Vikings DE Jared Allen fined for season-ending hit on Bears’ Lance Louis
BY SEAN JENSEN sjensen@suntimes.com November 28, 2012 10:56PM
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Updated: December 30, 2012 3:56PM
The NFL fined Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen $21,000 for his blindside hit that ended Bears guard Lance Louis’ season.
Louis tore his left ACL Sunday, and he was placed on injured reserve Monday. The Bears signed former Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode on Tuesday for depth.
“My opinion hasn’t changed,” said Bears coach Lovie Smith, who on Monday insisted the hit was unnecessary. ‘‘It doesn’t do me any good to talk about it. I stated my case on how we felt. Nothing has changed since then.
“We have guys that are in position to make those decisions and look at that video, and that’s what they came up with.”
On the opening drive of the third quarter Sunday, receiver Brandon Marshall tipped a pass from quarterback Jay Cutler. Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield intercepted it and sprinted down the left sideline. Louis was turning toward Winfield and was hit by Allen, who was trying to make a block. As he crumbled to the ground, Louis’ left leg appeared to get caught in the turf.
“I thought it was a legal hit,’’ Allen said Sunday. ‘‘He’s running to make a tackle, so I just made a block. I turned around, he was trying to make a tackle and I threw myself into him. I’m never trying to hurt anybody.”
Louis has started all 11 games this season, and he started 13 of the 14 he played in 2011.
Cutler defended Allen on Wednesday.
“He’s not that type of player,’’ Cutler said. ‘‘I was surprised by it. He plays extremely hard, does things the right way. I’ve always respected him. It kind of caught me off guard.”
Ailing Bears
Several key Bears were out of action Wednesday.
Lance Briggs, Kellen Davis, Devin Hester, Alshon Jeffery, Chris Spencer and Charles Tillman didn’t practice, while running back Matt Forte was limited during the padded session.
It was reported that Tillman might have a chipped bone in his right foot, but the cornerback said that is “not true,” then declined further comment.
