Denver Broncos Nearly Trade for Jared Allen, But Ultimately Pass

Sep 22, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron (84) and offensive lineman Joe Thomas (73) block Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Browns win 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

If you’re a believer of what you read on Twitter, the Broncos were more players at the trade deadline than most people might know or think.

Throughout the day, and especially about three hours before the trade deadline, reports emerged from Jay Glazer that the Vikings were fielding offers for defensive end Jared Allen.

Adam Schefter then (apparently erroneously) reported that Seattle was making an “11th hour push” for Allen’s services, but that report was quickly squashed by Glazer.

Throughout the day, there were reported to be a couple of teams interested in acquiring Allen and the Broncos were thrown out there as one team that could potentially be inquiring.

Well, that turned out to be a reality rather than just a fantasy, as NFL.com’s Gil Brandt reported the Broncos were working on a deal to acquire Allen from the Vikings.

Game on.

With just about an hour–give or  take a few minutes–before the trade deadline ended, there remained plenty of skeptics but it seemed that the Denver media was catching on to Brandt’s report and getting inside info of their own.

Guys like Vic Lombardi and Brandon Spano started Tweeting out information that something was definitely brewing in Denver, and according to Lombardi, it came as close as the Vikings agreeing to send Allen to the Broncos but they were unwilling to absorb half of his contract so the Broncos could make it work.

With the Vikings reportedly unwilling to take on half of Allen’s remaining contract, the Broncos ultimately passed, and Adam Schefter quickly covered up the tracks by saying that Denver was not in the running for Jared Allen’s services.

Why the need to report it if they weren’t in the running?

Well, it ultimately means they were interested–because why wouldn’t they be–but decided to forego the opportunity when you talk about the asking price and the price of Allen’s remaining salary.

It’s not an unwise move from Elway to pass at this point in time, and it plants a seed for Jared Allen, knowing that there is a contender next offseason that is at least somewhat interested in obtaining his services.

Allen may not come on the cheap, but with Robert Ayers and Shaun Phillips both also in contract years, it makes sense for the Broncos to establish an early lead if they are truly interested in getting old number 69 out of Minnesota.

In the end, there was not but one move made at the NFL’s total dud of a trade deadline, but the hype was certainly there and the Broncos went nearly all the way in their exploration of a major trade.