Early on in his NFL career, Cowboys linebacker-turned-defensive end Anthony Spencer was shown the ropes by veteran Greg Ellis. Now, Spencer is paying it forward, stepping into a sort of mentor-mentee relationship with second-year defensive lineman Kyle Wilber who figures to play behind Spencer this season.
“When Greg was here, he would always try to help us with our hand placement. Just talking it out, it helps us at the same time, to be able to explain what we’re doing to somebody else,” Spencer said last week, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “And it helps us to realize what we’re doing.
“So it helps him, it helps me at the same time, especially with me being out right now. It’s kind of like living vicariously through him right now.”
Spencer also reminisced about his early, in-practice battles with former offensive tackle Flozell Adams. Now a veteran Spencer actually credits the beatings he took from the man they called “The Hotel” with speeding his development along in those early years.
“I got my butt whipped by Flo a lot when I was a rookie and my second year,” Spencer said. “It definitely helped me develop and get to where I am right now. I tell him all the time, it happens to everybody. So it’s good for you. It’s humbling, and it gets you on the right track, definitely.”
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