Last week the Minnesota Vikings announced a trade that brought Jared Allen, 2007 NFL sack leader, to the team. Allen brings with him a lot of baggage in the form of multiple DUI arrests while he was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. While Allen claims that he has given up drinking and has moved forward from mistakes he made in the past there are understandably some skeptics out there. After the "Love Boat" fiasco, the failed second chance with Koren Robinson and many other issues with Vikings over the past couple years this move seems strange for a team that should be looking to clean up its image, but here's the bottom line....most Vikings fans don't care (including me). Look, we as Viking fans want the team to win, period. We're sick and tired of being the team that has made the Super Bowl but never won. Sure the past is littered with players who had behavior problems and completely flushed their career down the toilet, but there are also the shining gems like Cris Carter. Remember Cris Carter? Yeah, the guy who was referred to as a guy who could only catch touchdowns by Buddy Ryan. When he was released from Philadelphia the Vikings gave him a second chance and oh what a great decision that was. Sure the Vikes have given Jared Allen a $74 Million contract with $31 Million guaranteed (rumors are that this number could drop as low as $16 Million should Mr. Allen slip up). So what? Jemelle Hill with ESPN thinks we should all be questioning the signing and compares Allen to Pacman Jones along with others. Look, second chances are part of life and history is riddled with those who have failed and those who have succeeded. While this contract is more money than I will probably ever make in my entire lifetime we need to remember that none of these NFL contracts are guaranteed and even the "guaranteed" money isn't always guaranteed. While I agree that Allen should have a short leash I'm taking the wait and see attitude. If this D-line stays healthy and plays to it's past performance the QB's in the NFL will have a lot to deal with when facing the Vikings and Brett Farve will probably be even more content with staying retired...
Here's some highlights from the Vikings press conference introducing Allen.
1 comment:
Nice to see you back posting. Second chances are a part of sport. Heck A.J. was a reach when Kenny signed him in 2005. Of course we also signed Carl Everett every other year.
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