Greg Ellis' and La'Roi Glover's Situations - Aren't they similar?

[TroyEmmittAndMichael]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but is there a significant difference between Ellis' situation and La'Roi Glover's situation last year?

Everyone here knows how Glover had to switch from playing DT in a 4-3 to a more physically-demanding NT in a 3-4. At the time, Glover was 31 and in his second to last year of his contract and could have been let go at the end of the season just like any player, which he was (but that was a business decision to save $6 mil [4.5 salary/1.5 roster bonus]and $1.2 mil in cap space and not a performance decision). However, despite Glover's tackles, sacks, and playing time dropping, he was picked up in a blink of an eye by the Rams and signed a 3 yr/$12 mil contract that included $3 mil in bonuses. With his 2006 salary at $2.506 mil with the Rams, he will be making just about as much in total in 2006 with them ($5.5 mil) as he would've been with the Cowboys ($6 mil).

Glover didn't know it was going to turn out OK for him in the end, but that didn't cause him to renegotiate his contract for more upfront commitments by Jerry despite having just as much risk as Ellis will have by switching positions.

The only argument I could see here is that Ellis would say his situation is different to a degree because Glover had played NT before with the Saints and that he (Ellis) has never played the pressure perimeter OLB position before.

Although this argument may have some validity, I think it will become irrelevant even if Ellis has a poor year in this project. Reason being, NFL teams thoroughly research their free-agent pick-ups, don't they? Wouldn't NFL teams know that Parcells used Ellis out of position which resulted in the drop in his stats. If they didn't know this, wouldn't his agent inform these teams? Wouldn't the market bear this out when Ellis sees other teams competing for his services at season's end. If Ellis is released at the end of this season, and he isn't signed to a fair contract, I think it will be for other reasons than his performance at this new position.

I didn't see a position move affect Glover, and he did it with a kind of professionalism and attitude that is missing in Ellis' predicament.

Anyone else think Ellis would benefit from a phone call from Glover?

 

[burmafrd]

Ellis is taking the wrong tack here definitly. He should play the martyr and at the same time be working out and showing everyone he is doing his best in a bad situation, BUT is willing to be convinced that it will all work out. Instead he is sounding like just another spoiled brat of a pro athlete.

 

[Jarv]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but is there a significant difference between Ellis' situation and La'Roi Glover's situation last year?

Everyone here knows how Glover had to switch from playing DT in a 4-3 to a more physically-demanding NT in a 3-4. At the time, Glover was 31 and in his second to last year of his contract and could have been let go at the end of the season just like any player, which he was (but that was a business decision to save $6 mil [4.5 salary/1.5 roster bonus]and $1.2 mil in cap space and not a performance decision). However, despite Glover's tackles, sacks, and playing time dropping, he was picked up in a blink of an eye by the Rams and signed a 3 yr/$12 mil contract that included $3 mil in bonuses. With his 2006 salary at $2.506 mil with the Rams, he was making just about as much in total in 2006 with them ($5.5 mil) as he would've with the Cowboys ($6 mil).

Glover didn't know it was going to turn out OK for him in the end, but that didn't cause him to renegotiate his contract for more upfront commitments by Jerry despite having just as much risk as Ellis will have by switching positions.

The only argument I could see here is that Ellis would say his situation is different to a degree because Glover had played NT before with the Saints and that he (Ellis) has never played the pressure perimeter OLB position before.

Although this argument may have some validity, I think it will become irrelevant even if Ellis has a poor year in this project. Reason being, NFL teams thoroughly research their free-agent pick-ups, don't they? Wouldn't NFL teams know that Parcells used Ellis out of position which resulted in the drop in his stats. If they didn't know this, wouldn't his agent inform these teams? Wouldn't the market bear this out when Ellis sees other teams competing for his services at season's end. If Ellis is released at the end of this season, and he isn't signed to a fair contract, I think it will be for other reasons than his performance at this new position.

I didn't see a position move affect Glover, and he did it with a kind of professionalism and attitude that is missing in Ellis' predicament.

Anyone else think Ellis would benefit from a phone call from Glover?

Good post, but the big difference is that neither fit the 3-4 scheme and Glover was released and greg wasn't. Also look at what Glover was scheduled to make vs. Greg.

Level of play to, Glover made 28 tackles to Greg's 35...Glover got 3 sacks to Greg's 8.

I know, different positions create different stats. Bottom line is that Greg rated out as our best DL last year (sacks and tackles)...and he's worried that now he is being reduced to a "role player".

Listen, BP is a HOF coach but he's not perfect...as I'm not either...lol.

I like what he has done with this team, but there are some things I think he's handled wrong. I don't think he's a good game day coach (in game adjustments), I don't like the ways he handles QB's, I didn't like the fact he played Vinnie over our young-uns when the season was over, yet sat Ellis (our best D-line player) in favor of getting young guys experience, which may have cost us a chance in the playoffs last year, don't like his choice of O-line coach or gone about rebuilding our O-line.

He sure as heck knows more about football than I do, even though I consider myself a pretty knowledgable fan. But there are things I disagree with him about.

 

[TroyEmmittAndMichael]

Good post, but the big difference is that neither fit the 3-4 scheme and Glover was released and greg wasn't. Also look at what Glover was scheduled to make vs. Greg.

Level of play to, Glover made 28 tackles to Greg's 35...Glover got 3 sacks to Greg's 8.

I know, different positions create different stats. Bottom line is that Greg rated out as our best DL last year (sacks and tackles)...and he's worried that now he is being reduced to a "role player".

Listen, BP is a HOF coach but he's not perfect...as I'm not either...lol.

I like what he has done with this team, but there are some things I think he's handled wrong. I don't think he's a good game day coach (in game adjustments), I don't like the ways he handles QB's, I didn't like the fact he played Vinnie over our young-uns when the season was over, yet sat Ellis (our best D-line player) in favor of getting young guys experience, which may have cost us a chance in the playoffs last year, don't like his choice of O-line coach or gone about rebuilding our O-line.

He sure as heck knows more about football than I do, even though I consider myself a pretty knowledgable fan. But there are things I disagree with him about.

I don't think being reduced to a "role player" is Ellis' main concern unless there are a bunch of incentive clauses built into his contract that he would not reach do to the limitations placed on him with less playing time.

I'm taking Ellis for his word when he says that he's concerned about his future earnings power potentially being reduced by this position switch.

My point is that Glover was faced with the same challenge, in my mind. He had to make a position switch, albeit one he's made before. He could have been released at the end of the season like any other player could have been. Yet, he performed admirably and took the challenge on with a good attitude and came out a winner when he signed with the Rams after we released him.

Ellis is faced with the same risks as Glover, yet he approaches his challenge with an intractable attitude. Glover's free-agent contract turned out well, but Ellis is still afraid about what could happen to his contract should he be released.

 

[Paniolo22]

Anytime you're on the wrong side of 30, it's going to be tough to get money upfront. Fact of life in sports.

 

[Jarv]

Troy, Emmitt, And Michael =TEAM
Forever grateful for the Triplets

Love that sig line !

 

[TroyEmmittAndMichael]

Love that sig line !

Thanks, Jarv. After the acronym hit me, it was one of those things where I wondered why I never thought of it before.

 

[Future]

My point is that Glover was faced with the same challenge, in my mind. He had to make a position switch, albeit one he's made before. He could have been released at the end of the season like any other player could have been. Yet, he performed admirably and took the challenge on with a good attitude and came out a winner when he signed with the Rams after we released him.

As far as playing, Ellis has been very good. Maybe hes a little upset about the contract but i would be too if i were him. I don't think he has blown anything out of proportion or said anything very wrong. Unless his on field EFFORT slips, you can not say that Glover handled it better than Ellis.

 

[TroyEmmittAndMichael]

As far as playing, Ellis has been very good. Maybe hes a little upset about the contract but i would be too if i were him. I don't think he has blown anything out of proportion or said anything very wrong. Unless his on field EFFORT slips, you can not say that Glover handled it better than Ellis.

I'd say that since Glover was interviewed many times last season and said he was on board with the transition from DT to NT and did not speak out about his concerns or ask for a committment from Jerry that qualifies as handling his situation better than the way Ellis has handled his. I don't think there is any doubt in this. There is a significant difference in listening to Glover talk about handling his transition professionally versus listening to Ellis talk about his concerns about his transition.

Regardless, if Ellis is released at the end of this year, I believe Ellis is wrong in his assumptions about the way teams will research and view him and his one year stint as this nickel pass rusher - something Parcells alluded to in his last press conference.

 

[MinnesotaCowboy]

I disagree with a lot of you in regards to Ellis's status as a Cowboy. Although not a great DE, I think he is in the excellent category and was one of the mainstays of the DL. I can definitely understand his feeling in this little plot! However it is not just the sporting world where loyaltys are questioned..........it has become a way of life in business, politics, military services, entertainment and anything else where services are being paid for. Everything today is based on the bottom line and a "what have you done for me lately" attitude. Unless you own your own business everyone one of our many participants on this forum will experience a similar situation at some point in there working career.

You are as good as your last good contribution.......as your age and salary continue to rise so does the chance you will replaced by a younger and cheaper person! It is tougher for young athletes because everything has been handed to them on a silver spoon from grade school to college. Most very good athletes are very immature and college is only a stepping stone to the pro level where they will be provided with money and adoration that they have never experienced before. And then one day when they have exhausted all that potential and greatness, the bottom drops out and they become working stiffs just like the rest of us poor bastids!

Ain't life just grand!