Ellis' spirits lifted – and so are Cowboys
by Todd Archer
IRVING – As Dallas Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis stood inside the inflatable helmet during pregame introductions last Sunday, he had a sick feeling in his stomach.
Name after defensive name had been called, and Ellis was still waiting.
"I was like, 'Man, maybe they didn't make the change on the schedule and they already called Anthony Spencer's name,' " Ellis said. "I was thinking this is bad. I was going to walk out of the side."
The names continued to go and only Ellis and Roy Williams remained, and he knew Williams was always the last player called.
"Then the guy that's standing in there is like, 'Come on up,' " Ellis said. "I said, 'Whew, they didn't forget.' "
The Cowboys saved Ellis for last as part of the pregame introductions against Minnesota because it was his first start since tearing his Achilles' tendon last November at Arizona. After changing into street clothes that day, Ellis walked back onto the field with crutches because he did not want to be carted off on what could be the last game he ever played.
It may have taken longer than he and the Cowboys wanted, but Ellis' return to the Dallas defense has been exactly what was needed. In four games, he has 4½ sacks, which is second to DeMarcus Ware's 5½.
"That Greg Ellis is something else, isn't he?" defensive end Chris Canty said. "I haven't seen Greg Ellis blocked to this day."
Ellis has made it look easy. He missed all but an one brief individual portion of training camp because of bursitis in his knee. He didn't play in a preseason game. He practiced full-time for only a week before playing Sept. 30 against St. Louis.
"I wouldn't say [easy]," Ellis said. "Teams are doing a lot of things protection-wise, so it's actually kind of challenging."
Ware figures to benefit even more from Ellis' return. Defenses cannot slide protections his way as much because they don't want to leave a tackle without help on Ellis.
"If they try and double both of us, then there's not enough guys to go out for routes," Ware said.
Having Ellis back full time, allows coach Wade Phillips to use more pressure packages. At times against the Vikings, Ellis, Ware and Spencer on the field at the same time.
"They have to pick their poison," Ellis said.
The four-game start is satisfying for the 10-year veteran, who was reluctant to get back to the field because he had only four games to decide whether the injury was a career-ender. The Cowboys took the heat off of Ellis by adding $500,000 to his base salary and guaranteeing him another $1.5 million.
"It's overwhelming because I've gone through a lot injury-wise and the business side of it wise, and it's been a hard road," Ellis said. "God has really got me through it and it's rejoicing right now for me to be able to do good things for the football team."
As a rookie in 1998, Ellis joined a team holding on to Super Bowl hopes, but he still hasn't experienced a playoff victory. Now 32, he knows he doesn't have much time left whether he had the Achilles' injury or not.
"People expected Dallas to win then," Ellis said. "In this day and time, people don't always expect us to win like we used to because we've had a lot of down years and not done really good. Right now for me, these young guys think this is the way it's supposed to be in the NFL. I quickly point out to them you better enjoy it and make the most of the opportunity you've got right now."
IRVING – As Dallas Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis stood inside the inflatable helmet during pregame introductions last Sunday, he had a sick feeling in his stomach.
Name after defensive name had been called, and Ellis was still waiting.
"I was like, 'Man, maybe they didn't make the change on the schedule and they already called Anthony Spencer's name,' " Ellis said. "I was thinking this is bad. I was going to walk out of the side."
The names continued to go and only Ellis and Roy Williams remained, and he knew Williams was always the last player called.
"Then the guy that's standing in there is like, 'Come on up,' " Ellis said. "I said, 'Whew, they didn't forget.' "
The Cowboys saved Ellis for last as part of the pregame introductions against Minnesota because it was his first start since tearing his Achilles' tendon last November at Arizona. After changing into street clothes that day, Ellis walked back onto the field with crutches because he did not want to be carted off on what could be the last game he ever played.
It may have taken longer than he and the Cowboys wanted, but Ellis' return to the Dallas defense has been exactly what was needed. In four games, he has 4½ sacks, which is second to DeMarcus Ware's 5½.
"That Greg Ellis is something else, isn't he?" defensive end Chris Canty said. "I haven't seen Greg Ellis blocked to this day."
Ellis has made it look easy. He missed all but an one brief individual portion of training camp because of bursitis in his knee. He didn't play in a preseason game. He practiced full-time for only a week before playing Sept. 30 against St. Louis.
"I wouldn't say [easy]," Ellis said. "Teams are doing a lot of things protection-wise, so it's actually kind of challenging."
Ware figures to benefit even more from Ellis' return. Defenses cannot slide protections his way as much because they don't want to leave a tackle without help on Ellis.
"If they try and double both of us, then there's not enough guys to go out for routes," Ware said.
Having Ellis back full time, allows coach Wade Phillips to use more pressure packages. At times against the Vikings, Ellis, Ware and Spencer on the field at the same time.
"They have to pick their poison," Ellis said.
The four-game start is satisfying for the 10-year veteran, who was reluctant to get back to the field because he had only four games to decide whether the injury was a career-ender. The Cowboys took the heat off of Ellis by adding $500,000 to his base salary and guaranteeing him another $1.5 million.
"It's overwhelming because I've gone through a lot injury-wise and the business side of it wise, and it's been a hard road," Ellis said. "God has really got me through it and it's rejoicing right now for me to be able to do good things for the football team."
As a rookie in 1998, Ellis joined a team holding on to Super Bowl hopes, but he still hasn't experienced a playoff victory. Now 32, he knows he doesn't have much time left whether he had the Achilles' injury or not.
"People expected Dallas to win then," Ellis said. "In this day and time, people don't always expect us to win like we used to because we've had a lot of down years and not done really good. Right now for me, these young guys think this is the way it's supposed to be in the NFL. I quickly point out to them you better enjoy it and make the most of the opportunity you've got right now."
posted by The Gryphon at 6:53 PM
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