Story by
Hall of Famer Eric Allen put himself in shoes of Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield
- Story by
- Hall of Famer Eric Allen put himself in shoes of Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield
Hall of Fame week and all of its flashbacks make some people remember why they fell in love with a football team.
Cornerbacks Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon aren't in the Hall of Fame, but they are beloved by most Browns fans who saw help the team to three AFC Championships Games within the four years from 1986-89.
Advertisement
Eric Allen , a cornerback who is going in the Hall this week, loved watching "Top Dog" (Dixon) and "Minny" ply the trade.
"I'm so glad you brought those guys up," Allen said in a conversation with the Canton Repository. "During the course of my career, I would study whoever the receivers had issues with (and) I would study that guy."
Allen began a 14-year NFL career with the Eagles , Saints and Raiders in 1988, when Minnifield and Dixon were in a run of making Pro Bowls together.
Frank Minnifield returns an interception against the Chicago Bears on "Monday Night Football" in 1989.
"Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield played two different styles," Allen said. "Frank was more of a strong press guy. Hanford could press but he played off more. It was similar to Kansas City when the Chiefs had Albert Lewis and Kevin Ross.
Advertisement
"Those guys provided examples of how to shut down guys with different aspects. Each week, I would try to turn myself into one of them.
Eric Allen, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, helps to unveil the multi-case "Class of 2025" exhibit with artifacts from their careers at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, May 24, 2025, in Canton.
"I would study the receiver and ask, why is this receiver having trouble with the corner? Frank was going to be up in his grill. If that worked on a guy, I'd try that technique on him.
"Both Frank and Hanford were very, very creative and very good football players. I learned a lot from them."
Nov 20, 1983; Foxboro, MA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Cleveland Browns defensive back Hanford Dixon (29) on the sideline against the New England Patriots at Foxboro Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports
Both Minnifield and Dixon played their entire NFL careers in Cleveland , logging nine seasons apiece. Minnifield spent two years in the USFL before coming to Cleveland. Dixon spent time in the 49ers' camp after leaving Cleveland but did not appear in any regular-season games.
Advertisement
Allen, Minnifield and Dixon were on the field together, in 1988, Allen's rookie year. It was the only season in the span from 1986-89 when the Browns didn't reach the AFC finals, largely because quarterback Bernie Kosar battled injuries.
In the game, Allen intercepted injury replacement Don Strock and returned the ball 20 yards at Cleveland Municipal Stadium . The Browns won 19-3 in a strange year. They made the playoffs, lost 24-23 in the first round to the Houston Oilers (without Kosar), and fired head coach Marty Schottenheimer.
It was Allen's second of 54 career interceptions. Dixon and Minnifield made a combined 46 career interceptions.
Allen played college ball at Arizona State , where he helped head coach John Cooper build a resume that led to Cooper getting the Ohio State job.
Advertisement
As a pro, Allen faced the Browns only three other times, in a 32-30 win in 1991 when Bill Belichick was in his first year as Cleveland's head coach, in a 26-7 loss in 1994 when no one saw Cleveland's move to Baltimore coming, and in a 36-10 win in 2000 when the Browns were a second-year expansion team.
He will be part of Saturday's Hall of Fame enshrinement in a class that includes Antonio Gates , Jared Allen and Sterling Sharpe.
Reach Steve at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Eric Allen's journey to Hall of Fame aided by studying 2 Browns stars
