Jared Allen leaves Seattle minus deal
Jared Allen left the Seattle Seahawks facility following a second visit Thursday and headed home, where he will make a decision on where to sign this weekend, his agent told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Earlier in the day, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder that barring unforeseen developments, the pass-rusher intended to sign with the team and was in the process of finalizing a contract, but a deal wasn't reached Thursday.
Agent Ken Harris said in a text to ESPN that his client will "consider Seahawks offer along with the others, and make a decision this weekend."
The Seahawks will likely have to persuade Allen to accept being a situational player on the team's defensive line, a unit that was pivotal as Seattle dominated Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks led the NFL in fewest points and yards allowed, and they created the most turnovers in the league, a triple last accomplished by the 1985 Chicago Bears.
Allen has 128.5 career sacks, ranking him 12th in league history. He has seven consecutive double-digit sack seasons, including 11.5 in 2013, but his contract is likely for significantly less than DeMarcus Ware and Julius Peppers got for changing teams in free agency.
The Broncos signed Ware for three years and $30 million, with $20 million guaranteed. Peppers accepted a three-year deal with the Green Bay Packers totaling $30 million maximum, $7.5 million of which is guaranteed.
Seattle's first offseason priority was achieved when the team signed defensive end Michael Bennett. Also, the Seahawks released defensive end Chris Clemons. A deep rotation in the defensive line was important to maintain, especially since the team lost some coverage with cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond defecting in free agency.
The Seahawks have $15.2 million in salary-cap space but have been conservative in free agency because they will be pursuing long-term deals with Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman within the next 12 months.
Allen, who will be 32 in April, put himself in Hall of Fame consideration in six years with the Vikings, making four Pro Bowls and being named a first-team All-Pro three times.
He posted 85.5 sacks in those six seasons, nearly breaking Michael Strahan's single-season record in 2011 and finishing with double-digit sacks each season he was with the Vikings. The team did not offer Allen a contract extension before the final year of his deal, however, and weighed the possibility of trading Allen at the deadline last October.
Allen had just five sacks in the Vikings' first 11 games before tallying 6.5 in the team's final five games to finish with 11.5 for the season. He said before the end of the season that he'd retire before taking a job as a situational pass rusher.
ESPN.com Vikings reporter Ben Goessling contributed to this report.
