A Game Ball For Jerry Jones
Mickey Spagnola - Email
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
October 1, 2007 6:26 PM
IRVING, Texas - With 13:16 left in the third quarter, Greg Ellis triumphantly bounded toward the Cowboys' sideline, where head coach Wade Phillips gave him a big hug.
Then defensive coordinator Brian Stewart gave him a big hug.
As he proceeded back toward the bench, here comes the inactive Keith Davis, jumping up and down, popping Ellis' helmet with an open palm, all congratulating the team's 10th-year veteran for celebrating his return to the football field with a sack of St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger.
Nice.
But the truth of the matter is, they all should have gone streaming up into the end zone suite Jerry Jones takes game-day refuge in, along with sons Stephen and Jerry Jr., and given the Cowboys owner one of those handshakes that turns into a chest bump.
For if he were a lesser owner, a lesser general manager - hey, a lesser businessman - that sack would never have taken place. Neither would the half-a-sack Ellis would record roughly seven minutes later on a first-and-goal at the Cowboys 7.
In fact, had Jerry Jones been me or you, Greg Ellis might not be playing football today for the Dallas Cowboys or, for that matter, football period. For how he hid his dissatisfaction with his contract, the one he signed and gladly accepted that $4.2 million signing bonus back in 2003, behind the guise of a repaired Achilles' tendon he insisted still was not healthy enough to play football would have caused me to explode.
Maybe literally.
How could he?
You all know the story too well. Cleared to practice the start of training camp, Ellis, trying to leverage the Cowboys for a new or reworked contract, that stuff about wanting a "commitment" no one interpreted any differently than wanting more "money", pulled himself out of the first drill. Said he felt pain in his Achilles. Intense pain.
Who knows, maybe he did. But Jones did not embarrass him. He remained patient, and made sure the head coach and the trainers and the doctors remained patient with an important piece to the team's defensive puzzle. So it was said Ellis had developed a case of bursitis in the same repaired heel, and I have no doubts that wasn't the case. There was some fluid in there, accent on the some.
Neither did Wade Phillips embarrass him, continually referring to him as "day-to-day," and when day-to-day turned into weeks and weeks, and to the point of being abused by the media for acting as if he just didn't know, Phillips simply grinned and played dumb, as if he didn't know. But he knew. Believe me, he knew.
But what could the man do?
And if you remember, Jones went out of his way to point out Ellis' reputation and character were impeccable, that he would never fake an injury in an attempt to leverage the Cowboys for the money he's been asking for the past two off-seasons. Throw me in that crowd, too, for believing Ellis would never, ever do that.
But maybe we all just didn't listen well enough, because the truth wasn't all that deep below the surface.
Do you remember like a week or so before the season began when Phillips was asked about how much practice Ellis would need before he would dress him for the season opener? Phillips reponse was, "Well, we have a walk-through on Saturday," basically saying if Ellis told him the day before that Giants season opener he was ready to go he would have suited him up, no questions asked.
Phillips knew.
So did the trainers, but they were not at liberty to say. While they work for the team, they always have the players' best interest at heart. Jim Maurer and Britt Brown are men of integrity. They would not risk all their diligent rehab work in the off-season and reputations to rush a guy onto the field when he wasn't ready. They would stubbornly stand up to Bill Parcells when he became heavy-handed, so why with the more understanding Phillips would suddenly they turn into the bad guys?
Look, I've trusted my sprained knees and broken bones and swollen fingers and ridiculous feet to these guys. They should not have taken such a credibility hit.
Well, as the story goes, Ellis missed the opener, but because the Cowboys kept him on the roster his $2.5 million base salary for 2007 was basically guaranteed had he been released later on and chosen to take the NFL's one-time termination pay. Nor did the Cowboys throw up their hands in frustration and place him on injured reserve, which would have cost them the same thing but at least opened up a spot on the roster for a guy who wanted to play.
Then before Game 2, after losing Jason Ferguson in the opener, Phillips said, "Maybe we'll get two guys back after losing one" in reference to Ellis and Terence Newman. No way the head coach says that if he didn't think that was possible. Newman was close. At least he worked out before the Miami game. Ellis, who still hadn't practiced since Nov. 10 of last year, didn't.
Or maybe we didn't listen when Ellis, the week before the opener, visited Dr. James Andrews, the Birmingham, Ala., orthopedic specialist, who basically confirmed the team doctor findings of a little bursitis. Second opinion same as the first.
Or maybe Ellis was having a problem keeping a straight face before that opener, saying when asked if he would play, "I don't rule it in and I don't rule it out."
And for sure we didn't listen well enough last week when Phillips began the week by saying Ellis had an "outside chance" of playing Sunday against St. Louis. Come on, the guy just wouldn't make that stuff up.
So it was Wednesday, after practice, when Phillips said of Ellis, "He did quite a bit more, we'll see how he is tomorrow," and also this: "He seems to be better and is more confident now. We'll see how he feels and see how he does tomorrow. He went harder today. He took on blocks and was a blocker some."
But then the next day, before the Cowboys even practiced again, Ellis countered with, "It's still painful. That's pretty much it. I was able to do more since I've had the injury. I went against some guys in live drills. Still, I know it's not there right now."
Well, being the good reporters we are here in Dallas-Fort Worth, a couple of hours later that day when Phillips had his daily press conference he was told how skeptical Ellis was about possibly playing Sunday against the Rams, and Phillips, knowing more than the rest of us, sort of tersely responded, "I think you need to talk to him again, because he practiced more (on Thursday). He practiced in team. He practiced in some of our dime stuff - not a whole lot, but some. I did talk to him after practice today."
You also needed to see the look on Phillips' face. For some reason that look made an impression on me. Wade doesn't seem to verbalize his anger. But he does have this look, and that was one of those looks.
And then lo and behold, just less than two hours before Sunday's game, without even warming up or like working out for the trainers or assistant coaches to see if he's ready to go, there Ellis appeared on the field at Texas Stadium - in his game pants - ready to go, going through some bungie-cord rehab exercises with Brown.
What gave?
Well, Jones took it upon himself on Saturday to meet with Ellis and his most upstanding agent Butch Williams, who should not be painted in a bad light on this one. Jones decided business was business, and was ready to do what it would take to put one of his assets to use; to somewhat appease Ellis.
OK, you want a "commitment," then here is a little - and from what I hear, little means little - extra base in your 2007 salary. Drop in the bucket. And the Cowboys supposedly put a little something in the final year, but only if Ellis works out as he's supposed to and doesn't pull any more of these shenanigans.
Suddenly, less than 24 hours later, there is Ellis, on third-and-6 of the Rams' first possession, trotting out to take his spot at left defensive end on the nickel's four-man line.
Afterward, after getting in 15 plays, including voluntarily running onto the field when the Cowboys were one lineman short on a punt rush, Ellis said, among other things, "Again, thank God for letting me get out there because it was real close to not making it."
No, sorry, and this is not meant to be sacrilegious, but go thank Jerry Jones. Give him a little fist bump. He remained patient, and really with most things, Jerry is not a real patient guy.
When he wants something done, that means like yesterday.
But he rode out this storm for the good of the team - for the good of his product. He didn't let his ego get in the way where most of us, and I guess I'm speaking for myself here, would have thrown up our hands in utter disgust.
So maybe it wasn't just happenstance on Monday afternoon when Phillips, trying to spread the credit for the Cowboys' 4-0 start, got all the way around to handing Jones some love, too, first saying, "Speaking of Jerry, he put together a pretty good wealth of talent."
He went on to point out how he signed Leonard Davis in the off-season, then brought in safety Ken Hamlin and went all the way back to last year when he pointed out the financial chance he took on signing Terrell Owens. He might has well have pointed out taking the most recent chance on Terry Johnson.
And while he said he didn't have anything to do with Saturday's pow-wow with Ellis to get him back on the field, Phillips did say, "Again, Jerry wants this team to win and he's going to do whatever it takes to get players. That's where I've been impressed with him. It's the great thing about him being the general manager and the owner, because general manager-wise, he wants to get the best players. And he goes to the owner, which is himself, and tries to help do that. He instigated all of it, and got it done.
"I think you have to give Jerry the credit overall."
Me, too. That's why Ellis should do with the game ball he received after the game as Patrick Crayton did with his, handing it to his receivers coach Ray Sherman.
Ellis should have walked into Jones' office Monday morning, ball in hand.
How ironic is it that Jerry Jones passed on the troublemaker Moss for team player Ellis, and now all these years later it's Randy Moss that's displaying all the qualities of a team player and it's Greg Ellis that's trashing ownership & faking injuries for more money.
It is ironic, but we cant forget that the only reason that Moss is playing well is because of the team he is on. When he was with the Raiders he completely quit on his team and loafed constantly. He took his money but didn't play at all. The Cowboys taking Ellis was still the right choice because Moss would have just quit on the Cowboys during the times where Quincy Carter, Chad Huthinson, and Drew Henson were the guys throwing the passes. Moss is still a quitter unless his team has a chance at a Super Bowl.
Ellis' team is a Super Bowl contender as well, and he wouldn't even suit up to play until he got his money.
Passing on Moss was a mistake, but like you said, there's also no telling how he would have reacted to Chad Hutchinson throwing him wounded ducks.
So, a "team player" has to let himself get ed out of a paycheck?
He was under contract and getting paid. he wasn't getting ed out of anything. He was ing the Cowboys out of money he didn't earn.
Not to defend Ellis, but Randy Moss has to be in the PERFECT situation in order to do what he's supposed to do. The Patriots also made it clear they wouldn't tolerate any crap before they took him on. I don't know if there's a bigger indictment on his character than the fact that his talent could only fetch a fourth-round pick.
Moss did not quit on the Raiders. If anything, the Raiders quit on him and the rest of the players, by not finding a way to get talent in there and win games. No, instead they stuck him with one of the stupidest and tiest QBs of all time, Kerry Collins. Now they look pretty in stupid for getting rid of him, to the pats of all teams for virtually nothing, especially now that they have Daunte Culpepper, who knows how to play with Moss as well as anyone, and he is actually playing well too.
Moss is not just playing well because he is on the Patriots either. Go back and look at his stats with the Vikings. His best years actually came in the years that they were lesser of contenders.
What Ellis did was wrong, but I still think he was the better choice for that pick. He's put in 10 years and just this season has pulled this where Moss has been either great for a couple of years or a horrible quitter for the rest. There's no doubt if he had been drafted by the Cowboys he would be wearing another uniform today. At least Ellis is back to getting sacks for the Cowboys even if he pulled some bull this year.
How can you even suggest that Moss didn't quit while with the Raiders? He loafed, took plays and even games off for no reason. Sure they sucked, but all of his body language and actions were that of someone who has given up and is just there to collect a check. He did do well in Minnesota, but that was with a good offense that was getting him the ball. As soon as the Mike Tice bull came rolling through and things dried up he quit on that team too and started becoming part of the problem. When he was playing well was when they were capable of putting up points, as in the year the Vikings set the record for points in a season. Anyone can work hard when things are going great, but he's a quitter when adversity hits.
Dude, I'm a Raiders fan, and saw plenty of their games. Did he play as hard as he could have? Probably not, but I don't think any WR that has already proven himself and just wants to win a ring like Moss would have played their ass off for such a ty team, especially with the injuries he was facing those two years in Oakland. He was constantly hurt, and there is no point in risking further injury this late in your career, for a team that is clearly going nowhere. Are you telling me that if Marvin Harrison or Torry Holt was in that same situation, and were facing serious injuries the way Moss was, would play their ass off for an organization that is lucky to win 4 games, and provides no help for them? no they wouldnt.
And to say that he took games off for no reason is crap. I strongly recall one game 2 years ago, when he broke free, and Terrence Newman chased him down with ease. Anyone that knows Moss, knows that if he is healthy, there is no way in that any CB in the league can chase him down in those situations, especially the way that Newman did. If you actually watched those games, you could see that the injury was really bothering him.
Are you saying that Moss has never taken plays off, never caused problems or became a cancer to his team, and was basically banished from two teams for no legitimate reason?
I'm sure Moss had some legitimate injuries, but he wasn't injured the entire time he was there. Even so, there is no reason to be loafing around on the sideline like you don't even care. If you're getting paid millions to do the job then do your best without all the pouting and bull . That's all I'm saying.
Or maybe it had something to do with 3 consecutive injury-filled seasons, his most recent one being the worst of his career right as he was turning 30.
He may have some motivation issues when his team is losing, but I've yet to see a teammate or coach go out of his way to talk bad about Randy Moss. The only exception is an offensive coordinator who was running a bed & breakfast for the past decade before being named OC.
First off, he asked to be traded from both teams. He was not "banished". I'm betting Minnesota & Oakland would both kill to have him back about now.
Second, I've yet to see any evidence of Moss being a team cancer. Find me somebody who has said negative things about him in the media. The only guy is Tom Walsh, part-time offensive coordinator and full-time Bed N' Breakfast owner.
Third, if you think Moss is the only superstar that's taken plays off, you're crazy. Have you ever seen Chad Johnson block? But nobody accuses him of being a loafer, mainly because he isn't honest enough in an interview to admit it.
Moss' biggest problems is that he likes weed (like every other NFL player) and loses motivation when his team is horrible (like every other NFL player), and he's dumb enough to say so in interviews.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
In relation to this thread it's irrelevant whether Randy Moss is or isn't a quitter. For some reason I find it interesting that Greg Ellis held out under the guise of an injury and was basically able to get paid his current salary in full while doing absolutely nothing. He took over 2 months completely off, got paid for it, and then got a raise on top of it all! I wonder if this sets a precedent for more players using an injury to hold out on their contracts while still getting paid? Say what you want about Ellis' ethics and use of flat out lying - it got results.
LMAO try again. Quite possibly, you have no idea what the "irony" OR "hypocrisy" mean.
First of all Greg Ellis has been a whiny little for years now, its just that the media cares to talk about Randy Moss because he is a big name and big time player unlike Greg Ellis who seems to think he is. Get over 10 sacks then come back and talk.
That being said, I can't be mad at someone who gets one over a league that is as cut throat as the NFL. Get your money Greg, you whiny little !!!
The point is Greg Ellis is an asshole.
Add on top of that the fact that TO is not the story this year, and appears to be the world best teammate. The proof of his genuine will to win and be a good teamate was seeing him come out of nowhere in a dead sprint on sunday to make sure that crayton got into the end zone. It has been strange times.
Let's wait till the cowboys hit hard times.
THEN we see how T.O. reacts. True character traits don't show until hits the fan.
scratch the spurs, and then your fix will look much better.
lame.
don't you have a jay cutler jerkoff session to attend?
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