Minnesota defense end Jared Allen has been fined $25,000 for his hit on Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Nov. 9. Moments after Rodgers released the ball, Allen hit him high and knocked him down, drawing a roughing-the-passer penalty. Allen was fined $50,000 for two low hits in Week 9 on Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, who could miss the rest of the season as a result of the hits. "We play a violent sport. We know that and we willingly sign up for it," Allen said earlier this season. "We don't ever purposely go out to hurt anybody, ever."

The Patriots have until Feb. 19 to determine whether to place the franchise tag on Matt Cassel, whose contract expires after the season. That gives them three months from Monday to decide his future with the club. Because the NFLPA won't allow teams to franchise players if they have no intention of keeping them, according to Peter King, the Patriots won't be able to franchise Cassel if they intend to trade him. King expects Cassel to be a free-agent and end up making $9 million a year with Minnesota, Detroit, San Francisco, St. Louis or whatever Josh McDaniels coaches in 2009, should the offensive coordinator get a head-coaching job.

The NFL will reportedly conduct hearings Monday and Tuesday for the eight cases of players who tested for banned supplements under the league's steroid and performance-enhancement policy. The cases include Vikings' defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, as well as the Saints' Deuce McAllister, Will Smith, and Charles Grant, and the Falcons' Grady Jackson.

Vikings' defensive end Kenechi Udeze, who is battling leukemia, expects to be back on the field next season. "You know what? I'll be back next year," said Udeze. "The one thing that's slowing me down are my feet. They're slow to a lot of the treatment. But everything is going to be just fine. I don't see myself not being a part of this team next year." He got a successful bone marrow transplant from his brother, and was out of the hospital after 24 days on July 24. "I'm really glad to be back a part of it, and I was blessed enough to get out the hospital and start my road to recovery," Udeze said.

Texans' quarterback Matt Schaub left the team's loss to the Vikings on Sunday in the second half with a knee injury. Schaub was seen limping in the first half after taking a hit from Minnesota's Jared Allen. Houston trailed 21-7 at halftime, but backup Sage Rosenfels drove the Texans 72 yards for a touchdown in 10 plays to cut the deficit to seven.