The NFL agreed with the opinion of San Francisco 49ers guard Joe Looney: His hit on Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams was not a "dirty" play. It wasn't illegal at all, an NFL spokesman confirmed Tuesday to NFL.com and NFL Network.
Looney will not be punished in any way, although the play could inspire changes at the league level. A spokesman indicated to Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the NFL's competition committee will look at the rules involving similar blocks next offseason. The play was not considered a peel-back block because Looney was moving toward his own goal line.
The play upset Williams and his Vikings teammates.
"My problem with this play is its intent," Allen said Tuesday, via USA Today. "He ducked down to hit him in the knee. It was intent to hit him in the knee, and if the league can't see that, they can fine me for this, because it's absurd."
It's hard to argue with Allen. The play on Sunday looked like a cheap shot, even if it was a legal cheap shot.
"I didn't try to take a dirty cheap shot at him," Looney said, per CSN Bay Area. "I was just trying to finish my block. I meant no harm by the block at all."
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