Vikings defensive end Jared Allen remains apologetic that his crushing third quarter block Sunday on Chicago's Lance Louis left the Bears guard with a season-ending knee injury. But Allen does not second guess the shot he delivered, leaving his feet and drilling Louis during Antoine Winfield's 31-yard interception return.
During his weekly meeting with reporters this morning at Winter Park, Allen fielded a handful of questions of the play, Louis' injury and the $21,000 fine he received from the NFL. Here are Allen's unfiltered thoughts.
On whether he has any second thoughts about the way he hit Louis …
"No. I mean, just making a block on an interception. Like I said before, never an intention to hurt a guy. I feel bad that he got hurt. It's obviously never my intention. But you know, 'Toine's coming up the sideline, he's running to make a play and you block the guy and sometimes bad things happen. So like I said after the game, my condolences to him and his family for the injury. But you know, at that time, you're trying to make a play and spring your guy for a touchdown."
On whether the fine from the NFL was justified …
"It's not my opinion. My opinion is that if it was a defensive player and an offensive player was blocking for a running back coming to the sideline, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. But it is what it is. They fined me for it. They view it illegal. So you move on from it. But like I said, there was no ill intent in it. And again, my condolences to him and his family for injury. You never want to injure anybody. But it was what it was. And we move forward."
On not drawing a penalty on the play …
"Honestly, I purposely hit him in the chest with my shoulder. I didn't want to go to his head. But it's just part of the game. It happens and you move on. We've got the Green Bay Packers. I can't sit here and worry about what they fined me for last game."
