Bears deal Allen to Panthers

All kidding aside, Allen was brought in to rush the passer in Mel Tucker’s 4 man front, and once the Bears cleaned house and brought in Vic Fangio’s 3-4, the team had to be listening to any and all trade offers for Allen. But it also ends an awkward transition to a 3-4 scheme for Allen, as he was the ultimate old dog learning a new trick. Beginning with his second National Football League season in 2005, Allen has started at least 14 games every year. Still, the Bears have already paid Allen an $11.5 million roster bonus and he only has a little more than $800,000 left on his contract.

It registers as a significant move for both the team and the player, a parting of ways between a veteran in the home stretch of his career and a team in the very early stages of a massive rebuild.

Allen registered 5.5 sacks and just 41 tackles in 18 games for the Bears.

The Carolina Panthers have acquired defensive end Jared Allen from the Chicago Bears.

Coach Ron Rivera on Monday admitted the Panthers would “sit down and talk about” how they’d replace their best pass rusher.

Allen was a right defensive end his entire career before this season. After beginning the season with five sacks of Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, they’ve recorded just one in each of the past two weeks. After a disappointing first season with the Bears, he enthusiastically embraced the change and was eager to prove himself at a new position.

Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer first reported the swap.

You can bet the four-time Pro Bowler is a big fan of the trade, not only does he get to play in a defense he’s comfortable in, but he gets to make the move from the 0-3 Bears to the 3-0 Panthers.