By MATT MAIOCCO
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
The 49ers have agreed to contract terms with 10-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Larry Allen pending a physical, league sources told The Press Democrat on Thursday.
The addition of Allen would give a major boost to the 49ers' rushing attack, which ranked 17th in the league last season. Allen was a driving force behind the success of Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher.
A 49ers team spokesman declined comment Thursday afternoon.
Allen became a free agent Tuesday when the Dallas Cowboys released him for salary-cap purposes. Allen was scheduled to earn $3.5 million in base salary from the Cowboys, plus a $2 million roster bonus in April.
Allen, 34, has played every position on the offensive line, except center, during his 12-year NFL career but would appear to be best-suited to play guard at this stage in his career.
Allen is a native of Los Angeles who attended different high schools each of his four years. He finished at Vintage High in Napa. After spending two years at Butte College in Oroville, Allen transferred to Sonoma State, where he was a two-time NCAA Division II All-America selection.
He participated in the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl before the Dallas Cowboys made him their second-round pick in the 1994 draft.
Allen began his career as a guard, then shifted to tackle in 1998 and became just the third offensive lineman in league history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at more than one position in his career, joining Bruce Matthews (guard/center) and Chris Hinton (guard/tackle).
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
The 49ers have agreed to contract terms with 10-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Larry Allen pending a physical, league sources told The Press Democrat on Thursday.
The addition of Allen would give a major boost to the 49ers' rushing attack, which ranked 17th in the league last season. Allen was a driving force behind the success of Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher.
A 49ers team spokesman declined comment Thursday afternoon.
Allen became a free agent Tuesday when the Dallas Cowboys released him for salary-cap purposes. Allen was scheduled to earn $3.5 million in base salary from the Cowboys, plus a $2 million roster bonus in April.
Allen, 34, has played every position on the offensive line, except center, during his 12-year NFL career but would appear to be best-suited to play guard at this stage in his career.
Allen is a native of Los Angeles who attended different high schools each of his four years. He finished at Vintage High in Napa. After spending two years at Butte College in Oroville, Allen transferred to Sonoma State, where he was a two-time NCAA Division II All-America selection.
He participated in the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl before the Dallas Cowboys made him their second-round pick in the 1994 draft.
Allen began his career as a guard, then shifted to tackle in 1998 and became just the third offensive lineman in league history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at more than one position in his career, joining Bruce Matthews (guard/center) and Chris Hinton (guard/tackle).
