Jason Allen injury causes NFL to react

The NFL has requested and received an explanation from the Dolphins as to why cornerback Jason Allen did not play against the St. Louis Rams.

Allen has a broken right hand. He had it last Wednesday, last Thursday and last Friday when he practiced for the Dolphins. Because he practiced the entire period each day and because he was indeed injured the Dolphins listed Allen as probable.

That raised eyebrows Sunday afternoon when the team made Allen inactive. Obviously the NFL, which wants to maintain the integrity of its injury reports, was concerned and asked Miami to provide an explanation about what happened.

Basically, according to sources, the Dolphins explained to the league that Allen being inactive for the game was as much a coaching decision as an injury situation. He could have played, but coaches decided not to use him. Coaches decided Allen would be at too great a disadvantage.

Allen obviously could not hand-fight with receivers and might not be able to tackle properly despite being able to participate in controlled practices during which he neither had to hand-fight nor tackle.

The Dolphins also pointed out to the league that its own rules require that any player who is, in fact, injured and nonetheless practices full on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday must be listed as probable.

So the Dolphins don't believe they've toyed with the injury report despite an item in profootballtalk.com that raises that very possibility. No word yet what the NFL's opinion is on the matter but the Dolphins, according to sources, believe the issue is pretty much closed.

Allen, by the way, practiced today (full) without a cast but was wearing an Ace Bandage wrap over what he called "a hard cast" that stretched to his forearm when he was seen in the locker room. Allen broke the hand in the second half of the New England game.

The amazing thing is that although Allen is seemingly in the same situation as last week, today's injury report does not include Allen at all. So the presumption is Allen WILL PLAY Sunday otherwise the Dolphins will have more 'splainin to do.

Comments

[Marc]

Wouldn't wanna screw with the bookies...

[Adam S.]

Why haven't they put these same questions to the Patriots for letting players on their IR practice against the team? Or when they blatantly and purposely falsify their injury reports?

F Goodell.

[Mike]

I was wondering why Jason Allen wasn't playing in the game. Even at his worst, Allen's better than #41. I can't believe that guy's even in the league.

[cuban menace]

The Pats Have Executive Privelages , Every One Knows This. Its Just The Dolphins Trying To Cheat.

[cuban menace]

Booo Fish Trying 2 Cheat. And Here They Are "oh The Patriots Stole 3 S.bowls Oh BelaCHEAT" you guys male me sick. hahahahahagaga

[keithmiller]

WHO CARES HE MIGHT HAVE GOT BURNED & A RAM T/D MADE TO GIVE US A LOSS!!!

[The Bra1n]

Yeah, there's got to be a UPS worker or an Arby's assistant manager out there somewhere who can play better than #41. I don't know how that guy managed to slip through the cracks.

[cuban menace]

Broken Arm, I Thought He Got 3rd Degree Burns.. Mando U Sure About The Broken Arm? Or Was It 3rd Degree Burns From An Air Assault? Please Check It Out.

[finheavenblows!]

Profootballtalk is crap, Armando. A huxter lawyer trying to be a journalist and failing miserably because all he does is throw crap against the wall to see if it sticks.

[cuban menace]

The Nfl Needs To Check This Obvious Cheating,they Need To Be Penalized By Having A 1st Round Pick Taken Away And Maybe Banashment To The Afc West Division,this Is Unacceptable.

[cuban menace]

They Should Be Forced To Forfeit The Game,allan Would Have Allowed At Least 1 Td And Probably 2.

[Mike]

Some Cheatriot fan needs to get a life. The same guy posts like 6 different times.

Ironically, the Cheatriots are probably the worst team in the league as far as concealing player's injuries. How many weeks in a row has Brady been "probable". The penalty for concealing a players injuries is a fine - not draft picks. As a cheatriots fan, you should know this since you've been fined before for hiding injuries.

I guess logic and being a Cheatriots fan don't go together well.

[cuban menace]

Oye Miguel, The Menace Has 2 Words., Executive Prevlidge ,Thats Right The Pats Have It..hopefully Ull Be Sent 2 The Nfc West.

[cuban menace]

Ps. JETSJETSJETS

[frank]

How many Cheatriots fans does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

[klndry]

Tempest in a teapot. What? Did the NFL take notice that the Phins are winning?

[dolfan87]

I am still confused...not about Jason Allen though.

I am left wondering why some of you feel the need to capitalize every word of every sentence.

Hey, you know what? I am just excited that the NFL recognizes the Dolphins as part of the league again. After going 1-15 last season, I was worried that we would be forced to play against 5A high school teams.

[AJ in ATL]

cUBAN mENACE,

I've missed trading jabs with you. Have a good rest of the week! See you on sunday evening after we kick that buffalo ass and the j-e-t-s loose, loose, loose!

[pancanfinfan]

I thought I was reading an article about new england.

[Masterpiece Theatre]

This is thrilling. What an enjoyable read.

[Turd Ferguson]

If Allen would have played and he would have tried to tackle Steven Jackson it would have been a painful replay of Don McNeal trying to tackle John Riggins with his broken arm in Super Bowl xvii.

[George]

"The Dolphins also pointed out to the league that its own rules require that any player who is, in fact, injured and nonetheless practices full on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday must be listed as probable."

Armando, I can't find NFL injury report rules online. Do you have access to the salient rule's actual text?