Vikings furious with block on Williams
Defensive tackle Kevin Williams appears to have escaped major injury from a low block against San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, but his Minnesota Vikings teammates remain upset with 49ers guard Joe Looney.
The NFL reviewed the play and deemed the block legal, which further upset Vikings defensive end Jared Allen.
"He had a perfect opportunity to hit him in the chest, but he intentionally went to his knee," Allen said, per ESPN. "We want to talk about protecting player safety and all that stuff? Well, I got fined for a hit up high (against Chicago last year) because they said I launched into a guy, right? If he hits Kevin in the chest, and something happens, that's part of it. But if you intentionally duck, and go to a guy's knee, I mean, it had no bearing on the play.
"You talk about player safety and wanting to protect us; how is Kevin not a defenseless player? It's just not what you do."
Williams suffered a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and postular capsular strain for Williams, although an MRI did not show ligament damage.
For his part, Looney said he didn't attempt to take a cheap shot at Williams.
"I tried to find him after the game to apologize, to let him know I'm not that kind of player who's trying to hurt guys and maliciously take violent hits at people," Looney said Monday, according to CSNBayArea.com. "I've been injured myself. I know what it's like."
Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway didn't say the block was intending to hurt Williams, but said it was unnecessary.
"It's really quite ridiculous," he said. "It's something we talked about in our meetings with the refs before the preseason started. It's just unnecessary. (Williams) wasn't going to make the play. He wasn't going to be part of the play. I understand that guy (Looney)'s trying to earn a job, as well, but he could have easily just hit him high.
"You can say what you want about you didn't mean to hurt him, but the reality is, you did that. And now we have a guy who's been one of the best at his position for a long time dealing with an injury he shouldn't have to deal with."
Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier spoke to the NFL about the play.
"I understand the rule. But I know it's going to be looked into further," he said. "That's not the type of play that any of us want to see."
