ESPN: Jones doesnt rule out ellis return

[Coakleys Dad]

Jones doesn't dismiss OLB Ellis' return


.By Calvin Watkins
ESPNDallas.com
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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Friday the possibility of outside linebacker Greg Ellis returning to the team is a realistic one.


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Speaking after the weigh-in for Saturday night's WBO welterweight title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Johsua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium, Jones mentioned that he remains fond of Ellis, whom the team drafted with a first-round pick in 1998. Ellis' agent, James Williams, said his client would be open to rejoining the Cowboys after spending one season with the Oakland Raiders, where he was tied for the team lead with seven sacks.
"That's not unrealistic," Jones said. "That's the best way to say that. It's not unrealistic thinking on his part or in my mind, I think that's best left unsaid."
There is no rush for the Cowboys to sign Ellis, who is an unrestricted free agent. Dallas has two starters at outside linebacker in DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer plus younger players such as Brandon Williams, Victor Butler and Steve Octavien.
Williams said Ellis wouldn't mind coming off the bench and being a third-down pass rusher, something the Cowboys hoped he would do in 2008, his last season with the Cowboys.
Ellis, who was cut by the Cowboys last summer, is eighth on the team's all-time sack list with 77.

 

[lwehlers]

i would be ok with this if ellis is ok knowing he is a backup player now not a starter. now if we sign ellis back it means the coaching staff may not believe that butler or williams are ready to play or even start a game or two.

 

[anava]

Would hate this move...He had the attitude that I was glad we got rid of....

 

[Jon88]

No way...

 

[TheSport78]

Would hate this move...He had the attitude that I was glad we got rid of....

I agree but I think the main difference here is that Ellis would ACCEPT his role and would have nothing to complain about. If healthy, he could be a solid 3rd down pass rusher for us. The guy did have 7 sacks last year on a pretty terrible defense. Now knowing Greg, he might find SOMETHING to complain about but let's hope not.

 

[casmith07]

Nope.

 

[rkell87]

no way i think he is a progress stopper, and if nothing else butler earned some playing time in my mind

 

[dcfanatic]

If the Cowboys bring back Greg Ellis I want to know one thing. What happened to the notion that you were moving on from older veterans so some younger players could find playing time? Read here.

-- On possibly signing former Cowboy Greg Ellis, who was released last week by the Raiders.

""That's not unrealistic. The circumstances are the right kind of circumstances."
​

That's the excuse Jerry gave us when he let Terrell Owens go. Well I seem to recall the Cowboys drafting Victor Butler and Brandon Williams last season and both of those players need some work this summer so they can spell Ware and Spencer at times.

Now let me make a point about why bringing back a veteran player is a good move.

If the player can still rush the passer and also help the development of these two young kids it would probably be a good fit. But I hate seeing Jerry say one thing and then do something else to make all that talk seem like a bunch of BS.

And I also wonder if Ellis' history of whining and locker room lawyering is something you don't want back on this team.

There is also these interesting comments that make me think this is a real possibility.

A few days ago Ellis' spoke about a conversation Stephen Jones had with Ellis at the scouting combine, read here.

Ellis' agent, James Williams said Tuesday night his client wouldn't mind coming off the bench and that money isn't that big of an issue. Well that's what Wade Phillips was trying to do the last two years with Ellis.

And there doesn't appear to be any hard feelings between the Cowboys and Ellis. Before Ellis was cut on Monday, Stephen Jones, the team vice president, had a friendly conversation with Ellis at the scouting combine.
​

Then Jerry made these comments today about the possibility of signing come free agents this weekend, read here.

Jones didn't anticipate anything happening this weekend. But he also wouldn't rule it out. He said the Cowboys are so comfortable and so familiar with the prospects because of the team's investigative work at the combine that a deal could come down without a free agent visit.

"We have one possible two we would be looking at, but I don't anticipate it happening," Jones said. "But I'm not totally ruling it out. I want to leave it open so if a couple of things did happen."

​

So did Ellis and Stephen really have such a great conversation at the combine that the team is looking to bring the former #98 back into the mix?

Very interesting. And I guess soon enough we will find out.

 

[This is Our Year]

I'd bring Ellis back, he'd be a nice add for depth and could step in for a few weeks if god forbid if someone got injuried at OLB.

 

[ethiostar]

Only way i see this happening is if he comes back to play back up DE. We have young guys for depth purposes at OLB.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The Joneses never burn bridges, and I'm sure they're just being nice here.

Either that or Jerry was tipsy like when he mentioned brininging Pacman back last year.

Because we don't have room for Ellis. Maybe if we got an injury in camp we would call him, but not until then.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Hell no.

We got Butler and B.Will

That would be extremely stupid on Jones' behalf.

Then again it would make sense considering this dreadful offseason.

 

[TheSport78]

If the Cowboys bring back Greg Ellis I want to know one thing. What happened to the notion that you were moving on from older veterans so some younger players could find playing time? Read here.

-- On possibly signing former Cowboy Greg Ellis, who was released last week by the Raiders.

""That's not unrealistic. The circumstances are the right kind of circumstances."
​

That's the excuse Jerry gave us when he let Terrell Owens go. Well I seem to recall the Cowboys drafting Victor Butler and Brandon Williams last season and both of those players need some work this summer so they can spell Ware and Spencer at times.

Now let me make a point about why bringing back a veteran player is a good move.

If the player can still rush the passer and also help the development of these two young kids it would probably be a good fit. But I hate seeing Jerry say one thing and then do something else to make all that talk seem like a bunch of BS.

And I also wonder if Ellis' history of whining and locker room lawyering is something you don't want back on this team.

There is also these interesting comments that make me think this is a real possibility.

A few days ago Ellis' spoke about a conversation Stephen Jones had with Ellis at the scouting combine, read here.

Ellis' agent, James Williams said Tuesday night his client wouldn't mind coming off the bench and that money isn't that big of an issue. Well that's what Wade Phillips was trying to do the last two years with Ellis.

And there doesn't appear to be any hard feelings between the Cowboys and Ellis. Before Ellis was cut on Monday, Stephen Jones, the team vice president, had a friendly conversation with Ellis at the scouting combine.
​

Then Jerry made these comments today about the possibility of signing come free agents this weekend, read here.

Jones didn't anticipate anything happening this weekend. But he also wouldn't rule it out. He said the Cowboys are so comfortable and so familiar with the prospects because of the team's investigative work at the combine that a deal could come down without a free agent visit.

"We have one possible two we would be looking at, but I don't anticipate it happening," Jones said. "But I'm not totally ruling it out. I want to leave it open so if a couple of things did happen."

​

So did Ellis and Stephen really have such a great conversation at the combine that the team is looking to bring the former #98 back into the mix?

Very interesting. And I guess soon enough we will find out.

I understand what you're saying, DC, and I agree with most of it. I'm just going to play devil's advocate in favor of Ellis returning.

I'm pretty sure Greg Ellis is an upgrade over Steve Octavien, pass rushing wise for depth. The only difference is that Octavien plays special teams, but no pun intended, isn't anything that special.

Secondly, we all have high hopes for Brandon Williams and what he can bring to the table, but the fact is that he's coming back from an ACL tear. There's no guarantee he'll feel comfortable right away, so it may take a little time for him.

Thirdly, Ellis knows the system and knows his ROLE. We let the market come to him, and he found the Oakland Raiders.

Lastly, no one has ever questioned Ellis' leadership abilities. All of his problems were between him and the office.

It's a safe and wise signing, assuming he's healthy of course. Thoughts?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm pretty sure Greg Ellis is an upgrade over Steve Octavien, pass rushing wise for depth. The only difference is that Octavien plays special teams, but no pun intended, isn't anything that special.

This is a key point that I meant to mention. If you're going to be active as a backup LB, you have to play special teams. And Ellis, as we know, doesn't.

 

[gimmesix]

Only way i see this happening is if he comes back to play back up DE. We have young guys for depth purposes at OLB.

If money's not an object, then I see nothing wrong with signing him for a reasonable amount to bring him to camp.

We have three young players vying to get on the field at outside linebacker, but right now, none of those players has proven that he deserves to be on the field that much. (Butler showed some pass-rush skills, but the coaches doubted his ability to step in as anything other than a pass rusher last season.)

Bringing in veterans as fall-backs in backup roles is OK as long as you aren't married to them because of the contract.

 

[MONT17]

All you 5-11ers and your stat mongering should look up how many of Ellis' sacks the last 4yrs in Dallas were in the 4th quarter!

If you ripped him for crying about his job, you know nothing about football and even less about life... Guess that's what happens to ppl who don't do what they love.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Unless it is for a 1-day retirement gimmick for Ellis, no.

If Jerra brought Ellis back, it would signal, maybe, Jerra's slow passage into advanced "geezerhood" or worse.

Ellis is spent. Ellis is a whiner. Why would this have any upside, Jerra?

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Hell no.

We got Butler and B.Will

That would be extremely stupid on Jones' behalf.

Then again it would make sense considering this dreadful offseason.

Every time you post I become more and more thankful that the Cowboys have no one like you calling the shots or making the decisions.

We'd have the new Washington Commanders of offseason Championships with someone like you calling the shots.

 

[Randy White]

and it makes sense.

Bringing back Ellis is an insurance policy. Something happens to Ware, Spencer moves into his side, Ellis takes over against the run ( experience ) with Butler and Williams ( if he shows he can play ) taking over on passing downs. If Spencer goes down, Ellis goes back to his old position, again, with Butler and Williams helping him.

This would eliminate OLB as a position to address early, if at all, in the draft.

The conditions would be this: the majority of reps in practice go to Butler and Williams. The majority of reps during pre-season go to Butler and Williams. During the season, if there's no injuries, Ellis would come in sub either Ware or Spencer in order to rest them, on passing downs, particularly in the 4th quarter. However, he must share the reps during the begining of the game with Butler and Williams.

In other words, Ellis: you're going to be useful depth wise in case of an injury, and experience wise, late in games. I don't want to hear any complaints from you about PT during the season and/or early in games.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I don't want to hear any complaints from you about PT during the season and/or early in games.

Well, if you put it that way, i guess that would prevent him from resorting to his nature. The nature being a complainer with no discernable talents to back it up.