Vikings' cowboy a horse on 'D'

0 Comments | USA TODAY, August, 2008 | by Jarrett Bell

MANKATO, Minn. -- It was a shopping spree from the heart, and straight out of Lonesome Dove. Exotic boots. Plaid shirts. Leather vests. Jeans and cowboy hats.

This is normal for Jared Allen, who might be riding steer in a rodeo if he hadn't blossomed into one of the NFL's most accomplished pass rushers. Yet stampeding through his first camp with the Minnesota Vikings, he wasn't splurging on himself.

Allen, who got a $15.5million bonus with a six-year, $72.36million contract after he was obtained from the Kansas City Chiefs for three draft picks in April, was putting together a Western-wear gift pack for all-pro defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams -- two of his new, fast friends on the Vikings' impressive defensive line.

"We gotta get a little...