Draft puts him in bad position, Ellis believes
The NFL Draft wasn't but a few days old when a real estate agent rang at Greg Ellis' house to hand-deliver his business card.
"This was not some generic thing -- the guy came to my house," the Cowboys linebacker said. "It's the next step. Everybody's assuming I'm gone."
For the second consecutive off-season, Ellis finds his status with the Cowboys as fragile. With the Cowboys selecting Purdue linebacker Anthony Spencer in the first round of the 2007 draft, Ellis sees his time with the Cowboys as potentially over.
And as much as he's tried to avoid the discussion since Saturday, he spoke about it Wednesday afternoon.
"Who wouldn't be frustrated?" asked Ellis, 32. "I'm keeping my cool and my composure. But it's hard not to be frustrated when they constantly move you around, and thank God you are able to play [a new position, linebacker]. Now, they do it to you again."
Ellis said he is not at the point of requesting a trade, a release or an extension. He wants to talk to coach Wade Phillips, and owner/general manager Jerry Jones before he makes a decision about his future. He hopes to do it before the start of the first minicamp May 12.
When Ellis saw the Cowboys pass on Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in the draft, he agreed with the commitment that made to Tony Romo, and the future.
The team's next move, however, said something about himself.
"Jerry is exactly correct: [Quinn] would have been a steal, and it shows how much confidence they have in Romo," said Ellis, who added that his recovery from a torn Achilles' tendon suffered in November is on schedule. "Then you get to me, and they draft a guy for my position. It's there in your face."
Jones and Phillips said over the weekend that Spencer's arrival does not translate into an Ellis demotion or release; that in Phillips' 3-4 defense, Ellis will have a prominent role rushing quarterbacks.
As much as Ellis wants to believe that, he views his situation not in black and white, but in green and white.
"Money always wins out in these situations," Ellis said. "I can't see any situation where money hasn't won out."
Ellis looks at other Cowboys linebackers -- DeMarcus Ware, Bradie James, Akin Ayodele, Bobby Carpenter and now Spencer -- who are younger and make more money.
But keeping Ellis will not be expensive. Signed through 2009, he is scheduled to make $2.5 million in '07.
One year ago, Ellis wanted out. But he made the transition from a career defensive end to outside linebacker.
Before his injury, he was arguably the team's best defensive player. In nine games, he had 4 1/2 sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles.
Regardless, he views Spencer's arrival as another sign of his imminent departure.
"When a guy is taken in the first round, that guy is asked to contribute early and be the starter," Ellis said. "That's what happened when I got drafted. I took [Kavika Pittman's] spot and they released him."
"This was not some generic thing -- the guy came to my house," the Cowboys linebacker said. "It's the next step. Everybody's assuming I'm gone."
For the second consecutive off-season, Ellis finds his status with the Cowboys as fragile. With the Cowboys selecting Purdue linebacker Anthony Spencer in the first round of the 2007 draft, Ellis sees his time with the Cowboys as potentially over.
And as much as he's tried to avoid the discussion since Saturday, he spoke about it Wednesday afternoon.
"Who wouldn't be frustrated?" asked Ellis, 32. "I'm keeping my cool and my composure. But it's hard not to be frustrated when they constantly move you around, and thank God you are able to play [a new position, linebacker]. Now, they do it to you again."
Ellis said he is not at the point of requesting a trade, a release or an extension. He wants to talk to coach Wade Phillips, and owner/general manager Jerry Jones before he makes a decision about his future. He hopes to do it before the start of the first minicamp May 12.
When Ellis saw the Cowboys pass on Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in the draft, he agreed with the commitment that made to Tony Romo, and the future.
The team's next move, however, said something about himself.
"Jerry is exactly correct: [Quinn] would have been a steal, and it shows how much confidence they have in Romo," said Ellis, who added that his recovery from a torn Achilles' tendon suffered in November is on schedule. "Then you get to me, and they draft a guy for my position. It's there in your face."
Jones and Phillips said over the weekend that Spencer's arrival does not translate into an Ellis demotion or release; that in Phillips' 3-4 defense, Ellis will have a prominent role rushing quarterbacks.
As much as Ellis wants to believe that, he views his situation not in black and white, but in green and white.
"Money always wins out in these situations," Ellis said. "I can't see any situation where money hasn't won out."
Ellis looks at other Cowboys linebackers -- DeMarcus Ware, Bradie James, Akin Ayodele, Bobby Carpenter and now Spencer -- who are younger and make more money.
But keeping Ellis will not be expensive. Signed through 2009, he is scheduled to make $2.5 million in '07.
One year ago, Ellis wanted out. But he made the transition from a career defensive end to outside linebacker.
Before his injury, he was arguably the team's best defensive player. In nine games, he had 4 1/2 sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles.
Regardless, he views Spencer's arrival as another sign of his imminent departure.
"When a guy is taken in the first round, that guy is asked to contribute early and be the starter," Ellis said. "That's what happened when I got drafted. I took [Kavika Pittman's] spot and they released him."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:42 PM
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