The Dallas Cowboys' roster is packed full of superstars. That is a fact! Many of their players are respectively ranked at the top of their given positions or at least somewhere very close. Unfortunately, many of these “superstars” find themselves on the offensive side of the ball, with the lone exception being captain/linebacker Sean Lee on defense.
The sad truth is, the Cowboys' defense lacks the same kind of “superstars” on the defensive side of the ball. Sean Lee is without a doubt the only defensive player that can be considered Pro Bowl caliber, although even he has been snubbed from that distinction more times than I would like to count.
So, it was actually really refreshing to see Sean Lee receive such high praise from Pro Football Focus (PFF) here recently, because he is definitely deserving of any and all praise he receives.
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/874223764099223553/photo/1
I personally didn't find it all that surprising PFF had Sean Lee as the only other linebacker to rank in the top 10 in all three categories (overall, run defense, and coverage) other than Carolina Panthers LB Luke Kuechly. Any Cowboys' fan who has ever watched Lee play would tell you the same.
For some reason or another, Sean Lee has been undervalued around the NFL since entering the league as a rookie in 2010. A lot of that can probably be contributed to his inability to remain healthy, but when on the field, there is no doubt he is arguably one of the best LBs in the game.
I don't know about you, but I found it really freshening that #50 is finally getting recognized for all of the work he puts in on the field and in the film room. Finally, someone is giving credit where credit is due. It's about time someone else recognizes Sean Lee's talent.
PFF's praise of course won't go to his head. You can bet that he is going to outwork any other LB in the league, because his preparation week in and week out is second to none. That's just who is and why he is so great.
Cowboys' fans need not worry. Sean Lee will continue to do what he does and the defense will be better for it. He could even benefit from a player like Jaylon Smith playing next to him, if he indeed lives up to his hype. Now, that's scary!
