DALLAS (AP) — Larry Allen, who had a 12-year career mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, was one of the NFL's most formidable offensive lineman. He passed away. 52 was his age.
The Cowboys reported that Allen passed away unexpectedly on Sunday while on vacation in Mexico with his family.
Six-time All-Pro Allen let his blocking speak for him and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
The Cowboys said on Monday that "Larry was one of the most respected, accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength." He was also known for his durability and adaptability throughout his career. By doing so, he kept inspiring a lot of other athletes and set the standard for what it meant to be a fantastic teammate, rival, and victor.
The Cowboys selected the former Sonoma State lineman in the second round in 1994, the year before the club won its last five Super Bowl championships. Allen once bench-pressed 700 pounds in front of his stunned teammates, who surrounded him afterward.
When the Minnesota Vikings played the Cowboys, infamous trash-talker John Randle chose to remain quiet to avoid upsetting Allen since he was so feared by his colleagues.
For The Associated Press's 11-year-old Hall of Fame feature on Allen, one of Allen's offensive line mentors, Nate Newton, remarked, "He never said nothin'." "From time to time, you would hear him laugh that old, funny laugh he had or swear."
After a lifetime spent trying to escape the limelight, Allen knew her presence would have helped him get through a speech, so he joined the Hall of Fame as a first-ballot pick, just a year after his mother passed away.
Allen responded, "I miss her," and walked out into the hallway. "She would start making me laugh whenever I would call her when I was nervous or had a big game."
When the Cowboys selected Allen, they had just won two straight Super Bowls. Despite being surrounded by offensive linemen who had made the Pro Bowl, he quickly gained recognition and went on to make 11 Pro Bowls.
When it seemed like the New Orleans linebacker Troy Aikman was all he had to beat down the sideline, Allen prevented a score late in his first year by bringing down Darion Conner. Power dominated the most of the remainder of his career: first as a tackle, where the Cowboys anticipated he would be a key player, and then as a guard.
The Hall of Fame noted in a statement, "The National Football League is filled with gifted athletes, but only a rare few have combined the size, brute strength, speed, and agility of Larry Allen." "His offensive lineman abilities frequently defied comprehension and logic."
Allen played his last two seasons with the 49ers in San Francisco, which is closer to home. Following that, Allen retreated to a peaceful life in Northern California with his wife and three children, in keeping with his character as a player.
"His wife, Janelle, whom he called his heart and soul," his daughters Jayla and Loriana, and his son Larry III showed him a great deal of love and care," the Cowboys stated.
During the "Triplets" era with Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and receiver Michael Irvin—all three Hall of Famers—Aikman missed the first two Super Bowl championships.
When Allen was a rookie, the Cowboys lost to the 49ers in the NFC championship game. However, the next season, they triumphed and became the first team to win three Super Bowls in four seasons.
After Allen's mother moved him around to keep him away from gangs, he attended four high schools in the Los Angeles region before landing at the junior college where Frank Scalercio, his coach at Sonoma State, found him while he was playing at Butte College.
Scalercio, who was recruiting a new player at the time and was an assistant for Sonoma, saw Allen toss an opponent to the ground for the first time.
Scalercio said, "I kind of forgot about the guy I was actually recruiting."
Because of his slow academic progress, Allen was placed in small Division II Sonoma rather than Division I, where he most likely belonged.
The Hall of Famer said, "He could literally beat the will out of his opponents, with many quitting midgame or not dressing at all rather than face him." However, it was just during play. "He was a silent, kind giant off it."
After retiring, Allen attended Sonoma basketball games and cheerfully signed autographs and posed for photos. A few years later, the football program was discontinued.
In 2013, Allen's buddy Tim Burrell said, "He's even bigger now than he ever was on campus." "He is adored by all."
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Kari Pettersen
DALLAS (AP) — Larry Allen, who had a 12-year career mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, was one of the NFL's most formidable offensive lineman. He passed away. 52 was his age.
The Cowboys reported that Allen passed away unexpectedly on Sunday while on vacation in Mexico with his family.
Six-time All-Pro Allen let his blocking speak for him and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
The Cowboys said on Monday that "Larry was one of the most respected, accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength." He was also known for his durability and adaptability throughout his career. By doing so, he kept inspiring a lot of other athletes and set the standard for what it meant to be a fantastic teammate, rival, and victor.
The Cowboys selected the former Sonoma State lineman in the second round in 1994, the year before the club won its last five Super Bowl championships. Allen once bench-pressed 700 pounds in front of his stunned teammates, who surrounded him afterward.
When the Minnesota Vikings played the Cowboys, infamous trash-talker John Randle chose to remain quiet to avoid upsetting Allen since he was so feared by his colleagues.
For The Associated Press's 11-year-old Hall of Fame feature on Allen, one of Allen's offensive line mentors, Nate Newton, remarked, "He never said nothin'." "From time to time, you would hear him laugh that old, funny laugh he had or swear."
After a lifetime spent trying to escape the limelight, Allen knew her presence would have helped him get through a speech, so he joined the Hall of Fame as a first-ballot pick, just a year after his mother passed away.
Allen responded, "I miss her," and walked out into the hallway. "She would start making me laugh whenever I would call her when I was nervous or had a big game."
When the Cowboys selected Allen, they had just won two straight Super Bowls. Despite being surrounded by offensive linemen who had made the Pro Bowl, he quickly gained recognition and went on to make 11 Pro Bowls.
When it seemed like the New Orleans linebacker Troy Aikman was all he had to beat down the sideline, Allen prevented a score late in his first year by bringing down Darion Conner. Power dominated the most of the remainder of his career: first as a tackle, where the Cowboys anticipated he would be a key player, and then as a guard.
The Hall of Fame noted in a statement, "The National Football League is filled with gifted athletes, but only a rare few have combined the size, brute strength, speed, and agility of Larry Allen." "His offensive lineman abilities frequently defied comprehension and logic."
Allen played his last two seasons with the 49ers in San Francisco, which is closer to home. Following that, Allen retreated to a peaceful life in Northern California with his wife and three children, in keeping with his character as a player.
"His wife, Janelle, whom he called his heart and soul," his daughters Jayla and Loriana, and his son Larry III showed him a great deal of love and care," the Cowboys stated.
During the "Triplets" era with Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and receiver Michael Irvin—all three Hall of Famers—Aikman missed the first two Super Bowl championships.
When Allen was a rookie, the Cowboys lost to the 49ers in the NFC championship game. However, the next season, they triumphed and became the first team to win three Super Bowls in four seasons.
After Allen's mother moved him around to keep him away from gangs, he attended four high schools in the Los Angeles region before landing at the junior college where Frank Scalercio, his coach at Sonoma State, found him while he was playing at Butte College.
Read Also : How many types of coffee drinks are there?Scalercio, who was recruiting a new player at the time and was an assistant for Sonoma, saw Allen toss an opponent to the ground for the first time.
Scalercio said, "I kind of forgot about the guy I was actually recruiting."
Because of his slow academic progress, Allen was placed in small Division II Sonoma rather than Division I, where he most likely belonged.
The Hall of Famer said, "He could literally beat the will out of his opponents, with many quitting midgame or not dressing at all rather than face him." However, it was just during play. "He was a silent, kind giant off it."
After retiring, Allen attended Sonoma basketball games and cheerfully signed autographs and posed for photos. A few years later, the football program was discontinued.
In 2013, Allen's buddy Tim Burrell said, "He's even bigger now than he ever was on campus." "He is adored by all."