A Team Leader has to step up

[sportsman]

The Cowboys needs someone to step up and declare himself the leader of this team. That has been missing since the SB years.

I believe if this team had a true leader. A player the rest of the team respects and listens too. He could be the one to set example of players being at OTAs.

Will the real team leader please STep Up.

 

[Teague31]

Who cares.... everyone made EVERY OTA under BP and what do we have to show for it? Call me crazy, but I would rather have them showing up in December than May.

 

[Cochese]

I think that Romo is going to be the leader this team has lacked. He has already shown his incredible ability in the clutch to his teammates, he can literally turn a game on its face in the time it takes someone at home to go to the fridge for another beer. From what I have read this offseason, it seems like Romo is committed to the team and has been working out and throwing constantly. This season I see him stepping up into the leadership void, he has the personality to get through to everyone and the performance required to back up criticism.

 

[Future]

A leader has to come from the defensive side of the ball IMO. Offensive leaders are great, but defense wins championships. Look at the Pats...Brady is a great leader, but its guys like Bruschi that make them a dynasty IMO.

 

[Cochese]

A leader has to come from the defensive side of the ball IMO. Offensive leaders are great, but defense wins championships. Look at the Pats...Brady is a great leader, but its guys like Bruschi that make them a dynasty IMO.

But who are you going to pick from this defense to be a great leader of men?

 

[theogt]

I wouldn't mind if the word was stricken from the English language. Is there a more overused term in sports? It's like fingernails on a chalkboard.

 

[superpunk]

I wouldn't mind if the word was stricken from the English language. Is there a more overused term in sports? It's like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Cancer.

Having a guy on the field that others can look to as an example of preparation, emotion and desire can truly help, tho. The Ravens have great talent, but they feed off Ray's preparation and his emotion. I can't stand Merriman, but his teammates eat him up.

Talent is the most important thing, but leadership can mold a team's attitude, I think.

 

[sago1]

Sounds to me like we need Spencer to step up in a lot of ways.

 

[burmafrd]

We had Haley on our teams in the 90s, and Bill Bates. In the 70's and 80's lots of guys. The only real leader we had on the D lately was Dat. No one else frankly has come even close.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Well, Greg Ellis was a leader and team captain, but we all know when he went down with injury, the defense suffered. It is true, when Dat retired, we lost another defense leader.

We do need leaders on the team, I am hopeful that Romo will be such a leader. Yet, at same time just like Aikman, Nate Newton, Michael Irwin, Larry Allen and Emmitt Smith, while Haley, Sanders, Lett, Woodson were team leaders on defense, the Cowboys need T O, Terry Glenn, Witten,Leonard Davis, Roy Williams, Newman, Hamlin & Ware to be team leaders too. If not, this team will never go far in December or the playoffs, that is the biggest problem to me, no real commitment or heart from these players.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Not sure who it should be....

 

[GlitzCowboy]

We have 3+ leaders on this team.
Romo
TO
Roy Williams

One could also make a statement for..
TNew
Jason Witten
D.Ware

 

[Green28]

Leonard Davis

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Guys don't step up and declare themselves leaders. Leadership has to be earned, or else it's hollow and phony. Kind of like when Bradie James told people what a leader he is, and then stunk it up on the field. Do you think players like being yelled at by a guy who can't even do his own job?

Our best bet is for Ware to be a leader on defense -- Roy has the skins on the wall, but has shown he doesn't have the personality for it -- and Romo on offense.

At least Romo is showing some good signs by making the effort to be at every single practice.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Rowdy?

I am sure there are leaders already on the team. We just may not hear about it. Sometimes players don't have to be vocal in the vein of a Ray Lewis and such to be a leader.

Guys like Rivera who probably can not even play right now but is teaching the younger guys since he has been here.

Ellis, even though complaining about his contract the last few years, yet still giving all kind of info to Spencer.

Leaders do not have to be stereotypes of a guy jumping and hollering on the field to get the other players fired up.

 

[junk]

Cancer.

Having a guy on the field that others can look to as an example of preparation, emotion and desire can truly help, tho. The Ravens have great talent, but they feed off Ray's preparation and his emotion. I can't stand Merriman, but his teammates eat him up.

Talent is the most important thing, but leadership can mold a team's attitude, I think.

Absolutely. I think this team has been missing a fiery leader especially on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[Alexander]

Leaders do not have to be stereotypes of a guy jumping and hollering on the field to get the other players fired up.

Why is this usually the typical response when someone questions our team leadership?

"Well, they don't have to foam at the mouth."

The last great team we had was spearheaded by several very vocal and animated leaders. It works like a charm if that vocal person also happens to excel at what they do.

It's not just screaming. Just simple raw intensity and a burning desire to win (or fear of losing) that you could see even by their body language.

Do you see that out of any one of our "leaders" out there on the football field? Because to be honest, I do not. And have not seen that for over a decade save an honest attempt by Dat Nguyen.

I have seen a few loud barkers (Darren Hambrick and Bradie James spring to mind) but that is the extent of it.

 

[BouncingCheese]

Romo, Ellis (as much as that pains me to hear that)

We have a double-edged sword on this team: we have such quiet but decent guys at the most talented positions; Ware and Newmann rarely open their mouths, and when they do nary a word of negativity comes out... I think they know when to be leaders; however they are so quiet we may never know of those moments. Anything is better than attention "whoas" like Porter who can't shut the hell up.

 

[jazzcat22]

But who are you going to pick from this defense to be a great leader of men?

Roy Williams, since he will be back at his natural instinctive postion, mauling the player with the ball. This will spark the defense.

 

[JBS]

For one, I completely agree that this team needs a vocal leader especially on the defensive side of the ball. Based on everything we saw last year, our team leader was mainly greg ellis- and then he went down. When Ellis went down guys like James and Newman began to take over that role - to an extent. Call me crazy - but I believe it is safe to say that based on our roster from last year - we do not have a true team leader on this defense. That leads me to believe that Ken Hamlin WILL be the defensive leader we have all been looking for. I will be honest and admit - I have NOT witnessed his too much in seattle, so I cannot say for sure whether he will be this leader we all want. However, based on everything I have read about the guy - it appears he indeed has the ability. I think Ken Hamlin has the ability to turn this defense from (at times) good to great.