Jared Allen will be 32 years old for the 2014 season. In a ten-year career, Allen’s teams have only made the playoffs in four years (five games). However, in those five games, he still did some damage, recording four sacks. While he has made the playoffs, Allen has yet to be on a true championship caliber team. He would be on a true championship contender if he came to New England.
He finished the 2013 season with 11.5 sacks, his seventh consecutive double-digit sack season. Allen is just two years removed from a league-leading 22 sacks; however, his play has definitely slipped. He is not the same player he once was. Allen has said he does not want to go somewhere where he would be a situational pass rusher. He wants to start, or retire. If he came to New England, it is tough to say what exactly his role would be. He is a better pass rusher than Rob Ninkovich, but Nink has been very good for the Patriots. Perhaps the Patriots could convince Allen to come here in a role where he is not just a situational pass rusher, but not a starter either. By that, I mean they could run a rotational defensive line. They would have three very capable pass rushers in Allen, Ninkovich, and Chandler Jones, and a rotation could keep them all rested for the extended season that Patriots are almost guaranteed to have. Allen may be somewhat of a stretch. It all comes down to if he would be willing to accept the limited playing time, something he has already stated he would not want to do. (Money may be somewhat of an issue as well.) However, if he had the chance to win a championship, would he change his mind? Not only would his play be a great addition, with Allen’s tutelage, Chandler Jones could take the next step to becoming the elite pass rusher the Patriots believe he could be.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
SAMUEL PERICOLOSam is a graduate of Assumption College where he studied History, Marketing, and Political Science and was a Co-Producer on a weekly sports talk television show. Archives
March 2018
Categories |