway), McDermott has a good/bad problem.

He knows he has three competent quarterbacks and maybe one superstar in Allen. But he’s no closer to a decision on who will start Week 1 at Baltimore.

This says a lot about all three players, each at a different stage of his career, each willing to embrace the ideal that in life nothing worthwhile comes without hard work.

So far, McDermott and offensive coordinator Brian Dabol have been more fair than Lady Justice, only without the blindfold.

Like a couple of parents making sure each kid has the same number of presents on Christmas morning, they have made sure each quarterback has gotten time with the first-, second-, and third-string units.

In that spirit, McCarron is expected to start against Cleveland since Peterman started against Carolina.

But Allen has also earned the right to start with the “ones.’’

So how about it, coaches?

Game 3, New Era Field, home against the Bengals. It’s the annual Kids Day Game, so start the kid.

And were McDermott to name Allen the starter ahead of time, the Bills might just sell out a preseason game.

Ideally, McDermott would be able to name his starter early next week in time for the always critical preseason Game 3 when all starters generally play a full half and even into the third quarter.

But with the QB race tighter than my high school varsity sweater, the right thing to do is to use that third game for a thorough assessment of his prized rookie, especially if Allen plays well again against the Browns, when he’s expected to be the second man up.

In 2015, Rex Ryan took the three-way battle between Tyrod Taylor, EJ Manuel and Matt Cassell through preseason Game 3 before settling on Taylor. There’s no rule that says teams have to have their starting lineup set by then.

And if McDermott was bold enough to start Peterman last season during a playoff chase, surely he has the guts to play Allen in an August preseason game.

“We’ll see,’’ said McDermott when asked if giving Allen time with the first unit was in the works. “I respect where you’re coming from on that. That is part of the window, one thing that we are considering, but we just want to get through this game, see how it goes and go from there.’’

Sounds like Allen has a chance to force McDermott to start him against the Bengals with a good showing against Cleveland.

I hope it happens.

There’s no risk if Allen falters in a preseason start.

But there is a lot to gain if the Bills learn the draft prospect who was said to need the most work is actually closer to being ready to play this season than first thought.

While an assistant in Philadelphia, McDermott saw Donovan McNabb (No. 2 overall pick in 1999) sit behind 31-year-old Doug Pederson as a rookie. After the team's 2-7 start, McNabb took over, launching an 11-year Eagles career that included five Pro Bowls and seven playoff .

In Carolina, McDermott saw 2011 No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton start from Day 1. A six-win rookie season became a 15-1 Super Bowl season four years later.

The moral of the story: There is no one path.

In 2016, Jared Goff went No. 1 overall to the Los Angeles Rams and Carson Wentz went No. 2 overall to the Eagles. Goff didn’t start until Week 10 of his rookie year while Wentz started right away.

Last season, both achieved young stardom, Goff throwing for 28 touchdowns as the Rams won the NFC West, Wentz throwing 33 TDs and leading the Eagles to an 11-2 start before being injured and handing the reins to Nick Foles, who completed the team’s unlikely Super Bowl title run.

If Allen does get the nod from the Bills in Week 1, he clearly will embrace it. And if not, he clearly will be patient. He will “trust the process," as his coach has drilled into his head.

“Yeah, I’d definitely welcome that,’’ when asked if he’d be OK with starting Week 1. “Whenever my number is called, I feel like I’ll be ready. I think the coaches understand that. They’re not going to throw me into a situation where I wouldn’t be ready. I’m just putting my trust in the them. Coach McDermott, he’s a smart man, smart coach. So, whatever he says, is what we’re going to do.’’

Yes, the only wrong decision is to play Allen in the regular season before he’s ready. But if he’s remains anywhere near equal to Peterman and McCarron, the choice seems obvious.

The Bills, who are in transition after ending a 17-year playoff drought, can miss the playoffs with Peterman and with McCarron. Or they can miss them with Allen and be that farther along in his development.

Bubble wrap or pork chop? The next 10 days are going to decide.

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