Former Jet Ellis At Home In New England, 'A Patriot Now'
BOSTON (CBS) – Shaun Ellis spent the first 11 seasons of his NFL career with the New York Jets. When the time came for him to decide where to play his 12th, he chose to switch sides in the Jets-Patriots rivalry.
"Basically, a lot of things went down," said Ellis Monday, who stated he felt at home in his first day in New England. "The Jets felt like they wanted to go in a different direction and I made the best decision that was best for me and my family and I chose to come here."
Ellis signed a one-year, $4 million deal with New England with another $1 million in incentives. The Jets offered him the veteran minimum, making Ellis' decision an easy one.
"It's a business. It's the nature of this sport. I accepted it and found a new home," said the 34-year-old defensive end.
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Ellis was selected 12th overall by the Jets in 2000 and racked up 72.5 career sacks, third most in Jets franchise history. It was the only NFL team he has known, so having to leave the way he did made it a little disappointing.
"I mean, when you look at it that away from an emotional standpoint, yeah it was," said Ellis. "But you have to look at it as a business as well. They have a choice of going after the guys they feel like they need or they want to surround their team around and I just wasn't in their plan. Like I said, I'm a Patriot now, I'm part of this plan and I'm going to go out there and play my best."
"It's just the same – I'm just on the other side now," said Ellis of the Jets-Patriots rivalry. "There were definitely a lot of battles over the years and I'm a Patriot now and I'm happy to be a Patriot and I'm just ready to get started."
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The fact that Ellis is now a Patriot led to some tough love from his former coach, Rex Ryan, who said there was no chance he would send any well wishes Ellis' way in New England.
But for Ellis, Ryan's comments are nothing he did not see coming.
"It's Rex. I'd like to say I wish him well and I wish him all the success. It's just how it is," said Ellis of Ryan. "I have a lot of respect for the guy, obviously it seems like it's not mutual, but I respect him."
Ellis will get at least two chances this season to show the Jets they were wrong about him, but will not put too much emphasis on his own personal battle.
"I think the extra motivation comes when you play any team. Each win is hard to come by, so as many wins as you can rack up, the better. Against the Jets, yeah that puts a little bit of icing on the cake, it does. But overall, the goal, does it make the season? No, it doesn't. So for us it's one game at a time and try to get to the ultimate prize at the end."
