Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jason Hatcher made some noise recently by suggesting that one of the big problems with the Cowboys this past season was their lack of leadership.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, of course, had something to say about that, suggesting the Cowboys have plenty of leaders on the roster and one in particular that will hopefully be sporting the star for a while: Sean Lee, the inside linebacker who will be entering his third season in the NFL come September.
Lee led the team in tackles in 2011 with 131 and tied for the team lead in interceptions (four) and tackles behind the line of scrimmage, all while playing the second half of the season with a dislocated wrist. Sounds like a good leader to me — willing to play injured, and play well.
Lee seems to be a rare draft hit for the Cowboys over recent years as the 6-2, 245-pounder from Penn State didn't take long to become an integral part of the Cowboys defense during his rookie season before his breakout 2011.
Jones said Lee has done everything a big-time leader must do.
“I feel Sean is a leader and that’s based upon the reputation he had if you look back to him coming out of Penn State," Jones told ESPN on Sunday from the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. "But in looking at what he’s done here, he does take a very active role in what we’re doing intangibly right now. Obviously leadership has a certain amount of earn-your-stripes aspect to it. It would be inordinate and above expectations to have somebody come in that first year and be one of your apparent leaders to everybody.”
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