I've been doing some searches on the NFL's Larry Allen. A number of articles said he benched 700 raw without too much problem. You guys heard anything about this?
I also came across this 2004 article on Sam Rayburn. It sounds like although Allen has more upper body strength, Rayburn has stronger legs and legs may count a little bit more.
PHILADELPHIA - The mantle of "Strongest Man in the NFL" was passed on last season, in one spectacular play, at Lincoln Financial Field in a game between two old rivals.
In his first game against the Dallas Cowboys, rookie free agent Sam Rayburn had the dubious task of trying to stop perennial Pro Bowl guard and consensus NFL strongman Larry Allen from controlling the line of scrimmage. The game had serious playoff implications, and stopping the Cowboys rushing attack would be a key element to the Eagles' success.
In the third quarter, the Eagles were clinging to a 17-10 lead. The Cowboys defense was playing well and had just stopped the Birds on consecutive possessions.
The Cowboys opened its next drive with a reverse to Joey Galloway, which gained just two yards. Quarterback Quincy Carter's second-down pass was completed over the middle to Jason Witten for 10 yards and a first down. A holding call on the next play set up a first-and-20. On that play, Carter was sacked for a seven-yard loss by Rayburn, who blew by Allen like he was an unlocked gate for his first career sack. After a three-yard gain, the Eagles defense earned a safety when the snap went past Carter and through the end zone to give the Eagles a 19-10 lead that would end up a 36-10 laugher.
That Rayburn was able to brush Allen aside was not because of great speed - he was timed at pedestrian 5.18 in the 40-yard dash coming out of Tulsa - but because he has tremendous strength and power in his legs.
He registered an outstanding 960-pound squat (using a safety bar) his senior year as a defensive tackle for the Golden Hurricanes. The lift is easily one of the biggest squats in the history of the sport of football - at any level.
"My strength has always been my biggest asset," Rayburn said in a recent phone interview. "Without it I don't think I would have made it on this team."
Rayburn also reports he has hit a 540-pound bench press raw (without the use of a bench shirt or other lifting equipment) and a 38-repetition bench press turn of 225 pounds.
According to his former Tulsa strength coach JT Allaire, now with the Buffalo Bills, Rayburn's enthusiasm in the weight room helped him get noticed by NFL scouts.
"He just loves to lift," Allaire told Footballstories . "He is a very explosive, powerful player."
Allaire also added that Rayburn has done five reps of 405-pound power cleans from the hand. "Sam is really something to watch in the weight room."
He was also something to watch on the field last season. Rayburn appeared in 10 games and registered two sacks and nine solo tackles. Those numbers were among the best for rookie defensive tackles.
Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson says Rayburn has a chance hang around the league for a long time. He got his break last season when season-ending injuries to regulars Hollis Thomas and Paul Grasmanis allowed him more minutes on the field. Rayburn seized the opportunity and is considered a part of the Eagles rotation for 2004. Add in the fact that Pro Bowl tackle Corey Simon elected to stay home for the recent mini-camps as part of a contract dispute giving the second-year player even more reps in practice, and it is easy to see Rayburn's future is bright.
"I think if he keeps working hard he has a chance to be a starter in the NFL," Johnson said recently. "He looks like he is one of the strongest guys when he is out on the field."
Johnson said it was Rayburn's overall strength that made him attractive to the Birds defensive coaches after last year's draft.
"We could see his strength early on in preseason games," Johnson said. "When he got into game situations, we saw him put some pressure on the quarterback, and he did a good job against the run."
The Eagles liked what they saw in Rayburn enough that when the San Francisco 49ers asked to have Rayburn included in the deal that brought Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens to the Eagles, the Birds declined and sent defensive end Brandon Whiting instead.
"It is definitely a vote of confidence," Rayburn said when he learned of the trade request.
The 23-year-old is also a fan of strength sports. He routinely watches "World's Strongest Man" whenever it is on ESPN2.
His favorite pro strongmen include Whit Baskin (both are Oklahoma natives), Hugo Girard, two-time defending WSM champion Mariusz Pudzianowski, Jouko Aholo and Janne Virtanen.
"I watch it every time it's on," Rayburn said. "Especially 2003 and 2002. I saw Steve Kirit compete the other day. I really enjoy the show."
Rayburn spent the off-season adding more muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame. "I'm a little bit heavier this year as opposed to last year, weighing about 335 pounds as opposed to 315 pounds last season," Rayburn said. "I feel faster and understand the techniques better within the position. The increased weight will give me a better chance of standing up against the offensive linemen because they'll be weighing around the same range."
Rayburn understands why NFL strength coaches tend to have conservative approaches to weight training. The players represent an investment by the owners. Every coach must evaluate the risk factor when putting a program together for each player. Weight room injuries are unacceptable at any level, but at the pro level, a serious injury to a key player would, in many cases, cost the strength coach his job.
Most players entering the pro level are fully developed anyway and don't necessarily need to lift heavy like they did in high school and college.
But Rayburn says he plans to keep lifting, even after his playing days are over. He loves the sport and believes it can lead to a healthier lifestyle...says, Rayburn, "I plan to lift everyday until I am unable."
I also came across this 2004 article on Sam Rayburn. It sounds like although Allen has more upper body strength, Rayburn has stronger legs and legs may count a little bit more.
PHILADELPHIA - The mantle of "Strongest Man in the NFL" was passed on last season, in one spectacular play, at Lincoln Financial Field in a game between two old rivals.
In his first game against the Dallas Cowboys, rookie free agent Sam Rayburn had the dubious task of trying to stop perennial Pro Bowl guard and consensus NFL strongman Larry Allen from controlling the line of scrimmage. The game had serious playoff implications, and stopping the Cowboys rushing attack would be a key element to the Eagles' success.
In the third quarter, the Eagles were clinging to a 17-10 lead. The Cowboys defense was playing well and had just stopped the Birds on consecutive possessions.
The Cowboys opened its next drive with a reverse to Joey Galloway, which gained just two yards. Quarterback Quincy Carter's second-down pass was completed over the middle to Jason Witten for 10 yards and a first down. A holding call on the next play set up a first-and-20. On that play, Carter was sacked for a seven-yard loss by Rayburn, who blew by Allen like he was an unlocked gate for his first career sack. After a three-yard gain, the Eagles defense earned a safety when the snap went past Carter and through the end zone to give the Eagles a 19-10 lead that would end up a 36-10 laugher.
That Rayburn was able to brush Allen aside was not because of great speed - he was timed at pedestrian 5.18 in the 40-yard dash coming out of Tulsa - but because he has tremendous strength and power in his legs.
He registered an outstanding 960-pound squat (using a safety bar) his senior year as a defensive tackle for the Golden Hurricanes. The lift is easily one of the biggest squats in the history of the sport of football - at any level.
"My strength has always been my biggest asset," Rayburn said in a recent phone interview. "Without it I don't think I would have made it on this team."
Rayburn also reports he has hit a 540-pound bench press raw (without the use of a bench shirt or other lifting equipment) and a 38-repetition bench press turn of 225 pounds.
According to his former Tulsa strength coach JT Allaire, now with the Buffalo Bills, Rayburn's enthusiasm in the weight room helped him get noticed by NFL scouts.
"He just loves to lift," Allaire told Footballstories . "He is a very explosive, powerful player."
Allaire also added that Rayburn has done five reps of 405-pound power cleans from the hand. "Sam is really something to watch in the weight room."
He was also something to watch on the field last season. Rayburn appeared in 10 games and registered two sacks and nine solo tackles. Those numbers were among the best for rookie defensive tackles.
Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson says Rayburn has a chance hang around the league for a long time. He got his break last season when season-ending injuries to regulars Hollis Thomas and Paul Grasmanis allowed him more minutes on the field. Rayburn seized the opportunity and is considered a part of the Eagles rotation for 2004. Add in the fact that Pro Bowl tackle Corey Simon elected to stay home for the recent mini-camps as part of a contract dispute giving the second-year player even more reps in practice, and it is easy to see Rayburn's future is bright.
"I think if he keeps working hard he has a chance to be a starter in the NFL," Johnson said recently. "He looks like he is one of the strongest guys when he is out on the field."
Johnson said it was Rayburn's overall strength that made him attractive to the Birds defensive coaches after last year's draft.
"We could see his strength early on in preseason games," Johnson said. "When he got into game situations, we saw him put some pressure on the quarterback, and he did a good job against the run."
The Eagles liked what they saw in Rayburn enough that when the San Francisco 49ers asked to have Rayburn included in the deal that brought Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens to the Eagles, the Birds declined and sent defensive end Brandon Whiting instead.
"It is definitely a vote of confidence," Rayburn said when he learned of the trade request.
The 23-year-old is also a fan of strength sports. He routinely watches "World's Strongest Man" whenever it is on ESPN2.
His favorite pro strongmen include Whit Baskin (both are Oklahoma natives), Hugo Girard, two-time defending WSM champion Mariusz Pudzianowski, Jouko Aholo and Janne Virtanen.
"I watch it every time it's on," Rayburn said. "Especially 2003 and 2002. I saw Steve Kirit compete the other day. I really enjoy the show."
Rayburn spent the off-season adding more muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame. "I'm a little bit heavier this year as opposed to last year, weighing about 335 pounds as opposed to 315 pounds last season," Rayburn said. "I feel faster and understand the techniques better within the position. The increased weight will give me a better chance of standing up against the offensive linemen because they'll be weighing around the same range."
Rayburn understands why NFL strength coaches tend to have conservative approaches to weight training. The players represent an investment by the owners. Every coach must evaluate the risk factor when putting a program together for each player. Weight room injuries are unacceptable at any level, but at the pro level, a serious injury to a key player would, in many cases, cost the strength coach his job.
Most players entering the pro level are fully developed anyway and don't necessarily need to lift heavy like they did in high school and college.
But Rayburn says he plans to keep lifting, even after his playing days are over. He loves the sport and believes it can lead to a healthier lifestyle...says, Rayburn, "I plan to lift everyday until I am unable."
