Linebacker Greg Ellis was sent home organized team activities on Thursday and has been put on the trading block, multiple sources said.
Ellis, who turns 34 in August, was told it was about giving a veteran some time off, his agent James Williams said.
Williams also reiterated that Ellis wants to continue his career with the Cowboys.
But no other veteran was sent home to rest. According to sources, the Cowboys are trying to shop Ellis in a trade.
The Cowboys sent Ellis home from OTAs last year when they were trying to give more reps to linebacker Anthony Spencer in an attempt to get him to supplant Ellis as the starter.
Ellis still began 2008 as the starter when Spencer suffered a knee injury in training camp. However by the end of the season Spencer started on first and second down with Ellis coming in on passing downs.
Ellis' future became even more questionable when the Cowboys selected two passing rushing linebackers in 2009 draft _ Victor Butler and Brandon Williams.
It was assumed then that if Spencer continued to develop and Butler and Williams showed they could contribute then Ellis was in danger of getting cut in training camp.
Ellis has one year left on his contract with a base salary of $4.15 million in 2009. His salary cap number is $6.25 million. If he is cut the Cowboys would have to pay him $1.5 million.
However if he is traded the guarentee goes with his contract, saving the Cowboys more than $5 million in salary cap room in 2009.
Ellis, a former first round pick 1998, had just 8 sacks last season after recording a career high 12.5 sacks during his only Pro Bowl campaign in 2007.
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