Ex-Panthers WR Steve Smith Sr. breaks silence on Keenan Allen refusing Chargers to take a paycut before moving to the Bears eventually

Keenan Allen recorded catching 108 passes for 1,243 yards in the 13 games he played with the Chargers last season.

Ex-Panthers WR Steve Smith Sr. breaks silence on Keenan Allen refusing Chargers to take a paycut before moving to the Bears eventually

Steve Smith Sr. and Keenan Allen (Via KSL Sports/Imago)

Keenan Allen, who had been dedicated to only one team in the league– the Los Angeles Chargers for the past 11 years, joined the Chicago Bears this offseason. It was an emotional goodbye, but if one asks the wide receiver, it had to be done even though he didn’t want to. 

After signing with the Bears last week, Allen had been quite vocal about the events that landed him in the Windy City. Due to the limited salary cap space, when the franchise asked Allen, Joey Bosa, and Khalil Mack to take a pay cut, the latter two agreed but the wide receiver was in sync with the decision. 

Instead, Allen opted to try out the free agency market as he wasn’t ready to take a pay cut when he racked up catching 108 passes for 1,243 yards in the 13 games he played as a Pro with the Chargers. When asked former NFL wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. about Allen’s bold decision, he had an interesting take on the whole thing. 

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In a recent appearance on RG3 and The Ones, Smith and Robert Griffin III got into a rather intense discussion on Allen’s recent move to the Bears. The ex-Panthers WR connected Allen’s exit from the Chargers with new head coach Jim Harbaugh, who signed a lucrative deal with the franchise. 

Smith said:

You know what he [Keenan Allen] said, ‘Hell Nah!’ New coach come in with the elephant…You know he comin’ in, putting it on the table and Keenan said, ‘Hey, Imma put mine on the table, too. I had a good year. Man, he at the end of his career. People don’t care where your finance is at the end of your career.
Steve Smith said

Keenan Allen wanted to finish his NFL career with the Chargers 

Allen’s departure from the Bears was just as hard for him as it was for the fans. The wide receiver revealed after spending 11 years with the Chargers, he intended to finish his career there only. 

He said in the introductory press conference with the Bears:

I'm definitely excited about the new opportunity. Being with a new organization, this organization has a lot of tradition. Obviously wanted to finish my career [with the Chargers], but things happen and you've got to keep on going.
Keenan Allen said
Keenan Allen Chargers
Former Los Angeles Chargers WR Keenan Allen (Via Imago)

In those 11 years, Allen logged the second-highest reception of 904 and receiving yards of 10,530 in the history of the Chargers. Moreover, since his rookie year in 2013, he is third in receptions, sixth in yards, and tenth in receiving touchdowns in the league.

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