Kevin Ellis may not have been well known to D.C. United fans before joining the team, but some fans of the Richmond Kickers remember an incident when, as a member of Orlando City when the Lions were in the USL in 2013, Ellis claimed he was racially abused by fans of the Kickers. Ellis deleted his tweet that mentioned this and the USL concluded a two-week investigation by saying it was unable to confirm Ellis’ claims. Ellis went on to start 70 games over five years for Sporting Kansas City as a homegrown player before being waived in February and signed by the Chicago Fire 10 days later.
The 27-year-old Ellis appeared in 20 of the Fire’s 24 games before being waived, starting in 19, playing right back. He had 2 goals and 4 assists and statistically speaking was a serviceable defender. He was waived hours after the end of the MLS secondary transfer window, the victim of a numbers crunch in the organization. United, missing two players at right back (Nick DeLeon, Oniel Fisher) due to injury and their makeshift third preference being away at United States camp (Paul Arriola), had little choice but to pull the trigger.
Generally D.C. made due, and his Black-and-Red tenure comprised two substitute appearances: an 11-minute stint in a tie with New York City FC and 35 minutes in the club’s 5-0 romp against the Montreal Impact. As players got healthy and/or returned from national team duty, Ellis and his $150,000 base salary (and accompanying senior roster spot) were no longer necessary, and his option was declined after the season.
So that brings us to where we are now: Ellis is without a job but given his experience and health, perhaps a more friendly budget hit similar to DeLeon’s is in order for the right back? Perhaps it’s better to give him his walking papers and leave it at that? Maybe’s there’s something I’m missing but this is where you get to have your say: