Bears not OK with Allen's hit on Louis

November 26, 2012, 1:22 pm

	JOHN "MOON" MULLIN Archive
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When Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen leveled guard Lance Louis with a blindside hit on which Allen launched himself at Louis’ head, Allen wasn’t penalized, although he may be fined by the NFL.

“I’m sure the league will look at it and give another opinion about what they think,” coach Lovie Smith said on Monday.

Whatever the punishment, the Bears were critical of Allen and the hit that resulted in a knee injury to the young guard. They didn’t use the word “dirty” but it was there between the lines.

“I saw the play,” said defensive end Israel Idonije. “It wasn’t necessary. There have been a number of rules put in the game now that you can’t hit a defenseless player. Lance is clearly, his vision is downfield. Allen hits him on his blind side.

“At that point of the game, he could have easily shoulder to shoulder, he could have laid him out with just using his hands to his chest. Lot of options. Lance is quick. He’s fast. But it’s not a situation where he was just blazing and [Allen] had to lay him out to make a saving play. He hit him that way because he chose to hit him that way.”

Typically players and coaches do not publicly criticize opponents for their hits, say, by an Ndamukong Suh on Jay Cutler. The blows are dismissed as part of the game.

Not this one.

Did Smith view the hit as unnecessary?

“Unnecessary? Yes. I did,” Smith said. “Jared Allen plays the game a certain way, a good player in our league. 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 he could have gotten blocked a little bit differently, but that’s about all I can probably say about it.”

Tags: Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Lovie Smith, Jared Allen, Israel Idonije, Lance Louis