Jared Allen News

Dec 23, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen warms up before the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

To this point of the offseason, the Minnesota Vikings have elected to carry untouched the largest salary-cap hit for a non-quarterback in the NFL.

Dec 23, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen sacks Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub during the third quarter at Reliant Stadium.

The former Iowa linebacker is an elder statesman for the Minnesota Vikings, a franchise that advanced to the NFL playoffs last season and continues to overhaul its roster.

Jared Allen's six-year, $73.3 million contract he signed after being traded here in 2008 expires after next season.

I've never really been a big fan of the NFL Network's "Top 100" list that's become an annual thing.

The Minnesota Vikings are preparing for the 2013 NFL season similar to past years, with rookie minicamp taking place earlier this month and training camp in Mankato soon approaching this summer.

Vikings quarterbacks Matt Cassel left and Christian Ponder and receiver Greg Jennings took part in a offseason conditioning program Wednesday May 1, 2013 in Eden Prairie, MN.

It's been a couple weeks since the completion of the NFL Draft, and now we've got a much clearer picture of what depth charts across the league will look like.

The lead-up to 2013 started with a big splash, when Minnesota traded versatile wide receiver Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks for a bevy of draft picks.

From 10-6 and a playoff team to 4-12 and picking in the top five of the NFL draft again.

This video evidence shows Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman focused on trading up to secure the services of Tennessee receiver Cordarrelle Patterson -- a move to get not just his guy, but the team's guy, with the investment of months of scouting riding on his ability to pull it off.

Protecting Aaron Rodgers on the blindside from players like Jared Allen will be key to the Packers success in 2013.

Von Miller, J.J. Watt and Aldon Smith have turned their relationship off the field into a friendly competition on the field.

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen knows his team took a big step last season in making the playoffs.

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen had a pair of surgeries on the same day earlier this offseason, but he's feeling almost all of the way back to full strength.

The Vikings made it official Monday, April 29, that they have signed former Detroit defensive end Lawrence Jackson and also announced the signing of former Lions defensive back Jacob Lacey, who had visited Minnesota earlier this month.

The 2013 Vikings will have been molded through three offseasons focused on young players, two of them with Rick Spielman as GM, and they will have the potential for both dynamic football and drastic lapses.

Linebacker Jasper Brinkley calls out to the defense during practice at the second day of Vikings training camp in Mankato, Saturday, July 28, 2012.

The SEC set a record with 12 first-round draft picks, but the two most significant could be Florida's Sharrif Floyd and Matt Elam for a different reason.