Cowboys cut Ellis; Sheldon Brown reaction
The Cowboys' offseason makeover continued today when the team cut linebacker Greg Ellis.
Jerry Jones last week gave Ellis permission to seek a trade and said the veteran would not be back in Dallas.
According to The Dallas Morning News, the move saves the Cowboys $4.5 million in cap space.
Ellis, 34, had 20.5 sacks over the past two seasons. He had 8.5 last year (two against the Eagles) in reduced playing time.
The team also got rid of Terrell Owens and safety Roy Williams this offseason. The look of the '09 Cowboys will be significantly different for sure.
Ellis spent 11 seasons in Dallas after the Cowboys drafted him with the eighth pick in the first round of the 1998 draft.
ESPN.com's Matt Mosley has been saying for some time now that the Eagles would be a good fit for Ellis' services. Here's what he wrote today:
I think he could really help a team that's already knocking on the door. The Giants and Eagles both fit the bill. We'll keep you posted on what happens.
However, I've seen some local media members shoot down the idea that the Eagles would be interested, so we'll just have to wait and see.
***
Meanwhile, as you've probably seen by now, and as reported by both Eagletarian and Birds' Eye View, Sheldon Brown was a no-show at OTAs today.
The move is a bit puzzling. The consensus seemed to be that Brown had said all he needed to say about his contract situation, publicly at least. While he wasn't expected to be all smiles, most believed he'd be a professional and wouldn't cause any distractions.
Brown has been around for seven seasons so it's not as if he's learning a new system. But then again, with no Jim Johnson at OTAs and Brian Dawkins gone, there's no question the defense, and particularly the new guys, would benefit from having him around.
Then there's the factor of playing time. Lito Sheppard suggested a few weeks ago that the Eagles would stick Brown on the end of the bench because of his offseason complaints. Everyone thought he was crazy. But if Ellis Hobbs looks good, and the coaches have Joselio Hanson penciled in as the nickel back (which I've seen some of the beat guys indicate is the case), maybe Lito will be proven right.
Anyway, share your thoughts. What do you make of Sheldon's play here? And should the team pursue Ellis?
By the way, Eagletarian reports that Brian Westbrook is having his sore ankle evaluated. And Birds' Eye View writes that DeSean Jackson's father has passed away.