Vikings will open their new stadium in time for 2016 Season?!

Jared Allen Signs with Chicago Bears (AP)

AP Source: Jared Allen gets $15.5M from Bears

By ANDREW SELIGMAN (AP Sports Writer)

+The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) -- The +Chicago Bears were looking to jolt their struggling defense. How does adding Jared Allen sound?

The Bears agreed to a four-year contract with the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Wednesday, replacing one accomplished pass rusher with another as they rebuild a defense that ranked among the league's worst last season.

A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press that Allen will get $15.5 million guaranteed on a deal that could be worth as much as $32 million. The person requested anonymity because the terms have not been announced.

Allen's deal can be voided down to three years and $24 million, but the first two years of his salary and a roster bonus next March are fully guaranteed.

The 31-year-old Allen spent the previous six years with the NFC North rival +Minnesota Vikings. He will take over for Julius Peppers, who signed with +Green Bay Packers as a free agent after being released by the Bears. Chicago's defense ranked 30th in the NFL last season and was 32nd and last against the run.

''This is another important step in our continued efforts to build our team towards a championship level,'' general manager Phil Emery told the team's website.

In a statement, Allen thanked his teammates and coaches in Minnesota along with the fans.

''I can only hope that I have left with you all, with even a fraction of the positive support and impact you have had on my life, my foundation and my family,'' he said. ''I am very excited about this next chapter in my career with the Chicago Bears and can't wait to see what the future holds for us.''

He had 11 1/2 sacks last season, reaching double digits in sacks for seven straight years, and is considered a solid run defender.

Allen also had talks with the Seahawks and Cowboys. His move to the Bears adds plenty of intrigue to the NFC North picture.

The Vikings acquired Allen from Kansas City in 2007 and signed him to a six-year, $73 million contract that at the time made him the highest-paid defensive player in the league. Allen was one of the most-feared pass rushers in the NFL over the life of that deal. In 2011, he had 22 sacks.

He made $17 million last season, and the Vikings, who were coming off a disappointing 5-10-1 record, were looking to get younger at the position.

''We wish Jared the best as he turns to the next chapter of his NFL career,'' general manager Rick Spielman said in a statement. ''Not only was he an outstanding player on the field for the Vikings over his six seasons, but he also helped change lives in our community through his charitable work. Jared will always be a fan favorite, and we hope he stays involved with the Vikings franchise in years to come.''

Minnesota signed Everson Griffen to a big contract to take Allen's place and also said goodbye to stalwart defensive tackle Kevin Williams in a revamped front four under new coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings did express some interest in having Allen return, but it became clear early in the process that the numbers wouldn't match up.

Allen said he wasn't looking to simply chase Super Bowl rings or become a situational pass rusher at this stage of his career, so he took his time trying to find the right fit. When Allen hit the market with Peppers and the Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware, three of the most accomplished defensive ends of their generation were available. Ware signed with Denver, and Peppers got a three-year, $26.5 million deal with $7.5 million guaranteed from the Packers earlier in free agency.

''We believe he's going to come in hungry and excited to be part of our football team, and we believe he'll fit right in with the other new players that we've added and the guys that are already on the defensive side of the ball,'' coach Marc Trestman told the team's site.

Allen is by far the signature addition in a busy offseason.

Besides letting Peppers go, the Bears brought back two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Tillman on a one-year deal.

They also have new defensive ends in Willie Young and Lamarr Houston. They added Ryan Mundy and M.D. Jennings to the mix at safety and signed lineman Israel Idonije, hoping to boost a defense that got shredded last season.

The Bears went 8-8 while missing the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years. Now, maybe, they will have the defense to go with an offense that flourished in Trestman's first season as coach.

If nothing else, they created a big stir by adding Allen.

''A changing of the guard in the (hash)NFCNorth. (hash)69 a Bear! It's looking up for this bunch! Welcome (at)JaredAllen69,'' star linebacker Lance Briggs wrote on Twitter.

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AP Sports Writer Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

Game-Changers? Possible Rule Changes Discussed This Week

Mike Wobschall
Contributor to +Minnesota Vikings.com

Blair Walsh, PK for the Vikings. (Vikings G+)

The +NFL has grown into America’s most popular sports league largely because of its rich history and tradition, which is passed along to fans from generation to generation. But another reason the game has maintained its popularity and greatness is because the NFL’s stewards are not afraid to make adjustments to the game that yield a safer and fairer product.

Each offseason the NFL’s Competition Committee recommends, and the NFL’s owners consider, changes to the playing rules. The 2014 offseason is no different. Here’s a quick look at some of this year’s proposals, which could be considered by NFL owners this week at their annual meeting.

For a complete rundown of the Competition Committee’s discussion on potential rules changes to be considered by owners this week, click here.

Extra Point No More?
Not so fast! There has been a lot of discussion this off season about changes to, or the elimination of, the extra point. But according to NFL.com’s, Judy Battista, one member of the NFL’s Competition Committee said there is little momentum to do anything to alter the extra point this year.

Expanding the Playoffs
There’s been talk of the NFL expanding its playoff field, with one proposal calling for one additional playoff team in each conference. This would eliminate one first-round bye, giving a bye to only the top seed in each conference and thus adding one playoff game on Wild Card Weekend. NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal says, however, that while the committee continues to support expanding the playoffs, it’s not something that will be voted on by owners this week.

Adjusting Review Process
Since NFL owners adopted back into the game instant replay in 1999, changes have been made to the process in order to improve and streamline the process. More adjustments could be coming this year, including a proposal to have the referee on the field consult with the command center in New York City to get a call correct. A couple other potential tweaks to the review process includes a proposal brought forth by the +Washington Redskins that would allow coaches to challenge personal fouls as well as a proposal that would allow the review of a recovery of a loose ball in the field of play (seems like a no-brainer).

Moving Kickoffs to the 40 (essentially eliminating kickoff returns)
Teams that don’t have game-changing kickoff returners may not have to worry about finding one, while teams that do have game-changing kickoff returners, such as the Vikings with Cordarrelle Patterson, may lose a sizeable advantage. While Rosenthal calls this one a “long shot,” it should still make those who love to see kickoff returns shake their heads.

Odds and Ends
A few other proposals:
-- Elimination of overtime in preseason games.
-- Allowing a team to open or close their roof at halftime of a game.
-- Placing a camera on all six boundary lines in order to have sufficient camera coverage for all replay reviews.
-- Allowing more than one player per team to return from injured reserve to the active roster
-- Raising the number of active players on game day from 46 to 49 when teams play on Thursday (or Saturday), excluding Week 1.
-- Cutting down final rosters from 90 players in training camp right to the 53-man roster (eliminating the cut from 90 to 75).
-- The clock should run after all sacks

Focus on Player Safety
Often times, the rules changes adopted by the NFL’s owners have player safety in mind. By the time teams open training camps this summer, expect several tweaks and points of emphasis on rules to be adopted in order to make the game safer for everyone involved.