CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears were looking to jolt their struggling defence. cheap jerseys from china . How does adding Jared Allen sound? The Bears agreed to a four-year contract with the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Wednesday, replacing one accomplished pass rusher with another as they rebuild a defence that ranked among the leagues worst last season. A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press that Allen will get $15.5 million guaranteed on a deal that could be worth as much as $32 million. The person requested anonymity because the terms have not been announced. Allens deal can be voided down to three years and $24 million, but the first two years of his salary and a roster bonus next March are fully guaranteed. The 31-year-old Allen spent the previous six years with the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings. He will take over for Julius Peppers, who signed with Green Bay as a free agent after being released by the Bears. Chicagos defence ranked 30th in the NFL last season and was 32nd and last against the run. "This is another important step in our continued efforts to build our team towards a championship level," general manager Phil Emery told the teams website. In a statement, Allen thanked his teammates and coaches in Minnesota along with the fans. "I can only hope that I have left with you all, with even a fraction of the positive support and impact you have had on my life, my foundation and my family," he said. "I am very excited about this next chapter in my career with the Chicago Bears and cant wait to see what the future holds for us." He had 11 1/2 sacks last season, reaching double digits in sacks for seven straight years, and is considered a solid run defender. Allen also had talks with the Seahawks and Cowboys. His move to the Bears adds plenty of intrigue to the NFC North picture. The Vikings acquired Allen from Kansas City in 2007 and signed him to a six-year, $73 million contract that at the time made him the highest-paid defensive player in the league. Allen was one of the most-feared pass rushers in the NFL over the life of that deal. In 2011, he had 22 sacks. He made $17 million last season, and the Vikings, who were coming off a disappointing 5-10-1 record, were looking to get younger at the position. "We wish Jared the best as he turns to the next chapter of his NFL career," general manager Rick Spielman said in a statement. "Not only was he an outstanding player on the field for the Vikings over his six seasons, but he also helped change lives in our community through his charitable work. Jared will always be a fan favourite, and we hope he stays involved with the Vikings franchise in years to come." Minnesota signed Everson Griffen to a big contract to take Allens place and also said goodbye to stalwart defensive tackle Kevin Williams in a revamped front four under new coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings did express some interest in having Allen return, but it became clear early in the process that the numbers wouldnt match up. Allen said he wasnt looking to simply chase Super Bowl rings or become a situational pass rusher at this stage of his career, so he took his time trying to find the right fit. When Allen hit the market with Peppers and the Cowboys DeMarcus Ware, three of the most accomplished defensive ends of their generation were available. Ware signed with Denver, and Peppers got a three-year, $26.5 million deal with $7.5 million guaranteed from the Packers earlier in free agency. "We believe hes going to come in hungry and excited to be part of our football team, and we believe hell fit right in with the other new players that weve added and the guys that are already on the defensive side of the ball," coach Marc Trestman told the teams site. Allen is by far the signature addition in a busy off-season. Besides letting Peppers go, the Bears brought back two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Tillman on a one-year deal. They also have new defensive ends in Willie Young and Lamarr Houston. They added Ryan Mundy and M.D. Jennings to the mix at safety and signed lineman Israel Idonije, hoping to boost a defence that got shredded last season. The Bears went 8-8 while missing the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years. Now, maybe, they will have the defence to go with an offence that flourished in Trestmans first season as coach. If nothing else, they created a big stir by adding Allen. "A changing of the guard in the .NFCNorth. .69 a Bear! Its looking up for this bunch! Welcome (at)JaredAllen69," star linebacker Lance Briggs wrote on Twitter. cheap jerseys . There is considerable interest from fans around the league as well, with all eight teams vulnerable to poaching. Perhaps his best option at landing his first choice at QB, the expansion draft also poses problems for general manager Marcel Desjardins. wholesale nfl jerseys . Free agent John Axford, who had 46 saves for Milwaukee in 2011 but has struggled the past two seasons, agreed to a one-year, $4. NEW YORK -- J.J. Hardy finally got in on the fun Saturday, against a likely opponent. Nelson Cruz has been hitting homers all season. Cruz hit his 23rd home run, Hardy connected for his first of the year and the Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Yankees 6-1 after starter Bud Norris left with tightness in his right groin. Adam Jones and Steve Pearce also went deep off struggling soft-tosser Vidal Nuno, helping the Orioles rebound after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth inning of a 5-3 loss Friday night. "Big win for us," Hardy said. Cruz and Pearce each had a two-run shot. Hardy ended a drought of 339 at-bats that dated to last September. "It definitely felt nice," he said. "I felt like I forgot how to do it." "I think it probably is a little bit of a relief. I started to question myself if I ever was going to hit one again," Hardy added. Mark Teixeira hit his 12th home run for the Yankees, who had won four straight and eight of 10, but that was all they managed against Norris and three relievers. During a pregame ceremony on the field, former New York first baseman Tino Martinez was honoured with a plaque to be placed in Monument Park. Making his first start against the Yankees, Norris (7-5) allowed three hits in five innings and matched a career high by winning his fourth straight start. He warmed up on the mound for the sixth but was pulled for Ryan Webb, who pitched two scoreless innings. Tommy Hunter got the final five outs. Norris said he felt something "kind of funny" while throwing a fastball in the fifth. "It kind of grabbed on me," he said. "Ive had groin stuff before, especially my left one but not necessarily my right one. Youve got to be real careful with those." "I could see it getting a little worse and I wanted to be smart, but really, hats off to the offence for scoring and to the bullpen for picking me up," Norris added. "Pretty sore right now." Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Norris probably will pitch the night game of a split doubleheader Friday against Tampa Bay, but the right-hander said it was too soon to tell. "Weve got other options, but Im hoping we caught it in time," Showalter said. Pressed into the rotation because of injuries to CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda, Nuno (1-4) is having a hhard time with the homer-friendly dimensions at Yankee Stadium. wholesale jerseys. He was rocked in his previous outing in Oakland and is 0-4 since beating the Los Angeles Angels on May 7. "This is what we have. And as I said, its not like theres just starting pitchers lying around out there," New York manager Joe Girardi said, explaining that Nuno will stay in the rotation. "Right now, this is what it is." The left-hander yielded five runs -- four earned -- and six hits in 6 1-3 innings. He allowed three home runs and has served up 13 in 39 1-3 innings this season at home, where he is 0-3 with a 7.09 ERA. "My fastball today, I just left it up too much," Nuno said. "I trusted all my stuff today. No regrets and everything, but they just got to my fastball." Jones hit a solo shot with two outs in the first and drew a leadoff walk in the fourth before Cruz connected. Cruz began the day one home run behind Toronto slugger Edwin Encarnacion for the major league lead. "Hes carried us along a lot of the season," Hardy said. Pearces drive made it 5-1 in the fifth, and Hardy went deep off Jose Ramirez in the eighth for his 159th career homer and first since Sept. 5, 2013, against Jose Quintana of the Chicago White Sox. "We like hitting home runs," Jones said. Back in the dugout, Hardy got the silent treatment. He threw sunflower seeds on himself and was doused with water by Cruz. The two-time All-Star shortstop has hit at least 22 home runs five times, including a career-high 30 with Baltimore in 2011. "Normally I just put my head down and run. This time I kind of watched a little bit to make sure that it got up," Hardy said. "As I was rounding third, I looked into the dugout and no one had moved. So I kind of knew that they were going to sit there." NOTES: Baltimore recalled reliever Brad Brach from Triple-A Norfolk. ... Nuno has allowed 15 homers in 67 1-3 innings overall. ... Pineda (right shoulder muscle) will get another week off after an MRI still showed "a trace of inflammation," Girardi said. ... RHP Masahiro Tanaka (11-1, 1.99 ERA) starts Sundays series finale against Orioles RHP Chris Tillman (5-4, 4.82). Hall of Fame reliever Rich "Goose" Gossage will be honoured with a Monument Park plaque as part of festivities for the 68th annual Old-Timers Day at Yankee Stadium. cheap jerseys ' ' '
