PRO: As a member of the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1990's, Larry Allen is widely recognized as the NFL's premier offensive lineman, and he has established himself as the most decorated offensive lineman in Dallas Cowboys history. In eight NFL seasons since being drafted out of tiny Sonoma State, he is already a seven-time All-Pro selection, six times at guard (1995-97, 1999-01) and one at tackle (1998). With his Pro Bowl selection at tackle in 1998, he became just the third player in league history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at more than one offensive line position during his career, joining Bruce Matthews (guard/center) and Chris Hinton (guard/tackle). Allen's Pro Bowl selection in 2001 was the seventh of his brilliant career - setting the standard for most Pro Bowl selections by a Dallas offensive lineman. Emmitt Smith is the only Dallas offensive player to be selected to more Pro Bowls (nine), while Bob Lilly (11), Mel Renfro (10) and Randy White (9) are the only other Cowboys to be selected to the NFC squad more times than Allen. Allen has played all but one position along the offensive line in his eight seasons in Dallas, moving between right tackle (1994), right guard (1995-97), left tackle (1997-98) and left guard (1999-01). During that time, he has been part of a group that has allowed just 208 sacks in 128 games (1.6 per game), fewest in the NFL during that time (Miami is second with 222 sacks allowed). He has also been a member of an offensive unit that has posted the four lowest sacks allowed totals in club history with 18 in 1995, 19 in 1996 and 1998, and 20 in 1994. He has also been a very important part in Smith's race toward the all-time NFL rushing mark. Prior to the start of the 2002 season, Allen has played a role in eight of Smith's 11 one thousand-yard rushing seasons. Smith has gained 10,488 of his 16,187 career yards since Allen joined the Cowboys in 1994. With a career-best bench press of 700 pounds, and a squat lift of 900 pounds, Allen is also considered to be the strongest man to ever play professional football. In March of 2002, Allen signed a contract extension that all but assures the perennial All-Pro will finish his illustrious career as a Dallas Cowboy.

2001: Allen closed out the season by being named All-Pro by the Associated Press for the seventh consecutive season. He was also named a Pro Bowl starter at guard, although he did not attend the game in Hawaii due to elbow surgery that was performed after the season (Jan. 18, 2002). It was his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl selection and the most ever by a Dallas offensive lineman. Allen played a key role in a Dallas offensive line that helped the Cowboys finish third in the NFL in rushing at 136.5 yards-per-game. The 2,184 rushing yards Dallas gained for the season was the second best total by a Cowboys' team in the last 20 years (1995 - 2,201). The Dallas offensive line also helped Smith rush for an NFL-record 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season, while Smith also moved into the second spot on the NFL's all-time career rushing list with 16,187 yards. The Dallas offensive line allowed 34 sacks in 447 pass plays in 2001, only 12 teams allowed fewer sacks for the year and only eight teams lost fewer yards due to sacks than the 190 lost by Dallas. Ten times opponents were held to two sacks or less during the season. In the season opener against Tampa Bay (9/9), Allen helped limit All-Pro DT Warren Sapp to one tackle and no sacks, while the Cowboys were able to rush for 99 yards on 23 carries (4.3 avg.). In the Cowboys next game against San Diego (9/23), Allen led the way as Smith ran for 85 yards on 17 carries (5.0 avg.) and moved past Barry Sanders into second on the NFL's all-time rushing list. In the Cowboys Monday night win over Washington (10/15), Allen and Co. helped lead Smith (107 yards) to his first 100-yard rushing game of the season and Dallas to 211 yards on the ground for the evening. At Atlanta (11/11), Allen played a part in an effort that opened the way for Troy Hambrick to gain 127 rushing yards and Michael Wiley to add 85 en route to the Cowboys gaining 207 yards (6.3 avg.) for the day. In a home loss to Philadelphia (11/18), Allen helped Dallas rush for 132 yards on 23 carries (5.7 avg.) against the NFL's eighth ranked run defense. Allen played a key role in Dallas' 20-14 win at Washington (12/2), helping the Cowboys log their third 200+ yard rushing day of the season as the team ran 44 times for 215 yards (4.9 avg.), including 102 yards from Smith. The Cowboys surprise 27-21 win over San Francisco (12/30) was sparked by a Dallas line that helped account for 186 rushing yards, including 126 by Smith. The Cowboys also helped limit the 49ers to one sack on 26 pass plays as QB Quincy Carter threw for a season-high 241 yards. Allen personally limited Dana Stubblefield to three tackles on a day when the Cowboys ran 44 times.

2000: For the sixth consecutive season, Allen was selected to the NFC Pro Bowl squad and garnered consensus All-Pro and All-NFC honors for his work on the Dallas offensive line. He was part of a unit that allowed just 35 sacks in 480 pass plays during the year, and six times during the season opponents were held to one sack or less. On the ground, Dallas averaged 4.2 yards-per-carry, a mark the club has topped just twice in the last 12 seasons. Only four NFC clubs posted a better yards-per-carry average. Despite suffering a fractured right hand in practice on July 20, Allen returned to action by the end of preseason and started all 16 games. Against Arizona (9/10), Allen's blocking helped limit the Cardinals to one sack while protecting Randall Cunningham as he completed 24-of-34 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns. The next week at Washington (9/18), he was a key part of an offensive line that helped Dallas rush for 153 yards and allowed just one sack in 24 pass plays. Smith posted his first 100-yard rushing effort of the season at Carolina (10/1), picking up 132 yards on 24 carries (5.5 avg.). Allen's blocking against Arizona (10/22) keyed the offense as it picked up 347 total yards, including 200 rushing - 112 by Smith - and allowed just one sack. For the second straight week, Smith topped the century mark with 102 yards on 24 carries against Jacksonville (10/29), and he posted his third straight 100-yard game as the Cowboys ran for 204 yards against the league's 10th ranked defense at Philadelphia (11/5). In the Eagles' game, Allen opened a gaping hole that Smith walked through for a second quarter score. Not content to merely run block, the line did not allow a sack in 37 pass attempts against Cincinnati (11/12) or in 43 pass attempts against Minnesota (11/23). In addition, Smith ran for 100 yards on 12 carries against the Vikings before suffering a third quarter concussion. At Tampa Bay (12/3) against the league's sixth ranked defense in sacks-per-pass play, Allen and the line helped limit the Bucs to two sacks in 35 pass plays. Personally, Allen helped limit Warren Sapp to two tackles on the day and the entire Tampa Bay starting defensive line to six tackles. Smith rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown against Washington (12/10) and the NFL's fourth ranked defense. In all, the Cowboys ran for 242 yards against the Redskins, the most by a Dallas offense since recording 271 yards on the ground at Philadelphia on Oct. 31, 1993.

1999: Despite starting in his third line position in as many years and missing five games due to injury, Allen was selected to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl while earning consensus All-Pro honors. He earned this recognition as part of an offensive line that allowed the second fewest sacks (24) in the NFL (Indianapolis - 14) and one or fewer sacks in nine-of-16 games. The Dallas offensive line also led the way for Smith to rush for 1,397 yards. In Allen's first career start at left guard in the season opener at Washington (9/12), he helped lead the way as the Cowboys gained 541 total yards while surrendering only one sack in 50 pass plays. The offensive output against the Redskins was Dallas' highest yardage total since gaining 554 yards on Sept. 15, 1985 against Detroit. Against Atlanta (9/20), he helped lead the way as Smith (109 yards) became just the third player in the last 29 games to rush for over 100 yards against the Falcons. His blocking helped the Cowboys line allow only one sack in 40 pass plays at Philadelphia (10/10), and he helped limit the Redskins (10/24) to no sacks in 32 pass plays. At Minnesota (11/8), Allen's blocking helped spring Smith to 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the first half as the Dallas offense rolled up 205 rushing yards for the game. While helping the Cowboys ground game accumulate 149 yards against Green Bay (11/14), Allen sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the third quarter and did not return. He missed the first game of his career at Arizona (11/21), snapping strings of 97 consecutive games played and 90 consecutive starts. His knee sprain caused him to miss the next four games as well. He returned to the starting lineup at New Orleans (12/24) and helped the Dallas line surrender no sacks on 39 pass plays while helping Smith rush for his eighth 100-yard game of the season. In the season finale against the N.Y. Giants (1/2/00), Smith recorded his ninth 100-yard game of the year and the line did not allow a sack in 33 pass plays. The Cowboys offensive line closed the regular season by not allowing a sack on the final 94 pass plays of the season. The line again surrendered only one sack in 39 pass plays in an NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at Minnesota (1/9/00) while helping Smith rush for 99 yards, including a Dallas postseason record 65-yarder. Allen underwent arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 18, 2000 to remove loose bodies from his right knee.

1998: After starting the final three games of 1997 at left tackle, Allen was penciled into the position from day one of the 1998 season. In his first full season guarding Troy Aikman's blindside, he earned consensus All-Pro and All-NFC honors. When Allen's peers voted him to the NFC Pro Bowl squad at tackle, he became just the third player in league history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at more than one offensive line position during his career. Allen earned that recognition as a vital cog in an offensive line that allowed just 19 sacks for 110 yards in 493 pass plays for the season - fewest in the NFL. His blocking also helped Smith to seven 100-yard rushing days and 1,332 yards. In the season opener against Arizona (9/6), Allen debuted at his new position and helped Dallas amass 444 total yards (188 rushing) - both totals were the highest since 1996. In addition, the offensive line did not allow a sack of Aikman in 32 pass plays. In an October match-up at Washington (10/4), Allen helped lead the way as Dallas had two running backs top the 100-yard mark for just the third time in club history. Smith finished with 120 yards and one touchdown while Chris Warren added 104 yards and two touchdowns. In November, Allen faced four of the NFC's top defensive ends in Hugh Douglas (fifth in the NFC with 12.5 sacks in 1998), Chad Bratzke (ninth with 11.0), Simeon Rice (tied for 11th with 10.0) and John Randle (10th with 10.5). His streak started at Philadelphia (11/2) when he limited Douglas to one tackle and no sacks. The next week against Bratzke and the N.Y. Giants (11/8), his blocking helped Smith rush for 163 yards on 29 carries (5.6 avg.), and the Dallas offensive line allowed no sacks to a Giants defense that led the NFL in sacks in 1998. At Arizona (11/15), Allen, while limiting Rice to one tackle, was part of a line that allowed no sacks to the Cards defense and helped lead Smith to 118 yards and three touchdowns. Seattle brought the AFC's top sacking defense of 1998 into Dallas (11/22) and came away with just one sack (on an Aikman fumble), while the Cowboys ran for 173 yards on the day. Allen closed out his dominating month against John Randle and the Minnesota Vikings (11/26), limiting him to one tackle and no sacks in 81 offensive plays. In addition, Allen helped set a new club record for pass attempts in a game without a sack (57) and led the way as Smith rushed for three touchdowns to tie Marcus Allen's NFL record of 123 career rushing scores. In the regular season finale against Washington (12/27), Allen was part of a blocking unit that saw Smith run for two more touchdowns to break the NFL's all-time rushing touchdown record.

1997: After spending part of training camp working at left tackle, Allen returned to his right guard spot for the first 13 games of the season. He started his third season at right guard at Pittsburgh (8/31) and helped Dallas gain 380 total yards, including 295 yards passing while not allowing a sack. This kind of play kept Aikman healthy and in the starting lineup for every game for the third straight season. In a win over Philadelphia (9/15), Allen suffered a strained left hamstring in the second quarter and did not return to action. Following the bye week, he returned to the starting lineup against Chicago (9/28) but was forced out of the game in the second quarter when he did not have the strength in his left leg to effectively block. Allen was back in the starting lineup for good the next week at the N.Y. Giants (10/5). After the loss of Mark Tuinei at left tackle at Washington (10/13), Allen slid out to left tackle in third down passing situations against Philadelphia (10/26) and Washington (11/16). In the Redskins game, the line allowed just one sack in 46 pass plays. Allen became the full-time starter at left tackle against Carolina (12/8) and remained there the final three weeks of the season. Despite moving between guard and tackle during the season, Allen was selected to his third straight Pro Bowl at guard and earned first-team All-Pro honors.

1996: Allen earned his second consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl, along with consensus All-Pro and All-NFC honors, while the Dallas offensive line led the NFL by allowing just 19 sacks on the season, one shy of the club record set in 1995. In a win at Miami (10/27), Aikman was sacked just once while completing a season-high 33-of-41 (80.5%) pass attempts for 363 yards and three touchdowns. For the third straight year behind Allen, Smith ran for over 1,200 yards while topping 100 yards on the ground four times, including a season-high 155 yards and three touchdowns against Washington (11/28). In the first round of the playoffs, Allen's blocking helped lead the Dallas running game to 255 rushing yards against Minnesota (12/28), the second best postseason total in club history. Smith's 6.8 yards-per-carry average in that game was the third best mark in club history.

1995: Allen made his first NFL start at right guard in the season opener at the N.Y. Giants (9/4), helping the Dallas offense roll up 459 yards, including 230 rushing yards - the most by the Cowboys since Oct. 31, 1993. It wasn't until the third game of the season that the Dallas front five allowed a sack, and six times in 1995, Allen and the rest of the line held an opponent sackless. For the season, Dallas finished second in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed with a club record 18. In addition, Aikman was healthy and able to start every game for just the second time in his career, helping Allen earn All-Pro honors. In the regular-season finale at Arizona (12/25), Allen's work with the line enabled Dallas to roll up 474 yards of total offense, the most yardage by a Dallas team since Sept. 15, 1985. The Cowboys finished the season ranked fifth in the NFL in total offense, while Smith gained a club record 1,773 yards rushing, captured his fourth NFL rushing title in five years and scored a NFL record 25 rushing touchdowns. Following the season, Allen, who was in just his first year as a starting guard, was one of a club-record four Dallas offensive linemen to be selected to the Pro Bowl, joining Ray Donaldson, Nate Newton and Mark Tuinei.

1994: Allen was forced into the lineup four games into his rookie campaign when Tuinei suffered back spasms at Washington (10/2). He received a game ball for his play, which held the Redskins sackless on the day. The next week against the Cardinals (10/9), Allen earned his first NFL start, at left tackle for Tuinei, and held Clyde Simmons to five tackles and no sacks while the offensive line did not allow a sack in 28 pass attempts. It was the first time a rookie offensive lineman had started for Dallas since Nov. 24, 1991 when Williams started at right tackle against Washington. Allen returned to spot duty the next two weeks, but early in the morning on Oct. 24, Williams was injured in an automobile accident and lost for the season. Allen moved into the starting lineup at Williams' right tackle spot for good at Cincinnati (10/30). The following week, he was part of an offensive line that helped Dallas amass 450 total yards against the N.Y. Giants (11/7). Both he and Tuinei received game balls for helping hold the Saints without a sack in the Monday night victory at New Orleans (12/19). With 10 regular season starts, Allen tied Burton Lawless (1975) and Kevin Gogan (1987) for the most starts on the offensive line as a rookie in club history. On his way to garnering consensus all-rookie honors, Allen helped Dallas establish a then team record by allowing just 20 sacks - for losses totaling just 93 yards (fewest yards in the NFL). Smith finished the year third in the NFL rushing race with 1,484 yards, and the Cowboys were fifth in the NFL in rushing yards-per-game. In the playoffs, Allen received a game ball against Green Bay (1/8/95) when the Dallas offense picked up 450 total yards and Aikman completed 23-of-30 passes for 337 yards. Allen sprained his left ankle in that game, but returned to action. In the NFC Championship Game at San Francisco (1/15/95), he struggled through three quarters on the injured ankle before leaving the game. Allen was the 10th offensive lineman selected in the NFL Draft and the first player ever drafted from Sonoma State. Taken in the second round (46th overall), it marked the first time since 1981 Dallas had taken an offensive lineman that high.

COLLEGE: Allen began his college career at Butte Junior College in Oroville, CA (1989-90). After a year off, he enrolled at Sonoma State, a Division II school 45 miles north of San Francisco. In two years with the Cossacks, Allen gave up just one sack. During his senior year, Sonoma State set a mark with 334 yards rushing against Cal-State Hayward. A two-time All-America selection, Allen participated in the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl. In 1992, the Cossacks were primarily a passing team and established 10 new school records - including most yards gained, most touchdown passes, best gain-per-completion and highest passing efficiency.