Destroyers’ Allen Happy to be on Bills Practice Squad
Tom Ando
Monday September 17, 2001
During the season, Allen would put together an impressive highlight real, catching 24 passes for 371 yards and seven touchdowns as well as 18 returns for 358 yards and a score. He believes that the indoor game helped him work on his basic skills.
“Arena had a big impact on me because it helped get me in shape to play and not only play, but play at a very fast pace,” said Allen. “As well as making sure that I catch the ball with my hands.”
With great speed and the hands to go with it, the Buffalo Bills invited Allen to camp, his second such stint with the team.
During the preseason, Allen caught two receptions for 24 yards. While it was not enough to convince the coaches to keep him on the active roster, it was enough to sign him to the practice squad.
“It`s a pretty exciting time and a great opportunity to be signed to the practice squad,” said Allen, “It`s a time of learning and getting familiar with my teammates and coaches.”
It remains to be seen whether or not he will see the field during a regular season game, as well as it remains to be seen whether or not Allen will return to the Arena Football League next spring.
“I haven`t decide whether or not I will return to Arena football, but I`m going to leave that avenue open and deal with that when the time comes. For now, I have other things to focus on.”
If he does return, the Destroyers will have the best tandem of specialists in the game, but that will remain a “what if” as long as the Bills request Allen’s services. In the meantime, Allen will have the opportunity to focus on practicing with an NFL team.
“I have yet to find out what is my favorite part (of his experience with the Bills), but I`m sure as time goes on I will find that out.”
"Touchdown" Tom Ando is a free lance writer from South Buffalo, NY and has been covering the Arena Football League in one capacity or another since the 2000 season, when he was 17 years old. Tom Currently writes for Sports & Leisure Magazine in Buffalo covering the NLL's Buffalo Bandits and NCAA Division I football. In 2001, Tom was the only writer in the country to cover the Houston "Travelin' " Thunderbears, where he befriended his mentor John F. "Hondo" Hahn.
