Contract issues on hold, Jared Allen aiming to have big 2013

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Minnesota better resign him. I am glad the team is committed to the youth movement, but you don't let players like Allen go because you want to get younger.

For all those that are complaining about Allen, just remember how god damn awful the pass rush was before Allen came here. This team would be (and would have been) vastly different if Jared Allen never came to Minnesota.

[dead_poet]

Allen has "no beefs" with Vikings as he enters contract year
http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Jare ... deal060513

But Allen strongly suggested after watching Wednesday's organized team activity practice at Winter Park he'd prefer to focus on football once the season starts and he begins collecting nearly $1 million a game.

"Then everybody comes to the table at the same place," Allen said. "A lot of guys try to get more money before (the deal's up). Hey, I signed a contract for six years. They signed a contract for six years. It's very, very rare when both sides honor that. A lot of guys get let go in the last year or restructure in the last year. A lot guys ... they play one good year and they want to re-up.

"For me, this is the commitment I made -- let me honor that. They want to honor it. So, that's great. For me, I've got no beefs, no quarrels, no nothing with it."

[Mothman]

Allen has "no beefs" with Vikings as he enters contract year
http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Jare ... deal060513

Allen has a godo perspective on this.

I'm VERY curious about Spielman's plans for the d-line.

[Crax]

Allen didn't have a bad year last year, but if he was injured most of the time, he probably feels he can do better this year. Might as well just wait and see how the year goes.

[Eli]

Allen didn't have a bad year last year, but if he was injured most of the time, he probably feels he can do better this year. Might as well just wait and see how the year goes.

And if Allen gets off to a slow start or has a fully mediocre $17,000,000 season, those two offseason surgeries will be there as a ready excuse.

[Mothman]

And if Allen gets off to a slow start or has a fully mediocre $17,000,000 season, those two offseason surgeries will be there as a ready excuse.

There's a cheerful thought...

Allen hasn't had a mediocre season as a Viking so I wouldn't expect one now.

[dead_poet]

There's a cheerful thought...

Allen hasn't had a mediocre season as a Viking so I wouldn't expect one now.

Problem is, "mediocre" is subjective. Compared to what? Jared's standards or the league average? What's mediocre? Are we JUST talking sacks? If so, is, say, 10 sacks mediocre or poor? Did he come up big on third downs to get the defense off the field? Do hurries count? TFL? Batted balls? Solo tackles? How often is he double-teamed? Held? Chipped? Does that matter?

[VikingLord]

For almost a million a game he's got to be better than average. That's QB-like compensation. I'm glad the Vikes are honoring the contract, although I wish they would have renegotiated it down a bit and maybe given him another 2-3 seasons on a new deal, but it sure looks like Spielman is setting up for next year's draft here.

With the way so many vets have been released and failed to negotiate deals anywhere near their previous year payouts (Winfield, Woodson, and what was offered to Urlacher as examples), Allen is going to have to have another objectively monster season to come anywhere near what he's going to make this year. In fact, I'd be surprised if the entirety of Allen's next contract amounts to what he's making in this final season.

[Mothman]

Problem is, "mediocre" is subjective. Compared to what? Jared's standards or the league average? What's mediocre? Are we JUST talking sacks? If so, is, say, 10 sacks mediocre or poor? Did he come up big on third downs to get the defense off the field? Do hurries count? TFL? Batted balls? Solo tackles? How often is he double-teamed? Held? Chipped? Does that matter?

That's a lot of questions in 2 lines!

I'd say his performance should be compared to league standards and no, it's not just about sacks. 10 sacks would definitely not be poor since in most seasons that would put him in the upper half of the league. It would be disappointing since that would represent his lowest single season total as a Viking but it wouldn't be poor.

I think everything about his performance counts (batted balls, hurries, solo tackles, etc.). After all, he's getting paid big bucks to pressure the QB but it's not his only job.

I don't understand why there's concern about Allen playing average or mediocre after getting a shoulder injury repaired when he was better than average with the injury. I see no reason at all to expect he won't continue to be one of the better DEs in the game this season.

[Mothman]

Just as a reminder of what the pass rush was like before Allen joined the team, Lance Johnstone's 7.5 sacks in 2005 was the highest total for a Viking player in the 3 years before they signed Allen.

Kevin Williams had 11.5 sacks in 2004 and Johnstone had 11 that year. Prior to that, the last viking player to post more than 11 sacks in a season was John Randle, with 15.5 in 1997.

Allen's lowest sack total as a Viking is 11, just 1/2 sack short of their highest total for an individual player over the previous 9 seasons.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Just as a reminder of what the pass rush was like before Allen joined the team, Lance Johnstone's 7.5 sacks in 2005 was the highest total for a Viking player in the 3 years before they signed Allen.

Kevin Williams had 11.5 sacks in 2004 and Johnstone had 11 that year. Prior to that, the last viking player to post more than 11 sacks in a season was John Randle, with 15.5 in 1997.

Allen's lowest sack total as a Viking is 11, just 1/2 sack short of their highest total for an individual player over the previous 9 seasons.

Lance Freaking Johnstone. Man, I am getting old (okay, not really). Only seems like a few years ago the guy was on the team.

[Mothman]

Lance Freaking Johnstone. Man, I am getting old (okay, not really). Only seems like a few years ago the guy was on the team.

I had forgotten all about him until I looked up those stats. Now that's a sign of getting old...

[losperros]

I had forgotten all about him until I looked up those stats. Now that's a sign of getting old...

I agree. You're definitely getting old, Jim! Glad I don't have that problem.

Anyway, as I was going to say...umm...uhh...what's this thread about again?

[mansquatch]

Moth is exactly right. Robison and Griffen are good, but Allen is great, even 30-something Allen. I think folks have gotten flat out spoiled with just how great he is. After seeing him put up over 20 sacks in 2011 they have raised the bar when most guys in the league are lucky to get to 10.

I know folks are saying “we can’t let him hit FA” and I get that. However, Allen is what 32? He is reaching the twilight of his career as an elite player. He still probably has a few years of elite playing left in him, maybe what 2-4? So the question from a cap standpoint is what do you do? If you give him another monster deal, then you get stuck paying the guaranteed during years where maybe his productivity has fallen off. On the flipside if you low ball him he could walk away, there will be teams that will pay him.

I don’t know if Spielman is making the right call, but their strategy seems to be one of good will. Allen is right when he says that rarely do teams play out a contract. So in that sense the Vikings are acting in good faith towards Allen. Given what we’ve seen of Allen, I think he is very sensitive to this fact and it was the right move. The question will be next offseason when it comes time to negotiate a new deal. My guess is the new deal will be smaller than the current one, but the question is how much smaller.

Another factor is the development of Ponder. If Ponder turns the corner this year they are going to need cap space to keep him signed. Finally, we have to hope they learned their lesson with Winfield on at least what not to do with regards to bringing a Veteran’s salary down when their productivity begins to wane. A repeat of that would not be good for anyone.

Bottom line is that it is way too early to tell how this will play out. At this point I think folks should recognize that the card the Vikes have played is act in good faith and pay Allen. I don’t think we can argue that this is a bad move even if it is not what everyone wants to see, ie an extension.

[The Breeze]

I predict Allen retires a Viking.