The Chicago Bears -- already thin along their offensive line -- took another hit on Sunday when right guard Lance Louis was decked on blindside block by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen during an interception return.
It was announced Monday that Louis suffered a season-ending knee injury on the play. Allen said Sunday he thought it was a "legal hit," but Bears coach Lovie Smith doesn't seem to agree.
"Jared Allen plays the game a certain way. Good player. I think our game could do without that play," Smith said Monday, via the Chicago Tribune.
"I am sure the league will look at it and they'll give an opinion about it."
Louis never saw Allen coming during an Antoine Winfield interception return, as Allen launched himself into the 6-foot-3, 320-pound guard. Louis hit the turf and stayed there as trainers tended to him.
Mike Pereria, the former vice president of officiating and current rules analyst at FOX Sports, explained his viewpoint of the play during the telecast.
"When Allen is going back toward his own goal line or end line, or parallel down the line, then you can't lead with your shoulder, forearm or head into the head or neck area of an opponent," Pereria said. "To me that's an illegal blindside block."
Whether Allen's intentions were malicious or not, he shouldn't be surprised if a FedEx envelope is sitting in front of his locker in the near future.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.
