NFL fines Vikings DE Jared Allen for blindside hit on Bears G Lance Louis

Though Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said he thought his hit last Sunday on Bears guard Lance Louis -- a hit that ended Louis' season -- was legal, the NFL officially has disagreed with his opinion.

As the Chicago Sun Times' Sean Jensen reports, the league has fined Allen $21,000 for his blindside hit. The block caused Louis to tear his ACL and forced Chicago to put him on the IR list Tuesday.

"I thought it was a legal hit, “Allen said after the game. “He's running to make a tackle, so I just went to block him. I never intentionally try to hurt anybody."

The Bears didn't take the same view of the block.

"Jared Allen plays the game a certain way; good player in our league " Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "But I think there are some plays, when you look at them again, you say, 'Hey, we could have done without that.'

"I think our game could do without that play. We have an injured player right now based on it. I think you could have gotten him blocked a little bit differently. That's about all I should probably say about it."

Say this for Allen, though. At least he saved himself some money by not kicking anybody in the groin.

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