NEWS

Bears OL Louis knocked out for season on questionable hit

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Today’s news of health and safety issues surrounding football:

* A hit by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jared Allen has put Chicago Bears offensive lineman Lance Louis out for the rest of the season with an ACL tear, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Bears coach Lovie Smith was asked Monday if he thought the play was unnecessary ”Yes,” Smith said. “I did. Jared Allen plays the game a certain way, good player in our league. But I think there are some plays, when you look at them again, you say, ‘Hey, we could have done without that.’ I think our game could do without that play. We have an injured player right now based on it. I think you could have gotten him blocked a little bit differently. That?s about all I should probably say about it.”

* San Francisco 49ers wide receiver/ kick returner Kyle Williams announced on Twitter that he is out for the season with a knee injury.

* Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden is questionable for this Sunday’s game after suffering a concussion against the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL.com reported.

* New England’s Jermaine Cunningham was the third player in two days to be suspended four games for using performance-enhancing drugs, according to NFL.com.

* The Akron Beacon-Journal reported that a bill is in the works to expand Ohio?s concussion laws to include athletes younger than high school age.

* The Brownsville Herald reported that legislators want to add a cognitive clearance provision to Texas? youth concussion law.

* The Louisville Courier-Journal continued its series on concussions, examining helmets and how they do not guarantee protection from head injuries.

* The Alexandria (La.) Town Talk reported on the West Monroe football coach, who suffered a severe concussion when an opposing player collided with him on the sideline during a playoff game Friday.

– Bill Bradley, contributing editor