Chiefs DE Jared Allen wants out

[mooby]

Allen wants trade from Chiefs

Contract conflict leads to request

By ELIZABETH MERRILL and RANDY COVITZ

The Kansas City Star

“It doesn’t look like my future is going to be (in Kansas City). … I wanted to finish my career there.”

Less than two months ago, Jared Allen was poised to buy a ranch in Liberty, become the face of the Chiefs’ defense, and settle into a town he’s embraced as his own.

Now Allen wants out of Kansas City.

Allen told The Star on Saturday that he formally requested a trade when a meeting between his agent and members of the Chiefs’ front office produced no contract proposal. The Chiefs denied Allen’s request, and president/general manager Carl Peterson said the club plans to tender Allen on March 1, the deadline for teams to submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents.

Allen led the NFL with six fumble recoveries in 2006 and has produced 27 1/2 sacks in his first three years with the Chiefs. But after more than a year of conversations and weeks of numbers being bandied about, Allen’s agent, Ken Harris, said the sides were still “far apart” from a long-term deal.

Allen’s three-year contract expires this week.

Harris said the club plans to high tender Allen, which means that if another team signed him to an offer sheet, the Chiefs could match it or receive a first- and third-round draft pick.

Allen, who would earn $2.35 million as a high tender in 2007, said he isn’t optimistic about future negotiations with the Chiefs.

“For me, personally, it’s beyond that point,” Allen said.

“I feel shocked and hurt. Requesting a trade was probably the toughest thing I’ve had to do. It’s nothing personal against the town of Kansas City and the fans. It’s been great. (But) it doesn’t look like my future is going to be there, and I have to accept that. That’s why this is so hard. All the hard work I’ve put in, the blood, sweat and tears … I wanted to finish my career there. I was led to believe I was going to.”

Hours after the meeting took place in Indianapolis, Peterson said he still wants Allen on the team and that they’ve been discussing a long-term contract, but “he wants too much money,” Peterson said.

Allen was one of the biggest surprises of the 2004 draft, far exceeding the expectations of a fourth-round pick from Idaho State. He cracked the starting lineup as a rookie at defensive end, led the team with nine sacks, and quickly became a fan favorite.

He improved his all-round game in 2006, with 64 solo tackles, 7 1/2 sacks and three forced fumbles. He earned a base salary of just $425,000, and Allen said he was led to believe he would be rewarded with a long-term deal.

“My teammates are awesome, and my coaches are awesome,” Allen said. “But it’s just not an environment that I want to be in right now. I feel like I’ve been misrepresented by the powers-that-be that certain things were going to happen.”

One factor in the contract process, Peterson said, is the fact that Allen just served a jail sentence for his second DUI arrest. But Peterson wants him on the team, and that’s why he won’t trade him.

“There’s always a risk,” he said. “And we haven’t found out yet from the National Football League how much of a suspension they’re going to give him (in 2007).

“He’s a very good football player. But he’s also a young man at risk, and we know that, and so does the National Football League. We’re trying to work out something that makes sense, and hopefully that will be done.”

Harris declined to comment on specifics of the negotiations. At the end of Saturday’s meeting, Harris asked one last time whether there was a proposal the Chiefs wanted to put on the table.

“The reply was no,” Harris said. “And we all shook hands, and I left.”

Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said he was confident the sides would strike a fair deal. He said he wanted Allen on the team. “The first offer is not always the last offer,” Edwards said. “It’s a process. When you want to get things done, sometimes you get a little frustrated, and that’s why players hire agents and why there are negotiations.”

Am I the only one that would love to see him in a Redskins uniform? Reading about him brought up memories of the game he had against Chris Samuels two seasons ago.

[Redskin Rich]

Anyone else heard the rumor that the Skins are shopping Portis and going with Betts? Ladell is more of a Gibbs style back.

[AlvinWalton'sNeckBrace]

Originally Posted by Redskin Rich

Anyone else heard the rumor that the Skins are shopping Portis and going with Betts? Ladell is more of a Gibbs style back.

where is this coming from...I've heard we were shopping Betts.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by Redskin Rich

Anyone else heard the rumor that the Skins are shopping Portis and going with Betts? Ladell is more of a Gibbs style back.

Yeah, I also heard that Peyton Manning, Champ Bailey and Pierce want to come here.

Gibbs likes backs that hold onto the ball. In between the tackles Portis runs just as hard as Betts.

[wilsowilso]

I like Allen very much. He absolutely ate us alive two years ago, but he is a restricted free agent and he is getting the highest tender so basically he isn't going anywhere because a first and a third is just too high a price 95% of the time.

[SmootSmack]

I wouldn't trade picks for him. Plus he's facing a second DUI charge from earlier this year. If convicted, he'll probably be suspended from the NFL for the first few games of the 2007 season.

[freddyg12]

Maybe a sign & trade deal could be worked out, but it sounds like Chiefs mgmt. is wisely holding onto its commodity & would want a lot. That scares me, but if they ask for B. Loyd & AA, deal done!

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

Maybe a sign & trade deal could be worked out, but it sounds like Chiefs mgmt. is wisely holding onto its commodity & would want a lot. That scares me, but if they ask for B. Loyd & AA, deal done!

There's no such thing as a sign and trade in the NFL..

I'd love to see him in a Redskins uni, but it's not gonna happen.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

There's no such thing as a sign and trade in the NFL..

I'd love to see him in a Redskins uni, but it's not gonna happen.

Guess this is semantics. Are you saying that a contract CAN'T officially be signed until after the trade is done? If so, I'll believe you, but teams in recent years have traded players only after the recieving team agrees to a deal w/that player. If you're saying this is done on a handshake agreement, then the contract is officially signed later, that makes sense. I called it a sign & trade because the trade doesn't get done if there's not a contract agreement for the player. Maybe I'm borrowing from NBA lingo.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

Guess this is semantics. Are you saying that a contract CAN'T officially be signed until after the trade is done? If so, I'll believe you, but teams in recent years have traded players only after the recieving team agrees to a deal w/that player. If you're saying this is done on a handshake agreement, then the contract is officially signed later, that makes sense. I called it a sign & trade because the trade doesn't get done if there's not a contract agreement for the player. Maybe I'm borrowing from NBA lingo.

Right, in the NBA you can trade the contract with no cap implications.. In the NFL you can grant negotiating rights and trade then let the player sign. Pretty sure this is what happened with Champ.

[dmek25]

allen sounds like the majority of players. a BIG freakin baby. how about just shutting up and letting your playing do the talking?

[That Guy]

allen's upset but he's not coming here.

[Smurf85]

I wouldn't want him he's already been in trouble once.

[GTripp0012]

He's not leaving Kansas City. He's on the RFA tender, he has no leverage.

If he still wants out after next season, he's going to be gone. KC is not going to be trading him before then.

[artmonkforhallofamein07]

Don't want him. Maybe next year when hes a free agent. And quit talking about trading Portis, its not going to happen.