Cowboys in Potential Trade Talks for Greg Ellis

[casmith07]

Here's me being "clueless" about Ellis back in March, before the Draft.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2690994&postcount=45

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2691007&postcount=51

Hos I remember you talking about how you thought Ellis would be moved on draft day in he chat. I'm surprised we didn't makle a move in round 2 especially with New England sitting on the Patrick Chung pick but then again I do applaud Jerry for not jumping out of his shoes to lake a splash like Al Davis in the draft LOL.

 

[speedkilz88]

I don't think NE is as desperate for pass rushers as people are making them out to be.

They had every chance in the world to draft Everette Brown, Connor Barwin or the kid from Utah.

They could have easily traded up for Larry English if they wanted.

In the years they won the SB they didn't have anyone close to Ware coming off the edge (15-20) sack guy.

They had Willie McGinest, Mike Vrabel, and Rosevelt Colvin.

 

[Chuck 54]

Let's not forget that Ellis is not limited...while he can play OLB in the 3-4, he could also easily put his hand back on the ground and play DE in the 4-3.

He's a solid, proven guy who can get after the QB. At 34, I think he'd be attractive to quite a few teams and could easily play in a rotation at DE for the next 2-3 years.

 

[Idgit]

People holding out hope for a trade are pissing up a rope. I'll be fine if we simply release him.

Ellis definitely has trade value if we don't mind carrying his contract number. I'm sure we'd prefer not to pay him, but his number's not *that* high.

It'd be stupid to cut him with nothing but completely unproven players behind him. A team that wants him would trade something for him. Even if it's a player of their own in a similar situation.

 

[TheSport78]

Ellis definitely has trade value if we don't mind carrying his contract number. I'm sure we'd prefer not to pay him, but his number's not *that* high.

It'd be stupid to cut him with nothing but completely unproven players behind him. A team that wants him would trade something for him. Even if it's a player of their own in a similar situation.

No team is going to trade for a 34 year old player in a contract year with a cap hit of over 6 million bucks to most likely play in a situational pass rushing role. His years as a starter are over and that was easy to see last year.

 

[Idgit]

No team is going to trade for a 34 year old player in a contract year with a cap hit of over 6 million bucks to most likely play in a situational pass rushing role. His years as a starter are over and that was easy to see last year.

A team will trade for a capable and experienced edge rusher who can cover. 34 isn't that old, and $6m isn't that much to amortize over a three year deal.

And what was the problem with his play last year?

 

[CowboyWay]

I'd rather keep greg as an insurance policy and a 3rd down rusher before I take a 6th or 7th round pick for him. Spencer hasn't exactly lit the world on fire.

 

[speedkilz88]

I would think if we free up five million in cap space with a trade that the cap hit for the other team would also be five million. (or am i missing something?)

 

[Hostile]

Ellis definitely has trade value if we don't mind carrying his contract number. I'm sure we'd prefer not to pay him, but his number's not *that* high.

It'd be stupid to cut him with nothing but completely unproven players behind him. A team that wants him would trade something for him. Even if it's a player of their own in a similar situation.

Sure Ellis has trade value. I disagree with the notion that it would be stupid to waive him. I think it would be stupid to keep him. There are too many positives to ignore and too many traps to keep him.

 

[TheSport78]

A team will trade for a capable and experienced edge rusher who can cover. 34 isn't that old, and $6m isn't that much to amortize over a three year deal.

And what was the problem with his play last year?

It just seemed like he regressed to me. He got a lot of his sacks against lackluster teams like the 49ers and Seahawks. I still believe he's playing out of position at OLB and that his best days ahead are as a situational pass rusher in nickel packages.

 

[Idgit]

Sure Ellis has trade value. I disagree with the notion that it would be stupid to waive him. I think it would be stupid to keep him. There are too many positives to ignore and too many traps to keep him.

I'd feel a lot better about it if there were a player with some experience out there in FA we could plug in in a pinch. I think Spencer will be great, but if anything happens to him or, god forbid, Ware, we're going to have problems getting enough pressure to make the secondary scheme work.

 

[Hostile]

Hos I remember you talking about how you thought Ellis would be moved on draft day in he chat. I'm surprised we didn't makle a move in round 2 especially with New England sitting on the Patrick Chung pick but then again I do applaud Jerry for not jumping out of his shoes to lake a splash like Al Davis in the draft LOL.

Yeah, I thought New England would pull the trigger for sure, but I thought it would be a Day 2 pick, not a 2nd. I was kind of surprised the deal fell through. All of the articles are indicating it is New England who backed away from the deal, so Jerry may have asked too much. At least they are validating the info I was sharing.

 

[Hostile]

I'd feel a lot better about it if there were a player with some experience out there in FA we could plug in in a pinch. I think Spencer will be great, but if anything happens to him or, god forbid, Ware, we're going to have problems getting enough pressure to make the secondary scheme work.

We can always bring Justin Rogers back if we have an injury and Carpenter can move back outside if need be. We are not handicapped at LB, we're too loaded in some ways to justify keeping more than 8 total.

 

[unionjack8]

speedkilz - it would be a 5m hit for his new team IF they didnt restructure his deal, which is what would happen. No way anybody will pay him 4.5 mill this year.

 

[speedkilz88]

speedkilz - it would be a 5m hit for his new team IF they didnt restructure his deal, which is what would happen. No way anybody will pay him 4.5 mill this year.

Thats pretty cheap in this salary cap world.

 

[jobberone]

Well, it is about who to keep and who to release. If the young guys we drafted are good enough then keeping Ellis will create a problem for us. One will likely have be exposed to the PS. I don't think the cap hit is a biggie but money is money so....

The question is will the team be better off this year with Ellis. I say yes. Then is the team better off next year and the next with Ellis here. I don't know but I'd lean toward no.

 

[cowboyjoe]

hey Hostile, here is alittle more on greg ellis issue, thought with yours and DC inside sources you might come up with some more info;


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4199484
Source: Dallas seeking deal for EllisComment Email Print Share By Matt Mosley
ESPN.com
Archive
DALLAS -- Dallas Cowboys veteran outside linebacker Greg Ellis finally may get his wish to be traded or released by the club, as the Cowboys have reached out to at least two teams to measure interest in a deal, according to a club source.

NFL.com Video

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips looks ahead to the 2009 season.
AOL Fanhouse first reported the story Thursday evening, indicating the Cowboys had approached the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals about a possible trade. Ellis has longtime ties to Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who held the same position with the Cowboys.

Ellis, 33, did not participate in Thursday's organized team activities session. If the Cowboys release him, which seems the most likely result, they'll save the $4.15 million he's scheduled to make in 2009.

Ellis' agent, James Williams, told The Dallas Morning News on Thursday that his client was "looking forward to being a Dallas Cowboy [in 2009]," but that his future was out of their hands.

Ellis has grumbled about his role on the team ever since Bill Parcells moved him from defensive end to outside linebacker in 2006, but he hasn't said anything this offseason. Last year, the Cowboys were set to make Anthony Spencer the starter ahead of Ellis, but Spencer couldn't stay on the field because of injuries.

In last month's draft, the Cowboys focused on players who could help them on the pass rush, so Ellis' status became even more tenuous.

Ellis, a former first-round pick, spent eight years at defensive end before being moved to outside linebacker. He excelled at the position and was having a solid season in 2006 when he ruptured his Achilles tendon against the Arizona Cardinals, an injury that contributed to the Cowboys' late-season struggles. He bounced back to have 12.5 sacks in 2007 and made his first Pro Bowl appearance.

If he's released, the Bengals, Patriots and Miami Dolphins could be likely destinations.

Matt Mosley covers the NFC East for ESPN.com.

 

[Idgit]

We can always bring Justin Rogers back if we have an injury and Carpenter can move back outside if need be. We are not handicapped at LB, we're too loaded in some ways to justify keeping more than 8 total.

Hadn't thought about Carpenter moving back out. Still don't like it much, though.

 

[bbgun]

Given Greg's lengthy experience as a 4-3 end, we don't necessarily have to limit trade proposals to teams that play the 3-4.

 

[Oh_Canada]

The question is will the team be better off this year with Ellis. I say yes. Then is the team better off next year and the next with Ellis here. I don't know but I'd lean toward no.

I don't agree...the team hasn't won a lick in the decade or so he has been a Cowboy, so really what exatly would they be losing other than a chronic loser.