Back on track
Remorseful Allen ready to bury past, build future
Posted: Monday July 27, 1998 05:21 PM
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Allen rushed for more than 1,300 yards in both 1995 and 1996, but missed six games with thumb, knee and ankle injuries and gained 724 yards last year AP |
FROSTBURG, Maryland (AP) -- Having served five days in jail for
trying to outrun police in his Ferrari while legally drunk, Terry Allen showed
up at Washington
Redskins training camp sounding like a rejuvenated man.
Allen was speaking more in football terms -- he worked offseason to improve
his strength and conditioning after an injury-filled 1997 -- but he also
addressed the matter of his guilty plea stemming from an accident a year
ago that landed him in the Walton County Jail in Monroe, Georgia, from July
9-13. "On the incident that happened last year, that was a
mistake that I made," Allen said after Monday morning's practice. "I take
full responsibility for what I did. I've done my time for that. I lived up
to what I had to do, and it's behind me and I'm looking forward to this
year." Allen was arrested in July 1997 about 40 miles east of
Atlanta after police said they clocked his Ferrari convertible at 133 mph
in a 55 mph zone. Police said Allen, who slammed his Ferrari into a
signpost and tree, had a blood alcohol level of 0.14 percent, over the
legal limit of 0.10 percent. Allen, who received only minor
injuries in the crash, pleaded guilty to DUI and attempting to elude police
earlier this month. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail, 40 hours of
community service and a $2,000 fine, although he only served five days
because of good behavior. Allen made it clear that this would be
his one and only statement on the matter, although he did discuss the
weeklong youth football camp he runs in Columbia, South Carolina, which
counted as his community service. "The message that I conveyed
is that none of this is easy," said Allen, who took over the camp from
Sterling Sharpe when the longtime receiver retired from the NFL. "If it was
easy, everybody would be doing it, so my camp is very hard. If you're
serious about football, you'll come to that camp. If you're not, you'll
leave the first day." Allen is subject to disciplinary action
under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, which recommends a fine up
to $20,000 and mandatory evaluation and treatment for a player convicted
for an alcohol-related offense the first time. A league spokesman would not
comment on Allen's case. Regardless, Allen seemed ready to put
the whole episode behind him, which is just what the Redskins want and need
to hear from the cog of their offense. After rushing for more than 1,300
yards in both 1995 and 1996, Allen missed six games with thumb, knee and
ankle injuries and gained only 724 yards last year. "We're going
to put everything that's happened in terms of [Terry's accident] behind us
and go forward," said coach Norv Turner, whose teams are 16-3 when Allen
rushes for 100 yards. Expecting good young competition at this
year's training camp, Allen said he built a gym in his house in Georgia and
"made sure it was big enough for everything that I needed so that I can
keep my job." "Last year, I didn't have the type of year that
I'm capable of having," Allen said. "I was not even close. I throw the
injuries out. When I was healthy, I didn't play the way I wanted to play."
Turner has already said he doesn't expect his 30-year-old back to
carry the ball 300-plus times as he did in 1995 and 1996. Third-year back
Stephen Davis
and third-round draft pick Skip Hicks are eagerly vying to give Allen a few
breathers. "Maybe the carries will go down, but I hope it's more
productive carries that I get," Allen said. "I don't want to come out, but
it's Norv's call." Like most of the Redskins, Allen is very
bullish on the upcoming season. And he's quick to point out that it was the
offense, not the defense, that let the team down last season.
"We definitely have to pick up the load," Allen said. "We had a terrible
year last year offensively. We can't go out and think we're good just
because a couple of years ago we put up a lot of points." And,
just to emphasize his dedication in the weight room and on the track, Allen
said he sacrificed his other sporting passion during the offseason.
"I went fishing one time," Allen said. "So I'm dedicating myself to
football this year."
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