Taught the Vikings standard from Jared Allen, Harrison Smith now passes it on

Thirty-six-year-old Harrison Smith is now five years older than Jared Allen was in 2013, the last of two seasons these all-time Vikings stars played together.

“That,” Smith said, “is crazy.”

“Time flies,” Allen said.

Allen, a four-time first-team All-Pro, officially will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday, 10 years after his 12-year career ended and in his fifth year of eligibility. Smith, a one-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl player, is entering his 14th season and eventually will finish his career with stats that are comparable to safeties already in the Hall of Fame.

“From Day 1 when we drafted Harrison in the first round [in 2012], I liked that kid,” Allen said. “He had the same work ethic, the same mindset we had as older guys in the D-line room. He knew his place, kept his mouth shut and worked. You could see then why he’s gone on to have so much success.”

Anything else?

“I loved it when he fought with Percy [Harvin] in training camp his rookie year,” Allen said. “Harrison didn’t start anything, but he didn’t back down. We had toughness in that secondary, guys who weren’t afraid to stick their noses in there, with ‘Toine [Antoine Winfield] and then Harrison.”

“The Percy thing still gets a lot of attention,” he said.

Smith said Allen was among the veterans that he learned from when it came to reaching a Vikings standard and now hopefully passing it along to his much younger teammates.

“Jared always had a way about him, larger than life starting with his body and then his personality,” Smith said. “You saw it the moment you met him.

“I think we played Tampa and Jared and the left tackle, Donald Penn, I think, got into it pretty good. It kind of became a one-on-one show to watch the rest of the game. That was my rookie year. Being starstruck by Jared and being on the field while he’s going at it like that was cool.”

Smith also remembers the levity that the gregarious Allen could bring to any situation, including the long, hot practice days in Mankato.

“The first rep he comes in that summer, Jared is in the huddle and is like, ‘All right, when they hand the ball to Adrian, everybody fall down on the defense.’ I’m looking at him like, ‘This is an NFL practice?’ And he looks at me and says, ‘Do it!’”

Another Smith memory is a testimony to Allen’s “second” career as the Vikings’ backup long-snapper who prided himself of always being ready without ever practicing the motion.

“I was running the punt team in a game and Jared had a couple of snaps that were flawless,” Smith said. “I don’t think he bothered to listen to my snap count. He just flicked it back there perfect.”

Five years in the Pro Football Hall of Fame process tested Allen’s nerves, patience and temper. His advice should Smith enter that fray some day?

“My advice is ‘Be happy with your career, whether you get in the Hall of Fame or not,’” Allen said. “Control what you can control. Be satisfied while you are playing with what you put on the field and when you retire, you shouldn’t be thinking about the Hall of Fame.”

“That’s kind of been my feeling the past couple of years when people are now talking about my chances for the Hall of Fame,” Smith said. “I never really think about that or Pro Bowls. Just production.