JokeyH
01-03-2005, 04:07 PM
Mickey Spagnola
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
Jan. 3, 2005, 4:57 a.m. (CST)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Marcellus Wiley didn't complain the entire season, but he's a wise man. He knows the writing probably is on the wall.
He just wanted to make sure here Sunday evening he got a chance to write a little bit, too, allowing his frustration from this 2004 season to boil over following the Cowboys' 28-24 loss to the New York Giants in the final game of the season.
When asked if he thought he'd be back with the Cowboys for 2005, Wiley matter-of-factly said, "Not in the role I came here for. They don't need to pay a guy to play the run at 275."
He didn't need to spell out anymore. Wiley signed a four-year, $16 million free-agent deal with the Cowboys in the off-season and received a $4.5 million signing bonus. He presumed he was being brought in to be a pass-rushing defensive end.
But the 30-year-old defensive end figures the way he was used had more to do with his final numbers than his talent at this point in his career. Wiley, with a sack Sunday night against the Giants, finished with three sacks, and his three tackles left him with 38 this year.
And unfortunately for the Cowboys, those numbers were no better, and even worse, than what they had been receiving from former starting right end Ebenezer Ekuban, who the Cowboys allowed to leave this past off-season in free agency. And all this did was continue the Cowboys' search for a legitimate pass-rushing defensive end to play opposite Greg Ellis.
Wiley, though, says not fair.
"I was told I'd be a defensive end, told I'd be able to rush the passer and told I'd be preserved," Wiley said.
Well, Wiley ended up being a first- and second-down defensive end. On third down, when defensive ends can pin their ears back facing definite passing situations, the Cowboys would lift Wiley for Eric Ogbogu. That didn't sit well with Wiley.
But there was more reason for his frustration. See, Wiley says he was told he would play the more familiar left side, and from the start of training camp that's where he lined up, with the Cowboys' incumbent left end Greg Ellis playing the right side. That, though, didn't seem to be working very well. The Cowboys were struggling to stop the run. Ellis seemed uncomfortable on the right side. And Wiley didn't seem to be getting much done on the left side.
Then there was the deal about which hand he wanted to put on the ground. He was used to playing with his right hand down. Says he's right-handed and left-footed. But the coaching staff insisted he play with his left hand down on the right side as is normal practice.
That was until he broke a finger on his left hand, displaying exhibit A, one of his fingers bent 90 degrees, "a blessing in disguise," he said, since he finally got to put his right hand on the ground since the left hand no longer could hold the pressure.
Says he kept his mouth shut all year because he didn't want to become "a distraction" during a season laced with turmoil enough, but he knows he was being called out in the media for his limited production.
"But if everyone would have told me all this would have occurred, I would not have stepped foot in Texas," said Wiley, realizing the Cowboys just might eat the remaining portion of his prorated signing bonus if they decide to release him.
"I'm prepared for whatever comes because nothing can be worse than this year."
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
Jan. 3, 2005, 4:57 a.m. (CST)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Marcellus Wiley didn't complain the entire season, but he's a wise man. He knows the writing probably is on the wall.
He just wanted to make sure here Sunday evening he got a chance to write a little bit, too, allowing his frustration from this 2004 season to boil over following the Cowboys' 28-24 loss to the New York Giants in the final game of the season.
When asked if he thought he'd be back with the Cowboys for 2005, Wiley matter-of-factly said, "Not in the role I came here for. They don't need to pay a guy to play the run at 275."
He didn't need to spell out anymore. Wiley signed a four-year, $16 million free-agent deal with the Cowboys in the off-season and received a $4.5 million signing bonus. He presumed he was being brought in to be a pass-rushing defensive end.
But the 30-year-old defensive end figures the way he was used had more to do with his final numbers than his talent at this point in his career. Wiley, with a sack Sunday night against the Giants, finished with three sacks, and his three tackles left him with 38 this year.
And unfortunately for the Cowboys, those numbers were no better, and even worse, than what they had been receiving from former starting right end Ebenezer Ekuban, who the Cowboys allowed to leave this past off-season in free agency. And all this did was continue the Cowboys' search for a legitimate pass-rushing defensive end to play opposite Greg Ellis.
Wiley, though, says not fair.
"I was told I'd be a defensive end, told I'd be able to rush the passer and told I'd be preserved," Wiley said.
Well, Wiley ended up being a first- and second-down defensive end. On third down, when defensive ends can pin their ears back facing definite passing situations, the Cowboys would lift Wiley for Eric Ogbogu. That didn't sit well with Wiley.
But there was more reason for his frustration. See, Wiley says he was told he would play the more familiar left side, and from the start of training camp that's where he lined up, with the Cowboys' incumbent left end Greg Ellis playing the right side. That, though, didn't seem to be working very well. The Cowboys were struggling to stop the run. Ellis seemed uncomfortable on the right side. And Wiley didn't seem to be getting much done on the left side.
Then there was the deal about which hand he wanted to put on the ground. He was used to playing with his right hand down. Says he's right-handed and left-footed. But the coaching staff insisted he play with his left hand down on the right side as is normal practice.
That was until he broke a finger on his left hand, displaying exhibit A, one of his fingers bent 90 degrees, "a blessing in disguise," he said, since he finally got to put his right hand on the ground since the left hand no longer could hold the pressure.
Says he kept his mouth shut all year because he didn't want to become "a distraction" during a season laced with turmoil enough, but he knows he was being called out in the media for his limited production.
"But if everyone would have told me all this would have occurred, I would not have stepped foot in Texas," said Wiley, realizing the Cowboys just might eat the remaining portion of his prorated signing bonus if they decide to release him.
"I'm prepared for whatever comes because nothing can be worse than this year."