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Cowboys' LB Wins Comeback Award

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The Associated Press

Published: January 13, 2008

NEW YORK - Players entering their 10th season, coming off a major injury and in the midst of a position change rarely make an impact.

Greg Ellis made a major impact for the Dallas Cowboys at outside linebacker and on Saturday was voted The Associated Press 2007 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Ellis went from nonfactor in Dallas to a dominator in his new position after spending most of his career as a defensive end. He had 12.5 sacks, forming a dynamic pass-rushing force with All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

"It's been great," Ellis said. "I thank God for blessing me, letting me get out there and have a good support group, starting from the doctors. We have good people here, the coaches have done a good job working me back into it. They've been telling me, 'You're fine, you're fine.' It was just getting the confidence to get out there and do it."

He did it so well that Ellis drew 12 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. In a season marked by strong comebacks, Ellis beat New England wide receiver Randy Moss, who was chosen on 10 ballots, and Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, selected on seven.

Ellis is the first Cowboy and also the first linebacker to win the award, which went to Jets quarterback Chad Pennington last season.

"Guys will tell you the correct thing - you don't seek after those awards," Ellis said. "But when you're blessed to get any award on a national level ... our linebackers coach, Paul Pasqualoni, says the respect of the game is one of the reasons everybody in the NFL plays. And he's right."

Ellis became a starter as a rookie in 1998 after being selected in the first round out of North Carolina.

BROWNS: Mel Tucker, Cleveland's defensive backs coach the past three seasons, is the club's new defensive coordinator, replacing Todd Grantham, who was fired by the Browns on Friday.

Tucker also received a two-year contract extension through the 2010 season.

Tucker was replaced by Cory Undlin, who spent the past three seasons as a Browns defensive assistant.

FALCONS: The team is moving closer to finalizing a deal to hire Tom Dimitroff as general manager.

Barring a late breakdown in negotiations, Dimitroff, 40, is expected to be hired to succeed Rich McKay as general manager. McKay has been offered a two-year extension through 2010 to remain as team president.

REDSKINS: Interviewed assistant coach Gregg Williams for their head coaching vacancy, granting an audience to the leading in-house candidate for the job.

A person familiar with the selection process said Williams became the third person to interview with owner Dan Snyder, who is seeking a replacement for Joe Gibbs. The person also said the Redskins are interested in Indianapolis Colts assistants Jim Caldwell and Ron Meeks.

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