Cowboys news and notes: Ellis wants out

By Carlos Zepeda  |   Friday, June 08, 2007  |  Comments( 5 )

Dallas Cowboys
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Starting outside linebacker Greg Ellis wants out of Dallas.

Ellis is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon that cut short his 2006 season, and he will be entering his 10th year with the Cowboys, who drafted him with the eight pick in 1998. Because of the injury, Ellis has yet to practice with the team this offseason, and first-round pick Anthony Spencer has been taking the majority of the snaps with the starting defense.

Ellis has been seeking the security of a restructured contract since the Cowboys selected Spencer in the first round of April's draft, but he is 32 and is trying to come back from a possible career-threatening injury.

Team owner Jerry Jones said Thursday that he will not meet with any players currently under contract. Ellis responded by asking for his outright release from the Cowboys, and that he would not participate in training camp unless he is 100 percent healthy.

Ellis has spent the last few minicamps tutoring Spencer, who will likely replace him this season. Keeping Ellis on the team and not restructuring his contract will give the Cowboys an inexpensive veteran option if Spencer isn't ready. Spencer played defensive end at Purdue and is still making the transition to OLB.

Ellis joins a list of Cowboys who didn't participate in OTAs (organized team activities) this week. Starting left tackle Flozell Adams was held out while he recovers from minor surgery on his right knee.

Adams missed 10 games in 2005 when he torn the ACL in his right knee, but he returned to Pro Bowl form in 2006 and started all 16 games, including the team's playoff loss to Seattle.

Starting inside linebacker Akin Ayodele is also recovering from minor surgery on his right knee, and he has not been a part of practices since May 24. Bobby Carpenter has been filling in for Ayodele after making the switch from outside linebacker.

Backup tight end Anthony Fasano missed OTAs this week because of a shoulder injury that he suffered during practices last week. Dallas signed free-agent tight end Adam Bergen on Tuesday to provide depth at the position.

Bergen started seven games for Arizona last year and finished with 111 receiving yards and one touchdown. Adding Bergen could be a sign that Fasano's injury may be more serious than the team is willing to admit.

Wide receiver Isaiah Stanback, who was drafted in the forth round this year, has yet to practice for the Cowboys. He is still recovering from a Lisfranc joint fracture which affects the middle of his right foot.

Stanback was a quarterback at the University of Washington but is expected to make the switch to wideout for Dallas. He faces some stiff competition from a large group of young receivers, including return man Miles Austin, Sam Hurd and Jamaica Rector. Dallas also signed rookie free-agent receivers Jamal Richardson and Jerard Rabb after the draft.

With Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Patrick Crayton listed as the starters, there may be only two or possibly three spots remaining on the roster for wide receivers.

Thursday, the Cowboys released veteran right guard Marco Rivera. Rivera had been trying to recover from two back surgeries in as many years. He signed a five-year deal with Dallas in March 2005 after three straight Pro Bowl seasons blocking for Brett Favre in Green Bay.

He was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 1996 draft and won a Super Bowl ring, though he never started a game that year. He had been tutoring Dallas' rookie offensive linemen James Marten and Doug Free while trying to recover, but the organization made the decision to part ways with Rivera and the remaining years of his contract.

Weekly Dallas Cowboys insights, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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CommentsComments: 5  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
James		06:43 PM
06/09/2007
I actually saw the interview that was earlier this week. Greg Ellis did not say he wanted to leave Dallas, this article is...
No.2
Capt Z		08:37 AM
06/10/2007
Dallas seems to have signed a number of younger players, however, without the veterans to teach them, the inexperience of the...
No.3
Dan		10:05 PM
06/10/2007
It's not a good thing Ellis is doing this. I added you to my Blog, which is new. Hope you can come visit and send folks. I will...
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