KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- As the days counted down to the start of the free agency in 2016, when he would be free to negotiate a contract with any team of his choosing for the first time in his career, offensive lineman Jeff Allen wasn't making plans on how to spend his first big paycheck.
Allen was worried that his big payday, the one that could set up himself and his family financially for life, might never come.
"It was a stressful time," said Allen, who started 36 games for the Kansas City Chiefs in his first four NFL seasons to earn the right to become a free agent that year.