FRISCO, Texas — Newly-retired Sean Lee is spending some time away from football after an 11-year career in Dallas to figure out his next life step. The game will forever be part of his fabric and Cowboy blue runs in his veins. The same way it does for No. 4. In a recent interview with Colin Cowherd via the Herd, Lee spoke on Dak Prescott.
Prescott took the NFL by storm in 2016 to the surprise of many as a fourth-round draft pick. As history reveals, draft status does not dictate production in the league. As a rookie, the Mississippi State product completed 67.76% of his 459 attempts with 3,667 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions for a 104.9 quarterback rating following Tony Romo’s preseason injury. He led the Cowboys to a 13-3 season and the rest is history, as they say. When asked about Prescott earning the trust of the locker room as a rookie in 2016, Lee described his arm-talent and relentless mentality that impressed early on. Many have been asked a similar question, but none more telling than Lee’s response. The unquestioned leader of the Cowboys’ defense for many years spoke on the ascending role of the current man under center.
“During that training camp, Romo would take every couple of days off and Dak was the quarterback so normally with a rookie quarterback on defense we are like ‘we are getting picks all day today. We are about to beat the offense up.’ So, in a two-minute drill late in practice I know the play, I know what’s coming. It’s a slant to Dez and I’m going to go get this. I break on it, I go to get it, he puts it on the back shoulder of Dez perfectly thrown no problem and he had done that all practice. It was not an issue, and it was his first time really with the one’s against an NFL defense and he made it look easy. That’s been him from the start: how cool he is, how composed he is, and another thing is how he faces adversity. Every time there is adversity he says, ‘bring it on.’ That’s why I know with the injury he has he is coming back better than he was.”
Both Lee and Prescott are cut from the same cloth regarding drive and passion for the game. No matter how many times either one has been knocked down, they faced the situation head on. It is no secret that Lee has faced a myriad of injuries that derailed his career and hindered his potential in Dallas. When healthy, the general was a top-tier linebacker in the league with rare instincts. He likely sees a part of himself in Prescott- obsession with the game and desire to be great despite obstacles. The setback only paves the way for a comeback.
Prescott faced unimaginable tragedy and devastation in 2020, on top of the global pandemic. After losing his brother to suicide and grappling with grief, the next hardship struck. In Week 5 against the New York Giants, Prescott suffered a compound right ankle fracture and dislocation that ended his season. He had immediate surgery and was placed on the Reserve/Injured list.
As anyone can attest too, including Lee, it is not situations that define a person but how someone reacts to adversity. Since he entered the Star as a rookie, Prescott has led by example on-and-off the field. His embodiment of strength and transparency is what differentiated him dating back to his first-year campaign and has helped him battle the mental and emotional struggles. Prescott is the genuine deal and is the heart and soul of the Cowboys. The outpour of love and support following his injury from fans and players around the league is a testament to the type of man he is.
Regardless of the fame, he remains unchanged. For a quarterback in the league today with the lucrative contracts being what they are, that is rare. Often, as evidenced by social media, QBs can tend to operate out of a “me” mentality. Based on their prominent status on the roster and service as the face of the franchise, most are prioritized because of their pedestal. To put it frankly, many desire/expect to be regarded in esteemed, lavish fashion. As his career trajectory reveals and Lee attests, that has not been the case for Prescott. Yes, he received a lofty paycheck from the Cowboys, signing a four-year $160 million contract in March (fourth-highest paid athlete in the world), but the man underneath the number is unchanged by the spotlight that accompanies “America’s Team.”
“I think Dak, what makes him special, is he leads from the front,” Lee described to Cowherd. “He doesn’t want a different relationship. He wants to run with you, he wants to be lifting with you- I think that is why from Day 1 guys loved him so much is because he is going around the locker room talking to everybody. If the rookies are in the back locker room, you will find him back there talking to them. So, for him, that never was an issue and really for our team that was never an issue. He was always part of the guys, part of us, and so when he did get paid, we celebrated, we love it, we were juiced, because he deserves it, and he has worked for it.”
Prescott was poised for offensive MVP with record-setting passing numbers before the injury and he will take the field for the first time in 2021 since the injury in a much-anticipated return. With Prescott commanding the huddle once again and a healthy offensive line, the Cowboys are primed to have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL come fall. 4 will be back in action to set the tone.
