The Cowboys are shopping DE-OLB Greg Ellis right now, but what they are finding is that they are not going to get anything in return -- not with a hearty salary left in the final year of his deal.

Instead, they probably will have to cut him. That would leave him as a free agent, and there surely are some teams who would kick his tires. There are just not enough good pass rushers out there, and Ellis is 33.

The Patriots, Dolphins and Buccaneers are teams that Ellis reportedly would consider signing with. But I think his best fit might be in Cincinnati. Yes, with the Bengals.

Hear me out. Coordinator Mike Zimmer worked with Ellis for seven years in Dallas. The first six were as a defensive end and the final season, in 2006, was as a linebacker in the Bill Parcells 3-4 scheme. Ellis and Zimmer both were resistant to the shift at first, but it proved to be a good thing for both. Ellis was having a terrific season through the midway point that year before suffering a season-ending injury.

Zimmer could use Ellis as a third-down pass rusher in place of DE Robert Geathers, who hasn't gotten to the QB much the last two years, or as a linebacker in some occasional 3-4 looks. There are some D-linemen on this team, such as rookie Michael Johnson and Jonathan Fanene, could could play in that scheme.

The Bengals badly need QB pressures, and Ellis could provide that in a limited role. That defense is becoming intriguing -- Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga, Dhani Jones, Domata Peko, Pat Sims, Leon Hall, Chinedum Ndukwe, Roy Williams. There's some talent there.

And Ellis could help out.