Another monkey heard from...

[RealCowboyfan]

Gallowaste is back.

http://blogs.dfw.com/galloway_and_hate/cowboys/index.html

Leave Greg Ellis alone

From Galloway ...

Been on vacation, OK?

And been lazy, too. Some things never change.

But it's a new blogging season, and here we go:

My new favorite Cowboy is one of my old favorite Cowboys.

Greg Ellis.

As you know, he's now a linebacker.

I hope it works. Apparently, there has been some positive progress for Ellis at linebacker out in Oxnard.

And I will see for myself when I show up in California next week.

But how did one of the best guys ever to wear the uniform, and one of the hardest-working players, suddenly become a media rip-job target?

Damn, that makes me mad.

Ellis was hot, and rightfully so, that at age 31, he was being told by Bill Parcells to move from defensive end to linebacker.

If Ellis wasn't a size-wise fit for Parcells at end in the 3-4, then Big Bill should have done with him what he did with La'Roi Glover. Let him walk. Let him go to another team.

Instead, Parcells dropped the hammer on Ellis. He wouldn't be traded, and there was no guarantee he would play. Big Bill ordered him to move to linebacker, or else.

Ellis protested all spring and summer. And the local media seemed to be mad at Ellis, not Parcells.

I disagree. Parcells was wrong to do this to a classy veteran.

And my opinion on that won't change even if Ellis handles the switch to linebacker. Which I hope he does.

:starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin

 

[InmanRoshi]

You said it yourself, Tony played with a lot of talent around him. Ellis has not been so lucky as yet.

Tolbert had his 12 sacks season in 1996 when Haley, Jones, Jeffcoat and Maryland were gone and replaced with Hurvin McCormack, Shante Carter and Chad Hennings. He stepped up his game and picked up the slack as the talent around him depleated. Greg Ellis is the one who used the excuse that he couldn't meet expectations because other players were holding him back. Even after three years of playing next to an All Pro defensive tackle.

I don't just say Tolbert is a better player because he went to a Pro Bowl and Ellis didn't, I say it because Ellis would have been 2nd stringer on the early 90 teams that Tolbert started for.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Tolbert had his 12 sacks season in 1996 when Haley, Jones, Jeffcoat and Maryland were gone and replaced with Hurvin McCormack, Shante Carter and Chad Hennings. He stepped up his game as the talent around him depleated. Greg Ellis is the one who always had the excuse that he couldn't meet expectations because other players were holding him back. Even after three years of playing next to an All Pro defensive tackle.

Well, there was a guy named Leon Lett who played that year. There was also a guy named Tony Casillas, Randell Godfrey, Godfrey Miles, Darin Smith and a guy by the name of Fred Strickland. Brock Marion, Darren Woodson, Deion Sanders and Pup Smith in the defensive back field. He wasn't exactly devoid of talent in 96. I would also add that Chad Hennings was not a bad player by any means.

I don't know that you can say Ellis would have been second string. Maybe he would have, maybe not. Tolbert was a situational pass rusher for a long time. He wasn't a starter. Those teams rotated DLs so it's a bit disingenuous to say that Ellis wouldn't have started and Tolbert did.

 

[baj1dallas]

Tony Tolbert was treated far worse by the Cowboys organization, and Greg Ellis couldn't hold his jock. Much less be mentioned as one of the "greatest players to ever wear the jersey".

He said "best guys", not "greatest players".

Nothing to do with each other.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

He said "best guys", not "greatest players".

Nothing to do with each other.

Alas, this has been pointed out repeatedly but to no avail. I do agree with you thou. I read the article and I did not get the feeling he was saying that Ellis was one of the best to ever play. Just one of the best guys (you'll ever meet in a Dallas uniform) and one of the hardest workers.

At least to me, that is how I read it.