Jared Allen said he doesn't hold any hard feelings against the Vikings and thinks the Bears are closer to a Super Bowl than people think during his introductory press conference on Monday.

Allen signed a four-year deal worth up to $32 million with the Bears this offseason. He said he still respects the Vikings organization for allowing him to play through the entire six-year, $73.26 million deal he signed in 2008. Allen, who turns 32 on Thursday, said there were certain things the Vikings lacked that he was looking for this offseason.

"I don't wish any ill-will against them, but I'm excited to be a Chicago Bear, I'm excited to play against them, I'm excited to still be in this division," Allen said. "It was time to move on. They got a direction they're going, and we've got a direction we're going.

"I wish them all the luck except to not have it against us. They're another competitor now. They're another team and that's what it's about."

Allen turned down an opportunity to play with the Seahawks, fresh off their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history, to join the Bears. When asked about his decision and whether Chicago is close to winning a Super Bowl, Allen said, "Absolutely this team is closer than people think. Don't get me wrong, Seattle is a great team and they have great parts. They're also in a crazy good division where the Niners aren't no joke out there either. But the Bears, I don't know statistically what it is but just playing against them, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are two of the top receivers you're going to play against at that size. I know what it takes to prepare for this offense, and it [stinks]."

Allen also downplayed reports that he would retire if he didn't find a suitable offer. He said money wasn't a major factor in his decision.

"It was never my intent but my point was that if I was going to throw my cleats and pads on for a team that had no chance," Allen said. "They're rebuilding at this point in your career and you're laying it all out there because I still feel like I'm the best at what I do. If not the (best), one of.

"There's always a threshold that I had to excess and say, 'Is it worth going below this?' But that was kind of my process going through. It was never, 'Oh, if I don't get X amount of dollars, I'm walking away.' That was never the case."