Jared Allen docked $21,000 for illegal hit

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen was fined $21,000 for a hit that has ended the season of Chicago Bears’ right guard Lance Louis.

Allen leveled Louis on a blindside block that was to the head and Louis suffered a torn ACL in his left knee as he fell to the turf in the Bears’ 28-10 victory on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Allen was not called for a penalty on the play but the NFL reviewed the play and determined it to be illegal. It’s no consolation for Louis, who was in the final year of his contract. The Bears have replaced him with Edwin Williams and now will start benched right tackle Gabe Carimi at guard because fellow guard Chris Spencer also suffered a left knee injury during the game.

The hit by Allen surprised Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who has played against him previously when they were AFC West rivals.

“Not that type of player,” Cutler said. “I was surprised by it to be honest, he’s not that type of guy, he plays extremely hard he does usually does things the right way, I’ve always respected him. It kind of caught me off guard. You look at the play and he hit him in the head, he did all of the things he shouldn’t do, but I don’t think it’s indicative of the player or person he is.”
 

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune