Allen not concerned about taking stage at NFL Hall of Fame enshrinement

CANTON, OHIO – Yes, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in concert with the NFL, reviewed its security measures with heightened scrutiny following Monday’s mass shooting that was intended to target the NFL’s league offices in New York City.

No, Vikings Hall of Famer Jared Allen isn’t overly concerned about taking the stage during his enshrinement speech inside Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday, just five days later.

“But, to be totally honest, it did pop into my head a little bit when I saw the news on Monday,” Allen told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Thursday. “I was like, I hope the Hall’s security is good enough. I don’t think anyone wants to assassinate me.

“But I put a lot of trust in our first responders. Our police officers, security teams. I would hope the Hall is doing everything they possibly can to make sure they have a secured venue, and they are.

“I would hope the NFL is doing everything they can because they have NFL teams here, too” in the Lions and Chargers, who played Thursday night’s NFL preseason opener, the first public NFL event since 27-year-old Shane Tamura shot five people, killing four, before taking his own life.

Tamura left behind a three-page suicide note blaming chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a degenerative brain disease – for his documented history of mental health problems. He played football, but not in the NFL, although he listed grievances against the NFL, which for years refused to acknowledge any connections between CTE and football before settling a $1 billion class-action suit in 2015.

“When I saw what happened Monday, I texted Tracy Perlman [NFL senior vice president of player operations] right away to make sure she and everyone was OK,” Allen said. “She’s basically the head of the Legends program. [Former Vikings fullback] Tony Richardson and guys like that are on her team. I was very concerned about them.”

“It’s sad that the NFL was a target, like you see with insurance companies and all that,” Allen said. “But, you know what, it’s just one of those things that once again reminds you just how unfortunate it is that this is now the world we live in.”

Allen, who stands 6-6 with a frame and appearance that’s instantly recognizable as a former NFL player, said he doesn’t worry about security in his personal life or at home in Nashville.

“I haven’t put much thought into security because I’m usually armed,” Allen said. “So if anyone wants to test me, I’m going to take care of me and my family. I’ve only had to pull my gun once on a guy and, fortunately, I didn’t have to use it. The police came and took care of the guy before I did.”

As for public events, like Saturday’s enshrinement ceremony, Allen acknowledges that “anything can happen and even the best security won’t stop everything.”