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As you well know, Jared Allen has reached an unfamiliar point as he enters his 10th NFL season. He’s suddenly in a contract year, playing out the final season of the deal he signed in 2008 and due to make $14,280,612 in base salary this season with a cap number north of $17 million.

Given Allen’s age (31), his battles with shoulder and knee injuries in 2012 and the expensive price tag he’ll certainly command until his playing days are over, it’s very possible his time as a Viking could be nearing an end.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 09251.html

Should have moved him after 2011 season.

Eh. Still too early for assumptions, I think. Let the season play out and take a looksie next off-season.

Im fine with Jared leaving next season. He's not putting up the numbers anymore to get the type of money he's asking for.

Jeffbleedspurple wrote:A mil per sack! Damn good money! If there is no talk for restructure then I would say it's coming from Allens side, but he has people for that. I think he is going to take his pretty millions and walk after this season, because from the sounds of it he is not bending.

It doesn't sound likes he's been asked to bend. He said they haven't talked about it "one iota".

JEC334 wrote:Im fine with Jared leaving next season. He's not putting up the numbers anymore to get the type of money he's asking for.

What is he asking for? There hasn't been any indication. We know what he's getting but we don't know what he'll want when his contract expires. Presumably, he won't come cheap but as a DE in his 30s, he won't probably have the opportunity to sign a contract as lucrative as the one he's playing under now.

As for the numbers... fans are sure fickle. He's one season removed from challenging for the all-time sack record and he finished in the top 10 in sacks last year (just like he's done every other year as a Viking) despite playing injured.

Mothman wrote: It doesn't sound likes he's been asked to bend. He said they haven't talked about it "one iota".
What is he asking for? There hasn't been any indication. We know what he's getting but we don't know what he'll want when his contract expires. Presumably, he won't come cheap but as a DE in his 30s, he won't probably have the opportunity to sign a contract as lucrative as the one he's playing under now.

As for the numbers... fans are sure fickle. He's one season removed from challenging for the all-time sack record and he finished in the top 10 in sacks last year (just like he's done every other year as a Viking) despite playing injured.

Quote from Allen:
"You use the word restructure and that to me makes it feel like they’d want me to take a pay cut,” replied Allen. “And if anybody asked me to take a pay cut, I’d be through the first door out of there. So no. We haven’t talked one iota. It is what it is. And we’re going to go about our business and play good ball and try to win a Super Bowl. And like I said the business stuff? We take care of that in the offseason. I have people to do that. That’s why I don’t get into it. You’re not going to hear it from me. I won’t complain. I go about my business.”

MV711 wrote:Quote from Allen:
"You use the word restructure and that to me makes it feel like they’d want me to take a pay cut,” replied Allen. “And if anybody asked me to take a pay cut, I’d be through the first door out of there. So no. We haven’t talked one iota. It is what it is. And we’re going to go about our business and play good ball and try to win a Super Bowl. And like I said the business stuff? We take care of that in the offseason. I have people to do that. That’s why I don’t get into it. You’re not going to hear it from me. I won’t complain. I go about my business.”

That the quote I was referring to so thanks for posting it. It sounds to me like he wants to play out his contract and take it from there and the Vikings seem just fine with that. Tom Pelissero has written several times that the Vikes were prepared for the cap hit Allen represents this year and it doesn't sound like they've asked him to restructure his deal or take a pay cut. I imagine they'll make him a new offer after the season and the two sides will negotiate from there. Either that, or they'll just say "thanks" and Allen will play elsewhere.

Just because he's NOT willing to restructure his existing contract doesn't mean he won't be willing to take less money on a new contract. At least that's the way I read it.

In fact, whether he's playing in Minnesota or somewhere else, I'd be shocked if Allen doesn't take a pretty big pay cut in 2014 (unless he has a monster 2013 and someone gets excited and over pays). He's in his 30s now and struggled with injuries last year. Look what happened this year with guys like Freeney and Abrahms. Freeney sat until the Chargers were forced to do something due to injury....and I'm not even sure what happened to Abrahms.

I hope they make Griffen the priority resign on the DLine this year. Would love to see Robison and Allen return for 2 maybe 3 more years, but only at the right price. They have lots of FA this year and they need to lock up guys like Griffen and Cook so they can't afford to shell out big bucks for 30-something's on the decline.

Related awesomeness:

Jared Allen Hosts Night-Ops Golf Tourney

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 84cfa7ec6f

I think the salary stuff goes both ways and the Vikings seem to recognize that. Winfield's on field performance wasn't worth $7.5MM. The Vikings were right to ask him to restructure. We can get mad he is now playing for the Seachickens, but it should be noted they paid him ~$3MM, not $7.5MM. Was that deal handled well? Probably not, but in terms of the cap hit, the Vikes were right.

So with Allen, I see them as showing him respect by not asking him to restructure and paying him the highly lucrative last few years of his contract. When they attempt to do another deal with him I think they'll take into account his age and injuries and he won't be making $14MM a season anymore.

That is of course conjecture on my part, but given we are in an age where restructuring is common place, I think the fact they haven't asked him to restructure is a sign of good faith on the part of the organization.

not sure of Allen's dollar worth, but he draws a lot of penalties from Tackles trying to slow him down.

Against the Rams or Texans he got held and killed one of their biggest drives in the game..

The guy is one of our leaders on defense for sure ..

jackal wrote:not sure of Allen's dollar worth, but he draws a lot of penalties from Tackles trying to slow him down.

Against the Rams or Texans he got held and killed one of their biggest drives in the game..

The guy is one of our leaders on defense for sure ..

Yeah, Allen is great, I'm fine with how it's playing out for the final year of this deal. If we can get him back for a reasonable price over 2-3 years that would be great but I wouldn't over pay for him at this point. I really think Everson Griffen is a star in the making and unfortunately to see that come true one of robison or allen probably need to go.

I Fully expect us to be drafting a DE in the first round next year.

The Vikings need to be careful with the youth movement. Getting younger is a good thing but at the same time you also want to keep leadership on the team. With the loss of Winfield and the end in sight for Kevin Williams, Allen is the type of player I can see as being a leader for the defense for the next few years.

S197 wrote:The Vikings need to be careful with the youth movement. Getting younger is a good thing but at the same time you also want to keep leadership on the team. With the loss of Winfield and the end in sight for Kevin Williams, Allen is the type of player I can see as being a leader for the defense for the next few years.

Meh. Not at $10M+, or even $5M. Let him walk/run away. There will be plenty of veterans to provide leadership to the new players. A player doesn't need to be 32 years old and have 10 years in the league to be a leader.