AP source: Vikings DE Allen fined $21K for hit

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) Jared Allen's hit on Lance Louis knocked the Chicago Bears guard out for the rest of the season and earned the Minnesota Vikings defensive end plenty of scorn from his division rivals.

It also earned him a fine from the NFL.

Allen was fined $21,000 for the hit on Wednesday, according to a person with knowledge of the punishment who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league had not announced the fine.

Allen hit Louis with a block after an interception by Antoine Winfield. Louis didn't see Allen coming, and his leg stuck in the turf on the hit and tore the ACL in his left knee. Several Bears, including coach Lovie Smith, said they thought the hit was unnecessary and dirty.

"We have an injured player right now based on it," Smith said this week. "I think he could have gotten blocked a little bit differently, but that's about all I can probably say about it."

Allen was unavailable for comment on Wednesday, but said after the game he never intended to injure Louis.

"I never, ever try to intentionally hurt anybody," Allen said after the 28-10 loss to the Bears. "Just trying to make a block and spring our guys down sidelines. That's unfortunate."

Some wondered if the hit would earn Allen a suspension, but he's never had the reputation as a dirty player and has earned admiration across the league for his charitable work with wounded veterans. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he had great respect for Allen, both as a player and a person.

"I just think personally I have a lot of respect for him as I've got to know him," Rodgers said. "I appreciate not only the way he plays on the field, and he plays hard and between the whistles, but especially the stuff that he does off the field with his foundation for the Wounded Warriors, that's just a very classy thing."