Former Saints Player Eric Allen named to the 2025 NFL Hall of Fame

An interesting selection indeed. Folk need to remember this whenever the conversation is about the number of rings relative to other accolades when being considered for Canton. I'd have thought Allen's place in NFL history would be described with words like "solid" or "steady." I'm a bit surprised he made it all the way through the process, but remember, we've seen the bar get a little lower in recent years compared to what it was.

Allen played for the Saints when the defense and the team in general was in a state of flux. The main players of the Dome Patrol era were all gone by '95, leaving Allen as a solid player on a unit full of scrubs and never-weres (compared to who they replaced, that is). I seem to remember teams dealing with Allen by simply throwing to Jimmy Spencer's side of the field instead. I'm sure someone will find his stat line from his Pro Bowl season here and compare it and such.

Put a late-20-something Eric Allen on the Dome Patrol defense and you might well have something special. (basically switch out either Toi Cook or Vince Buck; a good move when you think about it). I tell you one thing -- he would've kept the speedy receivers who always burnt us in check!

But the late Mora/early Ditka bunch just wasn't the same.