It has been a day of changes for former Vikings defensive end Jared Allen. Earlier in the day, it sounded like Allen was headed to join a few of his former teammates with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Now it appears that the pass rushing defensive end will leave a second visit to Seattle, without a contract.
Allen’s agent Ken Harris told ESPN’s Ed Werder that Allen would take the weekend to weight the Seahawks’ offer against others he has received.
Allen was in Seattle Thursday for a second visit with the Seahawks. He also visited the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday.
According to the ESPN report, if Allen were to join the Seahawks he would likely do so as a situational pass-rusher. Seattle’s defensive line already includes Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, among others. If Allen were to come in as something less than a starter, it stands to reason that he wouldn’t receive the kind of money he had been hoping for.
USA Today reports that if Allen were to choose the Seahawks he would be the team’s first big-name signing this offseason. The Seahawks made news last year when they traded with the Vikings for wide receiver Percy Harvin and signed Avril.
Pro Football Talk outlines some of the things Allen has to consider.
Allen ranks 12th in NFL history with 128.5 career sacks. He has seven consecutive double-digit sack seasons and finished with 11.5 sacks for the Vikings last season.
Allen has spent the last six seasons with the Vikings, but Minnesota chose not to extend his contract at the end of the season.
The writing was on the wall for a split between Allen and the Vikings after the team re-signed Everson Griffen to a five year $42.5 million contract. The Vikings also re-signed Brian Robison midway through the 2013 season.
Coach Mike Zimmer had also shown an interest in former Cincinnati defensive end Michael Johnson right before the start of free agency. Johnson chose to sign with Tampa Bay.
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