The Jared Allen Riddle
January 8th, 2014
His December numbers were eye-opening
Maybe it is because Joe has not had any sleep and has to catch a flight to the frigid north in nine hours, but Joe is starting to warm to the idea of the Bucs chasing veteran defensive end Jared Allen.
(Joe better start warming to something. The temperature is hovering around 16 degrees where Joe is headed.)
The legendary Vikings sackmaster will be a free agent in a handful of weeks. Joe knows fans want him but Joe is cautious. Allen has seen better days. This is not 2004, but 2014. Just how much gas does Allen have left in his tank.
Then Joe read the Twitterings of the Custodian of Canton, the eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune, breaking down why Allen should and very well could be a target of the Bucs.
@IKaufmanTBO: Leslie Frazier’s presence on Lovie Smith’s staff could help the Bucs lure Jared Allen to Tampa if the Vikings allow him to hit free agency. … Yes, Jared Allen turns 32 in April, but he posted 6.5 sacks in December for the Vikes to run his streak of double-digit sack seasons to 7
Man, if the Bucs had any player that could post 6.5 sacks in a month, they would party like Red Lightning.
Joe is starting to see the light. The Bucs need someone, anyone, to bring heat off the edge, which would rally free up Gerald McCoy. Allen still has the juice. Minnesota is rebuilding and may not want to throw around cash to keep Allen.
The thought of a defensive end getting 6.5 sacks in the month of December may just be enough for Joe to forget the cold this week.
January 8th, 2014 at 10:00 am
Get Kraken first!
January 8th, 2014 at 10:07 am
If we can get a J.A. on this team our defense would be very scary. I wonder if we keep Jabba the Penn at LT if these two will play nice.
January 8th, 2014 at 10:07 am
I say snag him up and buy some time so we can wait for an opportunity to snag a top prospect with a future first round pick. I’ll take a 30-something Allen over a T’eo Nesheim any day of the week
January 8th, 2014 at 10:11 am
It’s the eluding piece on the line we’ve been missing consistent rushing without giving up run gaps. All Mccoy needed was a partner n crime both of them will have double digit sacks if healthy I’d say 11.5 for Mccoy and 15 or 16 for Allen and will golston and clayborne and maybe even means can rack up the spares trust me with that type of rush with the coverage we have on the back end sacks will b plentiful if we land a stud like Allen
January 8th, 2014 at 10:11 am
I would love to have a proven player of Jared caliber for the right price. Bennett is a great option too. Whatever happens I do believe they will flourish playing next to McCoy unlike the “players” that claim they received no coaching.
Clayborn and Bowers should be on the bubble to me.
January 8th, 2014 at 10:16 am
We need him n Brian urlacher out of retirement! No punks bitches allowed “diquan bitch bench bowers”.
January 8th, 2014 at 10:18 am
If it is true that the Glazers considered bringing Gruden back, there should be no shame in trying to mend fences with Michael Bennett. Lovie has the style and charm to sit down and talk to Bennett. At 28, way more upside, than Jared Allen who turns 32 in April.
This from CBSSports:
Writes USA Today: “One NFL executive, speaking on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons, guessed Allen will get $9 million to $11 million a year. Another executive guessed Elvis Dumervil’s five-year, $26 million deal with Baltimore could be closer ‘because of age and tread on the tires.
I Think Bennett could be had for 6 or 7mil, maybe less.
January 8th, 2014 at 10:23 am
Jared Allen is a head case. Exactly the manster type we need too! I believe Gholston and perhaps a healthy Bowers could greatly benefit from Allen’s mindset.
January 8th, 2014 at 10:27 am
PFT says that we’re interviewing the D/Player Personnel from the Falcons so those of you who are looking to sell the farm to move up for a “franchise QB” you might just get it, a la Julio Jones.
January 8th, 2014 at 10:28 am
Take him in a heart beat. And Frazier should know how much Allen might still have in his tank.
January 8th, 2014 at 10:32 am
Allen would instantly become the Bucs best edge rusher. He probably has some tread on the tires but the Bucs need to have an eye on the future if they sign him. Developing Gholston, Clayborn, Bowers or another draft pick is a must. Maybe one of the young ends currently on the roster will excel under Frazier.
January 8th, 2014 at 10:36 am
I absolutely HATE Jared Allen’s personality. He is just a tool. He’s not funny but sure seems to think he is. Always chasing the camera to say something stupid and unfunny.
That said. I would LOVE to have that annoying guy on this team playing next to GMC.
January 8th, 2014 at 10:59 am
I agree with you Joe and I like your idea of going after Greg Hardy first.
January 8th, 2014 at 11:01 am
Chef Paul
The annoying players are always far less annoying in Pewter 🙂
January 8th, 2014 at 11:14 am
Not opposed to it as long as it is a cap friendly contract. At his age, we don’t need to sell the farm to get him. That being said, even if he could average 3 sacks a month I’d take it!
January 8th, 2014 at 11:15 am
@Chef Paul – Think about how much Sapp would’ve gotten under your skin in another uniform.
January 8th, 2014 at 11:16 am
Even though Allen is older he can still ball. He’s familiar with Frazer. He’s got rabid dog in him , he can teach the up N comers and he’ll put asses in the seats.
January 8th, 2014 at 11:34 am
Maybe to Allen yes to Bennett. No way we land hardy-staying with the panthers. I say we go after Tillman, he was a big lovie supporter and I think Hester May end up with us which would be awesome.
January 8th, 2014 at 11:45 am
Stop Whining about the Weather.
Lovie will develop a good plan and he has a buttload of money to spend.
January 8th, 2014 at 12:03 pm
If we are going to pay premium $$$ to a free agent DE, I would prefer we did so with Michael Johnson or Greg Hardy. Brian Orakpo would be my #3 option… Allen would be okay as long as the deal is similiar to recent Buc deals of very little guaranteed money. Paying top cash for a 32 year old DE isn’t my idea of good business. On the other hand, Allen is rarely ever hurt (and he wsa very productive in December) so he likely won’t wear down like most older players do late in seasons.
January 8th, 2014 at 12:37 pm
Allen has a year or 2 left to be productive, after that he will be done. If the Bucs can get him to sign a cap friendly contract they should be in. An aging Jared Allen is an upgrade over Teo and Bowers.
January 8th, 2014 at 12:41 pm
But if you can break the bank for Hardy go ahead and do so. You know the Bucs are going to ask Joseph to redo his contract or release him. They can’t continue to pay him like a premium lineman. Nicks too. Offensive lineman can be drafted in later rounds and developed. Mark Dominick was crazy paying Joseph and Nicks what he did looking back in hindsight.
January 8th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
There is no way Carolina is going to let Hardy get away. Signing Allen would be a definite upgrade. As would Bennett. If not Allen Michael Johnson would be nice but expensive. Like the idea of getting some of the Bears players as well. I’d rather get established FA opposed to the draft which is a crap shoot. Look how many draft choices that didn’t work out.
January 8th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Looking forward to seeing Smith’s and Frasier’s approach in developing both Bowers and Gholston. Hopefully one of them (if not both) can become the edge rusher so badly needed, they are both very talented athletes who didn’t seem to be nurtured well enough from Schiano’s regime. However, if these new coaches see something in either or both of these DE’s after watching film, then going with offense on the first pick of the draft could be a lot easier. That narrows the pick to either a QB, WR, TE or OL.
They may have to move up to get the right QB (Bortles or Manziel), could probably use their own pick to get a WR (Watkins) or even consider trading down and getting their TE (Ebron).
Most important decision is whether Glennon can be THEE man. The best NFL QBs of today can walk up to the line, read the defense, change the play on a dime and when passing place the ball where the WR can make good YAC. Will Tedford see that in Glennon? If not, then I believe Watkins is the pick.
January 8th, 2014 at 1:27 pm
Geez, too much caffiene this morning on the west coast! Last sentence of previous should read:
If not, I would move up to get either Bortles or Manziel. If Glennon can be THEE man, then I would take Watkins.
Now, where did I leave that donut…..
January 8th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
I would love to get Allen to a 2 year deal if possible or a longer one where he could be cut after 2. No way are the Panthers letting Hardy walk, no way!
January 8th, 2014 at 1:56 pm
It’s OK to go after one of these guys at the tail-end of his career… but let’s not start dumping a bunch of money into older guys. They still need to draft and develop as the primary means of player acquisition.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
I am looking forward to seeing Clayborn rushing the QB, instead of dropping into coverage or stunting. He was misused by Shiano, and he suffered for it. AC was not the problem, the scheme was the problem. All of our guys will be better under this staff. I would love to have any of the guys each of you mentioned though. Mark my words, our entire defense will look better right away. I also wonder how good our new linemen will do under these coaches, Shiano’s crew had them looking decent, maybe they will turn into beasts!
January 8th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
I seriously doubt Hardy hits the open market but if he does then I would agree that should be our first choice.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:44 pm
I say Hardy if he is there and Allen as a part time guy if the price is right. Clayborn should be better next year with season 2 from the injury so a platoon of him, Allen, Hardy, Bowers (haha), and Gholston could stay fresh and do well.
January 9th, 2014 at 10:17 am
Mark my words…. Hester, Tillman, Allen and(or) Peppers will be Bucs