PHILADELPHIA (BASN?BASN NEWSROOM) Still not having recovered from the bullshit that was the NFL Draft, we at BASN are annoyed that the “analysis” after the fact is even more anal than prior to – which translates to this event being a very fucked – up affair…

 

Not content to regale us with more tales of Tom Terrific (Brady) and where he was finally selected, the hype machine begs us to indulge their whims in uplifting Johnny Manziel to star status before he’s even thrown a professional pass!

 

Previously we presented you with “The Moon 14” highlighting the brilliance of Warren Moon versus the racist attitudes of the National Football League. General Moon, however, isn’t the first (and won’t be the last to undergo this madness). In 1985, one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play was ignored by the National Football League…

 

Damon Allen, a two-sport star at Cal – State Fullerton, garnered small Heisman consideration – and no NFL consideration before he would go north of the border and rock the Canadian Football League.

 

After his leading his college team to a NCAA title (as a pitcher, with a career 66 – 20 won/loss record), Allen was signed by the Detroit Tigers but chose his first love of football.

 

The 6’1” Allen displayed a cannon and was deadly accurate, breaking a 26 – year old NCAA record with only three interceptions in over 300 attempts; but apparently, that wasn’t enough to sway any NFL eyes in considering him as a QB…

 

 

So, let’s look at who else came out in 1985, and compare as we did with Gen. Moon…

 

Here are the 11 QBs taken instead of Gen. Allen in the 1985 NFL Draft (in order of selection – and their career statistics (stats courtesy of Pro – Football – Reference.com):

 

37. Randall Cunningham, UNLV (Philadelphia Eagles, 2nd round):

 

(Woke up the Iggles’ franchise, were it not for a lousy offensive line Philly could’ve made a Super Bowl; once he actually got an O – line in Minnesota, he led the highest – powered offense in the League at that time, missing a Super Bowl due to an imperfect moment from their previously perfect placekicker, Gary Anderson. As a starter, produced an impressive 82 – 52 – 1 won-loss record; 29, 799 yards passing, 207/134 TD – Interception ratio; 81.5 passer rating, 3-5 playoff record – and averaged 6.4 yards per carry as he amassed 4,928 yards and 35 TDs on the ground – all bullshit aside, Philly gets it right – and Gen. Cunningham belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame)

 

57. Frank Reich, Maryland (Buffalo Bills, 3rd round)

 

(A career backup with a 5-15 record, Reich threw for over 6000 yards in his 13 – year career, but will always have his moment in generating one of the greatest comebacks in NFL Playoff history – besting Gen. Moon and the Houston Oilers in 1992.)

 

142. Steve Bono, UCLA (Minnesota Vikings, 6th round)

 

(Another career backup who had the luxury of playing with some good teams, Bono was 28 – 14 when he did start out of 88 games, throwing for over 10,000 yards in a 14-year career; good at best, but not good enough…)

 

143. Rusty Hilger, Oklahoma State (LA Raiders, 6th round)

 

(Three years in the league, career backup – fewer yards passing in his career than Gen Allen in one of his rare off – seasons! ‘Nuff said.)

 

168. Scott Barry, Cal-Davis (San Francisco 49ers, 6th round)

 

(Not even on the PFR radar – next!)

 

 

 

 

 

232. Steve Calabria, Colgate (TB, 9th round)

 

(Ditto – not even a brush with a league roster; the arrogance of the NFL’s unspoken policy – on full display.)

 

234. Paul Berner, Pacific (San Diego Chargers, 9th round)

 

(Another doughnut in search of a cup of coffee; no NFL resume to speak of.)

 

269. Buddy Funck, New Mexico (Denver Broncos, 10th round)

 

(Nothing – who the Funck in anyone’s scouting department could ever conclude this guy was better than Gen. Allen?)

 

277. John Connor, Arizona (Seattle Seahawks, 10th round)

 

(You know I’m gonna say it – terminated.)

 

285. Doug Flutie, Boston College (LA Rams, 11th round)

 

(Flutie, who experienced his own kind of prejudice due to his height, had to go to the CFL, where he established his pedigree as one of the league’s greatest QBs. But, in spite of Gen. Allen beating him every time they faced each other head – to – head in a CFL Grey Cup or playoff, Flutie was proclaimed the Greatest CFL Player of All Time in a media poll of the 50 Greatest – above Moon, ranked fifth, and Gen. Allen, who was ranked 14th in that poll)

 

294. Joe Shield, Trinity (GB, 11th round)

 

(Lost inside the Scrub Matrix; no blue or red pill necessary to determine where he is now.)

 

 

Now the Cleveland Browns would take Miami’s Bernie Kosar in the supplemental draft. – and Kosar would prove to be a good selection, leading the Browns for 9 seasons and passing for over 23, 000 yards in a 13 – year career and a 3 – 4 record in the playoffs; pretty good, but not great.

 

The overall scorecard for the Draft Class of 1985 minus Allen is poor. We have two hits (Cunningham and Kosar); Flutie doesn’t count because he had to go north to Canada – a couple of decent backups in Bono and Reich, and a handful of scrubs.

 

Interestingly enough, many of these QBs chosen were from Gen. Allen’s neck of the woods in the old Pacific Coast Athletic Association; and they all fit the League ‘prototype’ – at least 6’4”, strapping – and preferably White. How Gen. Allen could be avoided when he was first team All-West (with Cunningham) – is at least a two drink conversation!

 

 

 

At 6’1” and change, don’t give me that horseshit about Allen being too short – I am as tall as Gen. Allen and have looked Steve Young and Drew Brees in the eyes – so spare me that noise…

 

(Totals for the Class of ’85: 87, 093 yards passing, 575 TDs {530 passing, 45 rushing}, 386 INTs, 6,562 yards and 45 TDs rushing; no Super Bowls – one potential NFL HOF player in Cunningham – one CFL Hall of Famer in Flutie – and 94,655 yards total offense.)

 

Now, let’s take a peek at Gen. Damon Allen…

 

The first thing that jumps out is his longevity; no knock on Brett Favre’s trim – trolling ass, but Allen has played 23 seasons – and excelled, averaging a championship roughly every six years.

 

Allen, younger brother of NFL and Pro Football HOF member Marcus Allen is only 323 yards off of his brother’s career rushing yards 11,920 to Marcus’ 12, 243) and is one of a select group of QBs who have rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season (Gen. Tracy Ham, Gen. Kerry Joseph, Gen. Michael Vick) Allen’s rushing totals (which on his rushing totals alone would make him 15th all – time in any league).

 

Oh, yeah – there’s that passing thing: Allen surpassed Gen. Moon, as pro football’s all time passing leader in 2006 as he passed Moon’s combined passing yards record (later to be surpassed by Gen. Anthony Calvillo) – Allen, would finish with 72,384 yards before retiring…

 

 

Mr. Allen teaches the fine art of quarterbacking through his own school, the Damon Allen Quarterback Academy:

 

http://www.damonallen.ca/officialsite/team.htm

 

 

 

Gen. Damon Allen’s career offensive totals: 72, 384 yards passing; 11, 930 yards rushing, 487 TDs (384 passing 93 rushing) four Grey Cup Championships – two league Most Valuable Player awards, election to the Canadian Football Hal of Fame in 2012 – and 84, 314 yards of total offense generated.

 

Truly, if any player could be so dangerous (and show up the National Football League for their shortsightedness) General Damon Allen – “The One Man Army” qualifies as such.

 

 

So – more redneck scouts from idiot front offices equals – one missed opportunity to experience one of the greatest field generals and offensive threats in professional football history.

 

(BASN Editor in Chief Emeritus Tony McClean contributed to this story)
Always outnumbered…never outgunned.

 

Copyright© Michael – Louis Ingram 2014; all rights reserved.