AFL NOTES: In their search for big, athletic linemen, the Dallas Desperados signed Ernest Allen on Oct 16, 2003. Allen came to Dallas considered one of the league's top linemen, earning second-team All-Arena honors through each of the last three seasons with the Orlando Predators and four times during his nine-year indoor career. Allen began his career with the Florida Bobcats in 1996 before being traded to Albany in 1997. He then spent two years with Milwaukee (1998-99) before being traded to Orlando in 2000.

AFL 2004: Allen made an immediate impact along the Desperados offensive and defensive lines, finishing with 17.0 tackles, 4.5 stops for losses, 3.0 sacks and three pressures while blocking for an offense that averaged more than 270 yards-per-game. In his Desperados debut against Carolina (2/8), he was part of a line that allowed Glen Gauntt time to throw for 250 yards and five touchdowns. Against Philadelphia (2/15), Allen registered a pressure while helping to protect Gauntt as he threw five touchdown passes. At New York (2/22), he assisted on four tackles while Gauntt had time to complete 65.7% of his passes. He was part of a line that helped Gauntt throw for 313 yards and eight scores against Grand Rapids (3/6). Allen had his best all-around game of the season the following week at Carolina (3/13), collecting three tackles - two for losses - and 1.5 sacks while helping block for a season-high 332 yards of total offense. He posted half a tackle while blocking a point after attempt at Philadelphia (4/4). Allen then helped guide Gauntt to a career-high 314 passing yards at Arizona (4/18) while completing 79.3% of his passes. He collected a season-high 4.5 stops, a sack, a tackle for a loss and a pressure at Orlando (4/25). Allen was part of a defensive unit that helped force three Garcia interceptions while not surrendering a sack on offense against New York (5/1). At Austin (5/9), he recorded half a tackle, half a sack and half a tackle for a loss. He finished the game against Columbus (5/22) second on the team with three tackles while helping protect Scott Dreisbach as he threw for a season-high 316 passing yards.

AFL 2003: For the third consecutive season and fourth time in his career, Allen earned second-team All-Arena honors after finishing the year with 13.0 tackles, five pressures, 4.5 sacks, four tackles for losses and a pass defensed. He opened the season with 1.5 stops and a tackle for a loss at Chicago (2/2). He tallied two tackles and a sack against Dallas (2/16) before recording two tackles, a career-best two sacks and a deflected pass at Carolina (2/24). He tallied 1.5 stops at New York (3/2). Against Las Vegas (4/20), he posted two assisted tackles. He tallied his fourth sack of the season at Georgia (4/26). His 1.5 stops and half a sack against Carolina (5/9) helped hold the Cobras to 201 net yards of offense and two offensive touchdowns. He tallied two assisted tackles in the regular season finale at Detroit (5/16). Allen started both of the Predators playoff games, recording a single tackle at Tampa Bay (6/7).

AFL 2002: Allen - who earned second-team All-Arena honors following the season - was the only player to start all 17 games (14 regular season and three playoff games) for Orlando on both sides of the ball. He finished the year with 20.5 tackles, including 5.5 for losses, 4.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two passes defensed. He kicked off the season at Georgia (4/20) with 1.5 tackles on defense while helping the offense accumulate a club-record 33 first downs as a member of the offensive line. Two weeks later against New Jersey (5/4), he posted four tackles and a sack, on which he forced and recovered a fumble, to earn Ironman of the Game honors. Allen recorded 2.5 tackles and a pressure at Grand Rapids (5/11), then tallied another 2.5 tackles against San Jose (5/17). Against Carolina (5/31), he moved inside on defense to nose tackle, where he tackled John Fitzgerald on a botched field goal attempt, forcing a fumble that the Predators recovered. He posted 1.5 stops and two deflected passes against Tampa Bay (6/9). He totaled a tackle, a stop behind the line of scrimmage and two pressures against Toronto (6/21) before recovering a fumble and assisting on a sack at Carolina (6/28) as part of a Predators defensive front that forced the Cobras into four turnovers. He tallied three tackles and a fumble recovery at Tampa Bay (7/7), then posted a stop, two pressures and a sack against Georgia (7/17), while anchoring an offensive line that allowed Jay Gruden to set a club record with 361 passing yards. In Orlando's first round playoff game against Buffalo (7/26), Allen totaled two tackles, a sack, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery. The next week at New Jersey (8/3), he totaled 1.5 stops and a pass defensed on defense while helping the offense score touchdowns on seven-of-nine possessions. In a semifinal loss at San Jose (8/10), he recorded two tackles and a pair of pressures. He finished the postseason with 5.5 tackles, two pressures, a sack, a pass defensed, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery.

AFL 2001: Allen put together a career-season in his second year with the Predators, posting career-bests with 29.0 tackles and 5.5 sacks while adding two tackles for losses, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He anchored an offensive line that allowed only six sacks of starting quarterback Craig Whelihan. Allen was named to the AFL's second-team All-Arena team and was selected by his teammates and coaches as the Predators Ironman of the Year following the season. He totaled two tackles against Florida (4/20) before adding 2.5 tackles and a stop for a loss the next week at Indiana (4/27). Allen recorded a career-high 5.0 tackles against New Jersey (5/18) while adding 1.5 sacks. He tallied another four stops at San Jose (5/26), then registered two tackles and a sack against Tampa Bay (6/10). He recorded another sack at New York (6/16) before posting three stops, a sack, a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble against Milwaukee (6/22). He tallied two stops at Tampa Bay (7/1) and three tackles, a sack and a tackle for a loss at Florida (7/8) before closing the regular season with two stops at Chicago (7/21). In a first round playoff game loss against Chicago (7/27), Allen totaled two tackles.

AFL 2000: After being traded to Orlando from Milwaukee, Allen produced 14.5 tackles, four tackles for losses, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Predators. In his first game with Orlando, he registered two stops, a sack and a tackle behind the line of scrimmage at Carolina (4/27). He also posted sacks at Milwaukee (6/16) and at Florida (7/15). He stepped up his game during the Predators drive to the ArenaBowl XIV title, finishing postseason play with nine tackles, four stops for losses and a pair of sacks. He posted four stops, two tackles for losses and a sack against Tampa Bay (8/3), and he set the defensive tone against Nashville (8/20) in the ArenaBowl with a sack for a safety on the second play of the game.

AFL 1999: In his second season in Milwaukee, Allen finished sixth on the Mustangs with 18.5 tackles, including three for losses, and a pass defensed. He totaled two-or-more tackles in seven-of-12 games, including a season-high three tackle performance against San Jose (5/24).

AFL 1998: Allen started all 14 games for Milwaukee and recorded 12.5 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a tackle for a loss and a blocked kick to earn second-team All-Arena honors. He was also named the Mustangs Ironman of the Year.

AFL 1997: Allen joined the Albany Firebirds during the season after his rights were acquired from the Florida Bobcats. He saw action in seven games for the Firebirds and registered eight tackles and a sack.

AFL 1996: In his indoor debut, Allen played in 14 games for the Florida Bobcats and recorded 16.5 tackles, three sacks, two tackles for losses, two blocked kicks, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery.

OTHER PRO EXPEREIENCE: 1995 - Allen went to training camp with the Seattle Seahawks but was released prior to the start of the season.

COLLEGE: Allen was a two-year starter at Cincinnati, where he finished his collegiate career with 120 tackles, 11 sacks and eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage. 1994 - As a senior, he started every game and posted 45 stops and six sacks. 1993 - As a junior, he totaled a career-high 52 tackles, eight tackles for losses and a sack. 1992 - He saw action in 11 games as a sophomore reserve and registered 23 tackles, six stops for losses and a team-high five sacks. 1992 - He saw extensive action as a true freshman, posting 18 tackles, three tackles behind the line of scrimmage and a sack.

PERSONAL: Ernest James Allen was an all-state defensive tackle at John Adams High School in South Bend, Ind. He also earned second-team all-league honors as an offensive tackle. He finished his prep career by recording 65 tackles, 12 forced fumbles, 10 sacks and six fumble recoveries during his final two seasons at John Adams. The general studies major enjoys spending time volunteering at elementary schools and reading to the students. He and his family reside in Orlando, Fla., during the off-season.