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No one loved offensive-line play more than John Madden, the former Hall of Fame coach and legendary NFL broadcaster who once paid Larry Allen the ultimate compliment.
Madden, who was on the call for a 1999 game between the Cowboys and Colts, openly marveled at the play of Allen, a Hall of Fame offensive guard who passed away Sunday at the age of 52 while on vacation with his family, the Cowboys announced Monday.
“If I ever went back to coaching, never would, but if I could take one guy with me, it would be old number 73 in white,” Madden said of Allen.
It was easy to see why Madden was so fond of Allen, a force of a player who helped the Cowboys win their third and final Super Bowl during the 1990s. In fact, it was Allen’s crushing block of Steelers All-Pro linebacker Greg Lloyd during the opening drive of Super Bowl XXX that sprung running back Emmitt Smith loose for a 23-yard gain. The long run helped set up the game’s first score as the Cowboys ultimately became the first team to win three Super Bowls over a four-year span.
Allen is an all-time great, and among the greatest players to ever play for the Cowboys. Here’s a look at the company Allen keeps.
*Seasons played in Dallas in parenthesis
Honorable mention: Mel Renfro, CB (1964-77)
The Cowboys’ first of many dominant defensive backs, Renfro’s 52 career picks is still the most in franchise history. A 10-time Pro Bowler, Renfro won two Super Bowls as a member of the Cowboys’ vaunted Doomsday defense during the 1970s.
10. Jason Witten, TE (2003-17, 2019)
A fan favorite during his years with the Cowboys, Witten — an 11-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro — is the franchise’s career leader in receptions (1,215) and receiving yards (12,977). Witten, who will be eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame in 2026, owns the unofficial title as the greatest tight end in Cowboys history and one of the franchise’s best…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cowboys-legend-larry-allen-dies-at-age-52-where-hall-of-fame-lineman-ranks-among-franchises-all-time-greats/
Author : Bryan DeArdo
Publish date : 2024-06-03 18:02:55
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