IRVING, Texas - The Cowboys have signed Larry Allen, 10-times a Pro Bowler with the club, so the former offensive lineman may retire with the team that drafted him.
He is considered a sure-fire Cowboys Ring of Honor candidate and likely a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.
Allen earned 11 Pro Bowl trips total in his career, the last coming in 2006, his first year with the 49ers. After playing with the Cowboys from 1994-2005, he played the final two years of his career in San Francisco. A formal announcement and recognition will be made by the Cowboys later, the organization said.
Hall of Fame defensive lineman Bob Lilly is the only Cowboys player to earn more Pro Bowl trips as a member of the club (11) than Allen, and defensive back Mel Renfro is the only other man to earn double-digit Pro Bowl trips as a Cowboy.
In terms of Pro Bowl selections, Allen is the most decorated offensive player in club history, surpassing five Hall-of-Famers. He is one of just three players in NFL history to earn a Pro Bowl trip at three different line positions, left tackle, left guard and right tackle. He also played some right guard early in his career. He was a seven-time All-Pro selection and a member of the 1990s All-Decade team.
He was a consensus All-Rookie team selection in 1994 and the NFL Players Association's pick for Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1996 and 1997.
Allen was a compensatory second-round draft choice out of Sonoma State by Dallas in 1994, the 46th overall selection that year. As a starter his second-year, Allen earned a ring for the team's Super Bowl XXX win over Pittsburgh.
Allen started 197 of 203 career games, and paved the way for many of Emmitt Smith's all-time record 18,355 career rushing yards.
The 6-3, 325-pounder may be the strongest player in NFL history, having recorded a 700-pound bench press.
Allen was a free agent following the 2007 season, but had not filed his official retirement papers. In July, there was speculation he might interested in returning to the 49ers after coach Mike Nolan said he had contacted the team's offensive line coach, George Warhop, the Cowboys line coach from 2003-04.
"He called a week or two ago to express his interest, but I haven't heard from him since," Nolan said in July. "I just think because he's a free agent, he just left it up to his agent this time."
To make room for Allen the Cowboys waived first-year guard Adam Stenavich.
