The Dallas Cowboys need another DeMarcus Ware
By Tyler Harris
Long-time Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware retired as a Cowboy today and it serves as a reminder of what the Cowboys desperately need.
Long-time Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware retired as a Cowboy on Monday. It serves as a reminder that America’s Team needs another player of his caliber in a bad way. Not only on the field, but off of it as well.
Ware (see what I did there?) it all began: I remember the 2005 NFL Draft like it was yesterday. America’s Team had the 11th and 20th picks and were looking to transition to a 3-4 defense. Many players were rumored to be favorites of ex-head coach Bill Parcells. Among them, Shawne Merriman, and Marcus Spears.
Many stories are out there about that draft day and how it actually transpired. But the facts remain, in the end the Cowboys selected Ware 11th overall and the rest his history: Ware transformed the defense and the outside linebacker position.
Ware racked up 138.5 career sacks, multiple Pro Bowls, and became the Cowboys all-time sacks leader along the way. On top of that he was the second fastest player in NFL history to reach 100 sacks.
The facts speak for themselves and on the field Ware is an easy first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee. With as good of a player he was, he was even better off the field.
Whether it be improving offensive lineman such as Tyron Smith, or Doug Free in his free time. Or maybe sitting in on offensive meetings to give his two cents on why certain things wont work. Not to mention his involvement as an advocate for adoption. Ware is a genuinely great person with a contagious smile.
Simply having a player of Ware’s caliber on the team made the players, front office, and city better. It’s not often you hit a home run like that in the NFL draft. The Cowboys need another one, though.
Finding a playmaker on the field with a great demeanor off of it will help take this defense and team to another level. Maybe last year’s 2nd round pick – linebacker Jaylon Smith – can fill this void. Maybe it will be somebody selected at this weeks draft. Either way, they need it desperately.
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As Ware rides off into the sunset as a forever-Cowboy, the hunt for the next impact defender is just beginning.
Thank you for the memories, DeMarcus. You resembled everything it means to be a Dallas Cowboy.