NFL: Decorated Veterans Who Deserve a Super Bowl

Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end

(69) rushes against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Jared Allen, Chicago Bears

Jared Allen was selected at No. 126 overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He was traded by the Kansas City Chiefs after four productive seasons, primarily due to the apparent belief that he wasn’t worth big money.

Allen has disproved that notion.

Allen is currently No. 9 all-time with 134.0 sacks recorded. He’s just 7.5 sacks behind Michael Strahan for No. 5 on that list, which is evidence enough that he’s headed to the Hall of Fame.

At 33 years old, the two-time sacks leader has a chance to make history. But can he win?

The Chicago Bears don’t have the most promising on-paper roster, but that doesn’t make Allen any less deserving. His work ethic and production have been close to unparalleled during his illustrious career.

With eight double-digit sack seasons and a 22.0-sack campaign in 2011, anyone who attempts to dispute Allen’s greatness can simply check the numbers.

Next: Universal Respect