The Minnesota Vikings have a great player in defensive end Jared Allen. We've already talked about Allen's willingness to help out rookie left tackle Matt Kalil in training camp to try and get him a jump-start, and we all know just how great Allen has been in the past. Last season, Allen came within half a sack of the NFL record for number of sacks in a single season.
So it would benefit the Vikings the most if they keep Allen on the field whenever they can, right? Well - probably - but it looks like the team is going to be running a defensive line rotation in 2012, according to the Star Tribune:
Vikings defensive coordinator Alan Williams spent part of his Tuesday news conference explaining to the media how his defensive line rotation will resemble a "hockey lineup" with eight guys rotating through on a regular basis.
On top of that, it looks like Allen hasn't been informed of these plans. Allen told the Star Tribune that the team hadn't told him that it was going to resemble a "hockey lineup," and said that it's probably something they'll "drop" on him toward the beginning of the season. Which will make him mad, of course.
Allen goes on to talk about how he feels the Vikings are a better team when he's on the field, which is another true statement. That being said, he made it clear that he'll do whatever it takes to win, because the team is most important. He just feels that winning and him being on the field chasing quarterbacks down goes hand-in-hand.
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