by DAVID MOORE, Staff Writer dmoore@dallasnews.com , THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Behm, the Cowboys' scouting assistant, watched the morning session from the press box at Standridge Stadium. He spent part of the afternoon practice upstairs but came down to the track that surrounds the field before the session was over to talk to club officials and players.

"Gosh, what a positive attitude," said owner Jerry Jones, one of the people who spent time with Behm on Monday. "I asked him how he's holding up, and he said he's 'just got to get used to this sun. It drains me a little bit.'

"What a perspective.

"Everyone, not just our team but our fans and everyone, has such an empathy here. I think that certainly the way to get your mind right is to look around to people who have disadvantages, and that's quickest way to do it."

Behm was injured when the Cowboys' practice bubble collapsed May 2. He returned to the club's Valley Ranch facility last week and attended a fundraiser in his honor at a Plano restaurant Thursday night.

"He's been able to come to work some," coach Wade Phillips said. "That's good news for us. All of us."

Ellis signs with Oakland: Greg Ellis is no longer with the Cowboys . But he's likely to play in the Cowboys' first preseason game and take the field at Cowboys Stadium on Thanksgiving Day.

Ellis, released earlier this month, signed a three-year contract with the Raiders on Monday. Terms of the deal weren't released, but the Cowboys should be off the hook for a $1.5 million clause in his contract.

That means Ellis' departure will free up $5.6 million on the salary cap, money that can be put toward an extension for Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

Does Jones believe Ellis will be stoked to face the Cowboys in two games this season?

"Knowing him, the competitor he is, yes," Jones said. "But I think we both came out good on this."

Feel the heat: When the Cowboys took the field Monday afternoon, the temperature was 95 degrees and the heat index was 100. This came after a scorching morning session.

No players succumbed to the heat, but a bystander became dizzy and went down during the morning session. Legendary coach Bum Phillips, who was up from Goliad for the day to see his son and watch practice, was also affected.

"My dad had to go in," Phillips said. "It was too hot sitting in the stands. But the players made it all right. The breeze helped."

Injury update: Running back Felix Jones (calf contusion) left the field late in the morning session and did not return for the afternoon.

Receivers Miles Austin (hamstring) and Sam Hurd (quadriceps) ran on the side but aren't expected to practice in this minicamp.

Kicker Nick Folk (hip surgery), defensive end Igor Olshansky (back), receiver Isaiah Stanback (knee scope) and guard Kyle Kosier (foot) were among the others to miss both sessions.

Briefly: The Cowboys signed WR Willie Reid, a former third-round pick of the Steelers, and punter Matt Fodge to help them get through this minicamp, which condenses five practices into the first three days of the week. ... The players have only one practice today. Once they are finished, they will go to Arlington to take a tour of the team's new stadium.

Staff Writer Todd Archer contributed to this report.

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