Forget About Greg Ellis

It took one injury for the doom and gloomers to come out of the woodwork to slam Jerry Jones, again, for releasing Greg Ellis. They are crying that the depth is gone and all is lost because Brandon Williams is out for the year with a torn ACL. What's funny is that Williams has done next to nothing since being drafted outside of rehabbing various injuries. There are plenty of players on the team capable of providing depth at outside linebacker even without Brandon Williams.

Before I discuss the guys still on the team to provide depth I'd like to remind some of the fans about the attitude of Greg Ellis. Over the past few years he had become a constant whiner and complainer about his role in the defense. How do you think he would be handling spot duty on the defense after all his years as a starter? From his offseason comments he wasn't going to be a good teammate and do what was best for the team without undermining the authority of the coaches. That was reason enough to get rid of him. The team is now basically complaint free for the first time in a long time. I loved him as a player for the Cowboys but his complaints had worn me out over the last few years. The last thing you need on a team is a bad example to follow.

Victor Butler is still here to provide depth and was improved in his second preseason game. Steve Octavien looked like a guy who can provide pressure on the quarterback from the outside linebacker spot. Jason Williams is slated to play inside but he has the skills to rush off the edge. Bobby Carpenter could even fill in from time to time since Keith Brooking is also able to play the nickel linebacker spot. Obviously there are still plenty of players who can fill the backup role.

Don't forget we are talking about a guy who was going to be a spot player at best. Anthony Spencer and Demarcus Ware will be on the field for the vast majority of the defensive snaps. You can play the "what if" game with injuries to either guy but we could do that at every position and there will always be uncertainty when starters get hurt. Greg Ellis was too pricey and too much of a whiner to justify keeping.

Like Mickey Spagnola of dallascowboys.com always says...you can't have a steak on every plate. In other words, you can't afford to pay guys $4 million to play a backup role in the defense...especially if the player is going to complain to his teammates, the coaches and the media about his playing time.

Is the defense a little weaker without Greg Ellis? Maybe, but maybe not. Time will tell. The bottom line is that what's done is done with Greg Ellis. Any rehashing and Jerry bashing is just white noise to me because I have moved on as I am sure the team has as well. Injuries are part of life in the NFL. Someone has to step up and fill the void.

ESPN Is Thankful for Greg Ellis

Greg Ellis made some outrageous claim yesterday about Demarcus Ware hiding from the coaches during the game so that Ellis could get some playing time. The big problem with this story is the fact that Demarcus Ware was on the field nearly every play last season. ESPN won't let a little thing like the facts get in the way of a good story.

Demarcus Ware did an interview on Sirius NFL Radio this morning and went out of his way to avoid throwing his friend and former teammate under the bus while at the same time denying the ridiculous claims made by Ellis. It is nice to see that Demarcus Ware is trying to avoid making Ellis look like a fool, but I would have preferred a straight denial on this one so the ESPN's of the world would just shut up.

Greg Ellis was unhappy with his role in the defense ever since the Cowboys made the switch to the 3-4 scheme when Parcells came on board. Thank goodness he kept stupid comments like this one to himself while he was still with the team. I'm certain that ESPN will be running with this story for weeks and will still be mentioning it deep into next season regardless of the indisputable video and statistical evidence that proves how much Demarcus Ware was on the field. I always regarded Greg Ellis as a classy player but he has tarnished his legacy over the last few years with his incessant whining and this last shot just seals the deal in my mind.

Update: I just read that Greg Ellis is also throwing his former teammate, Anthony Spencer, under the bus for the big run at the end of the Ravens game. I am truly saddened that Greg Ellis is losing what little credibility and respect he had with me every time he opens his mouth. And he was considered the leader of the defense last year?

The Waiting Is the Hardest Part

We have hit the slowest time in the NFL offseason. Mini-camp is over and the tidbits of information we can get about the Cowboys are few and far between. This is the time of year that is the toughest for me to endure. The season is only 81 days away but right now that feels like forever.

What makes this year harder than the last few years is that we really can't predict what we are going to get from the Cowboys this season. As I have previously mentioned, the team has undergone some major changes this offseason so we really don't know how the newly assembled roster will come together during training camp. The one thing that is safe to say is that there are no more excuses for some of the key members of the team.

There are so many questions that pop in my head I don't know where to start. What will we get out of Roy Williams? Is Tony Romo going to step up and be a vocal leader on and off the field? Can Felix Jones stay healthy? Is Miles Austin ready to be an integral part of the offense? Can Demarcus Ware continue to dominate without Greg Ellis on the other side of the line? Is Sensabaugh the answer at safety? Can Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick take the next step in their development? Does Keith Brooking have a good season left in him? Is Martellus Bennett ready to play a bigger role in the offense? Will the special teams be improved? Can Anthony Spencer keep opposing offenses from doubling Demarcus Ware every play? Is the offensive line going to play better? Will the tackling improve? How can all of the running backs be utilized? Is Bobby Carpenter finally going to get on the field?

There are too many questions to list them all, but there is still a long time to wait before we start to get some real answers. And we won't get an answer to the most important question until January...can this team finally win a playoff game?

Silence is Golden

After the recent rehash of the T.O. drama and the Pacman Jones talk things suddenly got very quiet in the world of the Dallas Cowboys. The last week actually gave me a chance to recharge my batteries for next season. It is amazing how nice it was to have no drama or rumor/speculation about the team even if it only lasts a week. Maybe this has been what all of the offseason moves have been about. I'm sure a lot of the players, coaches, and front office executives are happy about the new found calm surrounding the team.

Say what you want about cutting the talent that T.O. brought to the field. I can't argue that his talents won't be missed. But you would have to agree that the circus seems to have left town with Terrell Owens. Imagine if T.O.'s VH1 series were being filmed in Dallas. Things would be out of control at this point.

I hope that the new approach the team is taking is going to work. Getting rid of T.O., Greg Ellis and several other players completely changed the structure of the team. I know it is allowing everyone to focus on their jobs a lot more so I have to believe it will help. Time will tell.

Is Anthony Spencer Ready?

The time is now. No more developmental time. No more learning curve. No more injuries. Just production on the field during games when it counts. Anthony Spencer has been given a golden opportunity to step up as a big time player on the defense.

Playing opposite Demarcus Ware is a dream come true for any pass rusher because you know the offense will focus on Ware. That means Spencer has to keep the defense honest. He has shown flashes but he hasn't been on the field enough for the fans to see if he can do it consistently. Apparently the coaches have seen enough in the games and practice to believe in him.

Spencer looked good against the run last season. He was mostly on the field in running situations while Greg Ellis was usually in the game for obvious passing downs. At least that is the current justification for Spencer's lack of sacks up to this point in his career. I do think his numbers have been hurt by not getting a chance to go all out at the quarterback because he was usually in situations where he had to play the run first. That doesn't matter any more. Now is his chance. Spencer has to beat his one-on-one blocks or Demarcus Ware will be double and triple teamed all year long.

Cowboys Cut Greg Ellis

My hope for a last minute deal for Greg Ellis was short lived. Just a few minutes ago the Cowboys announced that Greg Ellis has been cut. It is a sad ending for a player who gave everything he had to the team for 11 years. I hope he lands on his feet and gets a few more seasons out of his body.

The Cowboys will save over $4.15 million on the salary cap with the move and have eliminated the distraction of Greg Ellis whining to the media about his reduced role in the defense. I'll miss his play on the field but not his whining.

Keep Your Fingers Crossed for an Injury

It isn't nice to say it, but the truth is that the Cowboys really need an injury to a key pass rusher on another team. That is probably the only thing that will give the Cowboys any type of leverage in a Greg Ellis trade. As it stands right now it is unlikely that a team is going to give up much to get Ellis when the Cowboys have publicly announced that Ellis won't be back next season. It seems like Jerry Jones made a big mistake but maybe when Ellis went home from OTA's Jerry was forced to be honest about what was going on.

It appears that Ellis forced the issue on the trade since he is happy to stay home from OTA's while the Cowboys try to work something out. I would have preferred to keep him in the fold at least until we see something out of the new rookies but I don't think Ellis wanted to be the insurance policy in the event that the rookies can't step up. It doesn't really matter why he is leaving but I am hoping, for the sake of the Cowboys, that a pass rusher goes down for another team so the Cowboys can get decent trade value for Ellis.

The 2009 Cowboys Are A New Team

As the days and months have passed since the season ending loss to Philadelphia there has a been a slow, but steady stream of changes within the roster and coaching staff of the Dallas Cowboys. It is funny to hear people make predictions about the upcoming season based on the last two year's results. The 2009 Dallas Cowboys are a very different team than the 2007 and 2008 editions. I'm not even close to feeling like I know what the future holds for the Cowboys. What I do know is that I can't expect more of the same from my beloved team.

Here is a list of some of the players who are no longer on the roster for one reason or another: Terrell Owens, Anthony Henry, Roy Williams, Terry "Tank" Johnson, Adam "Pacman" Jones, Tra Battle, Chris Canty, Kevin Burnett, Keith Davis, Brooks Bollinger, Brad Johnson, Tony Curtis, and in the near future, Greg Ellis. I'm sure I forgot a few, but that is a big list and some of those names were key contributors to the team over the last few years. Don't be fooled, this is a different team than we have watched over the last few years.

12 players were drafted and several were added via free agency. There have been so many players added to the roster it is easy to forget some of them. The defense looks like it will have 5 new starters this season: Keith Brooking at weak inside linebacker, Igor Olshansky at defensive end, Mike Jenkins or Orlando Scandrick at cornerback, Gerald Sensabaugh or one of the rookies at safety, and Anthony Spencer at outside linebacker. That is a huge amount of change from last season.

The offense is actually pretty stable with one huge exception. Roy Williams will now be the lead guy at receiver and Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton, or Sam Hurd will start at receiver. Other than that the only remaining possible change could be left guard. Kyle Kosier is probably going to have to fight off Montrae Holland during training camp to retain his starting job. So there are many changes but the one major change was a franchise defining move. Roy Williams has some very big shoes to fill.

My point here is that you need to point out to anyone that will listen that it is unfair to predict what this team will do based on the teams from the last few years. This is a much different team and I don't think anyone can say with any certainty what we can expect the Cowboys to do. I tend to lean towards the optimistic side but I don't have much to go on but blind faith right now. It is going to be very interesting to see how the team comes together over the next few months. There is still a lot of talent on the roster but the coaches are going to have their hands full getting everyone on the same page before the season gets underway in September.

Is Greg Ellis Staying or Going?

The Cowboys sent Greg Ellis home from OTA's last week to prevent him from being injured while they attempt to negotiate a trade. This was a surprising revelation considering the lack of experienced depth at outside linebacker. Anthony Spencer was tabbed the starter early in the offseason but it was assumed that Ellis would be the pass rush specialist in the defense. The Cowboys drafted two players to develop at outside linebacker but I'm very surprised they are willing to go with two backups with no NFL experience over Ellis.

I think there are two things at play. Number one, Greg Ellis has a very high cap number for a guy who will be a part time player. The Cowboys have a little cap room right now but they have to get Demarcus Ware re-signed and sign their draft picks while staying under the salary cap. Releasing Ellis will create some cap room. The second issue at play is the attitude of Greg Ellis. He has never seemed very willing to relinquish his role as the starter. I wonder whether he is fighting the coaches over his new role in the defense.

I really respect Greg Ellis for battling back from two serious injuries and leading the team during some down years. But the last few years have seen him transform into a perpetual offseason whiner and complainer about his future role with the team. He is a good, not great player who doesn't seem to view himself that way. I respect the fact that he can't see himself as a backup but the Cowboys have to start cutting the cord on aging players. The mistake that Jerry Jones made with the team in the late 90's was relying on players in their twilight years and overpaying for their services. It seems like maybe Jerry has learned his lesson on that front.

I would love to see Ellis come back under a lower cap number and accept his role as a part time player but I don't see a realistic chance of that happening. Greg Ellis has been a great pro for the Cowboys and it will be sad to see him go. I hope he can have a few more good years in the league and find a place that makes him happy. Even with his complaining over the last few years I'll remember him as a solid player and a good person who did himself and the team proud while he was a Dallas Cowboy.

First Impressions After the 2009 NFL Draft

After waiting around until day 2 for the first pick by the Cowboys I was happy when the action picked up on day 2. I don't pretend to be an expert on any of these guys, but, as a fan, these are my first thoughts on each of the players drafted.

Jason Williams (OLB), Western Illinois: He looks like an athletic freak. He played in a gimmick defense so he is hard to project in a conventional defense. He sure looks fast and everyone seems to think he is a guy who goes all out every play. Guys like him find a way to make it on the field. Bobby Carpenter may have just lost his best chance at playing time because he looks like a great replacement for Kevin Burnett.

Robert Brewster (OT), Ball State: A big versatile offensive lineman. Let's just hope that he pans out better than the offensive linemen drafted over the last few years by the Cowboys. He is projected as a tackle, but supposedly could slide inside to play guard as well. I like the pick if he can actually play because the offensive line depth was terrible last year.

Stephen McGee (QB), Texas A&M: Finally a quarterback to develop behind Romo. I don't know if McGee can ever be a starter but at least we have a guy who can learn the offense and be a solid backup for many years to come. I like the pick because the Cowboys haven't picked a decent quarterback in the draft for a long time and it ended up costing them last season. Now they have another guy to step in after a year or two of Kitna as the backup.

Victor Butler (OLB), Oregon State: There was a serious lack of depth at outside linebacker going into the draft. This was the first pick to address that deficiency. He is supposed to be a great pass rusher so he should fit in just fine in the Wade Phillips 3-4 scheme.

Brandon Williams (DE), Texas Tech: He'll move to outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. He is another speed rusher who should add depth at outside linebacker. I'm starting to wonder if Greg Ellis will be on the team by the start of training camp.

DeAngelo Smith (CB), Cincinnati: A cornerback with the ability to play safety. He doesn't have great speed but he is considered to be a ball hawk. Maybe he is actually slated to move to safety. He seems like a better fit there.

Michael Hamlin (S), Clemson: Finally a safety is drafted. The Cowboys must feel pretty good about Sensabaugh to wait this long to address the depth at safety. Hopefully Hamlin's experience against big time college programs will help him be successful in the NFL. His bio says he isn't great matching up man to man but anything is an upgrade after last season. I also read that he was a two year captain so he has some leadership qualities.

David Buehler (K), USC: This is one pick I just don't get. A kicker? Unless he is going to be a kickoff specialist I don't see how he makes the team. This could end up being a wasted pick. Joe DeCamillis, the new special teams coach, really wanted a kickoff specialist but I don't see how you keep two kickers active on game day.

Stephen Hodge (SS), TCU: So now two full time college safeties and one part time safety have been drafted. Hopefully at least one of them will pan out. Hodge is a big guy so you almost have to wonder if he will be moved to linebacker. He would make a good nickel linebacker if that turns out to be the case. At the minimum he looks like a great special teams prospect.

John Phillips (TE), Virginia: This is clearly a pick for depth. I'm hoping Phillips is a good blocker so he can contribute if he makes the team. He'll at least be in a battle for a roster spot with Rodney Hannah. He looks like a guy who needs a year in the offseason program to add some muscle to his frame.

Mike Mickens (CB), Cincinatti: More depth at cornerback. He'll have to compete to make the final roster. His scouting report says he needs time to develop. I'm not sure the Cowboys will have room to keep him around if he isn't ready this year.

Manuel Johnson (WR), Oklahoma: He looks like a developmental type of receiver. He doesn't have the top notch speed I was hoping to see the Cowboys come out of the draft with at wide receiver. And no experience in college returning punts...disappointing.

Overall, it looks like the primary concern was on the defensive side of the ball. We definitely have some options at safety. The receivers better step up this season or Jerry Jones is going to look like a fool for trading for Roy Williams. I really only have two major complaints about the draft. The wasted pick for a kicker and the fact that we didn't get a speed receiver/punt returner. I am excited about Jason Williams but I am going to have to wait and see on the rest of the players. Hopefully half of them can make the roster but it sure seems like we picked a lot of developmental players. It is hard to judge how they'll pan out before we see them in training camp.