Good guy Ellis got a bad rap
By RANDY GALLOWAY
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. - As a matter of fact, yes, there's a good, positive story evolving at Camp Cowboy.
Glad you asked.
Actually, more than one may be in the works, but today I'm going straight to Greg Ellis.
First, to defend Ellis from some unwarranted media attacks over the summer and at the start of this training camp.
And then to report that if there's a god in football, both Bill Parcells and Ellis will come out of this thing with something positive.
I steal this description right out of the Cowboys' 2006 media guide:
"Greg Ellis has brought dependability, durability, quality character and intelligence to the Dallas defensive line on a consistent basis."
In this case, not even a media guide can be accused of blowing smoke.
Ellis is a great human being. As a player, the only knock in eight Cowboys seasons centers on expectations from being their very first pick in the 1998 draft.
No, Ellis is not a star. But he's a player.
And at age 31, he deserves to be treated with respect.
Parcells didn't give him that respect in the off-season. And then, most of the media sided with Parcells.
Ellis has played defensive end since he was a high school pup.
In the Parcells 3-4 defensive alignment, Ellis doesn't have the proper body bulk for the position.
So?
Trade him. That's easy. If Ellis didn't fit. Move him, like Parcells allowed another class act, La'Roi Glover, to walk after last season because of inferior size at nose tackle in the 3-4.
Except, Parcells said nope.
Ellis had to stay and move to the strange position of outside linebacker.
Scared him to death. Position switches at age 31 are normally the best way to an early retirement. And Ellis also knew he could play for many other 4-3 defenses.
Ellis wanted out. When denied, he then asked not for more money, but for guarantees on the remaining three years of his contract. Jerry Jones, of course, wasn't listening.
When Ellis wasn't happy, and I say rightfully so, he started getting ripped by some of the same media guys he had shown nothing but respect over the years.
Man, that hissed me off. Totally unfair.
But now, fast-forward into the third week of training camp, and after one exhibition game, the guy getting high praise for his adjustment at linebacker and for his overall play and attitude, that's Ellis.
Parcells butt-pats him all the time, and Bill is stingy with those.
Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer flat declared this week that Ellis will be a linebacker starter for the regular-season opener in Jacksonville.
I told Zimmer that Ellis had a legitimate gripe about being asked to make this move.
"Ah, hell," answered Zim, with a grin, "Greg worries about everything. He's a worrier. But mainly, he's also a good football player who can do this."
So far, so good. As an outside linebacker, he's got massive size at 6-6, 270. If this works, then Parcells is a genius, and Ellis, it was suggested, could be a bigger force at linebacker than he ever was at end.
If it works...
Ellis is still not sure, as he was saying here Thursday. Yes, Zim, Greg worries, but he's gaining confidence.
"Feeling better about the positives, yes," said Ellis. "But am I comfortable out there on the edge? No. It's still an uphill climb mentally.
"I like to hear the coaches saying the good things about it, but myself, I can't go about the game of football the way I've always done it. And that nags at me."
If the forward pass is suddenly outlawed in the NFL, Ellis would love being an outside linebacker.
But, oh, that coverage stuff. Being out in space alone, and being responsible for covering a tight end or a running back or a slot receiver.
"It's interesting," said Ellis, laughing. "And sometimes, I even think I'm making progress."
Ellis, of course, knew he was getting some negative reviews over his reluctance to do a major position change at his age.
"Look, I was the first to tell Mr. Jones that Bill Parcells certainly has the right to play who he wants where he wants," said Ellis. "I had no problem with that and didn't gripe when I wasn't playing in December last season.
"But after last season, I thought I'd be moving on, and I was all for that. I wanted to be traded. I was shocked when I wasn't. Then came the word about moving to linebacker. No, I didn't like it."
But Ellis never asked for more money to make the switch.
"I asked for some guarantees on an existing contract," he said. "There's a big difference."
Ellis, however, didn't win any of these battles, then didn't get proper media support.
That ain't right.
But there are early signs that maybe everything will work out OK anyway.
Good people deserve good things.
Put Greg Ellis at the top of that list.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. - As a matter of fact, yes, there's a good, positive story evolving at Camp Cowboy.
Glad you asked.
Actually, more than one may be in the works, but today I'm going straight to Greg Ellis.
First, to defend Ellis from some unwarranted media attacks over the summer and at the start of this training camp.
And then to report that if there's a god in football, both Bill Parcells and Ellis will come out of this thing with something positive.
I steal this description right out of the Cowboys' 2006 media guide:
"Greg Ellis has brought dependability, durability, quality character and intelligence to the Dallas defensive line on a consistent basis."
In this case, not even a media guide can be accused of blowing smoke.
Ellis is a great human being. As a player, the only knock in eight Cowboys seasons centers on expectations from being their very first pick in the 1998 draft.
No, Ellis is not a star. But he's a player.
And at age 31, he deserves to be treated with respect.
Parcells didn't give him that respect in the off-season. And then, most of the media sided with Parcells.
Ellis has played defensive end since he was a high school pup.
In the Parcells 3-4 defensive alignment, Ellis doesn't have the proper body bulk for the position.
So?
Trade him. That's easy. If Ellis didn't fit. Move him, like Parcells allowed another class act, La'Roi Glover, to walk after last season because of inferior size at nose tackle in the 3-4.
Except, Parcells said nope.
Ellis had to stay and move to the strange position of outside linebacker.
Scared him to death. Position switches at age 31 are normally the best way to an early retirement. And Ellis also knew he could play for many other 4-3 defenses.
Ellis wanted out. When denied, he then asked not for more money, but for guarantees on the remaining three years of his contract. Jerry Jones, of course, wasn't listening.
When Ellis wasn't happy, and I say rightfully so, he started getting ripped by some of the same media guys he had shown nothing but respect over the years.
Man, that hissed me off. Totally unfair.
But now, fast-forward into the third week of training camp, and after one exhibition game, the guy getting high praise for his adjustment at linebacker and for his overall play and attitude, that's Ellis.
Parcells butt-pats him all the time, and Bill is stingy with those.
Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer flat declared this week that Ellis will be a linebacker starter for the regular-season opener in Jacksonville.
I told Zimmer that Ellis had a legitimate gripe about being asked to make this move.
"Ah, hell," answered Zim, with a grin, "Greg worries about everything. He's a worrier. But mainly, he's also a good football player who can do this."
So far, so good. As an outside linebacker, he's got massive size at 6-6, 270. If this works, then Parcells is a genius, and Ellis, it was suggested, could be a bigger force at linebacker than he ever was at end.
If it works...
Ellis is still not sure, as he was saying here Thursday. Yes, Zim, Greg worries, but he's gaining confidence.
"Feeling better about the positives, yes," said Ellis. "But am I comfortable out there on the edge? No. It's still an uphill climb mentally.
"I like to hear the coaches saying the good things about it, but myself, I can't go about the game of football the way I've always done it. And that nags at me."
If the forward pass is suddenly outlawed in the NFL, Ellis would love being an outside linebacker.
But, oh, that coverage stuff. Being out in space alone, and being responsible for covering a tight end or a running back or a slot receiver.
"It's interesting," said Ellis, laughing. "And sometimes, I even think I'm making progress."
Ellis, of course, knew he was getting some negative reviews over his reluctance to do a major position change at his age.
"Look, I was the first to tell Mr. Jones that Bill Parcells certainly has the right to play who he wants where he wants," said Ellis. "I had no problem with that and didn't gripe when I wasn't playing in December last season.
"But after last season, I thought I'd be moving on, and I was all for that. I wanted to be traded. I was shocked when I wasn't. Then came the word about moving to linebacker. No, I didn't like it."
But Ellis never asked for more money to make the switch.
"I asked for some guarantees on an existing contract," he said. "There's a big difference."
Ellis, however, didn't win any of these battles, then didn't get proper media support.
That ain't right.
But there are early signs that maybe everything will work out OK anyway.
Good people deserve good things.
Put Greg Ellis at the top of that list.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:34 AM
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