Greg Ellis' return: ``It's not personal''; Do you believe him Zoners?

[cowboyjoe]

Greg Ellis' return: ``It's not personal''
6:35 PM Wed, Nov 25, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Bill Nichols/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips


Cut after 11 seasons with Dallas, Greg Ellis says he's rejuvinated in Oakland. Arthroscopic surgeries have improved the range of motion in his injured knee and arm, and he believes he can play out the three years of his contract with the Raiders..

Ellis may have changed teams, but he's still playing in a Cowboys game on Thanksgiving.

``My wife was not too happy about that,'' Ellis said, laughing. ``It was like, `We leave Dallas and you're still going to miss Thanksgiving with us.'''

Ellis, 34, had hoped to play out his career in Dallas. He registered 77 sacks in 162 games with the Cowboys. But he was cut with one year left on his contract because the team chose to go with his understudy at outside linebacker, Anthony Spencer.

``To me it was never anything personal,'' Ellis said. ``Some players make the mistake of getting mad at the owners or getting mad at the organization. But you have to understand that football does have a business side to it. It's just the circle of life in football.''

Ellis' successes in Dallas were tempered by frustrations. He gave the Cowboys what they wanted, posting at least 7.5 sacks in seven of his seasons. But he often felt out of place as a 280-pound linebacker in the 3-4 formation. His last couple of seasons were marred by his public comments about a new contract and decreased playing time.

``To me it wasn't personal,'' Ellis said of the Cowboys' decision. ``Always with me it was like, `OK let's just do whatever y'all want to do because you're the owner and you're the coaches and staff so let's just do it but let's not get into a season and start messing with my playing time, trying to create an illusion that I can't do it anymore.'''

Ellis, 34, hasn't lost his knack for pressuring quarterbacks. Back at defensive end, he leads the Raiders with five sacks, including one in last Sunday's victory over Cincinnati.

Spencer has no sacks, although his interception helped secure Dallas' 7-6 victory over Washington last week.

``Yeah, I sure would be surprised if he didn't have any,'' Ellis said of Spencer's sack total. ``Right now, this is game No. 10? ... He doesn't have any? Hmm. The thing I'm pretty sure the coaches are looking at is if he's getting to the quarterback to create some pressure there.

``I like Anthony and I think he's a good football player and he's going to be alright in the league.''

 

[theogt]

The guy begged to be cut for years. Now he's supposed to be upset that he was cut?

Spencer could have no sacks for the rest of his career, but if he continues playing like he has, I would prefer him over Ellis.

 

[Hypnotoad]

The guy begged to be cut for years. Now he's supposed to be upset that he was cut?

Spencer could have no sacks for the rest of his career, but if he continues playing like he has, I would prefer him over Ellis.

Oh he will take it personal. He will probably be all like: They tried to mess with my play time, they disrespected me. They thought I cant do it anymore.

We will only know if we lose. Than he will talk, otherwise its true, he didn't take it personal.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

The guy begged to be cut for years. Now he's supposed to be upset that he was cut?

Spencer could have no sacks for the rest of his career, but if he continues playing like he has, I would prefer him over Ellis.

I agree--his whining was only overshadowed by TO's ego

 

[silver]

Ellis is still the better pass rusher when compared to Spencer and nobody cant deny that. We went with the younger prospect as is always the prudent way to do it in the NFL. Jerry's been burned before by giving up on young guys too soon (see Jimmy Smith, Ron Stone, Willy Jackson for reference). And he's stuck to ageing stars for too long for his own good at times (see, Nate Newton, Jay Novacek, and Daryl Johnston for reference).

 

[DallasEast]

It doesn't matter whether anyone believes him. However, I will say that, given all the comments Ellis has made throughout the latter half of his career, it's difficult not to think that he doesn't harbor negative feelings about playing his old team.

 

[STSINAZ]

Greg Ellis' return: ``It's not personal''
6:35 PM Wed, Nov 25, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Bill Nichols/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips


Cut after 11 seasons with Dallas, Greg Ellis says he's rejuvinated in Oakland. Arthroscopic surgeries have improved the range of motion in his injured knee and arm, and he believes he can play out the three years of his contract with the Raiders..

Ellis may have changed teams, but he's still playing in a Cowboys game on Thanksgiving.

``My wife was not too happy about that,'' Ellis said, laughing. ``It was like, `We leave Dallas and you're still going to miss Thanksgiving with us.'''

Ellis, 34, had hoped to play out his career in Dallas. He registered 77 sacks in 162 games with the Cowboys. But he was cut with one year left on his contract because the team chose to go with his understudy at outside linebacker, Anthony Spencer.

``To me it was never anything personal,'' Ellis said. ``Some players make the mistake of getting mad at the owners or getting mad at the organization. But you have to understand that football does have a business side to it. It's just the circle of life in football.''

Ellis' successes in Dallas were tempered by frustrations. He gave the Cowboys what they wanted, posting at least 7.5 sacks in seven of his seasons. But he often felt out of place as a 280-pound linebacker in the 3-4 formation. His last couple of seasons were marred by his public comments about a new contract and decreased playing time.

``To me it wasn't personal,'' Ellis said of the Cowboys' decision. ``Always with me it was like, `OK let's just do whatever y'all want to do because you're the owner and you're the coaches and staff so let's just do it but let's not get into a season and start messing with my playing time, trying to create an illusion that I can't do it anymore.'''

Ellis, 34, hasn't lost his knack for pressuring quarterbacks. Back at defensive end, he leads the Raiders with five sacks, including one in last Sunday's victory over Cincinnati.

Spencer has no sacks, although his interception helped secure Dallas' 7-6 victory over Washington last week.

``Yeah, I sure would be surprised if he didn't have any,'' Ellis said of Spencer's sack total. ``Right now, this is game No. 10? ... He doesn't have any? Hmm. The thing I'm pretty sure the coaches are looking at is if he's getting to the quarterback to create some pressure there.

``I like Anthony and I think he's a good football player and he's going to be alright in the league.''

GREG ellis should get 1.5 to 2 sacks today and cause some havoc....going against a rook....

 

[theogt]

GREG ellis should get 1.5 to 2 sacks today and cause some havoc....going against a rook....

By the way, "rookie" means first year player.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Ellis says his departure from Dallas stems from Phillips' decision
By Tom Orsborn on Nov 25, 09 09:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) Save & Share Yahoo! Buzz

IRVING - Greg Ellis notched 20½ sacks for the Dallas Cowboys the last two seasons.

So why will he line up at defensive end Thursday in the Oakland Raiders' 4-3 alignment instead of outside linebacker in the Cowboys' 3-4 scheme?

Dallas saved $4.15 million in salary cap space when they cut Ellis in the offseason, but he suggested this week in a conference call that the decision mainly boiled down to coach Wade Phillips wanting to go with his guy.

That would be third-year player Anthony Spencer, who has yet to record a sack this season.

"(Phillips) thought, 'OK, this was the first-round pick I was involved in drafting,' and coaches take some pride...in those first-round picks," said Ellis, who spent 11 seasons with Dallas. "Forever and ever I'm going to be labeled as Chan Gailey's first-round pick and the same thing with Anthony Spencer (and Phillips).

"So, I'm pretty sure Wade wanted to get Anthony out there because he's the one who got him and he had faith he could get the job done."

Told Ellis' comments, Phillips said, "Greg did a great job for us and we were glad when we had him and now we don't, so that's really where it is."

Despite turning 34 in August, Ellis has five sacks for the 3-7 Raiders, including one in last week's 20-17 upset of AFC-North leading Cincinnati.

"Greg has been very good for this team for a number of reasons," Oakland coach Tom Cable said. "He's been in the league awhile, understands how to prepare and what it takes to succeed in this league. He's given us some very good play."

Ellis said he won't be out for revenge Thursday and is approaching the game like he would any other.

"It was never anything personal," Ellis said. "I think some players, they make the mistake. They get mad with the owner, get mad with the organization and say bad things about the organization. But you have to understand football does have a business side to it because there's so much money involved."

Ellis, though, made it clear he would have preferred ending his career with Dallas.

"You can't play on one team forever," he said." You enjoy the years you were there. I told (owner) Jerry (Jones) I wish we had won the big one while I was there. We didn't, and he felt like it was time to make a decision."

 

[Arch Stanton]

Greg who?