Vela: Maybe Ellis is right?

[Angus]

Maybe Ellis is Right?
By Rafael Vela

I’m reviewing Greg Ellis’ tone deaf Engelbert Humperdinck impression — “please release me, let me go” — and I’m stuck by a tantalizing thought — what if he’s right?

Ellis has nothing but praise for rookie Anthony Spencer, saying,

“I’ve told the coaches, ‘You’ve got a great outside linebacker,’” Ellis said, referring to Spencer. “You don’t need me. What’s the hold-up [in letting me go]?”

Other observers have noted something about Anthony; he left fellow rookie Doug Free in his stance on several passing plays today.

What if Ellis is right?

Ellis is clearly upset about his contract, but what if Spencer’s promise adds to his funk? What if Ellis realizes he’ll have a tough time holding off the rookie and getting the sacks he’ll need to spur his desired re-negotiation? Who, after all, would know Spencer’s promise than his mentor?

Now that thought excites me.

http://theboysblog.com

 

[Ben_n_austin]

After listening to Ellis' interview and hearing his reasoning that is backed up with facts, I think Ellis is right too.

 

[speedkilz88]

I've thought all along that Spencer would be the starter. Partly because he's that good and the other because Ellis is coming off a serious injury. But they have to keep Ellis, they still don't have enough pass rushing LBs as it is. Right now imo, Ellis is the #3 pass rusher on the team. If he's not here this season who is going to back up Ware and Spencer?

 

[superpunk]

That's a bit of a stretch for that statement, although an encouraging stretch.

It's best if we don't need him. he can just be a luxury we trot out occasionally.

That statement just belies his insecurity. It'd be like if your wife caught you with porn, and threw a fit, and said "You've got your women right there - what do you need me for?" (when it's blatantly clear what we need her for - cookies!)

Ellis is whining out essentially the same mantra, no matter hw much his reporter friends defend him. "You've got your LB (as though ellis' disdain for the position is unknown...) what do you need me for?"

Lay off the estrogen.

Go Anthony Spencer.

 

[stealth]

In a pinch ellis can back up both olb and both DE's I say no way do we release the guy as it stands right now.

 

[Big Dakota]

I guess he doesn't love the star enough to try and bring a super bowl championship to the fans of the Cowboys by contributing in whatever role he can? Mr. Cowboy he's NOT.

 

[Seven]

So if Vela is right in reporting that Ellis is thinking Spence would deplete his playing time, so he wants out before that happens. So....teams look at last year and see the injury, a doozie as far as injuries go, do they pay him big money, or the money he's wanting, to play for them? Probably not. Maybe we're all wrong and other teams do not look at last years stats but rather career stats as a whole? He's still screwed.

If he stays or if he goes the picture doesn't change colors so what IS the deal/thought process behind this?
Me thinks Alexander was spot on last year when he stated Ellis was in it for the money. Let me be the first to serve up the crow. Alex will be having veal.

 

[Seven]

I guess he doesn't love the star enough to try and bring a super bowl championship to the fans of the Cowboys by contributing in whatever role he can? Mr. Cowboy he's NOT.

Apparently so. It's not about a "role" with him. It's about the :money:

 

[Hostile]

So, let me get this straight.

Ellis is not happy because an unproven rookie is going to make more money than he is. This despite the fact that when he was an unproven rookie he made more than any other DE on the roster. He thinks Anthony Spencer could (and should) start here, making him expendable.

If he's better than you Greg, why are you upset he's making more money?

Honestly, it's so easy to see right through this charade. He thinks reveerse psychology and politics is going to get him what he wants.

 

[CoCo]

I guess when I boil it all down, its Gregg Ellis thinking that if he could negotiate one more deal on the open market right now, that he would get appreciably more $$ than his current contract will pay him.

At 31 years old, 9 sacks as his max performance, a current deal that apparently escalates if he hits 10 or more sacks, and most importantly rehabbing an achilles injury...

I'm not sure he could get a deal for appreciably more on the open market.

How bout we do this...

Have Ellis give us the parameters of an acceptable new deal, Jerry can call his fellow GM's to see whose interested in acquiring Greg and giving him a deal of those proportions.

If there's no one who wants to pay him more $$, then we're done.

If there is, then we need to agree on what compensation Dallas would deem acceptable in a trade. If we can't agree, we're done.

I don't think Ellis can realistically expect that Dallas is just going to let him go for free. But I wonder if Ellis doesn't have $$ signs in his eyes that are more folly than fact.

For all Gregg's insistence that Dallas is in good shape with Ware & Spencer, the truth is that you can never have too much talent and Gregg can still be valuable to this team even if the other guys start and play lights out.

 

[quincyyyyy]

So, let me get this straight.

Ellis is not happy because an unproven rookie is going to make more money than he is. This despite the fact that when he was an unproven rookie he made more than any other DE on the roster. He thinks Anthony Spencer could (and should) start here, making him expendable.

If he's better than you Greg, why are you upset he's making more money?

Honestly, it's so easy to see right through this charade. He thinks reveerse psychology and politics is going to get him what he wants.

Greg Ellis could be a starter on most teams, and he knows this. He is 32 years old and only has a few years left in the tank. If you were him would you want to waste the last few years of your NFL career being a backup. Sorry if Ellis is not a pure altruist, but the guy has a point.

 

[mwj473]

Sorry if Ellis is not a pure altruist, but the guy has a point.

And a contract, that he signed !!!

 

[THUMPER]

Ellis was never happy about being moved from DE to OLB. We should trade him, if possible, to a team that needs a DE (outside of the division of course). DEs generally make more money than LBs and I'm sure that is a major consideration for him right now.

Ellis seems to have gotten into a money mentality and is concerned that he isn't going to get all that he feels he should get if he stays at OLB and/or stays in Dallas, hence this latest play for a release.

Good luck with that Greg. I'm sure he will be moved somehow because he won't be much use to us this season.

 

[Alexander]

Greg Ellis could be a starter on most teams, and he knows this.

If he "knows that" he is a bigger fool than I thought.

First, he is injured. That keeps falling out of the discussion. But he is. It took Julian Peterson, a younger and superior athlete two years until he could recover to the point he was playing like he did before it.

And second, to reply to your statement:

He would not start for:

New England
Miami
Baltimore
Cleveland
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
San Diego
New York Giants
Philadelphia
Chicago
Minnesota
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
Carolina
Atlanta
Arizona
Seattle
St. Louis

That is eighteen teams.

Does that equal "most"?

 

[Q_the_man]

And a contract, that he signed !!!

Exactly. PLus he wants a new contract b4 the season starts, because he might not be at 100% and if he start the season a shell of himself he knows his big payday is history

 

[5Stars]

Greg Ellis could be a starter on most teams, and he knows this. He is 32 years old and only has a few years left in the tank. If you were him would you want to waste the last few years of your NFL career being a backup. Sorry if Ellis is not a pure altruist, but the guy has a point.

Ellis does have a point, and it's on top of his big head!

Trade him to AZ where he can make $500.00 or 1 mil more a year (good luck with that), then let him watch while the team he WAS ON reach the SuperBowl and walk away sporting one of the most elite prizes in sports, a Dallas Cowboy SuperBowl Ring!

Only an elite few have one, and if he doesn't want one too? Take a friggen hike!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

If he "knows that" he is a bigger fool than I thought.

First, he is injured. That keeps falling out of the discussion. But he is. It took Julian Peterson, a younger and superior athlete two years until he could recover to the point he was playing like he did before it.

And second, to reply to your statement:

He would not start for:

New England
Miami
Baltimore
Cleveland
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
San Diego
New York Giants
Philadelphia
Chicago
Minnesota
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
Carolina
Atlanta
Arizona
Seattle
St. Louis

That is eighteen teams.

Does that equal "most"?

I thought "most" was a reach also.


However I do feel there is probably a team out there like the Skins that would either assume his contract or award him a new contract with a decent sized signing bonus.

 

[5Stars]

I thought "most" was a reach also.


However I do feel there is probably a team out there like the Skins that would either assume his contract or award him a new contract with a decent sized signing bonus.

Well, if Ellis is nothing but all about money, the Redstinks are the ideal place for him! Let him play for a loser, since he seems to want to act that way.

 

[Hostile]

Greg Ellis could be a starter on most teams, and he knows this. He is 32 years old and only has a few years left in the tank. If you were him would you want to waste the last few years of your NFL career being a backup. Sorry if Ellis is not a pure altruist, but the guy has a point.

Most teams? That's a stretch. It looks to me like there are exactly 3 teams in the market for a DE per previous articles.

KC
Seattle
Tennessee

 

[Alexander]

I thought "most" was a reach also.


However I do feel there is probably a team out there like the Skins that would either assume his contract or award him a new contract with a decent sized signing bonus.

There are half the teams in the NFL that would happily take him and start him, if healthy.

He's average. He would start for half the teams in the league, which has been stated all along.