Because of a rule that limits franchise-player visits to 48 hours, Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen was expected to leave Minneapolis today without a deal being finalized between the Kansas City and the Vikings.

Whether Allen's next stop is Tampa Bay remains to be seen, but it's expected that he'll follow through with his plans to visit with the Bucs early this week.

The Chiefs are trying to maximize the compensation they would receive in a potential trade for the Pro Bowl player, something that has been a sticking point in negotiations with both the Vikings and Bucs. The Vikings remain in better position to make the sweeter offer because of their plentiful draft picks. The Bucs have just five picks in next week's draft.  The latest reports indicate the Vikings are offering a first- and third-round pick, but those same reports say the Chiefs are holding out for first- and second-round selections.

One thing about this story is that the information is being kept very much under wraps. That usually means the sides are in the midst of some heated negotiations. But with all the moving parts here -- the Chiefs, Vikings, Bucs and Allen -- we're hoping some word leaks soon.

In the meantime, the Allen watch in Tampa will continue.