Souhan: Vikings' Allen and Edwards deserve suspensions for late hits

In these times of economic hardship, the Vikings' defensive linemen should do their part to cut travel expenses.

If they have to visit New York to defend their various transgressions at the NFL offices, shouldn't they get group rates for their flights? Shouldn't they stay in a Times Square hostel -- the line that preys together, stays together -- and sneak each other through the subway turnstiles?

Or would it be simpler for Jared Allen, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams and Ray Edwards just to stop breaking rules?

Their willingness to bend, ignore or get blindsided by NFL edicts everyone knows -- unlike that mysterious overtime rule that confounded Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb this weekend -- could destroy the Vikings' chances of making the playoffs.

This is a generally likeable foursome. Allen is accessible and glib, Pat Williams is one of the most beloved players on the team, Edwards hasn't proved as problematic as his Purdue reputation indicated, and Kevin Williams hasn't gotten arrested lately.

They're dynamic players who work well together. They also could or should face suspensions.

You could rationally defend any one of Allen's late, high or low hits on quarterbacks as the kind of mistake made by an emotional player during an emotional and violent game. In total, his obvious willingness to take that last lunge or swipe at a defenseless quarterback after the ball is gone indicates a pattern that the NFL should not ignore.

The NFL has accused Pat and Kevin Williams of taking banned substances. Pat and Kevin, and other NFL players similarly accused, have accused the maker of the diuretic of not properly labeling the product. That may be true, but in sports we are so inured to farcical excuses that even if you want to believe them, you probably shouldn't.

Remember, Barry Bonds said he gained size and strength because of flaxseed oil.

Edwards does not seem as ripe for suspension as his linemates, but he should be. On Sunday, Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia scrambled in the pocket, then threw the ball.

Time passed. Paint dried. Brad Childress' mustache grew. Then Edwards smacked Garcia.

Childress defended Edwards. He is wrong. It was a blatantly cheap shot against a defenseless player who correctly assumed the play was over.

There are no gray areas with Allen and Edwards. They're hitting quarterbacks late.

Before we hear the good-old-days-when-men-were-men-and-quarterbacks-were-cannon-fodder arguments, understand that the rules protecting the quarterback make sense. Defenders are getting bigger and faster, and quarterbacks are the most important and vulnerable players on the field.

The NFL is big-ticket glamour product made less marketable when backup quarterbacks are forced to play. The NFL has no choice but to protect their stars.

Goodell is doing right by fining and suspending offenders, but the long arm of the law -- the game officials -- needs to start flexing.

If a defensive lineman blatantly hits a quarterback late, or low, that player should be ejected, and then subjected to fines and suspensions. Today's officials look afraid to make such game-changing calls.