Jared Allen Shoots Wild Game, Hunts QBs

Shapecity · Sep 6, 2008

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Jared Allen's hunger for adventure has taken him on hunts for red deer in New Zealand, bear in Idaho, and wild boar in Texas.

The next task is to track down a quarterback in Green Bay -- and all the other places Minnesota plays this season.

"Now everything that goes on paper sticks. Pre-season's erased, and I'm excited," Allen said. "The first week is always exciting. The trick is to carry the same enthusiasm through 16 weeks."

From what the Vikings have seen so far from Allen, the guy they gave dozens of millions to upgrade their pass rush and ideally elevate a sound defence to a level of dominance the franchise enjoyed years ago, maintaining a good mood won't be a problem for him.

Days after he joined the team, Allen sauntered on a stage with his fellow defensive linemen at a draft party for fans wearing a cowboy hat, tight jeans and huge grin. He was often seen clowning around with teammates after training camp practices, and he has a wit as quick as his moves to the quarterback.

"I told somebody the other day, 'God help us when he gets comfortable around here,' " coach Brad Childress said.

For the bounty they committed to the NFL's reigning sacks leader, the Vikings need Allen to be pumped up for much more than just 16 weeks. Failing to make the playoffs again -- they've gone only once in the last seven seasons -- will not be acceptable. Many questions are left to be answered, but the Vikings have positioned themselves as a legitimate contender in the NFC.

Allen was fetched in a trade with Kansas City for three draft picks, one in the first round and two in the third. He then signed a defensive-record six-year contract potentially worth more than US$74 million with at least $31 million -- plus $69 to match his jersey number -- guaranteed.

That's too high a price for another 8-8 finish.

"I'm eager to watch him play when it's for real and when things start counting," Childress said. "I've had a pretty good window here... He'll flash every day. He'll do something sudden every single day that you watch him play. God willing, he does a couple of those things come Monday night."

The Vikings open the regular season against their primary rivals, and the Packers will break in new quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He was asked this week about his awareness of the defensive end who had 15 1/2 sacks in 14 games last season for the Chiefs, Allen's fourth year in the league after he was drafted in the fourth round out of Idaho State.

"I know he had a sweet mullet for a while and he had that cool sack celebration that I hope he doesn't get to do on Monday," Rodgers said. "He's a great player, and he definitely adds something to their defence."

Tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams both played in the Pro Bowl last season. The other starting end, Ray Edwards, will enter his third year after getting five sacks in 12 games in 2007.

"The front four they have, I'd put that against any front four in the NFL," Rodgers said.
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Source: Winnepeg Free Press

Vintage · Sep 7, 2008

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Jared Allen Shoots Wild Game, Hunts QBs

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Jared Allen Shoots Wild Game, Hunts QBs

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