Lee replacement plan in-house for now
May, 29, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- While the Dallas Cowboys have not officially said so, Sean Lee tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Tuesday, according to sources, and the defense will be without its best player.
The Cowboys have yet to use the bat signal to call all unemployed middle linebackers.
The current plan is to go with what is on the roster.
They have DeVonte Holloman, who started the final two games of last season at middle linebacker after Lee suffered a neck injury. They have Justin Durant, who started one game in Lee's absence last season. They have rookie Anthony Hitchens, their fourth-round pick.
With eight more organized team activities and six practices over a three-day minicamp next month, the Cowboys will have a better idea as to where they stand in replacing Lee.
After that, perhaps, they will look off campus for help.
Veterans like Jonathan Vilma, Erin Henderson and Pat Angerer have been mentioned. Even Brian Urlacher's name has come up.
Urlacher's connection to defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli makes it interesting, but would it be appetizing? Urlacher did not play last year. He turned 36 this week. His knee gave him issues in his final seasons.
Last year the Cowboys signed guard Brian Waters before the season started. He did not play in 2012 but managed to play in seven games and start five before a torn biceps ended his season. He was 36 as well.
So often past success outweighs present ability when fans yearn for a player to be signed. Urlacher is not the same player who dominated for years in Chicago just as Waters was not the same player last year as he was earlier in his career. He was solid and helped, but he was not the same Pro Bowl player.
Vilma and Angerer have health issues. The Minnesota Vikings released Henderson in January because of a DUI arrest.
There are no magic solutions to replace Lee at the end of May.
The Cowboys will see if they can get by with Holloman, Hitchens or Durant, who did not take part in Tuesday’s practice because of an undisclosed injury. They will study the rosters of the other teams hard over the course of the summer to see if they can find (or need) an upgrade.
The players mentioned today -- Urlacher, Angerer, Henderson and Vilma -- are likely to be available when training camp begins or even later.
If they need them in July or August or September, then they can make the call.