Posted on Mon, Aug. 15, 2005 R E L A T E D L I N K S • Chiefs discussion board • More Chiefs coverageM O R E N E W S F R O M topix.net • Sports • Kansas City Chiefs • NFLAllen demoted from first-team defenseBy ADAM TEICHERThe Kansas City StarRIVER FALLS, Wis. — Jared Allen, who led the Chiefs in sacks and was a bright spot last season for an otherwise dismal defense, has lost his starting job, at least temporarily.Jimmy Wilkerson, a little-used reserve the past two seasons, took Allen’s spot at starting right end at practice this morning. Allen worked with the second team.“Jimmy Wilkerson has been doing everything right,’’ coach **** Vermeil said. “Sometimes when guys are doing everything right, sometimes not better but everything on every snap consistently right, you give them a little reward.’’Asked whether Wilkerson would start in Saturday night’s exhibition game against Arizona at Arrowhead Stadium, Vermeil said, “He might. He deserves a reward.’’But the move appears to be aimed more at Allen than Wilkerson. The Chiefs were unhappy with the way Allen played in last week’s exhibition opener at Minnesota.He missed a tackle against Minnesota’s Mewelde Moore, allowing the running back to go for 50 yards. Allen also blew his assignment on the play, which the Chiefs view as an equal or bigger crime.“It was a breakdown in discipline,’’ Vermeil said. “You have to do just what you’re supposed to do. Someone goes out and tries to make a bigger play out of it and he winds up breaking the discipline of the defense.’’
