Even Chris Kluwe might think this is a little excessive. The NFL has fined Falcons’ WR Kerry Meier $20,000 for an illegal blindside block to the head area against the Vikings’ Cullen Loeffler. Kluwe tweeted earlier this week that he thought Meier’s shot, which put Loeffler out for the season, was cheap but legal. The NFL disagrees with Kluwe and has ruled that the block was over the line. The block was not flagged by officials during the game. Loeffler’s injury was not to the head but the lower back.

Once again the NFL proves itself perhaps over-zealous in enforcing its safety-first policies. Meier’s hit was borderline but even if it went a tad over the line, it certainly didn’t warrant a $20,000 fine. Maybe Kluwe will be willing to testify on Meier’s behalf at his appeal hearing. Or maybe not.

Like The Viking Age on Facebook.
Follow Dan Zinski on Twitter.

Chris Kluwe is not a happy man today. It’s not just because the Vikings lost (again), it’s because one of his best buds on the team was, in his estimation, cheap-shotted by an Atlanta Falcons special teamer. The play that has Kluwe’s underwear in a bunch happened early in the second quarter on a punt. Long-snapper Cullen Loeffler appeared to be well away from the ball carrier when Falcons WR Kerry Meier flashed into the picture and wiped him out. From the replay it doesn’t look like Loeffler saw Meier coming. Long story short, Loeffler ended up with a broken bone in his back that not only chased him from the game but will likely sideline him for the rest of the season. (more…)