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.

Dec 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams (93) against the Green Bay Packers at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Packers 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier today, the Minnesota Vikings renegotiated a contract with Defensive Tackle Kevin Williams.  The move saved the Vikings approximately 2.5 million dollars, but also removed 2014 from his contract.

This wouldn’t be a problem, but the Vikings are already facing some major problems on the defensive line after this season.  Not only will Kevin Williams be a free agent, but many other mainstays on the line will be coming to the end of their contracts.

Defensive End Jared Allen is in the last year of his deal.  He’s currently making over 17 million dollars this year and the Vikings may have trouble getting him to work out an extension.  He’s also 31 years old and coming off injuries.

Defensive End/Defensive Tackle Everson Griffen is coming into the final year of his rookie deal.  He is the most likely of all the players to sign an extension because of his age and versatility.

Defensive End Brian Robison is also in the final year of his deal.  He’ll be 30 years old this year, but doesn’t have as much wear and tear on him as other starting Defensive Ends his age.

Defensive Tackle Fred Evans is the another player the Vikings will have to decide upon.  He is currently the backup for Letroy Guion, but was seemingly more effective than Guion last year.

With all of those players facing the end of their deals, it is almost a foregone conclusion that the Vikings Defensive Line will look different in 2014.  The only question is how many of these key players will they be able to retain?

You’d think Brian Robison would be way too young for KISS to have any significance in his life. Well guess again. Clearly Robison is a huge KISS fan as evidenced by his Halloween costume. And that’s Mrs. Robison dressed up as…Gene Simmons’ daughter? Um, yeah. Let’s go with that. So much nicer than the other possibility. I apologize for my runaway imagination. For a second I thought she might be an early ’80s groupie.

The big question: Where does one get a full Gene Simmons costume complete with studded bat-wing cape? Is that carried by every costume store? Or do you have to get that custom-made? And were there any other Vikings dressed up as any other members of KISS? Jared Allen as Ace Frehley? That I’d pay to see. And Letroy Guion as Peter Criss. I’d pay even more to see that.

Only one quibble with Robison’s costume: the shoes. Gotta have the giant KISS platforms otherwise it’s not complete. What can I say? I’m a stickler when it comes to KISS costume accuracy.

(Via Brian Robison’s Twitter)

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