Cowboys news: HOF lineman Larry Allen passes away, Jefferson gets paid before Lamb

Cowboys Hall of Famer Larry Allen dies suddenly at age 52 – Todd Archer, ESPN

Monday was a sad day for the NFL world, as Cowboys Ring of Honor member and NFL Hall of Fame inductee Larry Allen passed away.

Allen was a second-round pick out of Sonoma State in 1994 and quickly became one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL.

He was named to the Pro Bowl 11 times and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. He played for the Cowboys from 1994 to 2005, winning a Super Bowl in 1995. He spent his final two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the Allen family,” the 49ers said in a statement posted to X.

Allen overcame a challenging upbringing in Compton, California. He was once stabbed 12 times while protecting one of his brothers. He attended four different high schools before going to Butte College. He later starred at Sonoma State, where the Cowboys found the raw but talented Allen and drafted him with the 46th pick.

He protected Cowboys quarterbacks from Troy Aikman to Tony Romo and once shifted from guard to tackle in games. He played right tackle, right guard and left tackle but mostly starred at left guard and was a first-team All-Pro six times.

“Just received the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved teammate Larry Allen,” Aikman posted to X on Monday. “He was a HOF offensive lineman that dominated opponents regardless of the position played. Off the field, he was a gentle giant that loved his family. Rest in Peace LA.”

Tyler Smith on Larry Allen’s ‘tough’ style – Nick Harris, DallasCowboys.com

One of the Cowboys brightest young stars on the OL, playing Allen’s former position, shares what he learned from one of the all-time greats.

The sudden news comes on the heels of third-year offensive lineman Tyler Smith speaking about the great Larry Allen just last week, as Smith dons Allen’s No. 73 and has been routinely compared to the Ring of Honor member because of his versatility between left tackle and left guard since his arrival in 2022.

Smith, who had a close relationship with Allen, always let his high respect for his predecessor be known.

“It’s huge, for sure,” Smith said last week. “Obviously, just knowing Larry and everything he did and how great he was. It’s just my mission to be the best me I can be, to be the best Tyler Smith I can be every single day. Just improve, stay hungry and never lose that passion. Just continue to get better.”

Allen’s toughness, both on and off the field since his childhood, was always acknowledged by Smith – who has done extensive homework on the legacy that Allen left in Dallas.

“He almost died of meningitis when he was a kid,” he said. “He’s very tough, just a dawg. I’ve seen the tape, extremely athletic and famous for the chasedown tackle against the Saints. One of the best pulling guards to maybe ever play in the NFL. Not many people are doing people like that anymore.”

If social media were a thing during Allen’s playing days, his gaudy achievements in the weight room would’ve created constant viral moments. Having once bench pressed 700 pounds, Allen has been unofficially pinned as the strongest player to ever play in the NFL.

Another “leaf” falls in the WR market; CeeDee Lamb awaits – Mario Herrera Jr., Inside The Star

The Cowboys simply operate on their own schedule when it comes to getting big contracts done.

The Minnesota Vikings have just made Justin Jefferson not only the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL but also the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history based on average annual value.

The $35 million per year average makes him the richest wide receiver in the NFL with several others still waiting in line.

What Does This Mean for Lamb?

The top news for CeeDee is obviously the large payday that is coming.

There was speculation as to how much annual salary Lamb (his agent, rather) was requesting.

Many were guessing around the $32-$33 million range that AJ Brown received from Philadelphia but the bar Jefferson just set means Lamb will be closer to that $35 million.

11 NFL stars still awaiting paydays in aftermath of Jefferson’s deal – Nate Davis, USAToday

Three of the 11 players are Cowboys: Prescott, Lamb, and Parsons. Parsons in particular is an interesting case: Can the Cowboys get him extended early, or will they wait again and end up paying millions more than they needed to?

[Parsons is] now able to cash in per the parameters of the collective bargaining agreement. And fellow 2021 draftees like Waddle, Penei Sewell and DeVonta Smith already have, even if it’s been fairly uncommon for players to land top-of-market extensions heading into their fourth seasons … though the ballooning salary cap might make that a smarter route for clubs that will only pay more the longer they delay inevitable payouts. However in Parsons’ case, there will almost certainly need to be resolution on the Prescott and Lamb fronts first – and that might mean he’ll wait until 2025. His classification as a linebacker could also make matters trickier given he’ll certainly seek compensation closer to 49ers DE Nick Bosa, whose $34 million average is nearly $6 million clear of the top-paid ‘backers.

PFF Cornerback Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2024 NFL season – John Kosko, PFF

Two current Cowboys and one former Cowboy make the list.

19. Trevon Diggs: This will be a big year for Diggs as he returns from an injury-shortened 2023. After hauling in an incredible 11 interceptions in 2021, Diggs hauled in just three in 2022.

23. Stephon Gilmore: We may have seen the start of the decline for Gilmore, who has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for nearly a decade. The 734 yards he allowed in 2023 were the most he’s allowed since his rookie season.

31. DaRon Bland: Bland’s ranking will likely upset many Cowboys fans. Yes, the 2022 fifth-rounder set the NFL’s pick-six record in 2023, and his 14 interceptions over the last two years paces the league. But he’s almost a carbon copy of teammate Trevon Diggs in the risk-it-all for-the-biscuit style of play.

Bland has allowed 1.35 yards per cover snap the last two years, which ranks 111th among qualifiers, while his 1,351 yards allowed comes in at 11th-most. The interceptions are obviously valuable, but that number is not likely to be sustainable long term.

NFL minicamp 2024: Will CeeDee Lamb be in attendance? – Todd Archer, ESPN

Dallas holds its minicamp on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week.

The minicamp is mandatory and the wide receiver could face a fine of close to $100,000 if he skips every day, but the receiver has not taken part in offseason voluntary work as he seeks a new contract. There has not been much movement toward a new deal during the spring, but that could change with a number of receiver deals coming in across the league since the draft. Lamb has been working out on his own and has had a few throwing sessions with Dak Prescott away from The Star. The Cowboys are not worried about his absence hurting production when the season starts.

Rookies with the most to prove in minicamps – Josh Edwards, CBSSports

Another list, another Cowboys player featured.

4. OT Tyler Guyton, Cowboys (Round 1, No. 29 overall)

Tyler Guyton will be making the transition from right tackle to left tackle. It can be done, but it is also not a given that success will follow. He has the athleticism for this type of move to even be possible. The Cowboys will also be breaking in first-year center starter Brock Hoffman along an offensive line that now features three former first-round picks.

1 Player Each NFL Team Should Consider Trading Before the 2024 Season – Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report

Markquese Bell made the switch from safety to linebacker under Dan Quinn, and now under Mike Zimmer is back at safety with a lot of established names ahead of him.

Dallas Cowboys: S Markquese Bell

The Cowboys plan to move Bell back to his more natural position of safety. But even with Jayron Kearse gone, Dallas still has a pair of established starters in Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker.

There may not be a clear path to significant playing time for Bell with the Cowboys. But there are several NFL teams that could have a use for Bell’s versatility as a “hybrid” player— including former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who is now the head coach for the Washington Commanders.

Veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks could be another possibility here, but trading the NFL’s most-traded player ever (well, tied for that rather odd “honor”) would leave Dallas thin at wideout behind CeeDee Lamb.

Bell’s departure wouldn’t create nearly as many problems.