Gosder Cherilus Avoids Fine After Taking Out Jared Allen's Knee

Cue up the Vikings fans' tears about how the league office hates them and is constantly conspiring against them, because Gosder Cherilus has not been fined for his cheap shot last Sunday on NFL Fine King, Jared "$90K" Allen.

As Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper fled the pocket, Allen pursued. Even though he was about 12-15 yards away from the would-be passer, Cherilus hopped up just enough from his spot on the turf to take out Allen's knees. It was a blatant cheap shot in my book, and I'm an unbiased fan -- hell, if anything, I'm against the Vikings since my Bears trail them in the NFC North.

With no fine to Cherilus for this bush league act, we're left, once again, wondering how the NFL's fine process works. For example, Fred Evans -- Vikings defensive tackle -- was fined $5,000 for a facemask in the same game. It didn't appear he egregiously ripped at the head of the ball-carrier at the time, nor did it appear obviously intentional.

You've also got the two players who got in a fight -- the play after Allen received his gift from the Lions -- getting fined $5,000.

So, if I may translate: Getting in a fight where punches are thrown is frowned upon the exact same amount as grabbing someone's facemask when attempting to tackle them. Gotcha, Roger. Not only that, grabbing the facemask of a ball-carrier is worse than putting a helmet into the knee of a passing by defender when said defender has little chance to become involved in the play.

The system of fines all season has been downright laughable, contradictory, and seemingly arbitrary.

Finally, a cherry on top: If you watch the replays on the facemask call, it's very tough to see if Evans actually grabbed the facemask. I don't think you can necessarily see that he did not grab it, because it was in the middle of a large pile, and Kevin Smith's head did appear to jerk to the side. The umpire who called the penalty likely got a good enough look, so I trust the call. My problem, however, is with the fine. Did the league seriously find an angle on tape where they could pick out such a malicious, intentional facemask that it was worthy of a fine equal to that of a thrown punch?