Minnesota Vikings Jared Allen’s Potential Last Game A Great One
By Sarita Kelly
Jared Allen‘s potential final game in a Minnesota Vikings uniform was pretty memorable. He sacked Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford twice in the 14-13 victory. And if Sunday was indeed his last game with the Vikings, he’ll depart as one of the most popular players in team history.
Allen finished the season with double-digit sacks for the seven years. He lined up at tight end and almost caught his third touchdown pass in the NFL, and once he left the offensive line he received a standing ovation after the pass bounced off his hands.
Dec 29, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) celebrates a sack during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
“I did it a couple times in Kansas City,” Allen said. “I mean, those kinds of stats? Tony Gonzalez, watch out.”
His last game was a great one but it is highly unlikely that Allen will come back next year since Allen is scheduled to hit free agency soon. He made more than $17 million this season, and the Vikings gave a contract extension to Brian Robison earlier this season. Allen had not talked about a new deal with the Vikings before this year, and declined to talk about whether his agent had discussed a new contract with the team during the season.
“The conversations we’ve had are between us and I’d like to keep it that way,” he said. “I’ve always told you guys that I’ve always been on the same page as them. There’s no rug that is going to be pulled out from underneath anybody. I am not naive to the business side, and neither are they. The relationships here with the management and the coaches have been nothing but great. It will be a conversation about where they are going and where I see myself going. If it’s on the same path, great, but if not, we will part ways, but we’ll do it with the best intentions for everybody.”
“However it falls, I know the last six years have been amazing,” he said. “I could not have asked for more from this organization, and I could not have asked for more from this state. When I came here when I was 25, compared to how I am now, has been life-changing. Since then, I’ve met my wife, I got married and now I have a daughter. It has just been an absolute blessing.
“I’ll take some time to reflect. This isn’t just a one-sided decision, so we will see. I will have this conversation with everybody and we’ll see where it goes. However it works out, it will work out the way it’s supposed to.”