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According to the Kansas City Star newspaper, the National Football League (NFL) has suspended Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen for two regular season games without pay. Allen will miss his team’s first two games of the season against the Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears. Allen originally was suspended for four games, but this was cut in half after the league heard Allen’s appeal. In addition, Allen was fined an additional game’s check.
Allen was planning on heading back to Arizona to work out with a personal trainer when initially being slapped with a four-game suspension. But now, the starting defensive end will remain in Kansas City to train and prepare for the team’s third game of the season – the Chiefs’ home opener -- against the Minnesota Vikings.
Allen, 25, was suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after twice being charged with DUI in 2006. Since the arrests, Allen has become involved in local charities, most notably a group that raises funds to combat juvenile diabetes. The former Idaho State University player pleaded no contest to the most recent charge in September and entered a diversion program to resolve the first DUI incident from May.
A fourth-round choice in the 2004 draft, Allen has developed into one of the league's top sack threats. He has 165 tackles, 27½ sacks, 10 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and one interception in 47 appearances, 41 of them starts.
“Jared Allen is eligible to participate in all preseason team-meetings, practices and games during training camp,” Chiefs President Carl Peterson said. “Jared is also eligible to participate in team meetings and use team facilities during his two-week suspension. Jared is not, however, permitted to participate in team practices but he can be on-site during the suspension.
