Trade to Vikings gives Allen 'chills'

Four years ago this week, Jared Allen was an unknown defensive lineman at Division I-AA Idaho State projected to be little more than a long snapper in the NFL.

On Wednesday, the former fourth-round draft pick became the richest defensive player in the league and is viewed as one of the missing pieces that could propel the Minnesota Vikings into the NFC's elite.

Allen, the all-pro defensive end who led the league in sacks last season with 15½, was traded from Kansas City to Minnesota in a blockbuster deal, making the Chiefs one of the major players in this weekend's NFL draft and the Vikings a serious contender in the NFC.

"I have chills right now," Allen said after signing a six-year deal that includes $31 million in guaranteed money and could be worth more than $74 million if he reaches certain incentives. "It's just starting to sink in. As a player it's cool because it shows appreciation for what you have done. But at the same time, personally, I look at it as a new challenge."

Kansas City gets Minnesota's first-round pick, No. 17 overall, and both of the Vikings' third-round selections. The teams also swapped sixth-rounders in the deal announced Wednesday.

Coming off an 8-8 season, the Vikings are paying a hefty price to address a huge hole.

A pass-rushing defensive end became the team's top priority this season after Kenechi Udeze was diagnosed with leukemia, and with fellow former first-rounder Erasmus James coming off a third major knee surgery. The Vikings weren't sure a gifted pass rusher such as Florida's Derrick Harvey would be around at pick No. 17, so they went after a player who dominated them last season.

The Vikings played at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 3 of 2007, Allen's first game after serving a two-game suspension for multiple DUI convictions. The 26-year-old Allen had 2 sacks, 8 tackles, 2 batted passes and a forced fumble in Kansas City's 13-10 victory.

"You don't often get the opportunity to get a player of this caliber at his age," vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said.

Spielman said if the Vikings wanted to get a premier pass-rushing end in the draft, they likely would have had to trade their two third-round picks to move up into the top 10.

Instead, they went for "a proven commodity."

"In essence it looks like you got Jared Allen as a top-10 pick," Spielman said.

Jones heading to Cowboys: The Tennessee Titans finally washed their hands of suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, agreeing in principle to trade him to the Dallas Cowboys. Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple confirmed the teams had an agreement, but no terms had been filed with the NFL office, which already had closed for the day. The Titans also confirmed the deal, adding that terms had to be finalized. The team had no further comment beyond a two-sentence e-mail.

Dalrymple declined to discuss specifics of the trade.

"What I can confirm is that we have agreed in principle with the Tennessee Titans on a trade that will bring Adam Jones to the Cowboys," Dalrymple said.

He declined to say who or what the Cowboys might give up in the trade. Specifics likely will be announced today or Friday, Dalrymple said.