Weapon_X:

Emmitt left because we ran him out of town, Larry left to chase money, there is a difference.  I don't hate Allen, I just wasn't a fan before 1996 and it may not be his fault but he's one of the players that was on every single one of those teams so I associate him with those bad memories. 

Players and teams move on. That was the case with Emmitt, LA, Dorsett and may others. If Montana could play elsewhere and Jerry Rice could play for 2 teams besides the niners, anythings possible!!! Circumstances change no matter how great the player. Allen is forever a Cowboy and will go into the hall as one..

thanks for putting this in the proper forum. I just came from visiting NFL.com and I'm PO'd, they have the damn front page with Ogden, Sapp, Strahan and Favre. Are you kidding me? This is horrible!! Pat Kirwan took calls and combined with emails he had LA at 4th in the order of who should get in. Worse than that they are doing a POLL and LA is being beaten out by Air McNair. Now I like McNair, but I would never respect the HOF or even recognize it if they were to include McNair over Allen. Hell if LA doesn't get in I will not recognize it. He's better than any of those players, ANY of them. He's ALL DECADE team of the 90's, paved the way for #22 who would ultimately go on to set the NFL rushing record.

If I had to vote I would go with Big LA, Favre, Strahan, Seau and then take your pick.

Weapon_X:

Emmitt left because we ran him out of town, Larry left to chase money, there is a difference.  I don't hate Allen, I just wasn't a fan before 1996 and it may not be his fault but he's one of the players that was on every single one of those teams so I associate him with those bad memories. 

You have to remember X, it's not always a dollar deal.  In Allen's case, there may have been a little bit, but the truth of it was, Parcells and Jones didn't think LA was the player he once was and tried to low ball him on a new contract.  Their take on it was that Allen had lost something in his lateral movements (pulling on traps), his age and the number of years that he actually would be able to play.  If those issues hadn't been mentioned, then yeah, I could see your point of view, but in this case, I believe it was as much a matter of Allen's pride and ability being questioned.  I know personally when I was still working, that if anyone challenged me saying that there was no way to do it, or more so, that there was no way that I could get it done, it was a driving factor to find a way to throw it back in whose ever face and prove that they were wrong.  I don't know your background, but if you have ever been involved with any kind of organized sports, this is something that most coaches try to pound into your mind, especially in football, and even more so when playing on the offensive and defensive lines.  If you would be able to interview any head coach at any level, they will tell you that the game is won or lost based on what happens in the pit (line of scrimmage).  You have to have a kill or be killed mentallity.  I may have mention this earlier, but if you take your memory back one season, you will remember that LA was on that Super Bowl XXX team.  Hardly would call that a bad memory. 

 

Presto, I wouldn't worry too much about Pat Kirwan or some stupid little poll.  Most people don't watch what happens on the line, because they are too busy watching the glory boys ( QB, WR's RB's).  They wait like a alligator sitting in a pond waiting for it's next meal, to see a big play break, believing that is were all the action is, but if they take the time to watch what happens, they will come to realize it all materializes at the LOS.  So let McNair's fan have their moment in the sun thinking that they will be the reason that he gets into the HOF, because they voted on some silly little survey that means squat.

Presto512:

Weapon_X:

 So that's why he ran off to another team just because they offered him more once he was no longer the player he used to be.  So loyal to Dallas and its fans.  I don't like Allen as much as most because we pretty much sucked while he was here.

I think your thinking of Torrin Tucker or someone else, because Allen was one of the most dominating lineman in NFL history. Emmitt also left for more money, I didn't hate him for that, that's the business.

Sorry Weapon your way off base on this one - Larry is most certainly a Cowboy and the best guard ever.

Larry Allen was one of the most dominating players to ever play the game.  He is highly thought of by the fans and from opposing players.  He is a hands down, no question, first ballot hall of famer.  In the last 2 decades, the only other Offensive Lineman that is even in Allen's league would be Jonathan Ogden.  Im not here to argue who was better because they were both shut down guys and they both are 1st ballot Hall of Famers.

I think he is greatly under appreciated as one of the greatest NFL players ever at any position.  This is probably because he played on the offensive line but if you had to compare his dominance to someone at another position, I would compare him to LT of Giants, Montana at QB, or Jerry Rice at WR.  I know I am going to get bashed for this but thats what I believe.  To me, its not just the fact that he was the very best for a long time, but like Shaq, he was the best and he did it in a way that was dominant and changed the game.  I remember John Madden (cause we know how much he loves linemen) keying in on Allen during the game in the 90s and early 2000s, circling him with his pen, and showing the rest of the nation exactly how he dominated the opposing Defense.  He would constantly not only block his man, but bulldoze him back 4-5 yards back into the ground when run blocking.  It was a level of dominance rarely seen if ever.  He was also able to bench 700+ lbs and squat 900lbs. 

He was also versatile.  He earned probowl honors at LT, RG, and LG.  How many guys have earned probowl honors at 3 different spots on the line?  A select few I am sure.  He has a superbowl which seems to be an important key in being a HOF player.  He earned 11 probowl selections.  He was 1st team all-pro 6 times and 2nd team all-pro once i believe.  And if it not been for his injury in 02 that sidelined him for over 1/2 the season, he prob would have had 12 probowls and been 1st team all-pro 7 times. and Finally, if anyone still questions if he is a 1st ballot HOF, he is a big reason why Emmitt Smith is the leagues leading rusher.  Some of the holes he got in the 90s were large enough to fit a semi truck in.

I still remember watching a Boys game in the late 90s, maybe 97 or 98, and they asked one of the analyst the key for dallas winning the game, and he replied, "just run the ball behind Larry Allen."

On a different note, think he would want to be our Nose Tackle?  HAHA JK he is strong enough though.  If anyone could collapse a pocket, it would be him lol      

  

 

"I think he is greatly under appreciated as one of the greatest NFL players ever at any position.  This is probably because he played on the offensive line but if you had to compare his dominance to someone at another position, I would compare him to LT of Giants, Montana at QB, or Jerry Rice at WR.  I know I am going to get bashed for this but thats what I believe.  To me, its not just the fact that he was the very best for a long time, but like Shaq, he was the best and he did it in a way that was dominant and changed the game".

 (quote) romothefuture

 

Not by me you won't, I totally agree with this statement.  As far as Emmitt goes, you have to give a little love to Nate (The Kitchen) Newton, I know he does.

When he was good Larry Allen was the best run blocker I've ever seen play in the NFL but because he wasn't a technician he wasn't a great pass blocker, that's the only thing that would keep me from naming him the "Jerry Rice" of left guards. 

In that same article of Kirwan's there's a sub article, http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story?id=09000d5d808caa8a&template=with-video&confirm=true by Adam Shefter and it talks about the greats who have won a Superbowl and it didn't include Allen. This is a damn shame, it did however include Sapp and P. Holmes.

Allen is the strongest player to play the game that I know of. He has 11 Pro Bowl appearences (at 3 different positions), more than Strahan or Favre, tied with Ogden. But he does have 20 more games started than Ogden.

 Thanks for showing the love and the knowledge for those who posted what they felt about Larry Allen, the man truly is a Cowboys legend.

Romothefuture:

I remember John Madden (cause we know how much he loves linemen) keying in on Allen during the game in the 90s and early 2000s, circling him with his pen, and showing the rest of the nation exactly how he dominated the opposing Defense.  He would constantly not only block his man, but bulldoze him back 4-5 yards back into the ground when run blocking.  It was a level of dominance rarely seen if ever.  He was also able to bench 700+ lbs and squat 900lbs. 

Great post, I totally agree. You talked about Madden and anther guy who sometimes gets overlooked is Erik Williams - for those 4-5 years that guy played an amazing RT too bad he got hurt and the prob. that he had cause for those few years I dont know of any T that dominated like Big E did. He used to just pound on those D-linemen. I used to love to watch Madden key in on Nate, Erik and Larry.

nyc-cowboy:

Romothefuture:

I remember John Madden (cause we know how much he loves linemen) keying in on Allen during the game in the 90s and early 2000s, circling him with his pen, and showing the rest of the nation exactly how he dominated the opposing Defense.  He would constantly not only block his man, but bulldoze him back 4-5 yards back into the ground when run blocking.  It was a level of dominance rarely seen if ever.  He was also able to bench 700+ lbs and squat 900lbs. 

Great post, I totally agree. You talked about Madden and anther guy who sometimes gets overlooked is Erik Williams - for those 4-5 years that guy played an amazing RT too bad he got hurt and the prob. that he had cause for those few years I dont know of any T that dominated like Big E did. He used to just pound on those D-linemen. I used to love to watch Madden key in on Nate, Erik and Larry.

 Don't forget about Mark Tuinei.  Aikman would have been checking the wattage of the bulbs in the field lights without that guy.  No doubt, Dallas has had their share of great lineman, but if the selection committee can see fit to put in Rayfield Wright (don't get me wrong, he deserves to be there), then Allen is an absolute no-brainer.  I hope the new stadium will have the Ring of Honor as well, he certainly will end up there.

Oh yeah I remember Tuinei that guy completly shut down Bruce Smith in SB 27 and again did great against him in SB 28. We also had Mark Stepnowski and to bad we lost Gogan to free agency. We really had some line back then. Speaking of all these great linemen - I dont know if its me or what but I just dont think that Bigg Davis is a GREAT guard - I mean I like the guy and I think he is a very good player but I dont think he's is as good as Nate or LA in the run game. What do you think about him mr cowboy74

Pffft!  Larry Allen tainted his legacy when he decided to wear the urine gold helmet of the stupid 49ers.  May he be enshrined in the Lipstick/3Com Park Hall of whatever they call it and never be affiliated with the Cowboys again!

Anyone who wears that unhydrated-colored helmet deserves to be forgotten and loses their rights to be called Cowboys -- that includes YOU Ken Norton Jr.

furferret2:

 He SHOULD be a first ballot guy... but this 2013 class is shaping up to be something legendary, and if he's not a first ballot guy, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Yesterday, ESPN did a report on the players that have retired this offseason, and who are considering retirement... and there was something like 8 HOF guys, however they included guys like Seau and Ogden who haven't OFFICIALLY retired, but are considering it.

You are one of the biggest closet Cowboy fans I know. You love it here, more than with your own philly family.  You should consider leaving the dark side and coming to the winners side.

I like Davis.  After all, what's not to like?  He's big, strong, and has a fair amount of agility for being so big.  IMO, any knock on Leonard came from his days with the Cards, where they had him playing at the left tackle spot.  So he may not be the most versitle guy on the field, but in his current spot, he's a one man wrecking crew.  If you watched him closely last year, you find that he earned his check, quite often not only taking his guy, but helping Gurode and Columbo both on thier assignments as well when the opposing D tried cross-over stunts.  Don't get me wrong, I think Gurode is as good as any center in the league in a standard snap (just stay away from the long snaps when he starts getting tired).  As far as Columbo, personally, I think that if Rob Petitti would have been just as effective with Davis playing along side him.  I know that most will say I'm crazy on that, but that just the way I see it.  Remember Petitti beat out Parcells' boy he brought in from the Jets, Jason Fabini and remember they sign Fabini to a good sized deal to get him here, I would actually like to see Doug Free take over at the right tackle.  I know the Cowboys still have McQuistan, but he our swing guy and needs to be available is something happens to Adams.  I don't really see James Marten as anything more than a back up during his career, at least while in Dallas, the Jacob Rogers of the current roster.  Good enough to make the team for a couple of years to see how he will start to shape and then be released at the end of his current contract, with the old "no harm, no foul" clause.

I hope he goes in as a Cowboy!