University of North Carolina Athletics
Greg Ellis Remains Optimistic
December 16, 1999 | Football
Dec. 16, 1999
By Jaime Aron
The Associated Press
IRVING, Texas -- The good news, Greg Ellis' wife keeps telling him, is that his season-ending leg injury guarantees he'll be home for Christmas and for the January birth of their first child.
While those are admirable consolation prizes, Ellis would still rather be playing defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys.
"The big thing," Ellis said, "is that I'm through for awhile."
Ellis broke his left leg in last Sunday's game against Philadelphia. Within hours, he had a rod inserted to help the bones grow back properly.
The injury and the procedure are the same that San Francisco defensive tackle Bryant Young had last December.
Young was told he might be out an entire year, but he was back by this season's opener. His play has improved every week, especially since passing the 1-year anniversary of his injury.
Ellis is already ahead of Young's pace. The 49er was hospitalized two weeks, Ellis was out in two days.
"I hope it keeps on coming real fast," said Ellis, who plans to contact Young. "But, either way, I won't be able to play this season, even if we go to the Super Bowl."
The Cowboys (7-6) aren't likely going to the Super Bowl, especially without Ellis, their 13th player to suffer a season-ending injury.
Dallas coach Chan Gailey said Wednesday that Leon Lett, usually a tackle, will replace Ellis at end against the New York Jets on Sunday, but only in some formations. Otherwise, the Cowboys will stick with their usual multi-player rotation at end and tackle.
The interesting part is that Alonzo Spellman, a former end who had seemed the likeliest replacement for Ellis, will remain at tackle, where he's excelled this season.
"We feel like that's our best matchup for this ballgame," Gailey said following practice. "It may change next week. We'll see how it goes."
Ellis was leading the team in sacks, was tied for the most quarterback pressures and was an excellent run-stopper from the outside. He scored touchdowns on an 87-yard interception return and a 98-yard fumble return.
Ellis was living up to his status as the No. 8 overall pick in last year's draft, quieting some of the critics who still lament Dallas not taking receiver Randy Moss.
His sophomore season came to an end on a play he wasn't even making.
Ellis was following a group of players trying to bring down Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb when Spellman helped on the tackle, then rolled into Ellis' legs.
Ellis heard a pop, then saw his foot was at a horrifying angle. He immediately feared the worst.
"I was like, 'Am I ever going to play again?' Just that quick it went through my head," he said.
The only timetable he's been given is that the screws will come out in 6-8 weeks. It may seem like 6-8 months considering how badly he slept during his first night at home.
"We could get in the bed and put pillows up, but the couch was the best thing because I can lay down, have my back propped up and then have the ottoman in front of the couch and prop it up on that," Ellis said. "That was tough. I woke up every hour."
The lack of sleep may be a good preparation for what's coming in a few weeks. His wife, Tangie, is due to have a daughter the second week of January.
y then, Ellis hopes to be more comfortable using crutches.
"I'm getting pretty tired just standing on them," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Then he was off, hobbling toward the film room for his first look at his last play of 1999.
"It doesn't gross me out, I can look at it and be fine," he said. "I want to look at it just to make sure that next time I get out of the way."
