Allen’s Exploits Go National

Hard-charging defensive end Jared Allen goes about life with a love of adventure, as chronicled in a recent issue of Viking Update and another story in The Sporting News set to hit newsstands today.

Vikings fans knew they got a firecracker in Jared Allen when he was signed to a free-agent contract. Extremely blunt and willing to answer every question asked of him – usually accompanied with a wisecrack or two – Allen has been a breath of fresh air for the Vikings.

He was up to his old tricks Thursday at Rush Creek golf course as part of the Vikings Children’s Fund event. But fans who want to see another side of Allen can get an eyeful today when the June 16 issue of The Sporting News hits newsstands.

Allen is the cover story and is dressed in hunting clothes next to three stuffed bear heads (fill in your own Chicago jokes here) in a story entitled “What we learned when we went bear hunting with the baddest defensive lineman in the NFL”

In the story, Allen goes on a hunting trip in Idaho and discusses his love of the outdoors, including hunting and fishing. But it also includes his own “bucket list” type of events like skydiving in Arizona, snorkeling in a shark cage, bungee jumping in New Zealand and running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

The story goes beyond that, however, as it touches on some Allen’s favorite things, which include the last book he read (The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer, which has also been read by head coach Brad Childress), his love for country music and his ritual of smoking one cigarette before he starts a hunting expedition.

Vikings fans know that Allen is an on-field mad man, but the story gives readers an insight into the man behind the helmet and, if anything, reinforces Allen’s love of life and his many passions outside of football. If you get a chance, check out the story and see a different and interesting side to Allen you may not have known before.

FRIDAY NOTES

Matt and Adrianna Birk welcomed their fourth child Thursday with the birth of Grant Matthew Birk, who weighed in at seven pounds, seven ounces.

The Vikings held their annual golf event to benefit the Vikings Children’s Fund Thursday. The event raised about $100,000, according to the Star Tribune.

Mitch Frerotte, a former offensive lineman who played in three Super Bowls with Buffalo and was the cousin of Vikings QB Gus Frerotte, died of a heart attack earlier this week at his home in Pennsylvania. He was just 43 years old.

The agent for LeCharles Bentley, the 28-year-old center recently released by the Browns after missing two seasons due to surgery and subsequent infections, said that as many as 10 teams have expressed an interest. He declined to say if the Vikings were one of those teams.

No team filed a waiver claim on former Bears RB Cedric Benson, making him an unrestricted free agent who can sign with any team.