RECAP: Greg Ellis with GaC on ESPN 103-Dallas...

[trickblue]

Ellis:

I'm glad to still be here in Dallas, but it's not over yet. We have yet to sit down and talk to Jerry about plans for next year.
Due to the fact I was playing 10-20 plays a game, I am worried about financial ramifications for me.
There doesn't have to be any promises about number of plays.
Jerry has told me that he will show me that they are serious about keeping me a Dallas Cowboy.
I don't just want to be on the team, I want to help win.
If you look at the history of the game, all signs point to me being released, but Jerry and Bill say otherwise. I don't know what that "something" is, but I hope it is more plays
I was not told my plays would be cut back last year. I need to know what my role will be and that I am taken seriously.
I have not spoken to Bill, but he has spoken to my agent and told me they want me.
I don't want to sit on the bench and cheer, although that is important.
The defense did suffer in December when my playing time was reduced, everyone knew it, everyone saw it. It is a fact.
Personally I am not worried about the labor situation, but I am concerned for some of the other guys in the league.
Many fans have offered their support to me when they see me.
We may disagree at times with our union, but we have to support it to be able to improve the working environment. It isn't about the dollar amount today, but down the road in terms of benefits. We can't play this game forever.
The average player will play only 3 years. If he can leave the game with a couple of million in the bank he can be set for life.
The union needs to prepare for our futures, not neccessarily our present.
We may not get a penny raise, but our hopes are that they allow us more leeway on our retirement.
Jerry has a really creative mind and I hope my situation works out for me to stay here.

[RCowboyFan]

Well done on Recap TB.

[theebs]

I recorded it and put it up for anyone interested to hear it for yourself!
http://www.4shared.com/file/902925/9384f16d/gac_with_greg_ellis.html

[BigDFan5]

I was not told my plays would be cut back last year.

He should have read Imans recap of any pre season Parcells press conference

[Seven]

Ellis:

I don't want to sit on the bench and cheer, although that is important. 1) That's why we need Greg Ellis



The defense did suffer in December when my playing time was reduced, everyone knew it, everyone saw it. It is a fact.2) That's why we need Greg Ellis.

[NorTex]

Ellis sounded like a moron when he was talking about how NFL players' careers average 3.5 years and that they need to be paid enough to retire and live off their interest.

! He wants guys(Who play a game) to be able to retire well before the age of 30...give me a stinking break!

:bang2:

[trickblue]

Ellis sounded like a moron when he was talking about how NFL players' careers average 3.5 years and that they need to be paid enough to retire and live off their interest.

! He wants guys(Who play a game) to be able to retire well before the age of 30...give me a stinking break!

:bang2:

I noticed that too...

[CrazyCowboy]

Nice job again....on the recap....thanks

[CoCo]

Ellis sounded like a moron when he was talking about how NFL players' careers average 3.5 years and that they need to be paid enough to retire and live off their interest.

! He wants guys(Who play a game) to be able to retire well before the age of 30...give me a stinking break!

:bang2:

At first blush I don't think that stance wins points with any of us common folk.

But if the collective NFL is making a financial killing, and I think they are, then its probably fair that the players deserve their piece of the pie. What Ellis is suggesting sounds moronic when compared to the life you and I are living but if you're going to criticize the athlete for the economics of the NFL then you need to do the same with the owners don't you?

Its just free market economics.

Of course they can't expect any of our hearts to bleed over this and please, please, please, spare us the Latrell Sprewell "I've got kids to feed" line. Now THAT is moronic.

[Chuck 54]

Ellis isn't really talking about the retirement plans for guys who only play 3 years...like every other vet or established player, and like every worker in every business or service, he is thinking about himself and his own retirement, and that's okay.

But fans don't want to hear a guy like Ellis complain about salary or about his retirement when he has earned more in bonus money than 95% of Americans will earn in their lifetimes. Players have to mask their comments behind stats like the "average career of an NFL player." Realistically, there aren't many young players whose careers are ended after 3 years due to injuries that can't be overcome...not in today's world with modern medical treatment. The reason the career average is only 3 years is because on a 53 man roster, many of the players wash out at the ends of their first contracts or before because they aren't good enough to cut it in the NFL. The bottom half of that roster is constantly being recharged by new players.

[Juke99]

Looks kinda like a 50/50 proposition about his future. Certainly looks as if his playing time will be more like it was at the end of the season than it was in the beginning.

I can't wait to see how great the defense is gonna be. The way I figure, if we can cut Glover and diminish Ellis' role (two of our best players) this defense is gonna be something.

I sure do wish we had a coach who could coach to the talent on the team rather than forcing the team into a scheme.

[baj1dallas]

Ellis sounded like a moron when he was talking about how NFL players' careers average 3.5 years and that they need to be paid enough to retire and live off their interest.

! He wants guys(Who play a game) to be able to retire well before the age of 30...give me a stinking break!

:bang2:

I disagree...you spend your whole life working to get into the NFL, it's a HUGE time and even money investment. You don't necessarily have the option of setting up a lot of alternatives for yourself. Then when you're done, you may have lingering injuries/maladies that could make people not want to hire you, especially for manual labor which is basically what you spent the first 22 years of your life preparing for.

Also Greg did not say this himself, Galloway said it: "The defense did suffer in December when my playing time was reduced, everyone knew it, everyone saw it. It is a fact." Greg just confirmed it. He wasn't trying to badmouth anybody or anything...he was very humble and honest imo.

[InmanRoshi]

If you look at the history of the game, all signs point to me being released

You got a point Greg. Players that go on public airwarves to air their dirty laundry with the franchise typically don't endear themselves to their employers longterm.

Good lord, this guy is high maintenance. Parcells has publicly stated he wants him back. Jerry has publicly stated he wants him back. Bill personally speaks to his agent that he wants him back. But Greg has to still be reassured that he's wanted? I guees he wants Bill to hold him, stroke his hair and reassure him that he's still as pretty as the day he first met him. No Greg, your butt does not look fat in those jeans, now can you get on the practice field please?

I'm loving that people complain that Bill never plays the young players, then complain when he sits a 30 year old player for a rookie that has higher upside.