NFL Could Suspend Jared Allen for QB Hits

A separated shoulder couldn't sideline Jared Allen, but Roger Goodell might.

Fox's Jay Glazer is reporting that Allen will have to head to the NFL offices in New York to explain why he shouldn't be fined heavily or even suspended for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

If Allen just had a helmet-to-helmet hit on his record, he wouldn't be in trouble, but Allen has already gotten fined for a pair of low-blows on Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, one of which messed up Schaub's knee.

FanHouse's Stephanie Stradley showed some pretty clear evidence that Allen dove at Schaub's knee even though he wasn't blocked -- a no-no ever since Carson Palmer's knee turned to spaghetti a couple of years ago. In the case of Allen, he slipped to the ground, which meant he was at the level of Schaub's knee, but his decision to dive at Schaub deserved a fine.

According to Glazer, Allen was warned that any more questionable hits against quarterbacks would bring harsher punishment. But while all that may be true, there is a fair question as to whether helmet-to-helmet hits should bring the same scrutiny. While diving at knees is hard to excuse, some helmet-to-helmet hits are as much a result of circumstance as an intent to injure.

(H/T: Pro Football Talk)