Systems and methods of processing network packets are described. These systems and methods provide improved packet processing results by logically and physically separating packet header processing functions from packet data processing functions. In this way, a network processing system may perform network handling operations and data processing operations substantially in parallel. One or more embodiments feature a network adapter for exchanging with a computer network information in the form of packets each including a packet header and packet data. The network adapter includes a packet parser configured to parse an information packet into a packet header and packet data and to direct the packet header to a first memory address for protocol processing and to direct packet data to a second memory address for data processing.