He wouldn’t be your average bear, that’s for sure.
Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is leaving Minnesota and testing free agency for the first time in his outstanding career. The latest reports offered by ESPN’s Adam Schefter could put Allen in a Bears or Seahawks jersey next season.
While Denver focuses on DeMarcus Ware…Vikings free-agent DE Jared Allen is talking with the Bears and Seattle Seahawks, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2014
Allen’s price tag was reportedly too high for the Denver Broncos, but according to CBS Sports’ Jason LaCanfora, the Broncos signed pass rusher DeMarcus Ware for the same price.
RT @JasonLaCanfora The deal Ware signed in Denver is, according to a league source, identical to what Jared Allen's camp had proposed
— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) March 12, 2014
Defensive end Michael Bennett re-signed with Seattle on Tuesday while Chicago lured in former Raiders defensive end Lamar Houston. However, defensive end Julius Peppers is on his way out of Chicago and Seattle could lose Chris Clemons, thus the need for another pass-rusher like Allen, according to Pro Football Talk.
Allen, who is coming off his sixth-straight double-digit sack season, has 15 sacks in 10 career games against the Bears, according to CSN Chicago.
But if Allen can’t find a team willing to pay him what he feels he’s worth, he could choose to hang up his cleats for good. KFAN’s A.J. Mansour was the first to report on the possibility.
Jared has never been the type of guy who was going to hang around for too long and wear out his welcome. Fully aware of the common trajectory of an NFL career, Allen has made it clear that he had no inclinations to be that guy. The one who hung around too long in hopes of eclipsing records or winning a ring. We’ve seen that all too many times. Emmitt Smith, LaDainian Tomlinson and Brett Favre were all guilty of this. Some achieved what they were seeking while others simply faded away, tarnishing the tail end of their storied carries.
Heck, Jared even publicly encouraged Favre to steer clear of this when the rumors of a return popped up for the umpteenth time in 2013. He was quoted as saying “I’m gonna fly down [to Hattiesburg, MS] and tell him to stay retired…Brett, if you’re listening, stay retired man!”
Jared Allen wants to play next season, but at a certain value. if he can't see eye to eye with a suitor, he has other pursuits outside NFL
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 12, 2014
