David Helman
Dallas Cowboys Insider
Throughout the annals of a franchise with a lot storied historical past, there are certain to be debates.
Among the many literal dozens of Dallas Cowboys enshrined within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, who was the most effective? Do you favor Roger Staubach or Troy Aikman? Michael Irvin or Drew Pearson? Tony Dorsett or Emmitt Smith? A present generational sort out like Tyron Smith, or a previous one in Rayfield Wright?
So many greats have worn the long-lasting star that you may begin an argument about nearly any place — aside from maybe one.
Amongst guards, amongst inside linemen, Larry Allen stands alone. It is not up for debate that Allen was the best guard in franchise historical past — he is maybe the best guard the NFL has ever seen.
Allen, who died Sunday on the tragically younger age of 52, proved that point and time once more.
“Throughout my profession, I did not speak that a lot. I did not need to, I used my helmet,” he mentioned throughout his 2013 Corridor of Fame induction speech.
Contemplate that an understatement. Throughout a 14-year profession, Allen was an 11-time Professional Bowler and earned seven All-Professional designations.
He helped the Cowboys win Tremendous Bowl XXX in his second season, after which grew to grow to be the face of dominant line play for one more decade afterward. He’s one among simply 29 folks to be named to 2 completely different NFL All-Decade groups.
Legendary NFL coach and broadcaster John Madden put it succinctly with one well-known quote:
“If anyone mentioned to God, ‘What ought to all of the guards seem like?’ Then he would ship Larry Allen down.”
There’s irony there as a result of it isn’t as if Allen was purely a guard. As a rookie, he rotated between guard and proper sort out. He was beginning on the fitting facet on Thanksgiving in 1994 when Reggie White and the Inexperienced Bay Packers got here to city. Dallas bought the all-important win, however it was a Welcome-to-the-NFL second for Allen.
“I had by no means been dominated like that earlier than in my life,” Allen mentioned. “So, I bought in that weight room and have become the strongest man within the NFL.”
The following season Allen would start a run of seven-straight All-Professional and Professional Bowl nods. He wasn’t even fazed when requested to maneuver to left sort out, the place he was a first-team All-Professional defending Aikman’s blind facet in 1998.
Allen’s choice and improvement would grow to be one of many greatest coups within the historical past of the Cowboys’ scouting division, helmed on the time by longtime govt Larry Lacewell. Initially from Compton, California, Allen bounced between a number of faculties and completed his school profession at Division II Sonoma State. He was this system’s first draft decide, rising from relative obscurity to grow to be one of many sport’s greatest offensive linemen of all time.
As Allen alluded to, his hallmark was that unimaginable power. Pull up a clip of Allen’s taking part in profession, and it is seemingly going to be a pancake block. As each a pulling guard and only a straight-up mauler, Allen’s dominance was uncommon. He as soon as bench-pressed 225 kilos an absurd 43 instances at a Professional Bowl abilities competitors.
And naturally, that power took on a brand new stage of notoriety when Allen famously benched 700 kilos within the weight room on the Cowboys’ previous Valley Ranch observe facility.
“When a person can bench press 692 kilos, that man can launch you,” Corridor of Fame defensive sort out John Randle mentioned.
It was a theme for a embellished profession. Seemingly each defensive lineman of Allen’s period has a narrative about attempting to get the most effective of a brick wall. And let’s not underrate his athleticism, both. Any cutup of Allen’s best moments will embrace his chase down sort out of New Orleans Saints linebacker Darion Conner, as he hawked down a person 75 kilos lighter than him operating with a full head of steam.
If not for the supply of video, possibly these tales would all really feel like hyperbole. It is pure to lionize the feats of athletes from days passed by. However even those that did not witness it personally have solely to flip on the footage of previous Cowboys video games. The proof is there.
Even on a staff loaded with legends, and a franchise with extra accolades than most, Larry Allen stood in uncommon air.
David Helman covers the Dallas Cowboys for FOX Sports activities and hosts the NFL on FOX podcast. He beforehand spent 9 seasons overlaying the Cowboys for the staff’s official web site. In 2018, he gained a regional Emmy for his position in producing “Dak Prescott: A Household Reunion” in regards to the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State. Observe him on Twitter at @davidhelman_.
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