FRISCO, TEXAS — Sean Lee will be back in a Cowboys’ uniform in 2020 for his 11th season. He has agreed to terms on a one-year contract that is expected to pay the veteran $4.5 million, with $2 million guaranteed.
He will bring much needed depth to the Cowboys’ linebacker corps. with his rotational ability to play Sam, Mike, or Will. Lee will once again join Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch in the lineup.
At the outset of the 2019 season, Lee was switched to strong side linebacker. He took a lesser role on the field, being sidelined in nickel packages. Midway through the season, Lee took over at weak side linebacker for Vander Esch who was dealing with a neck injury. With a larger role on the gridiron in the final 10 games at Will, No.50 showed flashes of the intensity he is known for sideline to sideline. In 2019, He racked up 86 combined tackles, 55 total, four tackles for a loss, along with a sack and an interception, which he accumulated in the week 15 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
That game was a reminder of Lee’s playmaking ability and his unparalleled preparation. I had a long chat with former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli following the Rams game on Lee’s routine. He raved, “ He prepares constantly. Everybody will prepare but it’s the intense detail in his concentration. If I say one thing, it’s his ability to concentrate. We have a walk-through, it’s like a game for him: he’s speaking, he’s talking, he’s making checks, he’s loud like he’s in it and that’s how he prepares. It’s all week that way. Come game day, you see him in the locker room, boy he is still studying before the game and then he goes and performs…I’ve been around special ones but he is rare.”
Coming into 2020, there are a lot of concerns surrounding the LB group. Vander Esch underwent neck surgery to replace a nerve and Smith did not consistently hold his gap last season. He often left gaping holes trying to rush opposing QB’s and Lee will help provide stability and insurance for the corps. in the upcoming season.
Lee has dealt with a plague of injuries during his tenure in Dallas but the general has been a player known for his unmatched work ethic and love for the game of football. No one outworks Sean Lee and throughout his career, he has totaled 782 tackles and 14 interceptions. He will wear the star for at least one more season and continue to set the standard of success in Dallas.
