Jared Allen may not have had the impact he or fans of the Bears hoped he'd provide during his first season in Chicago, but a new year and a new coaching staff have the veteran pass-rusher planning big things for himself in 2015.
The 32-year-old Allen, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, has been a quarterback corralling machine since the day he entered the league - he's posted double-digit sacks eight of the 11 seasons he's spent as an NFL defensive end.
Last year Allen managed just 5.5 sacks, down six from the previous season. With Marc Trestman and Phil Emery gone from Chicago and John Fox, Ryan Pace, Vic Fangio and the 3-4 now in place, Allen's future seems uncertain in the Windy City.
That's not the way Allen sees it though.
"I was less anxious and so much more eager to talk to them," Allen said of meeting with Fox and Pace, per Dan Wiederer of The Chicago Tribune. "Just to say, 'Hey guys. I know the film from last year only shows 5-1/2 sacks. But don't believe that's all I have left.
"I'm good still. Really."
With the Bears having already added Ray McDonald and Jarvis Jenkins, a couple of defensive ends known more for their run-stuffing prowess than their pass-rush ability, the move to a 3-4 under Fangio seems more tangible than ever.
Allen had indicated in the past that he was not a fan of the Bears new base alignment, but now, at an age where he is considered an elder statesman of the NFL, Allen says he feels rejuvenated by the change.
"It requires you to refocus and rekindle your energy," Allen said, per Wiederer. "You can't get stuck in your same old patterns."
Allen is slated to make $12.5 million next season. Cutting him would cost the team a dead money penalty equal to his full salary, per Spotrac.com, making it a near impossibility, especially considering they can move on without penalty after next season.
Keeping him for one run at a double-digit sack total and potential Super Bowl chase makes the most sense for both sides.
Allen, who said that he "owns" his poor production from last season, believes that a nagging back injury and a battle with pneumonia in Week 4 were the real reasons for his dip in performance and not his advancing age or diminishing skills.
"I can't let last season be my lasting impression, the image of a guy who was hurt and sick and pissed off," he said. "That's not me. ... This is not about making the best of a bad situation. It's about being the best again in an environment where I can be."
In fact, Allen also admitted that he's selfish enough that if he knew he didn't have it anymore, he'd simply walk away, money or no.
"I'm selfish enough that if I didn't truly think I still had it, I'd walk away," he said. "I'm in the top 10 all time (in sacks). I have a 12-sack per-year average. I don't want to end to end my career with an eight-sack per-year average, right?"
