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Running out of chances, Eagles legend Eric Allen named Hall of Fame semifinalist again originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Eric Allen, the masterful cornerback drafted by the Eagles in 1988, is once again a semifinalist for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Allen has been a semifinalist five times now – each of the last five years – and last year was a finalist for the first time.
Ricky Watters, who made two Pro Bowls for the Eagles in the mid-1990s, also made the cut for the fifth time.
Allen, who retired after the 2001 season, is in his 19th year of eligibility. Players become eligible five years after they retire and have a 20-year window of eligibility before their fate rests with the Hall of Fame Seniors Committee. So Allen is running out of chances.
The Hall of Fame voters have continually snubbed Allen despite overwhelming credentials.
Allen had 58 interceptions and nine touchdown returns in a brilliant 14-year career. He’s one of only seven players in NFL history with nine interception returns for touchdowns – only Charles Woodson and Aqib Talib had more as cornerbacks – and one of only three players in NFL history with at least 58 INTs and nine TD returns.
His 58 interceptions are tied for 8th-most all-time by a cornerback, and he’s the only cornerback ever with 58 interceptions and nine touchdown returns.
Buddy Ryan drafted Allen in the second round of the 1988 draft after he saw him run 90-plus yards across the field to make a tackle late in a game when Arizona State was getting blown out.
Allen had five interceptions as a rookie and eight more in Year 2, when he made his first of six Pro Bowls and was named 1st-team all-pro. He had 34 interceptions in seven years with the Eagles and shares the franchise record with Bill Bradley and Brian Dawkins.
He added five more INTs in three years with the Saints and 15 in four years with the Raiders
During the 13-year period from 1988 through 2000, only Hall of Famer Rod Woodson had more…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/running-chances-eagles-legend-eric-153259344.html
Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia
Publish date : 2024-11-20 15:32:00
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