Former Dallas Morning News Cowboys beat writer Calvin Watkins, now with AOL's Fanhouse, has reported that Dallas has approached New England and Cincinnati about a possible trade for veteran OLB/DE Greg Ellis.

A former first-round draft pick, Ellis had eight sacks last year, but according to Watkins Dallas would like to push 2007 first-round pick Anthony Spencer into a starting role.

Citing multiple sources, Watkins writes that the Cowboys have approached New England and the Bengals about acquiring Ellis, but one source told Watkins that the Patriots are not interested in Ellis, who turns 34 in August. Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was a Cowboys defensive coach from 1999-2006.

But Dallas seems determined to move Ellis: on Thursday he was sent home from the team's organized team activities.