'That's how we're taught to tackle,' Allen says

Jared Allen didn't mince words responding to Houston coach Gary Kubiak's claim that the Vikings defensive end made questionable dives at quarterback Matt Schaub's knees on Sunday.

Schaub suffered an injury to his medial collateral ligament on a low hit by Allen. Allen, who said he talked to Schaub after the game, denied that it was dirty.

Allen called the NFL a "grown man's sport" and bemoaned the personal foul penalty on the New York Giants' Justin Tuck for his hard hit on Dallas quarterback Brooks Bollinger last week.

"That's how we're taught to tackle people," Allen said Wednesday. "We play a violent game, and we all know when we sign our names on that dotted line that there are going to be injuries, there is going to be pain. That's what we do. It makes us feel alive. And then for us to get punished for it is kind of one of those things where you're like, 'Whatever.'

"Maybe they want to protect the quarterback because they want to say it's an offensive-driven league. Well, I don't believe in that. I play defense. I believe this is a defensive-driven league.

"I watch the old greats of Dick Butkus, Jack Youngblood and Jack Lambert. Hell, those guys were playing through broken legs. Those guys were forearm-shivering each other to the face. But guess what? People loved to watch the game because that's what football is about."

Allen also questioned why it is not illegal for offensive players to execute crack-back blocks on defensive players. It is legal as long as the block is not below the waist.

"There's nothing illegal about [the fact] that I can get T-boned in the side of the head or that two offensive linemen can high-low me," Allen said. "But I don't throw touchdown passes, therefore we're not the special ones."

Vikings coach Brad Childress gave an unique answer to a question about Bernard Berrian's problematic big right toe. Berrian limped noticeably early in the season as he dealt with his chronic toe injury. Asked if Berrian's toe has become less of an issue as the season has progressed, Childress whistled the theme song to "Lassie."

"He still has a little hitch in his get-along," Childress said. "Kind of like Lassie. [Whistling]. You know how Lassie used to limp on command with the bad foot? He's got that going every now and then."

Berrian said his toe "still bothers me, but it's not as bad as it was."

Berrian said the NFL is following up on a problem he raised with the toll-free hotline that players can call to check on supplements for banned ingredients.

Berrian said on Sirius NFL Radio last week that he called the hotline twice but did not receive a response. Berrian, who had a question about a new supplement, got a response on his third call.

The subject came up after Fox Sports reported that Vikings defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams face possible four-game suspensions for violating the league's steroid policy by taking a weight-loss diuretic that is considered a masking agent.

The league promised to look into problems with the hotline. Berrian said someone from the league contacted Vikings vice president/legal counsel Kevin Warren and gave him a number for Berrian to call. Berrian said he's willing to discuss the matter with the league.