Cowboys Release Greg Ellis

[Alexander]

Thanks for everything greg, you were a steady influence on this team since the time you got here.

If you mean steady whining, moaning and defeatist, I agree.

Thanks for over a decade of mediocre leadership, Mr. Ellis. You'll be missed.

 

[AbeBeta]

Finally the Randy Moss curse is over.

Curse? Moss turned out to be a huge pain in the ***.

Do you think he would have been happy here during Aikman's last hobbled seasons? Do you think he would have been happy catching passes from Carter and Hutchinson?

 

[Chief]

:laugh2:

 

[DCBoysfan]

I wouldn't have done this till I saw more out of the rookies. So what happens if Ware or Spencer go down?

I would done the same thing also, but now its time for all these young pass rushers to grow up.

 

[jobberone]

I came to eat a little crow. I stated more than once that Ellis would be here this year. I failed to understand how much Jones likes Ellis. He's granting him his wish. And I don't fault Jerry here. You really need to be loyal to those who were loyal to you.

Ellis thinks he can still play. And he's right. It just won't be here. Whether or not Spencer is better this year or not, he deserves the chance to start and earn the experience necessary to prove it.

 

[Yeagermeister]

:laugh1: :laugh1: :laugh1: :laugh1: :laugh1: :laugh1:

 

[Chocolate Lab]

 

[speedkilz88]

IRVING, Texas - One week after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Greg Ellis would likely not play for team this year, he made it official.

The Cowboys have waived Ellis, an 11-year veteran who has not been truly happy with the combination of his role or his contract for the last few years. The move also opens the door for Anthony Spencer, a first-round pick in 2007, to assume the role as the starting outside linebacker, opposite of DeMarcus Ware.

Obviously, both the Cowboys and Ellis tried to seek a trade but considering his future with the team was all but over, it's likely any interested suitor wanted to wait for the veteran to hit the open market.

By cutting Ellis, the Cowboys still save his $4.15 million base salary. However, he will still count about $2.1 million on the cap, thanks to a $1.5 million guarantee and a $600,000 signing bonus proration.

However, the Cowboys could get some of that money back if Ellis signs with another team. Should another team sign Ellis for more than a $1.5 million total package, the Cowboys would not be obligated to pay the guaranteed bonus. And even if Ellis signs for a contract less than $1.5 million, the Cowboys would only have to make up the difference for this year.

Ellis has led the Cowboys in sacks six different seasons, including one five-year span (2002-06). He currently ranks eighth on the club's all-time sack list with 77, including eight last season.

Part of Ellis' unhappiness stemmed from him moving from defensive end to outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme back in 2006. Ellis initially balked at the move but eventually came around especially after he enjoyed success in the new system. But an Achilles injury later that year not only ended his season, but clouded his future as well.

He never returned to action the next year until his contract was restructured, giving him more money, including that $1.5 million guarantee this year.

Ellis responded on the field, however. Despite missing three games, Ellis enjoyed his best season of his career, posting 12 � sacks, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and being named NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.

Still, Ellis was never comfortable sharing time with Spencer, who played the majority of the snaps last season.

Even this past off-season, Ellis told reporters that he was informed by the coaching staff that Spencer would be handling the first-team reps this season.

The Cowboys also gave themselves some youth and possible depth at the position, drafting Victor Butler and Brandon Williams this past April.

With Ellis gone, left tackle Flozell Adams now becomes the longest-tenured Cowboys player on the roster. Both arrived in the 1998 NFL Draft. Ellis was the eighth overall pick - a move that has highly scrutinized because the Cowboys opted to pass on the dynamic, yet troubled Randy Moss.


http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=A2514B1C-0DB7-42D7-F27E008E39C2C189

 

[peck-sicilyisland]

Some people forget Ellis is a great pass rusher,in order to be a good football team,you have to have alot of good players.But, I guess it's Ellis fault that other guys don't show up.

 

[JonJon]

Some people forget Ellis is a great pass rusher,in order to be a good football team,you have to have alot of good players.But, I guess it's Ellis fault that other guys don't show up.

One could argue that Ellis also doesn't show up when it counts the most.

 

[arync]

you know that sad part of this is that the Cowboys never won a playoff game in his 11 year career. That sucks.......

 

[BrassCowboy]

Time to move on.

Ellis had a very good (not great) career in Dallas and for the most part (irritating insecurity about his role aside) he was a great teammate and good person by all accounts. He most certainly did not fall into to bad character category...quite the opposite.

Just time to move on...and the annual whining did get VERY old.

Hopefully we replace the 8-10 sacks somehow and do it without having to deal with the insecurites.

yeah, he was good character to fellow players, but that whining about his role, like you said, was VERY annoying....

 

[BrassCowboy]

Some people forget Ellis is a great pass rusher,in order to be a good football team,you have to have alot of good players.But, I guess it's Ellis fault that other guys don't show up.

if you mean by sitting younger players, who have more potential and whine less, so that you can keep Ellis happy, then yes it is atleast indirectly Ellis' fault.

Ellis whined too much, and I like what I see in Spencer much more than I do Ellis.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Goodbye Greg. I appreciate all the good things you brought to the team and every one of those 77 sacks.

 

[big dog cowboy]

OH SNAP!!!

:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

 

[Chief]

You should do this for every major player that gets released. Start a new tradition.

Larry Lacewell's head on that body would be funny.

 

[burmafrd]

Ellis was NEVER a great pass rusher, never even CLOSE to it. He could be counted on for a steady 6-8 sacks a year and that was about it.

 

[Oh_Canada]

if you mean by sitting younger players, who have more potential and whine less, so that you can keep Ellis happy, then yes it is atleast indirectly Ellis' fault.

Ellis whined too much, and I like what I see in Spencer much more than I do Ellis.

Yup....for all his stats and bravado....he won ZERO playoff games as a member of the Cowboys...so really they are not losing much here.

Glad to see the whiner leave town, we"ll see how great he is without DeMarcus Ware on the other side.

 

[Big Dakota]

Bye Greg:leave:

 

[TheCount]

:clap2::clap2: