Ellis comes to Williams' defense

[Star-Telegram]

By RICK HERRIN

Cowboys Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams has told a veteran teammate that Wade Phillips' defense does not fit him.

That's what linebacker Greg Ellis said Williams confided in him at the start of last year's training camp when the new staff installed Phillips' 3-4 scheme. Ellis made the remarks Thursday afternoon on Sirius NFL Radio.

"Roy told me in training camp, he said, 'Greg this defense does not fit me. I don't fit in well with this defense at all,'" Ellis said. "Obviously, it came to be true just like he said. He doesn't fit what's going on here in Dallas right now. Maybe this year, if they decide to keep him for this season Wade and them would kind of adjust some things to fit him better."

Ellis said Williams loves Dallas and owner Jerry Jones. It has troubled Ellis to see Williams working out alone during the off-season. Ellis said when he arrives at 7:30 a.m. to train at Valley Ranch, Williams is often already leaving from working out alone.

"The bothersome thing for me as Roy's friend and his teammate, I hate the criticism he is getting," Ellis said. "I hate the fact how he is kind of isolating himself from the team."

When reached by phone late Thursday evening, Ellis stood by his statements made on Sirius radio and said he participated in the interview because he was tired of all the criticism Williams has received. Ellis offered more perspective while making sure his words weren't taken out of context.

"It bothers me when people criticize Roy," Ellis said by phone.

"I was trying to give Roy the benefit of the doubt and let everyone know that he told me before the season that the defense didn't fit the type of player he was. Roy is not going to say anything. Roy doesn't want people to think he was crying and complaining."

Williams' role in the defense diminished last season as Phillips implemented multiple sub-packages to create better matchups in the secondary. Williams is expected to primarily play on first and second down this season because of his coverage limitations. His impact has decreased in the past few years along with his trademark game-changing hits.

Williams is looking for a new start this season and has changed his number from 31 to 38, which he wore at the University of Oklahoma.

"Everybody is saying they need to get rid of him, they need to trade him. I think he gets a bad rap," Ellis said by phone. "One thing you can't say I said about Roy is that he should be traded or let go. I think he should stay my teammate.

"When someone asks me a question, it's my job to be on Roy's side and that's what I was doing.

"I don't think he should go anywhere," Ellis said. "He should stay here."

Rookie money

The Cowboys have a rookie pool cap of $4,095,120 to sign their six draft picks, including first rounders Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins. A team's rookie pool is based on the number and position of draft picks.

It must fall within the overall 2008 salary cap of $116 million. The Cowboys have a little less than $5 million in cap space available.

The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on safety Ken Hamlin, who counts $4.396 million against the cap. Running back Marion Barber received a one-year tender of $2.56 million. New deals could lower both figures.

Staff writer Clarence E. Hill Jr. contributed to this report.

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