Dallas Cowboys veteran outside linebacker Greg Ellis finally may get his wish to be traded or released by the club, as the Cowboys have reached out to at least two teams to measure interest in a deal, according to a club source.

AOL Fanhouse first reported the story Thursday evening, indicating the Cowboys had approached the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals about a possible trade. Ellis has longtime ties to Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who held the same position with the Cowboys.

Ellis, 33, did not participate in Thursday's organized team activities session. If the Cowboys release him, which seems the most likely result, they'll save the $4.15 million he's scheduled to make in 2009.

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As it says in the article, its more likely at this point that ellis will be released than traded. But its yet another name i think the pats should look at. He would probably come with a cheap price tag, since he's closer to the end of his career then Tiniosomoa who was released earlier this month.

The St. Louis Rams have released linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, the team's leading tackler in 2008.

"This was a difficult decision based on a lot of factors," Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said Friday in a news release. "I have a great deal of respect for Pisa and wish him all of the best."

Tinoisamoa, a six-year veteran drafted by the Rams in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft, recorded 135 tackles in 2008, 88 of which were solo.

Tinoisamoa spent much of the previous two seasons on the injured-reserve list.

Another guy I think the patriots should be looking at. Especially with the injury of Tyrone Mckenzie, I really think its important to get deeper at linebacker. I just don't see how we could enter the season being as thin as we are at that position.

The New England Patriots have obtained tight end Alex Smith from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Patriots gave up an undisclosed pick in next year's NFL draft for the four-year veteran, who was drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round in 2005.

Smith had 129 receptions for 1,252 yards and 11 touchdowns in 58 games. He started 12 of the 14 games he played last year, catching 21 passes.

Not a huge move, but another that adds depth. I can't imagine that the draft pick was a very high one so I don't think it was a very high risk move. I was sure the pats would get one of the many TE's avaliable especially seeing Cornelius Engram fall to the 5th Round.

Smith has never been quite as good as he was his rookie year, so it will be interesting to see if we can find someway to get that kind of talent back out of him.

Just another piece to the puzzle i guess.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4101934

His franchise tag was rescinded sunday by the Seahawks now that they drafted LB Aaron Curry.

Analysts were wondering if it wise to invest that much money into the linebacking core.

Would he be a good fit for the pats? To be honest i don't know much about the player. I imagine he is of decent talent getting a franchise tag. But at this point, besides Jason Taylor what other options are there?

I'm still very unconvinced that this linebacking core as is, even with Tyrone Mckenzie, will be enough. There are still talks between Leroy and the seahawks about an extension, and its my assumption that its his preference to stay put. But I think we'd make a mistake not atleast pursuing him. Especially with the chance of Jason Taylor opting to go to Miami.

Any thoughts?

P.S.- One more thought, the trade of ellis hobbs takes another 2.545 million of the cap. Not sure on how the cap number looks now. Especially with the number of draft picks we have to sign. Should be interesting though.

Why are people calling peppers a free agent. Didnt the panthers franchise him? So we would have to trade for him correct? I've just been reading everywhere that the pats should use their cap space to sign free agent peppers and i don't understand it. Could some one clear it up for me. Thanks

Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, Filler, filler, Filler

http://www.ktvu.com/news/18608582/detail.html#-

I say we get this kid while he's young, maybe somewhere in the area of a 30 year, one million dollar contract, with incentives ofcourse:

- For every strike out he gets in little league we can give him a dollar

- 1,2,3, inning in little league maybe hit him up with 5 bucks

-complete game $20

Do you realize how motivated kids can get for 20 bucks

Think of all the new pitches we could come up with, its not often that a kid is born with 12 fingers that actually function. We can have daisuke work with him on a variation of the gyro ball. The possibilities are endless

To me this signing is a no-brainer and i don't know why the front office is yet to move.

All he needs is a six-finger glove, some wide fit cleets, and he's a shoe in for the 2035 all-star game.

Maybe they've been distracted with the Varitek saga, but this has got to be the next move, but ill be her to say i told you so when in 20 years you here of a promising 6 fingered stud pitcher being brought up by the yankees.

What if bucholz comes out in the beggining of the year and shows the stuff that we saw in the end of 07. This is obviously a very good thing for the sox. But what do you think happens to penny, smoltz, and wakefield. I don't think we can give to bullpen spots to wake and smoltz when they bring the same thing, and i definitly don't think penny would want to come out of the pen. Wake to me is the first man out, but that still leaves us at six.

This is obviously not a bad thing for the sox, the depth would be great, But what do you think they do if the begining of this season goes perfectly, with no injuries and a strong bucholz?