EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Vikings have signed defensive end Jared Allen to a ceremonial one-day contract to allow the four-time All-Pro to formally retire as a member of the team.
The Vikings made the announcement Thursday.
Allen spent six of his 12 seasons with the Vikings, ranking third on the franchise's all-time list with 83 1/2 sacks. He finished his career in the Super Bowl with Carolina after being traded there by Chicago. Kansas City drafted Allen in the fourth round out of Idaho State in 2004.
His 136 sacks are the ninth most in NFL history.
Allen didn't miss a game for Minnesota, starting 96 regular-season contests and four playoff games. In 2011, Allen's 22 sacks finished a half-sack short of Michael Strahan's single-season record.
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AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org
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