CARROLLTON, Texas - At this time four years ago, Greg Ellis couldn't exactly tutor then-rookie DeMarcus Ware on the finer points of outside linebacker. The veteran NFL defensive end was making the position switch himself in Bill Parcells' 3-4 scheme.
But for years Ellis has been a universal mentor for many of the Cowboys' current players. Now it appears the team's longest-tenured defender will part ways with the organization that drafted him eighth overall in 1998.
Ellis' likely departure, by trade or release, means the Cowboys would lose two things: a long-standing team leader and an effective pass rusher with 77 career sacks.
"You've got to replace guys like that with two or three players," starting inside linebacker and defensive captain Bradie James said after Tuesday's OTA practice at Standridge Stadium.
That's essentially the plan, at least on the field. Third-year veteran Anthony Spencer would slide into Ellis' spot on the strong side with draft picks Victor Butler and Brandon Williams competing for playing time as well. Like Ware and Ellis in 2005 and Spencer in 2007, both rookies are transitioning from pass-rushing defensive end to stand-up linebacker.
Now entering his fifth season, Ware understands it's his turn to help his younger teammates. He spent several minutes working with Williams on pass-rush moves after practice.
"Brandon's a strong, fast guy. He has a lot of ability," Ware said. "I'm just trying to show him how to sharpen his toolbox. And that's what Greg showed me."
Butler, the Cowboys' other rookie outside linebacker, will rejoin the team in June after his Oregon State graduation and has said he's also looking forward to working with Ware.
Without Ellis, Spencer would enter training camp as a projected starter for the first time in his career. The two have split time on the strong side for the past two seasons.
But Spencer also realizes what Ellis has contributed to the team for the last decade.
"As far as I know, Greg is still around," he said. "If he's not here, that hurts us. He brings so much leadership and experience."
Ware Negotiations
Trading or releasing Ellis would create at least $4.15 million in salary cap room that could help re-sign Ware to a potentially record-breaking contract extension.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones did not elaborate on the progress of negotiations with Ware's agent Pat Dye Jr. but said the two sides have had "good visits and hopefully it will get resolved at some point."
"You'd always like to have it done before (training) camp, to have your business done," Jones said. "But if it doesn't get done then we can't do anything about that."
Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones did point out, however, that the team isn't tight against the salary cap and has already allocated money to sign its rookie draft class.
Ware has been a regular participant in the off-season program and OTA workouts while contract talks continue.
Cornerback Reps
Second-year cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick each have received first-team reps opposite Terence Newman during the first two weeks of OTA practices. The defense has a starting job open with Anthony Henry and Adam Jones no longer on the roster.
Both corners contributed in sub-packages as rookies last season, with Scandrick playing extensively in the slot. With Henry and Jones gone, the Cowboys drafted former University of Cincinnati defensive backs Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith.
Mickens has yet to attend the OTAs until he officially graduates. Smith is working some at safety but has corner experience. Third-year veterans Courtney Brown and Alan Ball also can play safety or corner.
"We've got some possibilities at corner but we feel like we have three real strong corners that can cover," head coach Wade Phillips said in reference to Newman, Jenkins and Scandrick. "And when I talk about 'cover,' I think they play man-to-man really well."
DeCamillis Back Again
Protective neck brace in place and megaphone in hand, special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis again directed the special teams portion of Tuesday's practice.
DeCamillis underwent surgery May 4 to repair the fractured vertebrae he suffered in the May 2 collapse of the team's practice facility at Valley Ranch. With his doctor's blessing, he returned to meetings last week and appeared for the special teams practice drills.
"Stephen and I ran into him over in the parking lot on his way out," Jerry Jones said, "and he was bragging on three or four of his special teams guys that he can already tell - pads or not - that they're going to be real impact players for us."
Hurd Sits Out; Other Injuries
Wide receiver Sam Hurd did not practice because of a sore quadriceps muscle, but he did work as a holder after the session ended. Tight end Rodney Hannah also sat out with a broken finger that is expected to sideline him for two weeks.
Other injured players who did not practice were wide receiver Isaiah Stanback, defensive tackle Tim Anderson (toe), defensive end Jason Hatcher (knee), guard Kyle Kosier (foot) and kicker Nick Folk (hip).
Stanback had surgery last week to repair torn meniscus in his knee but is expected to return in time for training camp. Anderson is expected to miss at least several weeks with an injured toe that requires surgery.
Hatcher is recovering from an off-season knee scope, Folk had surgery May 5 to repair a right hip labral tear and Kosier is still rehabbing his surgically-repaired foot.
Punter Mat McBriar was excused from practice to attend a wedding.
Roster Moves
The Cowboys on Tuesday released cornerback Tra Battle and defensive tackle Casey Tyler.
Battle was signed off San Diego's practice squad last November and played in five games for the Cowboys, recording five tackles. Tyler signed with the Cowboys earlier this month after attending training camp with the Patriots in 2008 and spending the remainder of the season out of football.
Short Shots
Rookie fullback Asaph Schwapp practiced on Tuesday after last week's Dallas airport arrest for possession of a throwing star. Phillips said the team is still investigating the incident. "We feel like it wasn't intentional at all what he did," Phillips said. We'll know more about it when we get the final report, but we don't think it's anything that he was doing on purpose." . . . Newman was active in Tuesday's practice, breaking up multiple passes and nearly intercepting Tony Romo for a would-be touchdown . . . Phillips pulled right guard Leonard Davis from the first team for one play following a false start, perhaps a sign of the team's increased attention to detail . . . The first-team offense scored in the red zone on Marion Barber's halfback pass to Patrick Crayton . . . Phillips said he wasn't concerned with Terrell Owens' reported Twitter post blaming Romo and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett for his release. "He's gone, so we've moved on," Phillips said.
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