FRISCO, Texas – During week two of OTA’s, the Dallas Cowboys’ linebacker group continues to emerge as a core strength for America’s Team. With the success the group had in 2018 with Leighton Vander Esch taking on the full role of weak side linebacker when Sean Lee was out with a hamstring injury, the Cowboys are switching eight-year veteran, Lee, from WILL-Backer (weak side) to SAM-Backer (strong side).
The 32-year-old debated retirement at the conclusion of the 2018 season, but after discussing the matter with his family, he decided to return to the gridiron in 2019. Lee has had a career plague of injuries; predominately his hamstring, and has never played a full 16-game regular season since Dallas drafted him with the 55th overall pick in 2010.
His presence will not only benefit the team in terms of depth, but also what his football IQ brings to the Cowboys’ defense and the level of performance his mentorship has produced in Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch.
Lee was set to hit the cap this year with a large sum of $10.075 million, but when he made the announcement to return to football, a change in contract was required. Both sides agreed to restructure his contract, and he will now receive a base salary of $2 million, with potential $5 million in performance incentives.
With his track record of injury and its increase in probability with age, Lee’s rotational switch was the right call. The two-time pro bowl player will fill the needed role at SAM, after Damien Wilson signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Lee’s snaps will be reduced in 2019- hopefully prolonging No.50’s health and durability. He will play when the team’s 4-3 base defense is called alongside Smith and Vander Esch, but will watch from the sideline when a nickel package is called. A nickel defense is a two-LB set and a 4-3 scheme is a three-LB set.
I spoke with Garrett on the impact of having all three playmakers on the field at the same time,“ [Sean] has been such a productive player for us in whatever we have asked him to do throughout his career. You think ‘oh boy, that is a new spot for him’ but he is a football player. He understands the game, he sees the game, he feels the game; he has great instincts. He plays with great intensity and has made the transition smoothly up to this point. The other two [Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch] are young football players and they are getting better with every snap they take. All three of those guys together-they play off each other. They all love to play ball and work very hard at it. I think they benefit being around each other each day.”
Lee has one of the sharpest minds in the league and one of the hardest work ethics of any player I have seen. He is quickly picking up his new role at strong side LB, and he will make an impact on the field with his innate instincts to get to the football. His ability, paired alongside Smith and Vander Esch, who both had a standout year in 2018, the Cowboys are looking at arguably the best linebacker core in the franchise history.
“I just want to be able to help in any way I can, “ Lee remarked on his position change at the Reliant Home Run Derby.
Sean Lee is a game changer when he is on the field but his health remains the question mark for the upcoming season. However, with fewer snaps extending his duration, along with more opportunities for his coaching persona to emerge from the sideline, Lee’s future and the entirety of the defense, looks bright!
