Linebacker Greg Ellis became the latest addition Tuesday when he was selected to replace Chicago's Lance Briggs. It's the first such honor for the 10-year veteran, who earlier this month was named the NFL's comeback player of the year. He had a career-best 12 1/2 sacks despite missing the first three games while recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon.
However, it's a bittersweet feat for a team that went 13-3 but failed to win a playoff game.
Ellis said he expects that to be a topic of conversation among the Dallas delegation in Hawaii.
"Of course we're going to reflect on this season," Ellis said. "My input will be, 'Don't dismiss that we had a good season. It's was a disappointing finish, but overall we had a good season.' ... We had a huge letdown at the wrong time."
Ellis was a solid player at defensive end for the first eight years of his career, then was moved to outside linebacker before the 2006 season by then-coach Bill Parcells. Ellis resisted the move, fearing the team was setting him up to fail and then would release him, but adapted well in '06 until being lost to injury. His concerns resurfaced last summer after the team spent its top pick on an outside linebacker.
Now Ellis laughs about the position change working out for the best. Speaking before a news conference to introduce the return of former head coach Dave Campo as secondary coach, Ellis noted all the cameras then smiled and said: "He will see this interview, so, 'I appreciate it Bill. It was a good move. I owe a lot to you.'"
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.
