River Falls, Wis. ? Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen did not travel with the Minnesota Vikings to River Falls for their scrimmage Thursday night against his old team, the Kansas City Chiefs.

The reigning sack champ would have been a huge attraction as he went against the team that traded him last April amid much bitterness between him and general manager Carl Peterson.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said it was an easy decision to give Allen, who signed a contract for $31 million in guaranteed money, the night off.

The Vikings were greeted by a throng of media on their arrival, and Childress said he thought Allen’s absence would “cut down on the circus.”