Another Day, Another Honor For Jared Allen

by Christopher Gates on Jan 24, 2012 2:02 PM CST in Minnesota Vikings 2012 Off-Season

Any day, any time. . .and, yes, in any era. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

If it seems like we've been doing an overabundance of Jared Allen stories the past few days, it's because. . .well, we have been. He was one of the few Vikings that had a great season in 2011, and he's making news this off-season as well. Today, he has been given a very unique honor, courtesy of ESPN and a panel of 20 current National Football League Hall of Famers.

Today, Allen was named to ESPN's "Any Era" team, a group of 20 current players that "would have thrived in the years before television helped make football a secular religion and the nation's favorite pastime." The Any Era team is going to consist of 20 players, with ESPN rolling out four players a day until their team is complete.

Allen comes in at #16 on ESPN's list. Hall of Fame wide receiver James Lofton, one of the members of the ESPN panel, had this to say about him.

The most impressive thing I saw Jared Allen do this year -- he rushes the passer, yes. And he's a great run-stopper. He had 66 tackles and 22 sacks. But the most impressive thing is he filled in as the long-snapper this season. The long-snapper went down, Jared Allen filled in, and he's covering punts and he's running down there a million miles an hour. That says to me: football player. You transport him back to the '60s, Jared Allen could have played anywhere up and down that line. And that calf-roping thing, I love that, too.

The man is a bad ass, regardless of how you slice it. He definitely could have played years ago and, as Lofton says, he wouldn't necessarily have had to be a defensive end. He could have a few different positions on the field.

The introduction to the "Any Era" team says that the Vikings landed two of the 20 spots on the squad. I'm going to go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out on a limb and assume that the other Viking that made it is a certain running back that we all know and love, but we'll know for sure by Friday.

The other players on the team that have been named thus far are Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos' quarterback Tim Tebow, Detroit Lions' defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Indianapolis Colts' defensive end Dwight Freeney, New York Jets' cornerback Darrelle Revis, Baltimore Ravens' running back Ray Rice, and Baltimore Ravens' safety Ed Reed.

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Comments

Congrats Jared! And he should get another honor

To be named to the NFL all-time great singing club. He nails it every which way!

by liveforadrenaline on Jan 24, 2012 2:07 PM CST reply actions

Cool idea for a list

and Tebow would definitely had thrived before the Super Bowl era.

Follow @JayKlinkhammer

by y2jayjk on Jan 24, 2012 2:15 PM CST reply actions

Tebow made it?

Are you kidding me? He’s picked up before Brady? Breez? hell even Ponder or Webb… My car is great, my dog is cool, thus my dog must make a great car! Rediculousness.

The Vikes aren't in a remodeling or reconstruction they are in a burn the place down and start praying they don't mimic the Lions rebuilding process.

by Grime on Jan 24, 2012 2:35 PM CST reply actions

No Doubt

Tebow, wow I wish the ESPN guru’s would get off of Tebow’s jock. It’s sickening, there are more accomplished and proven QBs

by BleedPurple60 on Jan 24, 2012 2:41 PM CST up reply actions

LOL TEBOW HATERS.

He is just better than most.

Follow @JayKlinkhammer

by y2jayjk on Jan 24, 2012 3:51 PM CST up reply actions

At throwing

Balls wildly out reach of his receivers and fumbling thanks to his incredibly long wind up. He doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Peyton Manning.

by Amrius on Jan 24, 2012 8:48 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

Yeah, how dare guys who actually played the game at a high level, who got into the HoF, actually have an opinion.

by Ragnar on Jan 25, 2012 6:45 AM CST up reply actions

The list is in reverse order. That said, Tebow is ranked about Peyton Manning for some reason.

by Birdman84 on Jan 24, 2012 3:12 PM CST up reply actions

you beat me to it....

As I was logging in to posr. Grrrr… lol

by dumdristig on Jan 24, 2012 3:15 PM CST up reply actions

post, not posr

by dumdristig on Jan 24, 2012 3:16 PM CST up reply actions

Jared drafted as a Long Snapper

And look what he has become, Awesome.

by BleedPurple60 on Jan 24, 2012 2:43 PM CST reply actions

I wasn't sure if you were pulling our legs...

So I looked it up. Here is SI’s draft profile from back in 2004:

JARED ALLEN
Position: DE
Class: Sr
School: Idaho St.
Conference: Big Sky
Ht., Wt.: 6’6, 265
40 Time: 4.72
Grade: 3.37

Selected by Kansas City Chiefs
Round 4, pick 30 (126 overall)
BIO: All-American and all-conference selection as a senior, as well as given the Buck Buchanan Award as NCAA I-AA Defensive Player of the Year. Finished the season leading the team with 102/28/17.5 and also defended nine passes. Junior totals included 63/18/10.5 after sophomore numbers of 49/16/6.5.

POSITIVES: Productive small school prospect with a penchant for making plays all over the field. Imposing looking figure that plays with balance, leverage and is rarely off his feet. Drives up the field and tough to handle. Can twist or stunt, quick off the edge and smooth changing direction.

NEGATIVES: Overall game lacks explosion, a closing burst to the ball carrier and strength. At times easily ridden from the play or handled at the point.

ANALYSIS: At first glance, Allen looks like a top prospect based on productivity yet lacks the top upside for the next level. Will find a spot on an active NFL roster if he continues to make plays into the opponents backfield.

PROJECTION: Late Sixth Round

Think SI would like that one back? Not that many probably disagreed at the time, mind you.

by dumdristig on Jan 24, 2012 3:19 PM CST up reply actions

Doesn't that prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Draft id a Crap Shoot

That is really awesome analysis.. We all have heard it, this should sink in.. Game Changer can be found throughout the DRAFT.. Leverage our 3rd pick for more picks..
CONGRATS Jared Allen AKA Game Changer Extraordinaire

by DC Viking on Jan 24, 2012 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

JA's dad taught him how to be a long-snapper and told him that's your best ticket to get to the NFL

I wonder if that will allow him to prolong his career to age 40 – at the point he loses a step-or-two he can switch positions. The guy has pass-catching skills too. We haven’t used him as such but KC played him at TE in the Red Zone and I believe he has 3 TD receptions. I saw him play at ISU and have followed him about 10 years – amazing natural athletic talent combined with competitive drive and determination. Never misses a game (due to injury) and wants to play every down.

by Caretaker QB on Jan 24, 2012 9:05 PM CST up reply actions

AP is going to be number 1...

Vikings were actually third in the NFL with 2 players on the team.

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." -Mark Twain

by Landonio on Jan 24, 2012 3:06 PM CST reply actions

Prediction Time...

This list will have way too many running backs and quarterbacks.

The Tebow and Freeney selections are ridiculous.

by Birdman84 on Jan 24, 2012 3:13 PM CST reply actions

WTG Jared

Well deserved, he clearly belongs on this list. But can someone explain to me what the difference between this and other “best of” lists of the NFL are supposed to be? If one is good, of course you could have played in any era, unless you have a narrow skill set that no coach knew how to utilize back then (or that rule changes have made useful when it wasn’t before). But that doesn’t rule out many players that have any chance at making a best 20 list.

by dumdristig on Jan 24, 2012 3:22 PM CST reply actions

Brees/Brady would be swallowed up in the 70s

Whereas Manning has the highest IQ so he works for any era. Same with Tebow’s grit and running ability in let’s say the 50s and before. Does no one read these things?

Follow @JayKlinkhammer

by y2jayjk on Jan 24, 2012 3:53 PM CST reply actions