Posted: Wed December 24, 1997
MARCUS ALLEN: STAYING ALIVE
When Allen finally broke free from the spiteful grip of Raiders
owner Al Davis and signed with the Chiefs after the '92 season,
he figured Kansas City would be a suitable, if boring, place to
finish his career. Like Joe Montana, another fading star who
joined the Chiefs that spring, Allen expected to play only a
couple of more years. But while Montana called it quits
following the '94 season, Allen has remained an integral part of
the K.C. attack. After hinting earlier in the year that the '97
season would be his last, Allen has waffled; he now says there's
a strong possibility that he'll return in '98.
"I always get pumped up by the naysayers and by the younger
players trying to make their names off me," Allen says. "There
are so many players who get older and allow themselves to die,
figuratively. It's great to see people like Earnest Byner,
Herschel Walker and myself hanging in there and producing."
Though he is known to lead by example, Allen can also be vocal.
Early in the season four-year veteran Greg Hill came to the
sideline for a breather after breaking a long run. When the K.C.
drive ended, Allen cornered Hill and barked, "What the f—- are
you doing? You can never be too tired to play. I don't care if I
never step on the field—you should never take yourself out of
the game."
Allen has been energized by the adulation he has received in
Kansas City. This year he and his wife, Kathryn, were chosen to
flip the switch that illuminated the tony Country Club Plaza
with Christmas lights. "It was awesome," Marcus says. "There
were 250,000 people there, and it was quite an honor. The
reception for me here has been overwhelming, so much so that I'm
embarrassed at times. Initially, as a narrow-minded guy, I
didn't realize what Kansas City had to offer. Now it's like home
to me."
Lately Allen has spent a lot of time thinking about his original
home, San Diego, where he hopes to return in late January. The
story lines race through his mind: No AFC team has won the Super
Bowl since the '83 Raiders, and Allen is the last player from
that team who is still active. Super Bowl XXXII—same as Allen's
uniform number—will take place at a stadium in which he first
played during a Pop Warner game a quarter-century ago, when he
was the star halfback for the Southeast San Diego Lions.
"You think about things that have happened and where you've
been," Allen says. "I won the San Diego County championship
[with Lincoln High] at San Diego Stadium—it kills me to think
it's called Qualcomm now—and then you think about coming back,
and it starts to seem like destiny. You can't help but
visualize, but for me it seems very real, almost tangible. I
wonder, Is this supposed to happen? I don't believe in
coincidences."
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The Chiefs' Ground Game
Philosophy: Keep everyone fresh—and happy—by spreading the
workload. After anointing fourth-year speedster Greg Hill as his
feature back during the off-season, coach Marty Schottenheimer
changed his mind in September, installing various formations
that split the carries among Hill (550 yards), Marcus Allen (505
yards) and fullbacks Kimble Anders (397 yards) and Donnell
Bennett (369 yards). Says Schottenheimer, "Each guy brings
something different to the table, and at any given time we have
a fresh running back carrying the ball."
Leading the Way: The Chiefs' strength is up the middle. Right
guard Will Shields is going to the Pro Bowl, and center Tim
Grunhard and left guard Dave Szott also had stellar seasons. In
Kansas City's most impressive performance, a 44-9 victory over
the 49ers on Nov. 30, the interior linemen pushed around two of
the NFL's most dominant defensive tackles, Dana Stubblefield and
Bryant Young. Anders, a Pro Bowl selection for the third time
this year, is second only to the Steelers' Tim Lester as a
blocking fullback.
X Factor: Hill is the fastest back on the team, Bennett the most
powerful and Anders, who caught 59 passes, the most versatile.
But if the Chiefs need a yard on third or fourth down, no player
is more potent than Allen (right), who has a knack for
short-yardage and goal line success. "There's no way that
sumbitch should be able to do what he does down there," says
Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas. "I can't explain it."
Prime Numbers: Allen picked up a first down on 33.9% of his
rushes, best among NFL running backs. He also had 11 of the
Chiefs' 15 rushing touchdowns.
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Next: Garrison Hearst
Also: Jerome Bettis | Marcus Allen | Dorsey Levens
| Rush to the Super Bowl
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