NFL makes Allen's hits expensive

The NFL came down hard on Vikings defensive end Jared Allen on Friday, fining him $50,000 for two low hits on Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in last Sunday's game at the Metrodome. That matched the largest single-game fine the league has handed down this season.

Allen did not draw a penalty on either hit, but the league ruled that "in both instances, he struck the opposing quarterback below the knee area," according to a league spokesman.

Schaub suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee on one of the hits and could miss a month. Allen, who suffered a right shoulder sprain and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, acknowledged Friday that he was fined but declined to comment further.

"I'm going to avoid all questions on that right now until after my appeal," he said.

This is the second consecutive game in which Allen was fined for his actions. He received a $5,000 fine for jumping on a pile after a run Oct. 19 against the Chicago Bears. He said last week that he intends to appeal that fine, too.

A league spokesman said that NFL director of football operations Gene Washington made note of that fine in his letter informing Allen of this latest one. Allen has 10 days to file an appeal, which is done by teleconference. Allen signed a six-year, $74.5 million contract that calls for $31 million in guarantees after arriving in a trade this past offseason.

"We stand behind him 100 percent, and he articulates himself well so whatever he's told you, we're going to stand behind him," said Allen's agent, Ken Harris. "If he says to us, 'Go ahead and file the appeal,' it will be done."

The NFL also fined New York Jets safety Eric Smith $50,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin on Sept. 28. Smith's penalty was harsher, though, because he was fined for one hit and suspended for one game, thus losing a game check. Allen was fined for two hits.

League spokesman Randall Liu wrote in an e-mail that Allen's actions "violated Rule 12, Section 2, Article 12(5) of the NFL Official Playing Rules: 'A rushing defender who has an unrestricted path to the passer from any direction is prohibited from forcibly hitting the passer in the knee area or below.'"

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said on his weekly radio show that he sent three questionable hits to the league office for review. The Houston Chronicle reported that all three involved Allen.

Schaub suffered his knee injury on a 17-yard completion to tight end Owen Daniels in the second quarter. Allen lost his footing on his pass rush and hit Schaub low while defensive tackle Kevin Williams hit him high. Schaub did not play in the second half.

Both Allen and Vikings coach Brad Childress said this week that they didn't believe Allen's hit was illegal or dirty. Allen said he talked to Schaub about it after the game. But the Houston Chronicle reported that Schaub told reporters he thought the hit was a cheap shot.

"I think it was," he said. "The ball was already gone, and a player [Allen] went for my leg, which isn't what they're supposed to be doing. That's all I can say."

Allen defended his style of play during an interview this week. "People can say what they want; I'm not a dirty player," he said. "I've been in this league a long time. My reputation speaks for itself. I don't ever intend to hurt people. I never do anything intentionally to hurt people. But if a coach wants to spout off that I'm a dirty player because they lost the game, well, whatever."

Allen has been outspoken in recent weeks about the league's handling of fines this season. He joined a number of players who have criticized the league's crackdown on what it deems to be objectionable hits. Allen also questioned fines levied at players who have criticized officials and lamented this week that the league is overprotective of quarterbacks.

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