Thursday, July 23, 1998

Ellis misses Cowboys' practice, other notes

By Dave Ivey and Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

ELLIS MISSES PRACTICE

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Missing a couple days of training camp was bad enough, but sleeping on the floor? Now that's rough.

Rookie defensive end Greg Ellis, the Dallas Cowboys' first-round draft choice, did not practice on Wednesday for the second consecutive day due to muscle spasms in his lower back.

Ellis had finished getting dressed for Tuesday morning's full-pad practice when he bent over to pick up his shoulder pads and felt a twinge.

"It scared me," he said. "I thought something really serious was wrong. Thank God it wasn't."

On the advice of the training staff, Ellis slept on the floor that night.

"We are in the dorms, so we don't have that nice plush carpeting," Ellis said. "It was just that hard rug."

He said his back was a little bit tight on Wednesday, but he felt well enough to practice. The trainers, though, told him to wait until Thursday.

FIRST FIGHT OF CAMP

No training camp would be complete without at least one feud. On Wednesday morning, rookie tackle Flozell Adams and linebacker Nate Hemsley obliged with a brief brawl on the practice field.

Hemsley, who gives away seven inches and 115 pounds to Adams, apparently was upset about being pancaked to the ground.

"It's over, and that's it," Adams said. "That skirmish has nothing to do with anything. That's done and over with now."

Defensive coordinator Dave Campo, who saw the fracas, said he wasn't too concerned.

"I don't want to waste a lot of time and have fights every day, but every now and then it's good to get the juices flowing and have people get excited and show a little emotion," Campo said.

MORGAN BACK IN CAMP

Air Force 2nd Lt. Beau Morgan is getting closer to the day he can pursue his football career full-time.

The free-agent running back is in training camp for the second consecutive season on a part-time basis. On Aug. 12, he's scheduled to return to his post at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. In the spring, he plans to petition for his release from active duty.

"If that happens, I'll be able to concentrate fully on football," Morgan said. "I love the Air Force, and, right now, it's my job. Playing in the NFL, though, that's my dream."

Morgan, an option quarterback at Air Force, said he is learning his new position.

"I'm soaking everything in and getting better every day," he said. "I'm lucky to have this opportunity, and I plan to make the most of it."

Countdown to Kickoff46 days until regular season begins. Cowboys coach Chan Gailey said the team might get its first look at cornerback Deion Sanders by the end of the week and certainly by next week. Sanders, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle May 29, has not made a full-time appearance at training camp. He has participated in some limited drills with the defensive backs but has spent the majority of his time watching. He has drawn some attention from the crowds while jogging around the field and jockeying with teammate Michael Irvin about Irvin's battles with the young cornerbacks.

SPOTLIGHT ON ...Free-agent prospects

The players: Defensive end Alonzo Spellman

The Scouting Report: Signing the former Chicago Bears defensive end is unlikely. For one, his litany of off-field incidents during the off-season make him an unattractive fit, despite his talent. Also, as one Cowboys official put it, how can you seriously consider the guy when his agent, Leigh Steinberg, hasn't heard from him and doesn't know where he is.

PLAYS OF THE DAY

Out of the shotgun, Troy Aikman threw a perfect strike between two defenders to Stepfret Williams on a deep post pattern.

The loudest - if not the best - hit of the practice came from cornerback Kevin Mathis on running back Tarik Smith, who tried to stop Mathis' blitz but ended up on his backside.

Who's hot

Stepfret Williams: He had a good practice on Wednesday, reminding everyone why he was a key third-down target last season. Williams made several great catches on Wednesday, most of them over the middle.

Punter Toby Gowin: Despite not being pushed that hard by rookie Barry Cantrell, Gowin has looked quite impressive to special-teams coach Joe Avezzano. -That kid's leg just keeps getting stronger. He's awesome."Who's notTight end Sean Simms: The free agent from Nevada-Reno looked bad twice. He missed a block on defensive end Herman Smith that allowed Smith to tackle Emmitt Smith about 5 yards deep in the backfield. Later, he dropped a well-thrown sideline pass from Jason Garrett.Injury reportCornerback Ron Bailey (strained left hamstring) - day to day

Cornerback Wendell Davis (torn anterior cruciate ligament, right knee) - out for the season

Ellis (bask spasms) - day to day

Wide receiver Anthony Eubanks (strained left hamstring) - day to day

Wide receiver Jeff Ogden (strained left hip) - day to day

Defensive end Broderick Thomas (torn anterior cruciate ligament, left knee) - had season-ending surgery scheduled on Wednesday night

Sanders (arthroscopic surgery, left ankle) - expected to return to drills by the end of the week.

Morning highs

The temperature at training camp on Wednesday morning at Midwestern State was 93 degrees, with a heat index of 99.

The weather didn't deter several dozen children, who sat in the "KidZone" bleachers located near the end zones. The youngsters relentlessly chanted for their favorite players: "Emmitt, Emmitt, Emmitt," and of course "MOOSE!" and "Deion, Deion, Deion."

At the end of the morning session, the children were rewarded when Irvin stopped by with a football. The wide receiver signed the ball and gave it to a young fan in a wheelchair. Irvin stuck around to sign autographs for another 10 minutes.Camp scheduleTraining camp runs through Aug. 15 at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. The practice schedule is subject to change.

Thursday: 8:45-10:45 a.m., 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Friday: 8:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m., 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday: Players' day off

Camp hot line: Call (972) 556-9308 or (940) 397-7777 for information and updated schedulesOnlineAccess Star-Telegram.Com's new Cowboys Fan Central '98 (www.star-telegram.com/dallascowboys) to answer this week's question:

Will the Cowboys finish above .500 in '98?

Also, the Cowboys' official website is www.dallascowboys.com

CHAN'S CORNER - "I think he's done a good job. From listening to him talk and the coaches talk, he is bound and determined to make last year forgotten and make this year a good year."

Cowboys coach Chan Gailey on middle linebacker Fred Strickland

THEY SAID IT

"No, I will not sing it right now. I'm no good.' "'

- Ellis, telling reporters he would not be repeating his rendition of the North Carolina fight song, which the rookie first-round draft pick had to perform for veterans during a friendly locker-room hazing episode

-Are you tired? Do you need a nap?' "'

- Campo, dressing down cornerback Lee Vaughn at practice after two consecutive miscues by the second-year player