EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings brought in several new players to improve their defensive secondary this offseason. They didn't expect to lose one of their holdovers so quickly.
Cornerback Asher Allen, 24, who started nine games last season, has retired, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said Wednesday.
Frazier said the two had met in his office last week when Allen informed him of the news.
"Surprised," Frazier said Wednesday at the second day of organized team activities. "I didn't see that coming. But everybody has to make decisions that they think are the best for them."
Allen, a third-round pick in the 2009 draft, started 21 games in his three seasons, becoming a valuable fill-in last year after injuries ravaged the Vikings' secondary. The 5-foot-9, 184-pounder had 129 tackles and four interceptions in his career. Allen had also dealt with his own injuries the past three seasons, including multiple concussions. He missed three games last season because of toe, shoulder and concussion issues. He suffered a concussion in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints but returned in time for the season finale two weeks later.
The long-term effects of concussions have drawn more attention in recent seasons, and more and more players are expressing concern about the violence of hits in the game. Frazier said Allen didn't disclose whether health-related concerns were the reason for his retirement.
"He explained to me that this is something that he wanted to do," Frazier said. "He'd given it a lot of thought."
Allen would have been in a fight for playing time in a revamped secondary, which has seen the additions at cornerback of free-agent signees Chris Carr and Zack Bowman and third-round draft pick Josh Robinson. Harrison Smith and Robert Blanton, both 2012 draft picks, have been added at safety. Starting cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Chris Cook also return after having missed the second half of last season.
"He'd be one of the corners fighting for a spot like the other guys are," Frazier said of Allen. "His experience would have helped us, but he's made a decision he thinks is best for he and his family, and you have to respect that."
Frazier said the team could look to fill Allen's spot on the roster and continue the transition in the secondary.
"You've got to keep looking like we would even if he were here to create competition and continue to upgrade that position," Frazier said. "That's what we'll do. We want depth and we want competition in the secondary. He definitely helped to provide that. But that opens up another spot and we'll continue to comb the waiver wire."
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