A Whole New Rush

ALLEN RETURNED from suspension on Sept. 23 against the Vikings—and dominated. Using his added quickness and strength to overcome double teams, he had two sacks, eight tackles and a forced fumble in a 13--10 win. By the end of the year he not only led the NFL in sacks but had also forced three fumbles and even caught a pair of touchdown passes on the way to his first Pro Bowl.

Even so, his relationship with K.C. management remained frayed: Last February team president Carl Peterson called Allen a "young man at risk" after slapping the franchise tag on him, guaranteeing only a one-year contract (albeit for $8.8 million). His Chiefs teammates were more supportive. "When I heard the rumor that we were going to trade him, I thought it was crazy," says veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez. "Besides what he does on the field, he has become the whole package, the true sense of the word professional. He's big in the community, and he's got a big heart."

Allen's reluctance to sign the franchise-player deal proved shrewd. It kept the door open for the Vikings, who after finishing last in the NFL in pass defense had made landing a topflight pass rusher their No. 1 off-season priority. During Minnesota's two-month negotiation with Allen and the Chiefs, Vikings coach Brad Childress grilled Allen's friends, family members and former teammates in an extensive vetting. Satisfied, Minnesota traded its first-round pick (17th overall) and two third-round selections for the rights to Allen, then signed him to the contract that surpassed Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney's as the richest ever for a defensive player. Allen's deal includes some $31 million in guaranteed money and—most tellingly—no language beyond the norm regarding his behavior and team discipline, according to two league sources familiar with the pact.

It's a high-risk trade for a franchise only three years removed from a bawdy party-boat scandal involving 17 players, and should Allen violate the NFL substance-abuse policy a third time, he'd be suspended for at least one season. "We felt comfortable enough that he would not only benefit us on the football field," says Vikings vice president of personnel Rick Spielman, "but he'd also be an asset to the community."

Allen's infectious play and personality at minicamp, Childress says, "have given us a lot of hop in the locker room." The newcomer is confident that Minnesota can win the NFC North—"I don't see how we lose it," Allen says—and be a perennial force.

"I think we're contenders for the next few years," he says during dinner at the steak house, noting other recent upgrades to the roster that include receiver Bernard Berrian and safety Madieu Williams. "We've got a solid O-line, a helluva running back [ Adrian Peterson], a great defense. All [quarterback Tarvaris Jackson] has to do is manage it, and we'll be cool." The emotion pours from Allen, and for the first time all night it appears he can't suppress his craving. He'll save it for the field, though—the one place where it's still O.K. to overindulge.