When Ricardo Allen got cut months after being drafted by Atlanta in the fifth round, he could have let the unexpected hardship affect him in two extremely different ways. He could have remained upset and held grudges as he joined the practice squad, or he could have conceded that, maybe, it happened for a reason.
Allen opted for the latter path, and by doing so, has been able to grow into a valuable member of Dan Quinn’s defense. Heading into Week 13’s matchup in Tampa Bay, the 5-foot-9 DB leads the Falcons with three interceptions and, after moving from cornerback, has taken on a leadership role at free safety.