Sean Lee may never be the player we want him to be

[Galian Beast]

I was looking at his injury history because I thought, it's not like Sean Lee has recurring injuries, but the fact is the guy is just made out of glass. Everything breaks on him.

In 5 years, he will have missed 34 games... That is mind boggling. 34/80 games missed...

Many will probably posit that we shouldn't have paid him. I would respond that we really haven't paid him yet.

He got a 10 million dollar signing bonus, and his base salary for this year was 750k and a restructure proration of 950k.

Over the next two years Sean Lee will have to prove that he can stay healthy. And in the mean time, his base salaries are very affordable. In 2017, the dead money to cut him outright would be about 4 million. 3 million in 2017 and 1 million in 2018 if cut in June.

Basically what this contract means is that we've taken an insurance policy out on Lee. We could even keep him in 2017 by restructuring between 2017 and and 2018, which would bring his cap hit to about 5 million, leaving the cost to cut him in 2018 at 3 million. Lee has already cost himself a great deal in bonuses.

The reality is this guy is a game changer when healthy, and if he can ever get to a point where he can remain healthy, he will help transform this defense into an elite squad.

The potential of having Lee and McClain on the field together would be amazing.

 

[MissouriCowboy]

I m pulling for the guy but darn McClain emergence makes it easy to let him go.

 

[Zordon]

im not so sure his cerebral style is a good chemistry fit with mcclain.

 

[brymatt94]

I still believe he is the best linebacker on this team. I understand the health risk but I think him coming back is an improvement in the overall skill level of the linebacker group. Lee-McClain-Carter/Durant will always be better than Hitchens/Toomer-McClain-Carter/Durant. I say you have more to gain than to lose by sticking with Lee another year.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Love him but still think we plan our future witih the mindset he won't be here.

 

[mattjames2010]

He's another Bob Sanders. Great, and I mean great, when he's on the field. He's a one of a kind player, but sadly, his body is not for the NFL. He would make a great linebacker coach though.

 

[Tabascocat]

He is lucky that this wasn't a contract year, he would probably be gone. IF Lee comes back and stays healthy, I like the trio of him, Ro and Carter starting and I can see Ro as the captain in that scenario, the teams attitude feeds off of him.

 

[BAT]

I still believe he is the best linebacker on this team. I understand the health risk but I think him coming back is an improvement in the overall skill level of the linebacker group. Lee-McClain-Carter/Durant will always be better than Hitchens/Toomer-McClain-Carter/Durant. I say you have more to gain than to lose by sticking with Lee another year.

I'm glad that there are still some clear headed individuals around here. The knee jerking is strong in this thread. Lee at WILL should both protect him and lengthen his career. Of course that will be overlooked because it doesn't fit the doom and gloom set.

How could anyone have forgotten what kind of playmaker Lee has been. Having him as part of this LB corps will make it even better than it is now without a doubt. Forecasting injury is useless speculation especially when the injuries are completely unrelated and not career ending.

 

[DABOYZ]

Sean Lee is a playmaker but I am not a big fan of putting him back at middle linebacker. I think losing Ware and Lee actually helped this team a lot. Ware's constant over pursuit of the QB and Lee's constant ball hocking style hung the other 9 guys out to dry way to often. Yes, Lee would come up with the occasional interception and Ware would come up with the occasional sack last year but I will take this years version of Dallas D over having either of them back. Can't wait to see this defense get healthy and move forward. I would want Lee back and healthy if he learned to play his position and within the current scheme. Just not sure he knows how to do that.

 

[DTown214]

Wonder if we could get any high draft picks in a trade for him... I'd do it in a heartbeat if we sign McClain longterm

 

[Primetime42]

Sean Lee is a playmaker but I am not a big fan of putting him back at middle linebacker. I think losing Ware and Lee actually helped this team a lot. Ware's constant over pursuit of the QB and Lee's constant ball hocking style hung the other 9 guys out to dry way to often. Yes, Lee would come up with the occasional interception and Ware would come up with the occasional sack last year but I will take this years version of Dallas D over having either of them back. Can't wait to see this defense get healthy and move forward. I would want Lee back and healthy if he learned to play his position and within the current scheme. Just not sure he knows how to do that.

I don't even know where to begin...

 

[DABOYZ]

I don't even know where to begin...

I wouldn't either. Not easy to understand how a team can get better by subtracting their two supposed best players on D. I prefer this new no name defense though. Anyone remember Lee getting knocked the hell out by a receiver against Seattle 2 years ago? That was a beat down and this years team returned that to Seattle.

 

[DallasCowboysRule!]

If Lee can't find a way to stay healthy we should let him walk when his contract expires. I like the guy and he is a great talent but he does us no good sitting in the training room.

 

[JoeyHarris]

Ok, Lee is still a heck of a player that happened to have torn his ACL. He can play the weak side and be a great fit. McClain went from being on no one's radar to being (at least) the player we want Lee to be. The fact that Lee could still be part of this is amazing. We're playing with house money at this point.

 

[kramskoi]

He's another Bob Sanders. Great, and I mean great, when he's on the field. He's a one of a kind player, but sadly, his body is not for the NFL. He would make a great linebacker coach though.

Oh man, seemed like that guy inhabited the injury report every damn week in Indy. Polamalu has been a bit brittle in Pittsburgh. Both of these guys have liked..."contact"!

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

He will be excellent at WSLB

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Everyone in this thread (despite many different opinions) has made a valid point.

1) Yes, Lee is an amazing talent. Yes, any defense would benefit having a guy like him.

2) Yes, I do prefer the toughness McClain brings. If I had to choose between McClain and Lee, I'd take McClain in a heart beat.

3) That being said, why not have them both? That would be ideal. But like people have said, chemistry and cohesion is sometimes more important than talent, and there might be a small chance that McClain and Lee won't mix.

4) I don't see why they wouldn't mix. Lee is a team player and a true talent. I'm sure Lee loves McClain's toughness and passion. And I'm sure McClain loves what Lee brings. But stranger things have happened. For example, we got better after losing our best talent when we were already historically bad.

5) I'm not saying I don't respect what Lee has brought. And I remember how good he has been. But this defense (with no big names) is doing what we've never done with loads of Pro Bowl, All Pro, and Hall of Fame talent. I don't want to mess up what we have going on.

For the record, I think Lee (if he can stay healthy) would do nothing but help this defense.

 

[AKATheRake]

Sean Lee, while being injured has been as big a part of this team while rehabbing as possible and is the ultimate team player.

In saying that. He has been helping the LB's in preparation of their positions and that includes the guy who is manning his position currently, Rolando McClain.

You don't get rid of this guy just like that and as per Stephen Jones, this team expects Sean Lee to recover fully and come back every bit the player he once was when healthy. Stephen Jones said he wouldn't at all bet against it.

Speaking of Stephen Jones, he has already acknowledged what they think of Rolando McClain and his contributions. Furthermore the FO's discussions on McClain remaining the MLB and Sean Lee moving to the outside for next season.

That's as close to the horses mouth (other than Jerry) than we're going to get.

So why are we still questioning what this team is going to do with Sean Lee and Rolando McClain if McClain continues to play as he is?

 

[Wood]

maybe with DL who actually fills their gaps he wouldn't have to take on so many 320+ lb guys getting to second level. That might cut down on his injuries. Plus I don't think he can physically handle the MLB. I would play Lee at the SAM. Its toss up for WILL spot between Durant and Carter.

 

[kramskoi]

Ok, Lee is still a heck of a player that happened to have torn his ACL. He can play the weak side and be a great fit. McClain went from being on no one's radar to being (at least) the player we want Lee to be. The fact that Lee could still be part of this is amazing. We're playing with house money at this point.

Yeah...the Cowboys are coming dangerously close to fielding a pretty impressive trio of linebackers in the near future. Carter has been a real surprise this year...now if he can just keep his butt on the field and off the trainer's table. Marinelli has really coached these guys up...either that or he's put something in the water around Arlington. You almost want to pinch yourself when noting how they have played so far...it is almost mid-season and they look to be going better and better. This time last year, serious cracks were beginning to show.