For as productive as Vikings defensive end Jared Allen has been, he’s actually healthy for the first time since late 2010.
The 31-year-old Allen is feeling good again, and told USA Today Michael Strahan’s single-season record of 22 1/2 sacks is “absolutely reachable.”
“I don’t buy into ’30 and you’re old,'” said Allen, 31. “I feel it’s just like anything — it’s geared towards how you take care of your body, how you mentally prepare for the game and obviously having a coach that manages you well, too.
“But I do feel like I’m back there. I feel that’s where I’m at mentally, physically, and I feel like we have a team that can even make it better.”
Allen, who has 117 career sacks, was asked about trying to reach Bruce Smith’s milestone of 200 sacks.
“You’ve got to average 10 sacks a year for 20 years or you’ve got to average like 15 for (13 or 14 years). The numbers are tough,” Allen said. “When I get to that point in my career to where they’re like, ‘Well, we think someone else can do it better every single down,’ I’ll graciously step aside, enjoy my family and raise kids.”