Jared Allen visits Seahawks; other suitors lining up

Free agent Jared Allen is beginning to prepare to say goodbye to Minnesota. (USATSI)

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Jared Allen has completed a visit with the Seattle Seahawks, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Allen spent time with the Seahawks this weekend and is headed back to his Arizona home. Despite Seattle's cap situation, all the players they must still re-sign and the fact they have some strong pass rushing options already, the team has long been interested in him and made inquiries to acquire him from the Vikings before the trade deadline.

Allen has interest in them as well and, as one of very few elite pass rushers still on the market, is drawing interest from several clubs. He is in no rush to make a decision and, if he does not command a deal in the range of the $10 million per season DeMarcus Ware landed, it remains a legitimate possibility Allen retires.

Other teams are lining up visits, too. In the meantime, Allen continues his daily work with his charitable foundation building homes for Wounded Warriors and contemplating his NFL future. No NFL player has more sacks than Allen since he entered the NFL, and Allen posted a more-than-respectable 11.5 sacks last season.

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Ravens get their man, sign WR Steve Smith to 3-year contract



Ever since the Panthers released wide receiver Steve Smith on Wednesday, the Baltimore Ravens were seen as the heavy favorites to sign the 13-year vet. And they have, to a three-year contract according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal is reportedly worth about $11 million and containts a $3.5 million signing bonus.Smith caught 64 passes last season for 745 yards and four touchdowns. His 11.6 yards-per-catch average was his lowest since 2007.



Still, those are pretty solid numbers for a man coming off his age-34 season. Can he really play at even that level through age 37? That seems unlikely, but Smith has held Father Time at bay seemingly forever.For fantasy purposes, this is a nice signing for Joe Flacco as it gives him a third dependable option alongside wide receiver Torrey Smith and tight end Dennis Pitta. That could make Flacco a solid QB2. Perhaps Torrey sees fewer targets with Steve in town, but I don't think his numbers will drop significantly. I am more confident that Steve will help Torrey see more single coverage, which would be a plus for the latter.Steve Smith no longer has blazing speed, but he runs great routes and can still school defenders with the best of them. However, that doesn't mean this signing breathes new life into his fantasy value -- he's probably a middling WR3 at best in 2014. He is no longer an offense's No. 1 receiving option. And again, he's heading into his age-35 season.