Chiefs' Allen seeks thrills, QBs

~ defensive end moved to top of the NFL's sacks list following his two-game suspension.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- He ran with the bulls in Pamplona and went after wild boar with a knife.

List the most dangerous things Jared Allen has done in 2007, and crashing into 300-pound tackles and guards ranks no higher than third.

"Life's too short to put anything on hold," Kansas City's thrill-seeking defensive end says with a big grin. "I go out and enjoy life."

For opposing quarterbacks, he's making life miserable. His eight sacks are tied for the league lead and seem to signal like oncoming headlights that in his fourth season, the 6-6, 275-pounder is ready to take his place among the NFL's elite defensive linemen.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen has his pads adjusted during football training camp in River Falls, Wis., in this July 28, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner, file)

Those eight sacks for 61 yards in losses came in only five games. The New York Giants' Osi Umenyiora also has eight, but he's played seven games.

Allen, a fun-loving party animal since his college days at Idaho State, is also sober. He hasn't had a drop, say close friends, since a second DUI conviction 13 months ago.

"He cold-turkeyed it," said Chiefs fullback Boomer Grigsby, Allen's close friend. "He knows he has a chance to be the best defensive end in football. Maybe he already is. All he needs to do is take care of himself."

Allen has also forced two fumbles and knocked down four passes to lead a drastically improved defense that is, without question, the major reason the Chiefs (4-3) go into their bye week as surprise leaders in the AFC West.

"Jared is probably one of the most underrated defensive ends in the league," Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer said.

As a penalty for his DUI convictions, Allen sat out the first two games this season under suspension. He came back like a runaway train, recording eight tackles, two sacks, two pass deflections, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble in a 13-10 victory over Minnesota.

Without Allen, the Chiefs were 0-2. With him, they're 4-1.

"It isn't just the pass rush," said defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham. "His play has also been outstanding against the run. He's finally gotten to the point where he's not always worried about the sack. He used to be undisciplined. But now he's playing great in all phases."