Jared Allen Says He’d Leave Minnesota Vikings If Asked to Restructure Contract
By Josh Hill
The Minnesota Vikings have had an amazing offseason of building for the future, but fans are hoping that part of the future involves superstar defensive end Jared Allen. While he’s been the most productive member of the Vikings defense over the past few years, Allen told the Star Tribune that the Vikings haven’t discussed anything about his contract with him but if they use the word ‘restructure’ he’s going to be “through the first door out” of Minnesota.
“You use the word restructure and that to me makes it feel like they’d want me to take a pay cut,” Allen told the Star Tribune when asked about restructuring his deal with the Vikings. “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.”
Usually teams restructure contracts to save money, but Allen’s not entirely wrong when he says restructure is code for pay cut. However not every restructured contract has seen money fly out the window as Peyton Manning’s new deal with the Broncos didn’t touch his salary rather it adjusted the payout of it to save Denver money to spend.
Allen says that he’s not going to think or discuss his contract because he’s all about football and “has people” to do his dealings for him.
“We’re going to go about our business and play good ball and try to win a Super Bowl,” Allen said. “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.”
The issue is pressing though as Allen is entering the final year of his contract with the VIkings, and at the age of 31 it’s hard to believe the Vikings will offer him $14 million or more, which is what he’s currently slated to make. Allen is a stalwart in the Vikings organization and he’s a guy the team is going to want to keep happy if he’s indeed in the plans for the future.