Cowboys cut Ellis per rotoworld

[icehole3]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/HeadLines...L&hl=144552

Cowboys released OLB/DE Greg Ellis.

The anticipated move clears $5.6 million in cap room, likely setting up Dallas to strike a long-term accord with contract-year OLB DeMarcus Ware. Ellis is 34, but showed that he can still play by posting eight sacks last season. He'd be best utilized as a rotational end in a 4-3 defense. The Bengals, Rams, Jaguars, and Redskins would all be smart to give him a look.

[generaldreedle]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/HeadLines...L&hl=144552

Cowboys released OLB/DE Greg Ellis.

The anticipated move clears $5.6 million in cap room, likely setting up Dallas to strike a long-term accord with contract-year OLB DeMarcus Ware. Ellis is 34, but showed that he can still play by posting eight sacks last season. He'd be best utilized as a rotational end in a 4-3 defense. The Bengals, Rams, Jaguars, and Redskins would all be smart to give him a look.

I hope the Bengals bring him in for a look. It can't hurt to possibly add some more veteran leadership to our young up and coming defense.

[Wraith]

If the Patriots were in play to make a trade then they will definitely be in play now.

[Kazkal]

I thought it was said earlier that the patriots wearn't even interested when jones had mentioned them as one of the suitors....

[Dadraftnick]

If the Bengals sign him , (which I doubt they will) he will be the best DE on the team.

I would love to see them sign him and cut Geathers.

The one missing piece to the Bengals haveing a top 5 deffense is another DE that can rush the passer.

Geathers sucks, Odom did nothing last year- he has never played a complete season in his career,Michael Johnson should devolop into a great DE , Frosttee sucks , Feanae has never been able to rush the passer and has grown into a DT.

So, this guy is very needed IMO- Imagine Michael Johnson and Ellis rushing the passer - a pair of 6-6+ DE's!

The team played the run well good last year but, every time I watched them all I could think of is , if this team had a pair of good pass rushers and Carson back who could stop them.

If you look at how the Giants beat the undefeated Patriots, they had 4 great pass rushers at DE and some good pass rushers at DT.

If you are going to run a 4-3 you have to get a pass russh from your DE's

Say you prayers tonight !!!!!

[HairOnFire]

I've been pleasantly suprised by how much juice Zimmer has with players he's coached before, but I'm guessing the odds of it happening are pretty low.

Just as we saw in the Rod Hood example, the Bengals are likely interested in the player only as a part time role player, not a dedicated starter. That's open for debate I guess, but it probably won't matter in the long run because I'm guessing Ellis will find at least one team who needs more than a dedicated 3rd down pass rusher, and will pay more as a result.

Crossing my fingers though.....

[generaldreedle]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/HeadLines...L&hl=144552

Cowboys released OLB/DE Greg Ellis.

The anticipated move clears $5.6 million in cap room, likely setting up Dallas to strike a long-term accord with contract-year OLB DeMarcus Ware. Ellis is 34, but showed that he can still play by posting eight sacks last season. He'd be best utilized as a rotational end in a 4-3 defense. The Bengals, Rams, Jaguars, and Redskins would all be smart to give him a look.

I :hope the Bengals bring him in for a look. It can't hurt to possbly add some more veteran leadership to our young up and coming deense.

[Dadraftnick]

The funny thing is he is better than anyone we have at the spot.

Ellis is what the Bengals were trying to get when they signed Odom, he is what they hopped that Geathers would grow into.

Ellis has registered 77 career sacks, 634 tackles, 36 tackles for losses and 197 quarterback pressures

In 2007, Ellis made it to his lone Pro Bowl as he posted a career-high 12 1/2 sacks and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year one year removed from rupturing his Achilles’ tendon.

If, I sighn him,he starts at DE . I cut Geathers or OR Odom - It saves money and puts better players on the field.

IMO Geathers and Odom cant be counted on .

Odom is too fragile and Geathers is too inconsistant(he sucks)

Ellis put up 12.5 sacks after an Achillies' tendion rupture- to me, that is character.

He would be just the kind of guy that they need to help devolop Michael Johnson.

I think that Ellis will put up better numbers out of a 4-3 than, what he has put up in Dallas' 3-4.

[derekshank]

The funny thing is he is better than anyone we have at the spot.

Ellis is what the Bengals were trying to get when they signed Odom, he is what they hoped that Geathers would grow into.

Odom was not brought in to be a sack machine... just an every down DE in the mold of Justin Smith. I'll agree with you slightly on Geathers. They signed Geathers to a big contract hoping he'd be a sack machine, but then put him in situations that kept him from becoming that.

IMO Geathers and Odom cant be counted on .

Odom is too fragile and Geathers is too inconsistant(he sucks)

Not fair. Odom didn't show a propensity to be injured while in Tennessee. Geathers most successful season was when he was used as a pass rush specialist.

I think that Ellis will put up better numbers out of a 4-3 than, what he has put up in Dallas' 3-4.

There's only one way to know for sure. But I think he'd be best used by the Bengals as a OLB. Use Rucker and Odom in the base, and bring in Geathers and Johnson on passing downs. Ellis as the SSLB would create a lot of mismatches when it comes to the pass rush.

I don't think they'll bring him in if they view him as a DE, because he's been playing OLB his entire NFL career. At his age, it's neither fair nor wise to ask a guy over 30 to play a new position and expect him to excel. However, as a pass rush specialist out of the SSLB spot, he'd be golden in my book, and would certainly boost this defense's efficiency when trying to stop 3rd and long.

[ArmyBengal]

It's a chance to upgrade the roster and if for no other reason than that, they should bring him in.

I think it speaks volumes about Zimmer as a coach that you have a player like that considering teams like the Bengals.

[agreen_112]

If you bring him in you cut Frostee and/or Fananea.. Rotate Geathers, Odom, M. Johnson, and Ellis. The defensive lined should constantly be churning. That's how you get production from your d-line.

I do agree with you dadraftnick, I think Geathers is suspect. At the same time, he is a specialist I believe, not an every down player.

[ArmyBengal]

Regardless of who might go or might not get the reps someone thought they would, the question is:

Would his signing improve the Bengals defensive roster ?? I think the answer is yes from my standpoint.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

If you figure either Odom or Geathers will go down with injury again, and Johnson will take a year or two to develop, then yes why not...Odom isn't an every down player, but they're paying him like one, unfortunately, same with Geathers - might as well go with a full rotation instead of over-utilizing players and limiting their pass rushing abilities.

[HairOnFire]

I'll agree with you slightly on Geathers. They signed Geathers to a big contract hoping he'd be a sack machine, but then put him in situations that kept him from becoming that.

I don't think the Bengals willingly put Geathers in situations where he couldn't produce sacks. Rather, I think this team quite correctly concluded it's front 7 couldn't due much more than "mush rush" after sustaining a staggering number of injuries on the defensive line and at linebacker.

[derekshank]

I'll agree with you slightly on Geathers. They signed Geathers to a big contract hoping he'd be a sack machine, but then put him in situations that kept him from becoming that.

I don't think the Bengals willingly put Geathers in situations where he couldn't produce sacks. Rather, I think this team quite correctly concluded it's front 7 couldn't due much more than "mush rush" after sustaining a staggering number of injuries on the defensive line and at linebacker.

That's true... but all I really meant was that Geathers should continued to be used as a pass rush specialist. They instead attempted to turn him into a complete DE... and while his run stopping skill as improved dramatically, he'll never be as good as an every down DE as he was when he was used situationally.

[Dadraftnick]

The funny thing is he is better than anyone we have at the spot.

Ellis is what the Bengals were trying to get when they signed Odom, he is what they hoped that Geathers would grow into.

Odom was not brought in to be a sack machine... just an every down DE in the mold of Justin Smith. I'll agree with you slightly on Geathers. They signed Geathers to a big contract hoping he'd be a sack machine, but then put him in situations that kept him from becoming that.

IMO Geathers and Odom cant be counted on .

Odom is too fragile and Geathers is too inconsistant(he sucks)

Not fair. Odom didn't show a propensity to be injured while in Tennessee. Geathers most successful season was when he was used as a pass rush specialist.

I think that Ellis will put up better numbers out of a 4-3 than, what he has put up in Dallas' 3-4.

There's only one way to know for sure. But I think he'd be best used by the Bengals as a OLB. Use Rucker and Odom in the base, and bring in Geathers and Johnson on passing downs. Ellis as the SSLB would create a lot of mismatches when it comes to the pass rush.

I don't think they'll bring him in if they view him as a DE, because he's been playing OLB his entire NFL career. At his age, it's neither fair nor wise to ask a guy over 30 to play a new position and expect him to excel. However, as a pass rush specialist out of the SSLB spot, he'd be golden in my book, and would certainly boost this defense's efficiency when trying to stop 3rd and long.

Odom has never played an entire season with out being injuried, that was a big knock on him when he was a free agent.

I Think that Odom has talent, we just didnt see alot of it last year.

As for putting Ellis at LB- it kind of defeats the purpose, you want him at DE sacking the QB , pressuring the QB, and making TFL's besides, we are pretty full at LB.

As far as putting Rucker at DE, are you kidding? Speaking of injuries, Rucker has spent more time in the tub than on the club- he is either too fragile to play in the NFL , a malinger , or has the worst luck in the world- that said on the few times he has made it on the field he has not showed me anything.

As for Geathers, I have pointed out many times that we never should have re-signed him , the year that he put up 10 sacks(his contract year)-I think 3 came from K.C.'s 3rd string T and 3or 4 came from Clevelands back up T - he has lived on his uncle Jumpy's rep his whole career.

I for one would love to have Ellis playing DE on our team, he proven his whole career that he has what it takes to get to the QB and is plenty big enough to make the transition to 4-3 DE which, is the reason most guys are moved to LB, he is almost too big to play LB in a 4-3.

Dont for get teams pass on 1st and 2nd downs too, he is the kind of guy that can play 3 downs.

If we sign him he will be the best DE on the team, he has been a Pro-Bowl player, when is the last time we had a Pro-Bowl DE?

Jim Skow? I think, and he played in the 3-4 - in the 80's

[chrishcovga]

WOW, a Jim Skow reference, what's it been 20 years...?

[Dadraftnick]

WTF ?

I could not believe this when I pulled it off the wire.

Bengals | Not interested in Ellis

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:10:49 -0700

Chick Ludwig, of the Dayton Daily News, reports the Cincinnati Bengals are not interested in unrestricted free-agent LB Greg Ellis (Cowboys).

Not interested ?

Not interest in haveing at least one on their deffense that has put up double digit sacks and been to a Pro-Bowl ?

The only thing I can think of is when Mike Brown pays big money for these guys he wants to make sure that they play and start, the way he did with Stacy Andrews.

There is one thing that Mike Brown will not do is admit that he is wrong, so maybe signing him would like admiting he was wrong give Geathers a fat contract.- its all I can think of, or maybe be saving money incase the Browns cut Stienbach.

[Dadraftnick]

Here is the article

BENGALS DRAFTED MICHAEL JOHNSON;

THEY DON’T REALLY NEED EX-COWBOY

There’s a lot of speculation going around that former Dallas Cowboys’ defensive end/outside linebacker Greg Ellis is on the Bengals’ radar and could wind up signing with Cincinnati.

But I’ve spoken to enough people in the know — and that includes the Bengals front office — to feel confident that it’s not going to happen.

Ellis, a 12th-year veteran who turns 34 in August, has been a fine player over the years for the Cowboys. But I firmly believe he’s past his prime.

Greg EllisHe has 77 career sacks, and only one double-digit sack season — 12.5 in 2007 when he replaced Chicago’s Lance Briggs on the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster.

Several factors are working against Ellis landing in The Nati.

Where are you going to play him?

The 6-foot-6, 262 pounder is an outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme, not a pass-rushing defensive end in the Bengals’ 4-3 alignment.

How much are you going to pay him?

Cap room is tough to come by this time of year for every NFL team. The Bengals signed unrestricted free agents Laveranues Coles, Tank Johnson, Cedric Benson and Roy Williams in the offseason. And the signing of 11 rookie draft picks will proceed at a snail’s pace until mid-July.

Who are you going to cut?

When you add a guy, you must cut a guy. And the Bengals’ defense already has more than enough linemen and linebackers on the roster.

Ellis is only on the Bengals’ radar because his agenda-driven agent, James Williams, placed him there. It’s easy to see why. Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer coordinated Dallas’ defense from 2000-06.

The truth is Cincinnati grabbed its version of Ellis when it plucked Georgia Tech’s 6-7, 266-pound defensive end Michael Johnson in the third round of the April draft.

Young and hungry beats old and weary every time.

[Kazkal]

Chucky what about if you use them at the same time maybe? look at the giants they tend have ends out the ass...

[Ickey44]

they tend have ends out the ass...

Now that's funny....

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Bump...

Any news on this guy? Seems to have dropped off the radar.

[ArmyBengal]

Last I heard, the Bengals weren't interested and I think that was pretty telling. I can't say as I agree because I still think he improves this roster, but whatever...

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Last I heard, the Bengals weren't interested and I think that was pretty telling. I can't say as I agree because I still think he improves this roster, but whatever...

Yeah...seems odd. The only thing I do know is his former DC is with the Bengals, so he ought to know. So far I trust Zimmer; I liked that hire from day 1.

I've thought from the beginning that this is Ellis thing a little strange. You don't cut a guy who can produce 10 sacks a year to save, what, $4M against the cap? That makes absolutely no sense. It's so dumb it makes me think there's something going on we don't know about. If you're a 10 sack guy, and your team cuts you to save a couple dollars, and your old DC won't even give you a sniff....wtf? Does the guy eat babies or something?

I wasn't sold on *trading* for him without seeing what he has in the tank - after all, guys approaching their mid-30s really can go from very good to awful in a single offseason (see James, Tory). But now that he's an FA, why the hell *wouldn't* you bring him in for a look??? Unless his agent has set a ridiculous price?

Just seems very odd to me. Guess we'll see how it plays out.

[ArmyBengal]

Agree in the fact that I'm good with whatever Zimmer thinks about him !!!