FWST: Dallas Cowboys send Greg Ellis home, seek a trade
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.and JEFF CAPLAN
chill@star-telegram.comjcaplan@star-telegram.com
Linebacker Greg Ellis was sent home from the Dallas Cowboys’ organized team activities on Thursday and has been put on the trading block, multiple sources said.
Ellis, who turns 34 in August, was told it was about giving a veteran some time off, his agent, James Williams said.
Williams said Ellis wants to continue his career with the Cowboys.
But no other veteran was sent home to rest. According to sources, the Cowboys are trying to shop Ellis in a trade.
The Cowboys sent Ellis home from OTAs last year when they were trying to give more reps to linebacker Anthony Spencer, who they hoped would replace Ellis as the starter.
But Ellis began the season as the starter when Spencer suffered a knee injury in training camp.
However, by the end of the season, Spencer played on first and second downs with Ellis coming in on passing downs.
Ellis’ future became more questionable when the Cowboys selected two pass-rushing linebackers in the 2009 draft — Victor Butler and Brandon Williams.
It was assumed then that if Spencer continued to develop and Butler and Williams showed they could contribute, then Ellis was in danger of being cut in training camp.
Ellis has one year left on his contract with a base salary of $4.15 million in 2009. His salary cap number is $6.25 million. If he is cut the Cowboys would have to pay him $1.5 million.
If he is traded, however, the guarantee goes with his contract, saving the Cowboys more than $5 million in salary cap room in 2009.
Ellis, a first round pick in 1998, had just eight sacks last season after recording a career high 12.5 sacks during his only Pro Bowl campaign in 2007.
Stanback has surgery
Cowboys wide receiver Isaiah Stanback, who is expected to be a key contributor this season, underwent arthroscopic surgery Thursday to repair a tear of the lateral meniscus in his right knee.
There is no timetable on how long Stanback will be sidelined.
Stanback suffered the injury Tuesday during practice, but did not take the field for Wednesday’s workouts before the injury was made known.
Briefly
Owner Jerry Jones said he has no interest in quarterback Michael Vick, who was released from prison Wednesday and will have two months’ home confinement to fill out a sentence for running a dogfighting ring.
Former Cowboys safety Keith Davis, an unrestricted free agent, signed with the Oakland Raiders. He had visited the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
Jerry Jones said work on the practice fields at the team’s Valley Ranch training complex should be completed by the time the Cowboys return from training camp in August.
chill@star-telegram.comjcaplan@star-telegram.com
Linebacker Greg Ellis was sent home from the Dallas Cowboys’ organized team activities on Thursday and has been put on the trading block, multiple sources said.
Ellis, who turns 34 in August, was told it was about giving a veteran some time off, his agent, James Williams said.
Williams said Ellis wants to continue his career with the Cowboys.
But no other veteran was sent home to rest. According to sources, the Cowboys are trying to shop Ellis in a trade.
The Cowboys sent Ellis home from OTAs last year when they were trying to give more reps to linebacker Anthony Spencer, who they hoped would replace Ellis as the starter.
But Ellis began the season as the starter when Spencer suffered a knee injury in training camp.
However, by the end of the season, Spencer played on first and second downs with Ellis coming in on passing downs.
Ellis’ future became more questionable when the Cowboys selected two pass-rushing linebackers in the 2009 draft — Victor Butler and Brandon Williams.
It was assumed then that if Spencer continued to develop and Butler and Williams showed they could contribute, then Ellis was in danger of being cut in training camp.
Ellis has one year left on his contract with a base salary of $4.15 million in 2009. His salary cap number is $6.25 million. If he is cut the Cowboys would have to pay him $1.5 million.
If he is traded, however, the guarantee goes with his contract, saving the Cowboys more than $5 million in salary cap room in 2009.
Ellis, a first round pick in 1998, had just eight sacks last season after recording a career high 12.5 sacks during his only Pro Bowl campaign in 2007.
Stanback has surgery
Cowboys wide receiver Isaiah Stanback, who is expected to be a key contributor this season, underwent arthroscopic surgery Thursday to repair a tear of the lateral meniscus in his right knee.
There is no timetable on how long Stanback will be sidelined.
Stanback suffered the injury Tuesday during practice, but did not take the field for Wednesday’s workouts before the injury was made known.
Briefly
Owner Jerry Jones said he has no interest in quarterback Michael Vick, who was released from prison Wednesday and will have two months’ home confinement to fill out a sentence for running a dogfighting ring.
Former Cowboys safety Keith Davis, an unrestricted free agent, signed with the Oakland Raiders. He had visited the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
Jerry Jones said work on the practice fields at the team’s Valley Ranch training complex should be completed by the time the Cowboys return from training camp in August.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:37 AM
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