Jared Allen done with Vikings!

[Lee Borgersen]

Jared Allen's agent says defensive end done with Vikings



 

John Randle has an idea what Jared Allen is going through.

Randle, one of the best defensive linemen in Vikings history, left the team near the end of his career to sign with Seattle. Now, another great pass rusher is departing Minnesota.

Ken Harris, Allen's agent, confirmed Sunday that Allen will leave as a free agent. Harris wrote in an email to the Pioneer Press: "He made his decision to narrow it down (Saturday) night after I had a final conversation with the club."

It is not known yet where the defensive end will go after six seasons in Minnesota. But Randle suspects he has mixed emotions.

"Yeah," said the hall of famer, who left the Vikings after the 2000 season. "It's a tough decision when you leave. It's the nature of the business, but I think Jared definitely will say that Minnesota will always be his home team. He bleeds purple like the rest of the great pass rushers of the Minnesota Vikings."

Allen, who turns 32 next month, did not return a message Sunday. He told the Pioneer Press on Saturday that he would not be commenting until after he has reached a deal. The soonest players can sign is Tuesday.

After learning Saturday that Allen definitely wouldn't be back, the Vikings on Sunday re-signed defensive end Everson Griffen to a five-year, $42.5 million contract. He is expected to take over Allen's starting spot on the right side.

"Jared Allen is one of the greatest guys I've ever played with," said Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway. "I enjoyed playing with him. He's a guy that gave everything all the time. He'll be successful whatever he does, wherever he goes, and whatever role he plays there."

Allen joined the Vikings in 2008 after four years with Kansas City. In his six seasons, he made four Pro Bowls and three times was named first-team all-pro.

Allen led the NFL with 22 sacks in 2011, tied for the second-highest total in NFL history. Of his 128-1/2 career sacks -- 12th on the all-time list -- 85-1/2 came with Minnesota.

"Jared carried on the tradition with the Vikings' defensive line," said Randle, a defensive tackle who is joined in the hall of fame by Minnesota defensive linemen Alan Page, Carl Eller and Chris Doleman. "They've always been known for having a great defensive line. The way (Allen) played, he always got the fans involved. I always admired Jared and loved the way he played."

Allen, the highest-paid player on the Vikings last season at $14.3 million, showed some signs of slippage. But after a disappointing start, he rebounded to get 6-1/2 sacks in his final five games and finish with 11-1/2, his seventh straight season with 10 or more.

Allen talked openly about seeking sacks. While former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema spoke highly of Allen as a player, he said his one weakness was sometimes being too concerned about getting them.

"He really had a natural instinct and a God-given talent to rush the passer," said Lurtsema, who played with the Vikings from 1971-76. "His motor was going all the time. But sometimes, I must honestly say, he got a little too wrapped up with simply wanting a sack. How do you say something negative about what he did? But inside the 10-yard line, you've got to be very disciplined to stay in your lane."

Allen might not be the only longtime Vikings defensive lineman to leave the team this offseason. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams also is a free agent, and it remains to be seen whether or not the 11-year veteran will return.

[glenn57]

sad to see him leave. one of those guys you'd like to see retire here!!!!

[Cody Gruchow]

talked with him in October. I already knew this was coming

[Cody Gruchow]

sounds as if he is going to sign with the seattle seahawks

[Lee Borgersen]

sounds as if he is going to sign with the seattle seahawks

Them boys over there must be trying to build a dynasty. I sure wodda like to see him join "DA BEARS" 

[Lee Borgersen]

                        Jared Allen.

Jared Allen: Seahawks still waiting on free agent's decision
By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times
Posted:   03/25/2014 12:01:00 AM CDT | Updated:   a day ago







Monday came and went with the Seattle Seahawks still waiting on word from Jared Allen.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, though, indicated no angst over the lingering decision from Allen, who visited Seattle twice last week before reportedly saying he wanted to take the weekend to think about where he will play in 2014 -- or if he will play at all.

Allen, a free-agent defensive end who spent the last six years with the Vikings and ranks 12th all-time in the NFL in sacks with 128.5, is also reportedly considering other offers. He could even decide to just hang it up if he doesn't get an offer he likes; he turns 32 next month.

Carroll, in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio from the NFL meetings in Orlando, Fla., said "we don't have any date" for when the Seahawks want a decision, adding that "it's a big business decision for him."

ESPN.com reported that Seattle's offer for Allen is believed' to be two years at $6 million a season, a marked comedown from the six-year, $72 million deal he just completed with Minnesota before entering free agency.

Despite Allen's pedigree, the Seahawks are adhering to their offseason plan of not getting involved in bidding wars for free agents--their own or others--as they try to manage their salary cap to extend the likes of Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Russell Wilson over the next year.

Carroll again confirmed that strategy in his SiriusXM interview.

"We're very restricted in what we can do," Carroll said. "We've got a lot of work on our roster, a lot of guys we've got to work with and we are excited about extending. So we have a lot of concerns, and everything is not really easy and we can't move as swiftly as everyone would like."

Seattle is reported to have a little more more than $15 million left on its 2014 salary cap, but can carry over some money into the future.

While the Seahawks continued to wait on Allen, they saw another of their own free agents sign elsewhere as offensive lineman Paul McQuistan finalized a contract with the Cleveland Browns that will pay him a reported $3 million over two years with a maximum of $5 million if he reaches all incentives.

McQuistan started 14 games in 2013 at left guard and left tackle, filling in at the latter spot when Russell Okung missed eight games with a toe injury. He rotated at left guard with James Carpenter, though Carpenter got the start in the Super Bowl.

But Seattle apparently did not have a real interest in bringing back McQuistan with younger, cheaper players in line to assume bigger roles in 2014, notably Michael Bowie and Alvin Bailey, each rookies in 2013 who saw increased playing time as the season wore on.

Seattle earlier lost starting right tackle Breno Giacomini, who signed with the Jets, but returns four of the starters from the Super Bowl in Okung, Carpenter, center Max Unger and right tackle J.R. Sweezy.

Also, Seattle last week signed former Bellevue (Wash.) High guard Stephen Schilling as a free agent to add depth up front.

Bailey and Bowie are likely to be part of the Seattle rotation up front, with Schilling and Caylin Hauptmann, who spent most of last season on the 53-man roster (though usually inactive), also in the competition. Many pundits also expect the Seahawks to look to draft an offensive lineman early in the draft.

McQuistan is now the seventh of Seattle's free agents to sign elsewhere, joining Giacomini, receiver Golden Tate (Detroit), defensive tackle Clinton McDonald (Tampa Bay), safety Chris Maragos (Philadelphia) and cornerbacks Walter Thurmond (New York Giants) and Brandon Browner (New England). Seattle also released defensive ends Chris Clemons and Red Bryant, who each then signed with Jacksonville.

Three of Seattle's free agents remain unsigned: fullback Michael Robinson, linebacker O'Brien Schofield and tight end Kellen Davis.

[Cody Gruchow]

jared signed with the bears this morning....

[Lee Borgersen]

jared signed with the bears this morning....

  the full scoop here:
http://mnoutdoorsman.com/forums/index.php?topic=29860.msg200800;topicseen#new

[kenhuntin]

I really hope you revel in the excitement Lee. In all earnest Jared is past his prime. Granted the man puts his entire heart and soul into every time he suits up. He is a phenomenal athlete. Father Time is playing a larger and larger role in his performance each Sunday. Personally I will now switch borders and root for the Bears as they have now acquired the last shred of decency of  what was once the great Minnesota Vikings.

[The General]

Ken that is exactly what they said about Alan Page.......as he terrorized the Vikings for a couple of years as a bear.

[Cody Gruchow]

oh don't get me wrong im a little upset the Vikings didn't even try to retain him and gave all that money to a unproven backup in everson griffin. who has been in the league 4 years and only has 22.5 sacks..jared almost had that in one season 2 years ago. he has had double digit sacks for 7 straight years. his numbers declined this past season and he still had 11.5-12 sacks..thats a fantastic year for a lot of DE in the league..in my opinion he is still a top 5 DE in the league

[Lee Borgersen]

Ken that is exactly what they said about Alan Page.......as he terrorized the Vikings for a couple of years as a bear.

 Jared Allen not Vikings' first defensive line star to bolt to Bears
 
 

It might seem strange to see a legendary Vikings defensive linemen rush the quarterback for a division rival, but it's hardly unprecedented.

After free-agent defensive end Jared Allen signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Chicago Bears on Wednesday, hall of fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton thought back to 1978. That's when Vikings defensive tackle Alan Page moved on to the Bears and suddenly was chasing Tarkenton.

"It will be pretty weird seing Jared with the Bears, but you've got to remember Alan Page played his last (3-1/2 years) with Chicago, so it won't be any different," Tarkenton said. "And Alan arguably was our best defensive player that has ever been."

 
 
Chicago Bears defensive lineman Alan Page speaks to a crowd at Chicago's Soldier Field after he received a plaque from Bears owner George Halas commemorating his last game, Dec. 21, 1981. Page helped the Bears to a 35-24 win over the Denver Broncos, ending 15 years in the NFL.  

[kenhuntin]

Where is Derek Boogaard? No one can predict the future but age is pretty certain.