Jared Allen Unwilling To Take Pay Cut

Dec 23, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) sacks Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) during the third quarter at Reliant Stadium. The Vikings won 23-6. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive End Jared Allen is in the final year of his 6-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings.  As it currently stands, he is set to count as nearly $17 million against the salary cap.  Even though the Vikings have not approached him about taking a pay cut or restructuring his contract, that didn’t stop the 2-time season sack leader from commenting on the situation.

Recently, in an interview with Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune, the star Defensive End had some interesting words to say about his current contract situation and desire to restructure:

Dec 23, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) warms up before the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

“You use the word restructure and that to me makes it feel like they’d want me to take a pay cut. 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.”

There are many ways to interpret these comments.  When Allen says “I’d be through the first door out of there”, it is unclear if he means from the negotiations, from the team, or from the contract in general.  After seeing what happened to veteran Cornerback Antoine Winfield when he declined to take a pay cut, it is quite a confident statement from Jared Allen.

Dec 2, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Vikings 23-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Allen is coming off a year where he struggled mightily with shoulder and knee injuries and he is also not getting any younger.  Even though he is only 31 years old, he has some stiff competition at the Defensive End position.  He will be entering his 10th NFL season this year and will have to beat out some younger competition at Defensive End in Brian Robison and Everson Griffen, who both are also entering the final season of their contracts.

It is still unclear if Jared Allen will be a Minnesota Viking next year.  Jared is one of the most popular players on the Vikings team and is also one of the best known.  He has shown that he is one of the best players in the NFL when he is healthy and still has a lot of gas left in the tank.  Next offseason, Vikings fans should be holding their breath to see if the Mullet Militia returns to Minnesota after this year.