Editor’s UPDATE: An MRI on Sean Lee’s Knee shows that he has suffered a torn ACL. He will need surgery to repair the damage and is expected to miss the entire 2014 NFL season.
Work with me here, people. I know this sounds extremely confusing right now, but it’ll all make sense at the end of the day.
On May 27th, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee suffered a left knee injury during OTA’s (SIA Profile). Lee, 27, has played 4 years in the NFL, all with the Cowboys. This injury is not the first suffered by the talented defender, but it is critical, as Lee has been a big part of the Cowboys defense.
In case you’re unfamiliar with Sean Lee, in 46 games played, he’s made 294 combined tackles, 202 solo tackles, 11 interceptions, and an INT Return Average of 28 yards. In his best season, 2011, he put up 105 total tackles, 71 solo tackles, and 4 interceptions. He has yet to play a full 16 games in a season (he played 15 in 2011), but has been a force to be reckoned with when healthy.
With Lee’s absence (for now), things spell “doom” for the Cowboys defense. But could this have been prevented?
According to Twitter it could have been. Newly drafted OL Zack Martin, from Notre Dame, blocked Sean Lee during the time Lee’s injury occurred. In case you’re unaware, Martin was the guy the Cowboys drafted with their first round pick instead of Texas A&M Quarterback Johnny Manziel, as many were expecting. The Cleveland Browns later drafted Manziel.
Many on Twitter have complained, “This wouldn’t have happened if the Cowboys drafted Johnny Manziel.”
I would like to ask: What the hell does this have to do with anything?
There are three reasons as to why NFL Twitter again is wrong on a particular subject. First and foremost, Johnny Manziel is a quarterback, Zack Martin is an offensive linemen. The two roles could not be anymore different.
Second, as stated above, Sean Lee has been injured multiple times in his short NFL career. In fact, during his final 2 years at Penn State, Lee suffered injuries to both of his knees. Zack Martin cannot be to blame for causing what was already there.
Finally, why would the Cowboys need Johnny Manziel? They already have Tony Romo, a very good quarterback and an unfairly scrutinized one at that (that’s a different story). In addition to that, Romo signed a 6-year $108M extension in 2013. Dallas knew Manziel’s star personality wouldn’t allow having a role as a backup, unless the team wanted the money they gave Romo to go to waste.
While the Cowboys front office has created questionable decision-making in recent years, this is not one of them. Dallas got smart and drafted Iowa linebacker Anthony Hitchens in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, so it’s as if they saw this coming beforehand. Hitchens’ role will likely increase as a result of Sean Lee’s injury. 2013 Draft pick DeVonte Holloman, from South Carolina, will also see a much bigger role for the same reason, coming off a promising rookie season in which he had 26 combined tackles, 14 solo tackles, and 2 sacks in just 9 games played.
Say whatever you want about the state of America’s Team right now. Say that they’ll go 8-8 for the fourth consecutive year. Say anything about how Jerry Jones is clueless as an owner and as a GM. Say that the competition in the NFC East will heat up and leave the Dallas Cowboys in the dust.
Just don’t say they should’ve drafted Johnny Manziel over Zack Martin.
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
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(Stats via espn.com)
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