Vikings great Jared Allen downplays importance of OTAs: 'It’s a glorified workout'

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jared Allen said organized team activities are a "glorified workout" and fans shouldn't be too worried about players not showing up.

Jared Allen was a five-time Pro Bowler when he was on the field for the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs and struck fear into opposing quarterbacks for 12 years.

With organized team activities (OTAs) ongoing for each of the 32 NFL teams, fans may be concerned about players not showing up. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson skipped some of the team’s workouts and reportedly cost himself a pretty penny.

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Allen, who appeared on OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich" didn’t think fans should concern themselves with who shows and who no-shows for organized team activities with the season three months from kickoff.

"Absolutely not. I had some of my best seasons not doing OTAs," he told Dakich. "OTAs are good for getting rust off. You’re out there in helmets, you’re not doing much. It’s a glorified workout, basically. I wouldn’t stress too much about it if I was a fan."

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"This time of year, you got to trust your players and each person is different. Some people need a stronger workload to be ready, some don’t. Some people need a training camp, some don’t. I think it’s up to the individual and what’s best for them."

Allen said teams could have workouts and go over football-related things without putting players at risk.

OTAs for most teams end this week with mandatory minicamps starting this week.

Training camp is more than a month away and the preseason follows that.

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