Larry Allen belongs on All-NFL Hall of Fame team, but who else should make cut?

There's little doubt Allen merits inclusion in an All-NFL Hall of Fame team, but who else belongs on this mythical team? Here are our picks:

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Peyton Manning | Manning, who starred for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, played quarterback as if he were a maestro, and it's hard to think of a better conductor for this orchestra. 

The five-time MVP put up gaudy numbers, twice setting the record for passing touchdowns in a season (49 in 2004, 55 in 2013). But Manning truly stands alone in NFL history in his preparation and ability to read and dictate defenses at the line of scrimmage pre-snap.

After Manning's induction into the Hall of Fame in 2021, the Indianapolis Star spoke with former NFL QB Frank Reich, who began his coaching career as an intern for the Colts in 2006. 

Said Reich of Manning's ability to manipulate defenses at the line of scrimmage: "All the fake signals. All the fake words. Always constantly changing things to try and fool the opponent... No one was doing that stuff at the level Peyton was doing it."

Running back (2): Jim Brown, Walter Payton | Arguably the most difficult selection is at running back, where it feels like a crime not to include former Detroit Lions star Barry Sanders. But we'd feel even worse not including Brown or Payton. 

Brown, who starred with the Cleveland Browns, is widely viewed as the greatest running back in NFL history and holds the record for highest career rushing yards per game average (104.3). Payton, who starred with the Bears, is the league's second-leading rusher and finished his career with 4,538 receiving yards.

Tight end: Tony Gonzalez | In Gonzalez's 17-year career, which began with the Chiefs and included a five-year stint with the Falcons, he had 1,325 receptions for 15,127 yards, both the most among tight ends in NFL history. He also had 111 TD catches, which trail Chargers great Antonio Gates for most all time at the position.

Wide receiver (2): Calvin Johnson, Jerry Rice | Rice, who starred for the Niners and Raiders, is a shoo-in, and while multiple worthy candidates have a claim for WR2, we're taking the only one nicknamed after a character from the science fiction film "Transformers." What a career Johnson — "Megatron" — had with the Lions.

OL (5): Larry Allen (T), Steve Hutchinson (G), Kevin Mawai (C), Joe Thomas (T), Gene Upshaw (G) | It might be easier to break into Area 51 than through this offensive line. Allen, who famously bench pressed 700 pounds and played guard during his 14-year career, and Thomas (Browns) anchored the edges. Meanwhile, Hutchinson (Seahawks/Vikings), Mawai (star for Jets and Titans) and Upshaw (Raiders) will give Manning a clean pocket and Brown and Payton wide-open running lanes.

DEFENSE 

DL (2): Joe Greene, Warren Sapp | With 17 Pro Bowls, eight first-team All-Pro selections and three Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year awards between them, Greene (Steelers) and Sapp (Buccaneers/Raiders) would be a handful to stop. 

They'd be an unguardable duo. Greene lived in opponents' backfields thanks to his burst off the line of scrimmage and ability to get off blockers, while Sapp was one of the best power rushers the league has ever seen.

DE (2): Bruce Smith, Reggie White | With 398 sacks combined, the top two sack leaders in NFL history are the clear choices. Smith (Bills/Washington) was incredibly stout against the run, and he could beat offensive linemen in numerous ways, including his devastating spin move.

White (Eagles, Packers) would simply steamroll linemen, as he did a rookie Larry Allen. 

LB (3): Dick Butkus, Ray Lewis, Lawrence Taylor | With an award for best college linebacker in the country named after him, Butkus (Bears) is an obvious inclusion. Lewis (Ravens) and Taylor (Giants) are, too, for that matter. 

Lewis manned the middle of the Ravens defense for 17 seasons and was a seven-time first-team All-Pro member. Taylor is widely viewed as the greatest defensive player of all time and is the last defense to win league MVP.

CB (2): Dick Lane, Darrelle Revis | "Night Train" Lane (star with Cardinals, Lions) had an NFL-record 14 interceptions as a rookie and finished his career with 68, including five returned for touchdowns. Revis, a 2023 inductee who starred mostly with the Jets, was the best coverage corner in the league during its offensive revolution with pass-heavy schemes.

Safety (2): Ken Houston, Ed Reed | If "Night Train" isn't scoring touchdowns, Houston probably is. The former Oilers strong safety set an NFL record in 1971, returning four of his nine interceptions for touchdowns, a record broken in 2023 by Cowboys corner DaRon Bland. Meanwhile, Reed (Ravens) has the most interception return yards in league history (1,590). In 2008, the free safety recorded the longest pick-six ever with a 107-yarder against the Eagles.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Morten Andersen | The longtime kicker didn't play an NFL-record 382 games by accident. Anderson began his career in 1982 and played through the 2007 season. Perhaps the most impressive moment of his 25-year career came during his final season when, at 47, he made a 47-yarder for the Falcons in a 31-10 loss to the Giants.

P: Ray Guy | With the offense we've constructed, a punter probably isn't necessary. But Guy, the only punter in the Hall of Fame, can still come along for the ride. 

The longtime Raiders star led the league in yards per punt in three of his first five seasons and evolved to rely on touch later in his career. During his last three years in the league, 30 percent of Guy's punts ended inside the opponents' 20-yard line, up from his career average of 20 percent.