Tidbits of Interest Re Cowboys

[sago1]

1. Ralphael Vela reporting in his blog that DMN JJTaylor reporting that Ellis' agent was called by Parcells and told that the Cowboys have no interest in trading or releasing Ellis because he was too valuable. Parcells comments echo Jones' comments in Mobil that Ellis too good a player, etc. Ellis has asked to restructure his contract as a headge against losing playing time.

2. See http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/football/13753616.htm reporting that Seattle Seahawk facing uncertainty re his continuing to play for Seattle. Appears Seahawks might have cap problems because signing their MVP RB & Hutchinson possibly not doable. Hutchinson wants remain in Seattle but understands NFL is a business. His wife is from Florida and she likes climate change in Seattle but will move if they have to.

3. FYI: It took the Cowboys 15 years from last time they won SB (Jan 1978) til they won their next SB (Jan 1993) & we only had 2 HCs during that time. Since we last won SB in Jan 95 with Switzer as HC (but Jimmy Johnson's team), we've had 4 HCs: Switzer (94-97), Gailey (98-99), Campo (2000-02 & Parcells 03-06 & running. Don't believe a team can win SB if they keep changing HCs, coaching staff & offensive/defensive schemes. Pittsburgh & Seattle prove that point; Cowher's in his 14th year with Steelers & Holmgren in his 7th. I may not like everything Parcells does but direction of defensive side of the ball going well; hopefully we add some offensive help to make us a legit SB threat as 06 season unfolds.

4. While watching parts of the Senior Bowl, announcer commented that OT Jonathan Scott was the long snapper on the last play. Can University of Texas fans tell me if Scott has often been their long snapper & how good is he? Some comments being made we might draft him depending when he available--although he one of several OTs in Senior Bowl that got pushed around. Anyway if did get Scott, and he legit LS, we could use him instead of keeping the Canadian kid around solely as LS --freeing up that position to be better used elsewhere.

5. I'd also like us to draft TE/FB/RB Garret Mills who 1 expert thinks could snick into 3rd round but most others all agree will go second day. He's one of best blocking TE in the country & handles the big guys well despite his lack of size; he's got good hands & can run but doesn't have great speed. Much more of a threat then Polite & a nice #3 or 4 on the team; been compared to Skins Cooley as an H-back. Mills gives us versatility at both TE & FB, so we don't need keep Polite any longer, which saves us a position we can better use elsewhere. Just like what Mills does for us.

 

[austintodallas]

Good news on Ellis.

 

[neosapien23]

Greg Ellis will not be happy being a "rotational player". Maybe we can play a hybrid for a change up next year to keep offenses guessing.

Ware, Spears, Canty, Ellis on the 4-3 and

Spears, Ferguson, Canty on the 3-4.

 

[Eddie]

5. I'd also like us to draft TE/FB/RB Garret Mills who 1 expert thinks could snick into 3rd round but most others all agree will go second day. He's one of best blocking TE in the country & handles the big guys well despite his lack of size; he's got good hands & can run but doesn't have great speed. Much more of a threat then Polite & a nice #3 or 4 on the team; been compared to Skins Cooley as an H-back. Mills gives us versatility at both TE & FB, so we don't need keep Polite any longer, which saves us a position we can better use elsewhere. Just like what Mills does for us.

Why do the words "LACK OF SIZE" worry me for a TE???

 

[TheHustler]

Greg Ellis will not be happy being a "rotational player". Maybe we can play a hybrid for a change up next year to keep offenses guessing.

Ware, Spears, Canty, Ellis on the 4-3 and

Spears, Ferguson, Canty on the 3-4.

Greg Ellis will also be a team player.

 

[followthestar]

I think we had basically a 2 unit rotation on the DL for some time, probably tweaking it as we went when Canty started to see more starting time, etc. With the amount of talent we have there, we should be good to go... I hope Ellis stays, but i believe SOMEBODY on the DL meaning a veteran will not return...

 

[Nors]

VELA'S STORY DOES NOT ADD UP.

1) Ellis is NOT going to be happy as a backup getting 10-15 reps as he was.

2) Why is Ellis looking to make less money to justify more playing time?

3) Fact is Ellis wants out, went more than public with that.


JJ is a salesman trying to get his stock up so we get best value for him. A 3rd rounder and he's gone. We can draft and get a situational pass rusher in draft. Kalen Thornton back as well.

 

[junk]

VELA'S STORY DOES NOT ADD UP.

1) Ellis is NOT going to be happy as a backup getting 10-15 reps as he was.

2) Why is Ellis looking to make less money to justify more playing time?

3) Fact is Ellis wants out, went more than public with that.


JJ is a salesman trying to get his stock up so we get best value for him. A 3rd rounder and he's gone. We can draft and get a situational pass rusher in draft. Kalen Thornton back as well.

Ellis isn't looking for less money...he is looking for more.

His contract is a heck of a bargain for Dallas and he knows it.

 

[wileedog]

Ellis isn't looking for less money...he is looking for more.

His contract is a heck of a bargain for Dallas and he knows it.

I wouldn't be surprised if he's looking to rework it to somehow make it easier or more beneficial for the Cowboys to trade or let him go next year. Because with the current contract it makes no sense to let him go.

 

[Sasquatch]

If the Cowboys win and Ellis makes a contribution to that winning, he will be just fine.

 

[austintodallas]

Ware, Spears, Canty, Ellis on the 4-3 and

Spears, Ferguson, Canty on the 3-4.

Looks pretty strong to me.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Wow, this is why players rape teams for money. Had Ellis signed for more money a few years ago, he would not be in this situation. He certainly deserves more money IMO. Now, he's a 43 DE stuck in a 34. Really a shame IMO. Ellis has been a good team guy for many years but I would not be surprised to see this change in the coming year. He's a 43 DE and he knows it. We should trade him and move on. This is going to come back to haunt us IMO.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Basically, Ellis is doing exactly what TO was doing in Philly, just in a more passive aggressive manner: Acting like a drama queen so he can get on the open market and cash in on a big contract. I would be curious how calling him on his bluff is going to haunt us.

 

[junk]

This is where Vela gets his info:

Cowboys Team Report
1/29/2006

By Jean-Jacques Taylor
Dallas Morning News


DE Greg Ellis made it clear at the end of the regular season that he had no interest in returning to the Cowboys because his playing time had been slashed and he didn't think he fit the 3-4 defense. Owner Jerry Jones and coach Bill Parcells have other ideas. Parcells spoke to Ellis' agent and told him that the Cowboys had no intent on letting him go because he was too good a player to release or trade, which is what Ellis had requested. Ellis says he's not angry with Jones or Parcells but wants his contract restructured as a good faith gesture that they're not planning to phase him out. The final four years of Ellis' contract are worth about $12 million, which is not big money in today's NFL. Ellis would like a portion of that up front. . . .

The Cowboys expect middle linebacker Dat Nguyen to make his retirement official in the next few weeks. Neck and knee injuries ruined Nguyen's final season in Dallas and essentially ended his career. At 240 pounds, Nguyen simply wasn't big enough to play in the 3-4 where inside linebackers are required to take on 330-pound guards on a regular basis. Dallas was planning on Kevin Burnett taking his role in the defense, but the rookie tore his ACL during practice in the final week of the season and it's unknown how much he'll be able to play in training camp. . . .

The Cowboys love rookie LB DeMarcus Ware's potential but don't think they got as much production from him as they should have in his rookie year. That's because they asked him to rush the passer, play the run and cover tight ends and receivers instead of having him focus on one element of his game such as sacking the quarterback. Ware still finished with eight sacks, despite only blitzing about 50 percent of the time, compared to a player such as fellow rookie Shawne Merriman, who finished with 10 sacks and earned a Pro Bowl berth. The Chargers gave him one job: sack the quarterback.

DRAFT BUZZ: It's no secret Dallas is looking for a right tackle after rookie Rob Petitti and Torrin Tucker finished 1-2 in the NFL in sacks allowed last season. The Cowboys have a lot of interest in Texas tackle Jonathan Scott, who played high school ball in Dallas and could be a good choice in the first round if he can increase his strength and bench press 225 pounds at least 30 times at the NFL Combine. Dallas also needs depth, so it wouldn't be unusual for Dallas to also take a lineman in the fourth or fifth round in hopes of developing a player. The Cowboys also want a free safety. They like starter Keith Davis, but he's not quite the ballhawk they want--he produced one fumble recovery and no interceptions--although he is strong against the run and terrific on special teams. The Cowboys lack depth at outside linebacker, so they'll also be looking for defensive ends in the 255-pound range that have athleticism and can be converted to a linebacker in the 3-4.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/cowboys/index.html

 

[InmanRoshi]

Basically, Ellis is doing exactly what TO was doing in Philly, just in a more passive aggressive manner: Acting like a drama queen so he can get on the open market and cash in on a big contract. I would be curious how calling him on his bluff is going to haunt us.

This is no different than when Jimmy came into Dallas and put "his guy" Tony Tolbert and made the best player of the old guard, Jim Jeffcoat, the nickel pass rusher. Except that Jeffcoat was an All Pro caliber player at one time, and had multiple double digit sacks. Greg Ellis? Not so much.

 

[junk]

Basically, Ellis is doing exactly what TO was doing in Philly, just in a more passive aggressive manner: Acting like a drama queen so he can get on the open market and cash in on a big contract. I would be curious how calling him on his bluff is going to haunt us.

This is no different than when Jimmy came into Dallas and put "his guy" Tony Tolbert and made the best player of the old guard, Jim Jeffcoat, the nickel pass rusher. Except that Jeffcoat was an All Pro caliber player at one time, and had multiple double digit sacks. Greg Ellis? Not so much.

My opinion...let him play out his little drama act and don't do a thing about it.

He'll play. Can't find a replacement for the cost and the team has too many other holes to fill.

 

[aikemirv]

Ellis is a football player who wants to play and you are comparing him to TO who just wants more money - that is ridiculous.

Ellis just wants to play football, how can some of you fault him for that.

He is good enough to start for all the NFL teams that do not play the 3-4, but yet is stuck on a team that plays the 3-4. How can you expect him to not ask for a trade. That is his only chance to play football like he would like.

I am not saying that the Cowboys should neccessarily trade him because unless we get great value for him that would not be in the Cowboys best interest but how can you fault him for asking

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Basically, Ellis is doing exactly what TO was doing in Philly, just in a more passive aggressive manner: Acting like a drama queen so he can get on the open market and cash in on a big contract. I would be curious how calling him on his bluff is going to haunt us.

What? This is a lot of BS. I expect more from you Rosh. The two situations are completely different.

When Ellis was up on his rookie contract, he could have signed else where for more money. This is not even a question. He, along with Jerry Jones, agreed to a much more reasonable contract. That contract was long term, very cap managable and flexible. When TO's contract was up in SF, he demanded to be the highest payed player in the NFL. He got a one year deal that gave him top 5 money. He cried about it the whole season and basically became a problem for everyone. He forced a trade and then forced the NFL to allow him to pick his team rather then honor a trade with Baltimore. When a year went buy, he again demanded more money from the team he choose to be traded to. He then basically gave Philly no choice but to suspend him. Ellis, on the other hand, has continued to play through knowing his role has been diminished, his contract is undervalued and his future for more money is almost none existant. He is asking to be traded because the scheme doesn't fit him. Not because the money isn't right. These two things could not be more different.

Ellis is being penalized because he did the right thing for the team but the wrong thing for his personal situation. Owens continues to be rewarded for being a jackass.

Not the same Rosh.

 

[jazzcat22]

Look at it another way. Why would Ellis really want to leave, unless he can go to a team that is close to getting to the SB. Does he really want to be traded to a team like, oh, Arizona, Buffalo, Houston......some team with no shot at the playoffs, just so he can start. I know it's a competitve nature for an athlete, but common sense usually prevails, I would hope.

With a strong off-season pick ups of FA's and another strong draft, Dallas will be picked by many to make the playoffs and be a SB contender. Does Ellis want to give that up? Could be, but we all really do not know what is really being said or what is happening.

I'll sit back and see what happens. I'm not losing any sleep over it.

 

[Verdict]

What? This is a lot of BS. I expect more from you Rosh. The two situations are completely different.

When Ellis was up on his rookie contract, he could have signed else where for more money. This is not even a question. He, along with Jerry Jones, agreed to a much more reasonable contract. That contract was long term, very cap managable and flexible. When TO's contract was up in SF, he demanded to be the highest payed player in the NFL. He got a one year deal that gave him top 5 money. He cried about it the whole season and basically became a problem for everyone. He forced a trade and then forced the NFL to allow him to pick his team rather then honor a trade with Baltimore. When a year went buy, he again demanded more money from the team he choose to be traded to. He then basically gave Philly no choice but to suspend him. Ellis, on the other hand, has continued to play through knowing his role has been diminished, his contract is undervalued and his future for more money is almost none existant. He is asking to be traded because the scheme doesn't fit him. Not because the money isn't right. These two things could not be more different.

Ellis is being penalized because he did the right thing for the team but the wrong thing for his personal situation. Owens continues to be rewarded for being a jackass.

Not the same Rosh.

Ellis got a contract extension. He agreed to it. He approved the compensation package. What is the problem? He needs to play out the contract he agreed to even if he rides the pine for the duration of his contract.